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When I discovered African Black soap I thought this is great I don’t have to use these harsh detergent filled soaps anymore for myself or my family. I thought the buck stopped there at this wonderful soap.  Soon after I began hearing of another natural soap created quite readily in the natural soap making community. Many of us know of the benefits of African Black soap and its use for centuries how well it conditions our skin-offering a natural source of vitamins A and E and the mineral Iron these combined nutrients offer benefits for the skin such as: clears blemishes, relieves acne, oily skin, helps with premature facial lines and wrinkles, great for rough, dry or sensitive skin and wonderful shampoo.

After I discovered goat’s milk soap and the many skin benefits that mirrored the African Black soap, I learned that it also had a few more offerings that ABS didn’t.

I decided to see what made this soap so great for the skin.

Unlike the African Black soap I found that the goat’s milk has been used for bathing for many centuries (Cleopatra was notorious for this) just not put in the form of a solid bar of soap.  When I mention the African Black soap I would get the eyes of acknowledgment and some telling me what they liked or didn’t like about it. When I would begin asking about the goat’s milk soap some say, "yes I have used it", others would rave about it and then there were those who said they thought African Black soap was the only true natural soap.

I found that more knew of the African Black soap and its benefits than the goat’s milk soap, and those who did know and use goat’s milk soap didn’t fully know to the extent just how beneficial it was for their skin. Like the African Black soap, Goat’s Milk soap nurtures all skin types even eczema and psoriasis afflicted skin and both are moisturizing as well as can be used as a shampoo.

I love the fact that African Black soap has sulfur which is great for the hair and skin and although little is really talked about sulfur our body produces high levels especially in our muscles we do need sulfur for healthy nails, hair and skin. Goat’s milk, however, lacks high quantities of this, which I found to be disappointing. But I also found that you can add it to your goat’s milk soap either powder form MSM (methyl-sulfonyl-methane) or carrier oils (Jamaican Black Castor Oil) that are high in sulfur.  While both soaps are great alternatives to the many commercial brands that tend to remove the moisturizing agents like glycerin when creating their soaps I found that goat’s milk soap was a bit more vitamin packed in addition to its pH levels being so close to our own skin’s levels.  This may be why many studies show that goat’s milk is better for the digestion than cow’s milk.

With all the concern for bacteria and using bar soaps where we are being told that anti-bacterial soap is the way to go further discovery lead me to that fact of the matter is we need some bacteria (good) to survive.  This (good) bacterium is a layer of acidic oils that offers a barrier or a filter if you will to keep most of the (bad) bacteria out.  When we use anti-bacterial soaps and sanitizers we not only wipe out the bad bacteria we remove the protective barrier as well leaving us prone to contracting illnesses unnecessarily.  There are only a small percentage of bacteria found on bar soaps and that come from the standing water left in the soap dishes-this is why we need slated soap dishes that drain the water from our bars and also helps them last longer.  Like African Black soap using goat’s milk soap makes it easier to protect skin from bacteria and other daily chemical contact.

The vitamin list of goat's milk consists of a powerhouse of vitamins A, B1, B6,B12, C, D, E and K. Vitamin K found in your greens (broccoli, spinach ,cabbage and kale) but also found in fruits (blueberries, kiwi, grapes, blackberries and strawberries).  Studies have shown when used topically (soaps and body creams) in combination with vitamin A (Retinol), vitamin K can be very beneficial with anti-aging and skin rejuvenation.  Which is where I also found that goat’s milk carries natural Alpha- Hydroxy properties that when introduced in your natural soaps creates a natural exfoliate that removes dead skin cells revealing a brighter, more youthful appearance of your skin. And who wouldn’t love to have that as a daily weapon?

Minerals in goat’s milk such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, chlorine and manganese are very high; but it is lower in sodium, iron, sulfur, and zinc. Another mineral that Goat’s Milk offers is selenium, which scientist are now believing to play an important factor in preventing skin cancer-helping to prevent skin damage from excessive exposure to the sun.

If you have found a natural soap you are happy with and it is giving you all what you hoped for then I say by all means stick with what works (if it aint broke don’t fix it). But if you find that some of what I have written is making you a bit curious take a chance if you don’t like it you can always go back no one is judging you.

We all like what we like.  While I like the African Black Soap for its many beneficial skin offerings, I found that I like the Goat’s Milk Soap more. For what it lacks in its natural composition I have found it can be rectified with other natural ingredients that can make up the difference.  Natural soap makers can then give skin the best of both worlds with conditioning, vitamin and mineral rich soaps that can be used from ages 0-100.

C. Dawn Farrow
After Affects
Food for the Skin!