Cleopatra, according to history, is a beautiful woman and this claim was never challenged by anyone because she was able to snag a Roman emperor and another official after him. She also invented makeup –which makes her an expert when it comes to making oneself look beautiful.

Cleopatra may have had beautiful skin –young-looking skin at that because she took milk baths on a daily basis –at least according to legend. Modern labs have found that milk works wonders on the skin since lactic acid gets rid of dead skin cells by dissolving the glue that holds them together.

It is not the science behind it that concerns many though because the question of whether Cleopatra actually took milk baths still remains. Legend has it however that the Egyptian Queen took milk and honey baths. History notes though that it was Nero’s wife who loved milk baths and she was scrutinized by her contemporaries because of this.

Milk baths and its history among the aristocracy is quite interesting. In fact in pre-Revolutionary France, a marquis by the name of Rochechouart –the governor of Avignon was ordered to bathe in milk to save his life. It was not revealed however whether bathing in milk saved his life. Those who are into homeopathic remedies also believe that goat milk baths are a good way to treat arthritis.

Now going back to the aristocracy, we know you are interested in this. King Henry II’s most notable mistress Diane de Poitiers took milk baths to avoid aging. In England, from 1660 to 1685, nobles took milk baths.

Today, one no longer needs to buy lots of milk to have a milk bath because there are different skincare products that sell milk baths. This includes Crabtree & Evelyn and the rather popular The Body Shop. If you would like a milk soap on the other hand, Dove is a wonderful choice.

Photo Via Camposszto.org