Goat Milk Soap Benefits for Sensitive Skin (+ Why Superfatted Matters)
If you’ve ever struggled with sensitive skin, you know how frustrating it can be to find products that cleanse without irritation. Many commercial soaps are loaded with harsh detergents, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives that strip your skin of its natural oils. That’s where goat milk soap shines — especially when it’s handmade and superfatted, like ours here at Jollity Farm.
Why Goat Milk Soap is Gentle on Sensitive Skin
Have you ever noticed that you dont really see a lot of Cow’s Milk Soaps? There is a reason (or two) for that: Goat milk has been used in skincare for centuries, and for good reason. It’s naturally rich in:
Lactic acid — a gentle alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps exfoliate dead skin cells without harsh scrubbing.
Vitamins A & E — antioxidants that support healthy skin renewal and repair.
Creamy fats — the natural butterfat in goat milk helps lock in moisture, leaving skin soft and calm.
For sensitive skin, this combination is a game-changer. Instead of drying out your skin, goat milk soap nurtures and hydrates, giving you a healthy, balanced feel after every wash.
A Little Nerdy Science: Saponification
Soap is made through a chemical reaction called saponification. Here’s the gist:
Fats and oils (like olive, coconut, or palm) are mostly triglycerides — molecules made of glycerol + three fatty acids.
When we add sodium hydroxide (lye), the lye molecules break those triglycerides apart.
The fatty acids combine with sodium, forming soap molecules, while the glycerol becomes glycerin.
In chemical shorthand:
Fat + NaOH → Soap + Glycerin
The stoichiometry — or “recipe math” — is crucial. If you use exactly the right amount of lye, all the fat gets converted into soap. But when we “superfat” a batch, we deliberately leave a bit of extra oil behind. Those leftover oils give your skin a creamy, moisturizing boost, which is why superfatted bars feel so luxurious and gentle.
Why Superfatted Matters
When we make soap at Jollity Farm, we add a little extra oil — this is what’s called superfatting. Those oils don’t fully react during the soap-making process, which means they remain in the finished bar as free, nourishing oils that feed your skin.
Superfatted soaps are:
More moisturizing — that little extra oil acts like a built-in lotion.
Less harsh — no “tight skin” feeling after washing.
Better for sensitive skin — they provide a protective layer, soothing irritation and dryness.
The Bonus: Natural Glycerin
Did you know that glycerin is a natural byproduct of the soap-making process? Most big manufacturers remove glycerin to use in lotions and other cosmetics — which is why their soaps feel drying.
We leave all the glycerin right where it belongs: in your bar. That means extra hydration, better skin barrier protection, and a silky lather that sensitive skin loves.
The Bottom Line
If you have sensitive skin, goat milk soap is one of the most soothing, skin-friendly choices you can make. And when it’s handmade, superfatted, and glycerin-rich, like our bars here at Jollity Farm, you’re not just cleansing — you’re nourishing your skin with every wash.
✨ Ready to give your skin some love? Browse our goat milk soaps here »