Baths are beloved for many reasons: Beyond helping you to rinse off the day and calm your nerves, soaking in the tub can be an effective way to give your skin a boost, too. And while colorful bath bombs and exotic bath recipes have gained immense popularity, there’s something about a classic milk bath soak that feels extra enticing (and luxurious).

Perhaps, with iconic devotees like Cleopatra herself, it’s a milk bath’s enduring allure in the beauty sphere (now even as a source of nail inspo) that has us captivated—or maybe it’s the soothing and moisturizing benefits that keep us intrigued. Either way, we turned to dermatologists to get the full rundown. Read on to learn all about DIY milk bath soaks, including the benefits, key considerations, and a step-by-step guide to creating your own.

What Are Milk Bath Soaks?

A milk bath soak is almost exactly as it sounds: a bath comprising a bit of liquid or powdered milk and other skin-friendly ingredients in a base of warm water. Since the bath is still mostly water and uses only a cup or two of milk, it’s just enough to get the soothing benefits. It’s a minimalist, age-old practice for nourishing even the most sensitive skin types, allowing the outer layer of your skin to absorb the milk fats alongside the usual water and oils.

Benefits of Milk Bath Soaks

According to board-certified dermatologist Purvisha Patel, MD, FAAD, “milk has been used for centuries in bath form for its beauty benefits. It is said that Nefertiti herself bathed in them regularly.” According to Patel, the milk itself can help soothe poison ivy and sunburns, soften dead skin, smooth rough skin, and can even moisturize and soothe inflamed skin. Meanwhile, other ingredients like oats (which you can optionally add to your milk bath) have anti-inflammatory properties. It should be noted, however, that sensitive skin can be easily irritated by milk, according to medical and cosmetic dermatologist Melanie Palm, MD, MBA.

“Taking a bath compared to a shower can be more effective at hydrating the skin since there is better replenishment of water soaking in a tub than simply showering,” adds board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD. “When you add in certain types of milk—buttermilk especially or oat milk for the calming benefits of oat—you get greater calming and anti-itch benefits.”

Ingredients for a Milk Bath Soak

Creating a milk bath soak is fairly simple: It mostly uses natural ingredients that you may even already have around the house. To get started, gather the following ingredients:

• 1-2 cups powdered milk of your choice (depending on the size of your tub)
• Warm water
• 1 cup oats
• 1/2 cup oil
• Essential oils
• 1 cup Epsom salt

How to Create and Enjoy a Milk Bath Soak

1. As with any bath, the first step is to fill your tub with water. Ciraldo recommends a lukewarm temperature—she says that both hot and cold water can have drying effects and are best avoided.
2. Once you’ve drawn the bath, toss in one to two cups of the powdered milk of your choice for some much-needed moisturizing effects. Cow’s milk and goat milk are two common options. Many dermatologists also recommend whole milk or buttermilk, which contains more lactic acid. The idea is that this may enhance its exfoliating and hydrating effects: “Milk can make your skin feel softer and smoother because the fats cling to the skin,” says board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon Dendy Engelman, MD, FAAD. “You’ll notice a silky (but not oily) feeling.” For people who want to avoid using dairy products, powdered soy, almond, oat, or coconut milk can be good alternatives.
3. This step is completely optional, but oatmeal is a great addition (or alternative) to soothe dry, itchy skin. Palm doesn’t generally recommend milk baths to her patients because of the potential allergic reactions and irritations that could result if someone is sensitive to milk. Instead, she often recommends colloidal oatmeal baths to patients experiencing conditions like eczema and dry skin—more on that below.
4. This is also optional, but for an extra moisturizing boost, you may want to add a bit of warmed coconut oil or another oil such as avocado, jojoba, or olive. Of course, this can get a bit slippery, so remember to be careful if you decide to use an oil in your milk bath.
5. If you have Epsom salt around, don’t be shy about tossing a half or whole cup of it into your milk bath. Epsom salt—the better-known name for magnesium sulfate, which can reduce inflammation and help detox the skin—is a common home remedy for joint pain and relaxing muscles.
6. Some people like to enhance their milk bath’s scent by adding a few drops of lavender oil or another skin-safe essential oil. But use caution here, especially if you have sensitive skin. “Essential oils can cause severe contact allergies in some patients and should be avoided unless there is a history of good tolerance,” Palm says.
7. Before getting into your milk bath, use your hand to mix the water and ingredients around a bit. Then, settle in and relax. For the best results, aim to soak for around 20 to 30 minutes.
8. After you’re done with your bath, it’s smart to hop into the shower and rinse off using warm water. This way, you won’t be left with any milky residue.

Side Effects of a Milk Bath Soak

Any adverse side effect of a milk bath soak would be resulting from a reaction to individual ingredients. Someone with a sensitivity to milk may experience skin irritation or allergic reactions, and the use of essential oils can also be sensitizing to certain skin types. If the water is too hot, it can disrupt the skin’s natural moisture balance, exacerbating dryness and potentially even causing inflammation, redness, peeling, or burns. If you have a history of skin sensitivity or reactivity, it’s best to consult your physician before taking a milk bath.

Alternatives

As mentioned, colloidal oatmeal is an option that Palm and others recommend to soothe and nourish the skin, either in tandem with or instead of a milk bath. “Colloidal oatmeal is comprised of grounded oat grains,” she says. “This finely textured powder is combined with other ingredients to soothe skin. It most commonly comes as a packet that can be added to warm bath water to create a cloudy, soothing treatment.”

Colloidal oatmeal works its magic on our skin in a few ways: It’s anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and may even provide a bit of UV protection. Many of these beneficial properties are due in part to phenolic compounds called avenanthramides that are found in oats, Palm explains. Meanwhile, “the moisturizing and soothing properties of colloidal oatmeal derive from oat sugars such as starch and beta-glucan,” Palm says. “These provided a protective coating that reduces water loss from the skin.”

The Final Takeaway

Milk baths are a gentle, longstanding method to soothing dryness and irritation, and they’re fairly simple to DIY using natural ingredients that you may already have around. While some of the ingredients—such as the milk itself and the essential oils—may irritate certain sensitive skin types, it’s possible to adjust your bath to better fit your needs if this is a concern. At the end of the day, if you’re looking for an at-home treatment to soothe and nourish your skin, a milk bath can be an effective, meditative option.