A shiny and spot-free skin does not need expensive creams or exclusive salon treatments for its maintenance. Apart from a proper diet, all it requires is a robust skincare regime with some simple natural ingredients readily available at home. Milk is one of those oldest natural ingredients used in skincare and milk supplements, these days, are also being used in its place as a go-to skincare remedy. You can use milk powder to get back the lost luster of your skin and protect it from a number of woes. So, let us get started with some easy and effective DIY face packs with milk powder for healthy, clear, and naturally radiant skin.
What is Milk Powder?
Milk powder, also known as dried milk or powdered milk, is basically regular milk that has gone through the process of evaporation. When converted into the fine particles of powdered solids, milk can be preserved easily. It gets a longer shelf life than liquid milk and does not need refrigeration for its low moisture content. Moreover, evaporation reduces the bulk of liquid milk for the economy of transportation. (1) Earlier, a vacuum drying process was used for preparing powdered milk, which changed into spray drying in modern times. Drum drying, freeze-drying, etc. are some other common methods used for the production of milk powder. The properties of the product vary greatly based on the drying process and heat treatment.
Milk powder is a manufactured dairy product, which may contain different types of milk in dehydrated forms. These include whole milk, non-fat (skimmed) milk, buttermilk, whey, etc.
Milk Powder vs. Milk
While milk comes packed with nutrients essential for our health, skin, and hair, milk powder simply doubles it up in a natural way. In milk powder, the water content is evaporated completely to leave only the solids behind. This increases the concentration of nutrients, thereby boosting the nutritional value. So, milk powder is considered more powerful, potent, and effective than regular liquid milk. When diluted with water, milk powder replaces regular milk easily. Besides, it is used in food products like confectionery, sweets, baked goods, infant formula, etc. It is also used in biotechnology as a saturating agent for binding site saturation effects. Powdered milk is even used in DIY skincare remedies for boosting the health of the skin naturally.
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Nutritional Value of Milk Powder
As mentioned before, milk powder is rich in essential nutrients that are great for our overall health and well-being. It contains major nutrients like carbohydrates (mainly lactose), proteins (all 21 standard amino acids), and fats in moderate to large amounts. It is also very high in soluble vitamins (B6, D, etc.) and minerals (iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, etc.). However, conditions like high relative humidity and high ambient temperature can degrade the nutritive value of milk powder. So, it must be stored in the right way.
In Canada, milk powder comes with added vitamin D to ensure that it provides the recommended daily allowance of the nutrient i.e. 300-400 International Units (IU). (2)
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Why Use Milk Powder for Skin?
The higher concentration of vitamins and minerals in milk powder contributes to its excellent skin-boosting properties. As it does not contain water, more essential nutrients are delivered to the skin by using it in various skin care treatments like face packs or masks. Given below are the reasons why you should count on the benefits of the ingredient for a better complexion:
- Milk powder works as a natural cleanser that cleanses the skin cells from deep within by removing dirt, oil, and other impurities, thus leaving it squeaky clean.
- It contains a chemical exfoliant called lactic acid, which helps in sloughing off dead cells effectively from the outermost layer of the skin.
- While exfoliating the skin, milk powder unclogs skin pores. The lactic acid in it breaks up the sebum plugs in the pores to make the skin look clean and clear.
- By unclogging the pores, the ingredient also cures issues like blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, etc. This helps in keeping spots, marks, and blemishes away.
- Regular use of milk powder enhances the natural moisture level of the skin, thereby keeping it hydrated, soft, and moisturized. It also heals dry, scaly, and even itchy skin.
- The exfoliating properties of the ingredient help in brightening up dull and lifeless skin by eradicating the superficial dead cell layer and exposing a new layer of fresher skin cells underneath.
- Milk powder acts as a natural bleaching agent that lightens the skin complexion and smoothens its texture while adding a youthful glow to it.
- The lactic acid in milk powder is effective in speeding up the cell turnover rate in our skin. This boosts collagen production, plumps up aging skin, and reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, etc.
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5 Best Homemade Face Packs with Milk Powder
The skin benefits of milk powder make it an excellent ingredient of face packs. You can mix it with other natural ingredients to get a naturally radiant look. Following are the most effective face packs with milk powder that you can try out at home:
1. Milk Powder and Honey
This is the simplest pack that can give you a flawless glow irrespective of your skin type. Take honey and milk powder in equal quantities and mix them well to make a fine paste. Apply it all over your face and massage gently in a circular motion. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then, wash it off with cold water. Doing it daily or at least thrice every week will give you a refreshingly moisturized, even-toned skin.
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2. Milk Powder, Rice Flour, and Rose Water
If you have blemished skin with dark patches here and there, this face pack is something worth trying. Add 1 teaspoon of rice flour to 2 teaspoons of milk powder and make a paste of semi-thick consistency by pouring some rose water into it. Apply it to your entire face and wait for 20 minutes. Then, scrub gently for a couple of minutes with your fingertips by following a circular motion and wash the pack away. Using it thrice a week will give you the optimum results.
You can also soak raw rice and milk powder in plain water for at least 2 hours and then, grind the mixture into a paste of medium consistency.
3. Milk Powder, Walnut Powder, and Milk Cream
This face mask not only brings an instant glow to the skin but also helps in lightening its tone. Simply take milk powder and walnut powder in equal quantities and add milk cream to it. Make a fine paste of medium consistency. You can also add a few drops of honey to the mixture if you wish. Apply the pack all over your face and leave it on for half an hour. Then, wash it off with plain water to reveal lighter and brighter skin.
4. Milk Powder, Curd, and Jasmine Flower
Curd helps in hydrating the skin deeply and making it even-toned while the essential oil in the jasmine flower makes it blemish and spot-free. When combined with the milk powder, they may lead to a flawless skin that draws immediate attention of everyone. All you have to do is take 4-5 jasmine flowers and crush them nicely. Add milk powder and curd to it and make a fine paste. Apply the mixture to your skin thoroughly and then, wash it off with lukewarm water after half an hour or so.
5. Milk Powder, Saffron, and Milk Cream
The benefits of saffron for skin are innumerable. However, to get more benefits from this wonderful spice, you should soak it overnight in milk cream. In the morning, you can find the mixture with its color changed beautifully. Add milk powder to it and make a fine pack. Apply it to your face and leave it on for at least half an hour. Finally, wash it off with tepid water to get a stunning glow and gorgeous fairness instantly.
Side Effects of Milk Powder
Milk powder is generally safe to use for skin. Being an edible ingredient, it can be used topically without any worry. However, you must keep a few things in mind before including it in your regular face packs. If you have sensitive skin, milk powder may turn it even more sensitive with its physical exfoliating properties. Some of the most common symptoms you should look for are redness, dryness, itchiness, swelling, burning sensation, etc. Doing a patch test before a full-face treatment with milk powder will be helpful in staying away from these. You may also experience photosensitivity due to the topical application of milk powder. Choosing a good sunscreen with high SPF (30 or more) and wearing protective clothing as well as accessories will help you stay away from this. Commercial milk powder may also cause atherosclerotic plaques as it contains lots of oxysterols (oxidized cholesterol) produced by free radicals or enzymes (3).
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Summary:
Milk powder is basically regular milk that has been converted into the fine particles of powdered solids through evaporation for easy preservation and longer shelf life. Spray drying, drum drying, freeze-drying, etc. are some common methods of milk powder production, which influence the properties of the product greatly. Due to complete evaporation of water, milk powder has higher concentration of essential nutrients. It is more powerful, potent, and effective than regular liquid milk. Apart from food and cooking, it is used in biotechnology and natural skincare too. Using it in various skin care treatments like face packs or masks can give you a better complexion. It acts as a deep cleanser, exfoliates the the skin thoroughly, unclogs skin pores, removes blemishes and spots, hydrates the skin, brightens it up, reduces signs of aging, and adds a youthful glow to the face. Try adding other natural ingredients like honey, rice flour, rose water, walnut powder, milk cream, curd, jasmine flower, saffron, etc. to your face packs with milk powder for achieving flawless glowing skin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Apply Milk Powder on My Face Every Day?
Of course, you can apply milk powder every day on your face. However, make sure that you do not use it in large quantities or exfoliate your skin with it too harshly.
Does Applying Milk Powder on Face Clog Pores?
The exfoliating properties of milk powder help in unclogging skin pores by drawing dust, dirt, and all other impurities out of them.
Can I Leave Milk on Face Overnight?
Milk is a natural skin-booster and leaving it overnight on the face will make the skin well-nourished. Just make sure that you do not soak your face in a layer of milk. Rather, use it as a toner by applying with a cotton ball.
Is Boiled Milk Good for Face?
Applying boiled milk to the face is not recommended at all. Rather, you should use cold raw milk for facial treatments as it soothes, moisturizes, and heals the skin effectively.
How Do You Store Powdered Milk?
Powdered milk should always be stored in an airtight container. Keeping it in a cool, dry place increases its shelf life considerably.
References:
- “Powdered Milk“, Wikipedia.org
- “Food and Drug Regulations“, Laws.Justice.gc.ca
- “Atherogenic Effect of Oxidized Products of Cholesterol“, PubMed.NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
