TikTokker @azian_beauti19 shares K-beauty’s skincare secret is MILK.
The TikTok video has racked up over 348K views, with the TikTokker sharing that K-beauty celebrities use whole fat milk on their face to brighten their complexion as well as help with skin texture.
The instructions include heating up the milk in a bowl for 15 seconds, before soaking it on a cotton pad and leaving it on the area of skin you want to treat for 10-20 minutes.
We ask Chartered Chemist and founder of SOS Serum Skincare, Bruce Green, if we can really milk, using milk for all it’s worth:
“Milk is an emulsion of oil/fats in water, therefore by definition, it has some moisturising properties if used in facial skin. We all know about Cleopatra bathing (in goat’s milk) and it certainly did no harm for Elizabeth Taylor BUT there are some points to bear in mind.
If you suffer from acne/pimples, you should avoid the use of milk or milk products for skincare.
If you have oily skin and your sebum glands are very active, the fatty acid content in dairy products could increase natural oil production even more and encourage bacteria to stick to the face.
If you have sensitive skin, the chance of milk allergies is increased. Approximately 60% of the population have some form of sensitivity to the lactose in milk. Applying milk to your face could cause a reaction.
Don’t use full-fat milk (2% max), instead look for non-dairy alternatives such as almond, coconut or soya. If in doubt, do a small patch test first.
In rare cases, milk can cause an allergic reaction. Milk has been used in bath preparations and face masks for hundreds of years. It can be as effective as many expensive products but after use, it MUST be rinsed /cleansed off thoroughly from the skin or rancidity will set in and it can become the focus of surface bacteria and all the associated problems.
I do not recommend using milk on your skin for long contact times. After applying milk to your skin with a cotton ball, let it dry for 30 minutes (maximum) then wash your face with clean, cool water.
Milk can be used at night as a moisturiser as it acts as a potential natural moisturiser, but there is a lack of evidence as to its effectiveness.
Adding rice and honey to milk and a little glycerine will produce a good and gentle exfoliator and it should smell nice too BUT don’t leave it on (long term) and always rinse well after use.
Natural formulations are not normally perfumed and you do not want skin/facial bacterial overload.
Drinking milk has many proven health benefits. Packed with calcium which helps make bones stronger, it is also a good source of protein, can help in a weight programme, can help reduce blood pressure and is often fortified with Vitamin D and all its benefits. BUT if you are allergic to milk, avoid using it on your face as it has been strongly linked to acne.
Finally, I love milk and, in its place, it can be beneficial to a healthy skincare regime but its not a PANACEA. Use it sensibly and don’t leave it on all night – you know how milk smells if you leave it out of the fridge for too long.”
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