Melissa's Toolkit: Coconut Milk & Powder

Ingredients: Coconut Milk & Powder

Mmmm, creamy coconut is such a rich and delicious food.  Although it is commonly used in the kitchen, coconut milk can actually be used as a luxury ingredient in soaps, lotions, and bath bombs as well. This favorite food of mine has become a go-to ingredient in many of our products because it packs a punch with a ton of benefits.

As a food, coconut milk has a high nutritional value because it is packed with vitamins and minerals that the body craves, including Vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5, and B6 and selenium, iron, copper, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. The body needs vitamins to bolster the immune system, regenerate cells, build muscle and bone, and convert food to energy.

It also needs minerals to remain healthy. The body uses copper to form connective tissues, maintain the normal function of muscles, and promote its overall growth and health. Selenium helps protect against infection, and it also helps in reproduction, DNA production, and thyroid gland functions. Iron builds strong blood; calcium builds strong bones with the help of phosphorus; and magnesium aids in over 300 enzyme reactions that can lead to thousands of biochemical reactions everyday to keep nerves, muscles, and other functions operating smoothly.

​All of this goodness is found in coconut, so we use it a lot!
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Coconut milk is not really “milk”!  It is actually the liquid that is stored within the “ flesh” that coats the inside of a coconut. The more mature the coconut, the richer the “milk.” It also makes the perfect drink for anyone lactose-intolerant. Yum!

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​Considered a luxury ingredient, coconut adds so many benefits in skin-care products. High in natural fatty acids and rich in vitamins and minerals, it pampers, soothes, and restores the health and glow of dry or aging skin. The oils in the coconut milk make it a great cleanser because they provide a deep cleaning without clogging the skin’s pores! Coconut milk’s gentle softening effect is also perfect for almost all skin types. We also use coconut milk powder. It is a great ‘good for you’ stand-in for traditional “fillers” like cornstarch or clays that are found in most commercial bath products. Coconut is just so much better for you!

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Coconut milk  is one of my favorite ingredients to work with because of its oh-so-creamy texture, velvety smooth feel, and delightful scent. Coconut powder has that same wonderful scent, too. I use both in my recipes… so how do I decide which to use?

​Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is liquid that comes straight from the white flesh inside the coconut. When the meat of a coconut is grated, the liquid that it produces is coconut milk. Coconut milk  has a naturally high oil content that gives it moisturizing properties that keep skin soft and supple. I use coconut milk in my artisan soaps (also known as ‘cold process’ soaps). In any cold process soap, the lye (or sodium hydroxide) needs to be dissolved in a liquid that is then emulsified into the oils and butters in the recipe. For most recipes, the liquid is distilled water; however, for our coconut milk soaps, I use pure coconut milk to make the soap richer, creamier, and more moisturizing for the skin.

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Using any milk is trickier than using distilled water because as the lye dissolves, it heats up… and milk, unlike water, can scorch. When using coconut milk, I use a series of tricks to prevent scorching. First, I use frozen coconut milk to start, then second, I add the lye very slowly, mixing small amounts at a time. If too much lye is mixed in at once, the solution will heat up too quickly, and the milk scorches. Scorched milk ruins the soap - it will cause it to discolor to a dark yellow or light tan and may have a burnt smell. This color and smell can then cause the finished soap to be discolored and/or smell “off” or slightly unpleasant. As perfectionists, we cannot stand for that!
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If you rub coconut milk over your skin and allow it to soak for 20-30 minutes, your skin will get moisturized and take on a healthy glow!

​Coconut Milk Powder

Powdered coconut milk is simply liquid coconut milk that has been dried into a powder form. Using the coconut milk in powdered form is necessary in some recipes where added liquid will ruin the results, such as in our bath bombs. The powdered milk adds a unique creaminess to products, and it is very soothing for dry skin. It also boosts the bubbles in our bath bombs without the use of artificial detergents (or the fancy word: “artificial surfactants”).  I strive to keep our products as natural as possible, yet still provide the fun of lots of bubbles!

Luckily, working with powdered coconut milk is fairly easy. It does not scorch… but it does clump up quite a bit due to its high oil content. To remedy this, I use a sifter to break it up into a fine powder. The process is worth it because the coconut milk powder adds so many benefits for the skin that traditional “fillers,” like cornstarch or various clays, do not. These traditional fillers are found in most commercial bath bombs, but we at Tailored Touches prefer the coconut… it is healthier… plus, it smells deliciously coconutty!

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Coconuts grow on very tall, thin trees. You can wait for them to fall or climb up the tree and get them. Coconut trees are often referred to as “Trees of Life” since every part of a coconut can be used - as food, drink, fiber, fuel, or utensils! But.. coconuts are not even technically nuts; they are botanically classified as fruits!

​On a trip to Zanzibar in 2014, my daughter saw a guy climb a coconut tree, throw a few down, then expertly cut them open to enjoy. Yum!

So, coconut milk and milk powder are ‘good for you’, smell good, moisturize, create bubbles in a bath, and often stand-in for less healthy ingredients. What’s not to love? ​For these reasons, we use coconut milk (in liquid or dry form) in a lot of products. 

Our Coconut Milk Bath uses powdered coconut milk to combat dryness and add a healthy glow to your skin. Combined with cocoa butter, pink Himalayan salts, and honey powder, this milk bath will treat your skin like royalty. The coconut milk and cocoa butter will soften and soothe dry skin, the salts will provide a deep skin cleansing, and the honey has a moisturizing effect.

​It also smells divine, which we think is ultimately why it is one of our best-sellers!

​Artisan Coconut Milk Soap and Lime-Kissed Coconut Milk Soap use coconut milk as the liquid base to dissolve the lye. The coconut milk adds a touch of creaminess to the lather and boosts the moisturizing properties of both soaps.

Coconut Milk Soap

Lime-Kissed Coconut Milk Soap

Cinnamon Natural Soap

Cinnamon Natural Soap was created for a dear customer with very dry skin. When I was deciding on the good-for-you ingredients, I naturally turned to coconut milk powder plus lots of skin-nourishing oils. Mmm...

Coconut milk powder helps to sooth and hydrate your skin when applying this Silky Clay Facial Mask.

​The coconut milk powder combined with Kaolin clay and colloidal oatmeal helps to pamper, clean, and soften your skin.

​The mask will gently exfoliate any dry skin to make your skin glow!

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Our Signature Bath Bombs come in a wide variety of scents, but each one also has a healthy dose of coconut milk powder to boost the bubbles and to soothe dry skin.

Paired with coconut oil, the coconut milk not only relaxes you but pampers your skin without using unnecessary fillers I mentioned. Win-win.

If you haven't tried coconut milk in either liquid or powdered form on your skin, check out just how luxuriously soft it makes you feel. It's one of our favorite ingredients! Stay tuned for our next ingredients in our series... Buttermilk and Goat's Milk!