Cleopatra Wasn’t a Great Beauty So She Bathed in Donkey’s Milk to Become One

Contrary to what many of us think, the real Cleopatra, the last active pharaoh of Egypt, wasn’t a ephemeral beauty.

A bust believed to be of her image sports huge frog eyes, a ponderous beaked nose, and a manly chin.

Cleopatra’s looks may have been the standard of beauty in ancient Egypt.

One thing she is known for is bathing in donkey’s milk to get all the advantages she could.

Because she was queen of Egypt, so why the heck not?

Donkey milk must have worked great wonders on her skin because she ensnared Roman dictator, Julius Caesar. She played the ultimate peek-a-boo by rolling out naked in a carpet in front of him.

Donkey milk may have had a hand in giving her that smooth, glowing skin.

Julius Caesar wasn’t the only man obsessed with her. Cleopatra stole minor ruler Mark Antony’s heart as well.

While history states it was her charm and wit that were a hit with the male population, Cleopatra must have done everything in her power to enhance her physical attributes, as well.

The lactic acid in all that donkey’s milk may have done its job in sloughing away her dead skin and soothing redness and irritation.

Not to mention it felt darn luxurious, too.

Thus, Cleopatra, while not the most stunning of women, may have had the most beautiful skin in all of 30th B.C. Alexandria and Egypt.

Incidentally, her reign came during a time when cosmetics consisted mainly of natural products from nature. Like donkey milk.

Roman author, Pliny, wrote praises over the wonders of donkey milk which erased wrinkles, preserved whiteness, and rendered the skin more delicate.

In fact, women of her time used ghee (clarified butter) from cow’s milk, as well as cow urine and dung as beauty masks!

Cleopatra’s daily donkey milk baths seem tame by comparison.

Even if it may have required a whole stable of donkeys to provide her with her cleansing ritual. As well as dozens of servants to cart buckets of milk for her baths.

Since Cleopatra’s time, women have used donkey or cow’s milk baths in their beauty regimen.

Roman emperor Nero’s wife Poppaea did so, and her retinue always traveled with a herd of she-asses to provide her with her daily supply. Napoleon Bonaparte’s less infamous sister, Pauline did so, as well.

Today, beauty soaps and creams contain donkey milk rich in minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, and a bioactive enzyme for beautiful skin.

They even look good enough to spread on bread.

This way, women who aren’t as lucky to have Cleopatra’s wit, charm, and mellifluous voice can harness young glowing skin for their beauty arsenal.