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This easy goat milk lotion recipe is amazing for the skin, super moisturizing, and creamy. Made with raw goat’s milk, shea butter, and coconut oil, this lotion is great for all skin types.

Fingers dipped in homemade goat milk lotion.
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My sister recently added a few goats to their little homestead and started milking them. The milk makes delicious smoothies, homemade kefir and can be enjoyed with a plate of cookies.

I was able to confiscate a jar to experiment with making goat milk soap and a goat milk lotion recipe. The results were incredible. And so, of course, I had to add the recipes to the blog.

If you don’t have a relative with goats, you can find goats milk at most health food stores or farmer markets. Either way, get some goat milk and make this lotion! I know you will love it, especially if you have sensitive skin.

IS GOAT MILK GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN?

Goat milk is rich in fatty acids and a good source of vitamin A, making it great for the skin. Vitamin A can reduce wrinkles, fine lines and improve discoloration.

It also contains lactic acid, which can help brighten the skin and shed dead skin cells.

Goat milk can be used to prevent and get rid of acne naturally. The milk can be used to gently detox and exfoliate the skin.

WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE GOAT MILK LOTION?

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INGREDIENTS

TOOLS

  • Double boiler or a saucepan with a glass bowl
  • Digital Scale
  • Mixing bowl or half-gallon mason jar
  • Immersion blender
  • Kitchen thermometer
  • Storage jars, I use wide mouth mason jars with airtight lids, or you can use a lotion dispenser with a pump.

GOAT MILK LOTION BENEFITS

Wide mouth mason jar of goat milk lotion on tea towel.

To make goat milk lotion, you obviously need goat milk. I am using fresh raw goat milk, but you can use any type of goat milk for this lotion.

You will also need distilled water. I always use distilled or filtered water for my DIY’s because the minerals found in tap water can throw the recipe off, causing it to spoil quicker.

For this recipe, you will need a fat such as butter or oil. I am using a combination of shea butter and coconut oil. Other options include sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, mango butter, or cocoa butter.

To make this goat’s milk lotion recipe work with a lotion pump, we are going to have to thin it out with water. As a result, we also will also need a preservative and an emulsifier. I am using rosemary extract and a wax emulsifier.

IS IT HARD TO MAKE YOUR OWN LOTION?

Just like making cold-process soap, making lotion needs to be precise, but it isn’t hard once you get the hang of it. You will definitely need a kitchen digital scale to make sure all of your measurements are correct.

This recipe will make 24 ounces of homemade lotion. As mentioned above, you can substitute for different fats in the recipe, but you want to make sure your percentages are the same.

Here are the calculations; in case you want to switch something out, you will know how much you need: I use the Brambleberry Lotion Estimator.

  • Liquid 19.2 ounces, 80%
  • Oil or fat 2.4 ounces, 10%
  • Emulsifier 1.44 ounces, 6%
  • Co-Emulsifier .72 ounces, 3%
  • Preservative .24 ounces, 1%
  • Essential oils, optional

HOW TO MAKE GOAT MILK LOTION

Pumping homemade goats milk lotion out of lotion dispenser.
  1. Start off by measuring out your fats with a digital scale and adding them to a double boiler. I am using 1.2 ounces of coconut oil and 1.2 ounces of shea butter.
  2. Add in the emulsifier wax. Once the wax is melted, remove the pot from heat.
  3. While the ingredients are melting, add the liquid to a half-gallon mason jar. Place the mason jar in a pot of warm water to warm it up slightly. I am using 9.6 ounces of goat milk and 9.6 ounces of water.
  4. Mix the oils and liquid together. Blend for several minutes with an immersion blender.
  5. Using a kitchen thermometer, check that the ingredients are below 140 degrees before going on to the next step.
  6. Add in the citric acid, rosemary extract, preservative, and essential oils if using. Blend for an additional minute.
  7. Pour lotion into storage containers. Allow it to cool completely before putting on the lid and storing it in the fridge.

RECIPE NOTES

  • The lotion will thicken as it cools back down to room temperature.
  • If made correctly, the lotion will last 1-3 months.
  • The recipe will make 24 ounces of lotion.
  • Goats milk lotion must be stored in fridge.

BEST ESSENTIAL OILS FOR HOMEMADE LOTION

If you decide to add essential oils to your goat milk lotion, you will only need about 15-20 drops. Essential oils are very concentrated and it doesn’t take much to scent your lotion.

You can add in a blend of oils or use a single oil. A few of my favorite oils to add to lotion or my homemade whipped body butter are lavender, frankincense, chamomile, and geranium.

For really dry skin, try myrrh, rose, or ylang ylang essential oil. If you have sensitive skin, you can leave out essential oils altogether or try lavender oil. I actually have a pump lotion recipe that’s fragrance-free. I let the natural scent of shea butter be the fragrance!

DO I NEED A PRESERVATIVE?

If you plan to use the lotion within one week, then you don’t need a preservative. However, because this recipe contains goat milk and water, it is important to add a preservative if you plan to make a large batch and use it for a while.

BEST NATURAL PRESERVATIVES

I am using rosemary antioxidant extract as a partial preservative as it is a great natural option, however, you will need a broad spectrum preservative as well. A couple of options include Geogard broad spectrum and Linatural preservatives, as they protect against yeast, mold, and other bacteria.

Salt, lemon juice, grapefruit seed extract, and citric acid are other popular natural preservatives.

Goats milk lotion in decorative pumpable container.

WAX EMULSIFIER FOR LOTION MAKING

Emulsifiers are binding agents that mix the water and oils together. They are often found in face moisturizers, cosmetics, and lotions.

The added wax emulsifier will help the lotion last longer as the oil and water will not separate and mold. You can use beeswax, but I find it to be too thick for this lotion. I prefer to stick to lighter waxes to keep that smooth, creamy texture.

More of My Favorite Skin Care Recipes:

4.50 from 8 votes

Goat Milk Lotion Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes
Active: 30 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Yield: 24 ounces
This easy goat milk lotion recipe is amazing for the skin, super moisturizing, and creamy. Made with raw goat milk, shea butter, and coconut oil, this lotion is great for all skin types.

Equipment

  • Kitchen Digital Scale
  • Meat thermometer
  • Double Boiler
  • Half gallon mason jar for mixing
  • Wide mouth mason jar for storage.
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Ingredients 

  • 9.6 ounces distilled water
  • 9.6 ounces goat milk
  • 1.2 ounces coconut oil
  • 1.2 ounces shea butter
  • 1.4 ounces wax Emulsifier
  • 0.72 ounces citric acid
  • 0.24 ounces rosemary extract
  • 0.24 ounces broad spectrum preservative, or about 1% of total weight, see notes below
  • 10 drops essential oil, optional

Instructions 

  • Measure out the fats and melt in a double boiler.
  • Add in the emulsifier wax. Once the wax is melted, remove pot from the heat.
  • While the ingredients are melting, add the goat milk and water to a half-gallon mason jar. Place the mason jar in a pot of warm water to warm it up slightly.
  • Mix the oils and liquid together using an immersion blender.
  • Using a kitchen thermometer, allow ingredients to cool to at least 140ยฐ F before going on to the next step.
  • Add in the citric acid, rosemary extract, and essential oils if using.
  • Add in the preservative.
  • Blend for an additional minute.
  • Pour lotion into storage containers. Allow it to cool before putting on the lids, store in the fridge.

Video

Notes

The lotion will thicken as it cools back down to room temperature.
If made correctly, the lotion will last 1-3 months
The recipe will make 24 ounces of lotion.
The lotion must be stored in the fridge for longest shelf life.
Depending on the preservative you choose, you will need to follow the recommended dilution rate. Most preservatives are used at .01-1% of the total product weight.
Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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4.50 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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16 Comments

  1. Grace says:

    Hi! I want to use this as a face cream but my skin doesn’t do well with coconut oil. Can I replace the coconut oil with grapeseed oil or will that make the lotion too liquid-y? Thanks so much!

    1. Laura says:

      I would suggest using jojoba oil or sweet almond oil as a substitute.

  2. Jen says:

    I’d like to make a thicker cream rather than a lotion. How do you recommend augmenting this recipe? Exclude the water?