Legend has it that Cleopatra VII, the last Egyptian pharaoh, used donkey milk as a skincare beauty treatment. She’s purported to have bathed in the milk of seven hundred donkeys to benefit from the milk’s properties!
It’s just a fable, right? Well, probably, but even though no one bathes in donkey milk anymore, this wild ingredient does translate into modern times. This particular milk has a variety of outstanding beauty benefits. Here’s how we use donkey milk in 2026 and how it can help you.
Ancient Beauty Practices Versus Modern-Day Cosmetic Application
We now know that donkey milk’s dense nutrients and low-level lactic acid (AHA) nourished, exfoliated, and hydrated ancient Greeks’ and Romans’ skin, but what other significant donkey milk benefits did our ancient counterparts stumble upon, and how do we use donkey milk now?
Modern cosmetic manufacturers have capitalized on recent studies revealing that donkey milk is both a legitimate beauty treatment and an effective remedy for several dermatological disorders. Donkey milk skin formulations, which are sometimes 100% organic, are now in soaps, lotions, creams, and facial masks. Many of these organic donkey milk products outperform synthetically-based products. Why? People buy donkey milk products because the milk’s unique combination of bioactive compounds works to regenerate cells naturally.
The Modern Science Behind Donkey Milk’s Beauty Benefits
In a 2016 study, researchers concluded that donkey milk has significant antimicrobial and anti-fungal benefits in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It can treat both acute and chronic fungal skin infections.
Other scientific studies have shown the promise of donkey milk for treating aging, dermatitis, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Scientists are still investigating how donkey milk can help advance medicine, but the prospects are exciting.
The Benefits of Donkey Milk
Donkey milk provides superior hydration.
High in whey proteins and lower in casein, donkey milk retains skin’s moisture and forms a protective barrier. Its unique protein composition is more similar to human breast milk than any other type of animal milk, and it helps reduce water loss and promotes supple skin.
It’s a superior moisturizer.
Donkey milk uses softening, anti-clogging triglycerides to protect the skin’s acid mantle and regulate skin oil levels. It also helps maintain a healthy skin PH level: 4.5 to 5.5.
Donkey milk combats aging.
This key ingredient improves skin texture, cell regeneration, cell repair, and elasticity, while promoting UV protection and wound healing. Studies suggest that it synthesizes collagen, which can help reduce wrinkles and fine lines over time. Donkey milk is also rich in vitamins A, B, and E, with naturally occurring vitamin D and a significantly higher level of vitamin C than any other milk. Its high vitamin A content acts like retinol.
It helps heal skin disorders.
Donkey milk’s anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-fungal properties support immune function and calm irritated or sensitive skin while combating acne, eczema, and rosacea. It also contains helpful Omega-3s and Omega-6s.
While donkey milk isn’t a miracle cure, modern science supports that Cleopatra’s legendary skin treatment is effective. Its nutrient-dense combination of vitamins, essential fatty acids, proteins, peptides, and antioxidants, similar to human breast milk, makes donkey milk an unusually soothing, nourishing ingredient, with some components showing promise for future cancer treatment.
Though anyone’s skin can greatly benefit from this amazing ingredient, those with sensitive or inflamed skin, premature signs of aging, or excessively dry or oily skin may find it especially therapeutic. You may think donkey milk sounds like a ridiculous beauty treatment, but when you try donkey milk skincare products, you’ll love how they help your skin flourish.
