Behind the Bar: The Benefits of Goat’s Milk — and the Story Behind Every Drop

brushwoodcorners
Nov 9, 2025
4 min read

By KariAnne — Brushwood Corners

“Every bar of goat’s milk soap I make holds the memory of the barn, the goats, and the love poured into each batch.”

Why

Goat’s Milk Matters in a Soap Bar

When people ask what makes Brushwood Corners soap so special, the answer begins long before the oils and molds. It starts with real, local goat’s milk — the kind that brings your skin the natural balance it’s been missing.

Gentle Cleansing, Deep Moisture

Goat’s milk is naturally rich in fatty acids and triglycerides that create a creamy lather while gently cleansing the skin without stripping away its natural oils. Because the fats and proteins in goat’s milk are so similar to our skin’s own lipid barrier, they help lock in moisture, making it ideal for anyone with dryness, sensitivity, or eczema-prone skin.

Nutrient-Rich Goodness-Goat's Milk

Each bar contains vitamins A, D, and E, along with minerals like selenium and zinc — all known for supporting skin health and promoting a more even tone. These nutrients help nourish the skin, soften roughness, and encourage a healthy, radiant glow.

Natural Exfoliation & Balanced pH

Goat’s milk contains lactic acid — a gentle, natural exfoliant that removes dead skin cells and reveals fresh new skin underneath. It also shares a similar pH to human skin, helping maintain the skin’s protective barrier and reducing irritation.

Soothing & Skin-Kind

Because it’s rich, mild, and moisturizing, goat’s milk soap is loved by those with sensitive skin or anyone looking for a truly gentle cleanse. It calms irritation, supports elasticity, and leaves your skin feeling nourished instead of tight or dry.

“What you put on your skin matters — and when it’s poured from a small farm’s fresh milk, every bar tells a story.”

My Goat’s Milk Journey — From Farm to Bar

It starts just twelve miles from my home — a familiar drive down country roads to visit my favorite farmers, Jene and Steve.

Their farm is where my goat’s-milk story begins — in the quiet rhythm of the barn, the hum of the milking machine, and the kindness that fills their home.

Barn Time with Steve

Steve greets me with a wave and leads me into the barn. The goats are calm and curious, waiting to be milked. I help where I can — cleaning buckets, setting up the machine, even clipping it onto the udders as Steve shows me the ropes. It’s humble work that connects me to the heart of the bar you’ll later hold in your hands.

Welcomed Like Family

After milking, I head up to the farmhouse where Jene, Steve, and the rest of the family.

They welcomed me into their lives like I’ve been part of the family for years — even though we only met within the past year. In a season when much of the community I once knew turned away, meeting them has been one of the most healing gifts.

Sometimes I spend hours there — sitting on the couch, visiting, laughing, and sharing stories while we talk about the goats and life in general. Those visits are more than just “milk runs”; they’ve become one of the best parts of this whole journey.

Between November and April/May, milk becomes scarce as the goats enter kidding season, welcoming their babies in the spring. It’s a reminder of nature’s rhythm — and of how grateful I am for the time I do get with such genuine, kindhearted people.

Bringing the Milk Home

Once home, I strain the milk through a fine mesh sieve to remove any bits, then chill it for 24 hours in the fridge. After that, I pour it into silicone ice cube trays, freeze it solid, and store the cubes in freezer bags. This keeps the milk fresh until it’s time to pour new batches of soap.

From Milk to Bar

When it’s time to make a new batch, those frozen cubes are slowly blended with lye into my signature base: Tallow, Goat’s Milk, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Lye, Castor Oil, and Sodium Lactate. It’s the same order every time — simple, pure, and rooted in my small-batch tradition.

“It’s more than just soap — it’s twelve miles of backroads, a barn full of goats, and the people who make it possible.”

Why It’s Worth It

It’s more work to collect, strain, and freeze every drop, but it’s worth it. Because when I hold that finished bar, I know it carries:

A gentle, nourishing lather that respects your skin’s natural oils
Vitamins and minerals that love your skin back
The authenticity of a farm-to-bar process
And the story of Jene & Steve’s goats — the heartbeat behind every batch

Tips for Using & Caring for Your Goat’s Milk Soap

Let your bar dry between uses. A bamboo soap dish helps drain away water and extend its life.
Use warm, not hot, water. It keeps the creamy lather intact.
Store in a cool, dry spot when not in use.
Patch test if needed. While goat’s milk is gentle, everyone’s skin is unique.

Final Thoughts

Every bar that leaves my workbench carries more than ingredients — it carries connection. The drive to the farm, the laughter in the barn, the patience of the process — all of it comes together in a bar you can feel good about using.

Thank you for supporting handmade, heart-made soap.

Rustic hugs and grateful hands,

KariAnne – Brushwood Corners

Affiliate Disclosure

This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small-batch soap journey!