Goat Milk Soap: Cream Rises to the Top
What goes into Premium Goat Milk Soap? Growing up on a farm instilled a sense of unwavering determination in me. I believe in doing things the right way—practicality meets personal preference.
When I embarked on my soap-making journey, I made a promise to myself: I would create a product that not only worked but also resonated with my own tastes. Today, I remain committed to that vision.
In this post, I want to unveil the behind-the-scenes process here at Ledgeway Farm and, more importantly, shed light on why I wholeheartedly embrace this approach.
Join me as I reveal the secrets behind our premium goat milk soap and explore the reasons why I find it truly exceptional!
Oils for Goat Milk Soap
Palm Oil
We do not use Palm Oil in our soaps. This is intentional. It’s hard to find products without Palm Oil in it because the oil itself is easily accessible and much less expensive than other moisturizing oils, causing the maker to have a higher profit margin.
According to a study done in 2016, “oil palm expansion, which increasingly replaces tropical forests with monoculture crop systems, depletes biodiversity, destroys old growth rainforest, and causes air pollution. Furthermore, much of the rainforest in Indonesia grows on carbon-rich peatland, the destruction of which adversely affects both biodiversity and the climate.”
We value ecosystems and habitats globally, not just in our backyard, so we avoid palm oil …even if it’s less expensive.
Coconut Oil
Another way that many soap makers keep their costs down and profits higher, is to use more coconut oil in their soaps than moisturizing oils.
Coconut oil is the ingredient that cleans and lathers. These makers will include moisturizing oils in their recipes (usually palm oil) but use higher quantities of coconut oil.
There is definitely a use for coconut oil in handcrafted soap, but at Ledgeway Farm that use is not for moisturizing properties. Let’s dive into this a little bit…
Even though coconut oil is widely promoted as a moisturizing oil, you may experience quite a different result on your skin. Do your hands become like sandpaper after moisturizing with coconut oil? Here’s why.
Coconut oil has a high absorption rate into your skin and can initially feel very moisturizing, however the more it absorbs the less likely your body may produce natural sebum to moisturize the surface of your skin. Your skin needs a layer of oil (lipids) on the surface to protect it from environmental stressors, like wind, rain, cold, the sun, and other elements. Once the coconut oil is absorbed your skin is left naked and unprotected on the surface – not good.
Coconut oil has its place in our wonderfully moisturizing goat milk soap but is not considered our moisturizing ingredient. Its superpower is that it is naturally antibacterial and antifungal making it a perfect cleanser that produces a light bubbly lather.
Olive Oil
Our soaps at Ledgeway Farm harness the moisturizing power of farm-fresh goat milk combined with nourishing Olive Oil. This powerful combination works wonders for your skin. Originating from the Mediterranean and made by pressing olives, Olive Oil is packed with vitamin E, which has amazing anti-aging properties. It helps stimulate collagen production, which naturally declines as we get older. With Olive Oil, you can moisturize, hydrate, and safeguard your skin without worrying about clogged pores like some other moisturizing oils may cause.
Ledgeway Farm is known for producing a high-quality bar of soap. We don’t skimp on our ingredients. We spend the extra money by putting (literally) twice as much olive oil in each bar as coconut oil, creating the perfect blend of ingredients to produce a wonderfully moisturizing bar of soap that will gently cleanse your skin.
Check Your Oil!
You can tell by looking at the ingredient list, if they are abiding by regulations they will list the largest quantity of ingredients first and go down from there.
When customers experience that their all-natural, or goat milk soap dries their skin out, it’s because there is too much coconut oil in it (less expensive to make).
Our ingredients are clean, simple, and eco-friendly. Farm fresh goat milk, pure quality olive oil (this is where spending extra makes a great bar – super moisturizing), coconut oil, and castor oil. and from there we add pure therapeutic grade essential oils to scent with, (like patchouli or lavender!) and if we add any colorant at all it’s all-natural Brazilian clay.
Packaging For Goat Milk Soap
Embrace Eco-Friendly Packaging: Plastic-Free Shampoo Bars. At our core, we are deeply committed to our eco-friendly values, and that includes our packaging choices.
We understand the growing enthusiasm for our shampoo bars, and one of the key reasons behind this excitement is our dedication to eliminating plastics. Instead, our shampoo bars are thoughtfully wrapped in wax paper—no plastic bottles in sight!
By opting for this sustainable packaging solution, we aim to minimize our environmental footprint and offer you a guilt-free way to care for your hair. Join us in our mission to reduce plastic waste and enjoy the convenience and eco-consciousness of our plastic-free shampoo bars. Together, we can make a positive impact on our planet, one shower at a time.
Similarly, we don’t use plastic to wrap our soap bars. We dress ‘em up in eco-friendly cardboard printed with eco-friendly ink and off they go!
No Wimpy Soap!
Let me reveal a secret that showcases my stubbornness: Our goat milk soap bars are larger than most, and I couldn’t be happier about it! They weigh a whopping 6 ounces and boast a remarkable thickness of 1 1/4 inches. (In comparison, typical goat milk soap bars are only 1 inch thick and range from 4 to 4.5 ounces.) Why did I go against the grain? Well, let me explain.
Back in the day, when I used to purchase artisan soaps, I found myself running out too quickly. Working on a farm means getting dirty, and I required a substantial amount of soap. Tired of constantly rushing back to the store, I took matters into my own hands and started making larger bars!
As I began crafting soap to sell, I even invested in a custom soap cutter. The person at the cutter place warned me, “You know, with this size, you’ll only get 240 bars of soap from 100 pounds instead of 320.”
My response? “So what?”
Once I set my mind on something, it’s tough to sway me. And let me tell you, those bigger bars of soap deliver an unparalleled experience!
Join me in celebrating the power of size. Experience the joy and satisfaction of our bigger bars, meticulously crafted to provide you with an exceptional bathing experience. Don’t settle for less—embrace the excellence of our generous goat milk soaps!
Happy Goats
The Main Event – The Big Deal – The Driving Force Behind Our Why – GOAT MILK!
Farm Fresh Goat Milk – the number one ingredient.
Raised in a generational farm family I learned at a very young age to respect the land and to take great care of the livestock. Giving your all to both of those things results in them giving their all back to you.
My father, and his before him, took time after all the cows were milked (at one point that was 172 head) and everything was put away to linger in the barn and observe the cows. This is where all the learning happened – all the great conversations took place. By taking that time he knew if one of those cows were off her game, if she needed a little more of this or that, maintaining optimum health and happiness. We are blessed to have learned from the best and indulge in the same practices.
Happy goats are loving, friendly, and productive. What makes a goat happy?
Proper nutrition is specific to dairy goats, clean dry stalls in a barn that allows proper shelter from the elements, fresh water daily, a handler that is attentive to their individual health needs, and room to run, jump, and play.
And goats DO LOVE TO PLAY! Some things they play within our pasture: A large boulder to climb and jump off, and a plank to balance on that goes from the large boulder to a goat tree house that they lounge in, play in and it provides shade.
I feel like we work hard and are successful at accomplishing the above.
Conclusion
We are firm believers in the cleansing and healing properties of goat milk products. The all-natural ingredients far surpass any chemically produced detergents that strip our skin of its essential oils and microbiomes. Instead, goat milk soaps nourish, moisturize, protect, and leave you feeling comfortable in your own skin!
From our home to yours,