If Cleopatra indulged in all the beauty treatments attributed to her, she wouldn't have had time to rule her empire, seduce Mark Antony, or learn Egyptian. But a girl's gotta bathe, so the one skin-smoother she probably did rely on-milk baths-no doubt helped her bring Caesar and Mark to heel. Did Cleo know something we've forgotten? Actually, yes.
"Milk is a super soother for chapping, windburn, sunburn, eczema, and other skin irritations," says New York dermatologist Amy Wechsler, MD. "It contains proteins (whey and casein), fat, amino acids, lactic acid, and vitamins A and D, all of which calm dry, upset skin."
Dr. Wechsler suggests applying compresses dipped in cool milk for irritations like sunburn and eczema. But be sure to use whole milk; skim won't do because it doesn't contain fat, one of milk's most soothing components. If compresses aren't practical-say, you've managed to broil the backs of your legs on a beach getaway-a milk bath will give you some relief: Add 2 to 4 cups to a warm (not hot) tub and soak for 20 minutes. You can use powdered whole milk too. Sprinkle the amount of powder needed to make a quart of milk under the faucet as the water flows out.
Milky baths also soften skin, according to Wechsler. Milk's lactic acid weakens the "glue" that lets dead, ready-to-be-shed cells stick to the skin's surface, making it look dull and dry. Soak for 15 minutes, then give your body a gentle neck-to-toe scrubdown with a bath brush, loofah, or washcloth. This will slough off those dead cells, leaving skin smoother and softer.
Not quite sure about pouring a quart of milk into the tub? The beauty people have visited the dairy too. For instance, Fresh Milk Formula Bath Foam ($35 for 15.8 oz at www.sephora.com) contains milk as well as shea butter and glycerine. But if your skin is very irritated or totally winter-whipped, says Wechsler, try the real thing. It should leave your whole body feeling creamy.
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