Beauty Boss: Sarah Shafer, Founder of Milk Made Skin
Sarah Shafer with her daughters.
Our latest Beauty Boss is Sarah Shafer, Founder of Milk Made Skin—an anti-aging skincare brand that is inspired by and mimics the nutritional benefits of breast milk with its clean, natural proprietary Milk Peptide Complex that helps achieve smooth and younger-looking skin. Shafer first discovered the powerful benefits of breast milk when she became a mother and used her own to treat her daughters’ various skin issues. She later worked with a chemist to create an innovative formula that contained the same ingredients in breast milk that were safe and clean to use in skincare products.
With every skincare purchase a donation is made to Fertility Dreams Foundation to assist families in need with funds to help support their IVF journeys. Shafer and her husband founded the foundation as a result of their personal journey with infertility and the desire to help others going through similar experiences. We chatted with Shafer, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, secrets for success, wellness tips, and much more.
When was Milk Made Skin founded and what does the name mean?
I began working with a chemist in 2016 to create our exclusive Milk Peptide Complex, which is found in all of our products. It took over five years to develop and we officially launched the brand in May 2023. The brand name, Milk Made, is sort of a double entendre. All of our products are made with our Milk Peptide Complex, which mimics the benefits of breast milk. It also plays off a Milk Maid, a woman who historically worked hard milking cows and supplied milk.
What inspired the creation of the brand?
Breastfeeding my daughters and struggling with infertility are what inspired me to create Milk Made Skin. Following seven years of infertility struggles, I had my daughter Evie in 2016. I was breastfeeding her. She had very sensitive skin with blemishes and acne. Breast milk is known as liquid gold, and I started putting it on her face, thinking it can’t hurt. I was like, “Oh my god, this works. How is this not a thing?”
So that’s when I took the idea and samples of my own breast milk to a chemist and said, we need to breakdown what’s in breast milk and create a complex that mimics the benefits of these vitamins, proteins, fatty acids, etc., that’s clean and safe to use in skincare products.
Milk Drunk Peptide Rich Moisturizer ($89) works to firm skin, improve elasticity, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots.
Does Milk Made Skin have a hero product?
The Milk Drunk Peptide Rich Moisturizer is our hero product. It’s a rich, ultra-hydrating moisturizer that’s powered by our exclusive Milk Peptide Complex and works to firm skin, improve skin’s elasticity, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots. The formula is thick and luxurious, and it leaves your skin feeling and looking smooth, moisturized, and healthy. It’s great for all skin types and you can use it morning and night.
What are your favorite products from the brand?
I honestly love them all! Our assortment is small for now—we launched with three products. I’m a busy working mom and a lengthy skincare routine isn’t in the everyday routine for me so I wanted something clean and simple that works. Each product offers a different skincare benefits: Milk Drunk tackles the changes in my skin as I move into my 40s, it provides ultimate hydration and firms skin; Milk Boost Brightening Eye Cream gives me a kick of caffeine to battle dark under-eye circles; and Milk Drench Exfoliating Gel Cleanser calms, cleanses, and is gentle on my skin at the end of a long day.
Where are your products sold?
We are sold on our website.
Future plans for the brand?
While we have quite a few new products in the pipeline, we really want to spend this first year building our community, really understanding and connecting with our consumer, and listening to our consumer’s needs and wants. We want to have a solid foundation and maintain steady marketing growth then move into bigger retail partners.
Milk Made Skin products harness the nutritious benefits of breast milk in a clean, nutrient-packed, and natural proprietary complex.
Who inspires you?
My mom and women—all around women! From the little girl to the 100 year old who wears her life journey on her face. Women are the strongest humans. I lost my dad when I was 15 and my mom picked up the pieces and gave my brother and me an incredible life. She taught us to still see the good in the world, how to be happy, work really hard, and to love hard! My brother and I are where we are today because of her!
I have met so many women with so many incredible stories and these women don’t even realize that by sharing these stories they have helped shaped someone else’s future. Specifically, women struggling with infertility as I did before having my two beautiful daughters. That is why my husband Zach and I founded our Fertility Dreams Foundation which grants families the financial funds to support their IVF Journey. This has been a dream of mine for over a decade. A portion of all proceeds from Milk Made Skin will go directly to our foundation.
Secret to success?
Authenticity…I am honest to a fault. Anyone who meets me truly sees who I am. I wear my heart on my sleeve and it has led to a lot of success and amazing relationships. Life if tough and business is tougher, but being able to see the good in tough situations and finding the solutions has led to other successes and if you can find the silver lining you will end up on your feet!
Beauty secrets?
Less is more—you don’t have to put on a ton of different products to give yourself beautiful skin. Research what brands are using and stick to those that contain good for you ingredients that truly work.
Wellness tips?
I have found anytime I move my body I ultimately feel better and that makes me make better decisions all around…from work to choosing what to eat. I try to do a 3 to 5-mile walk every day to get things moving. When I skip a day, I feel it in my everyday life.
Best advice?
A good friend once told me whatever you want to do, just do it and figure it out along the way. If you don’t do it, you will regret it. She was right!
Favorite way to relax?
When I can get to a spa, that is my favorite place to be. I could spend hours just in the sanctuary rooms at a spa. At home with my husband and girls, we live by a lake and getting down there brings a lot of solace for me!
For more information, visit Milk Made Skin’s website and follow on Instagram: @milkmadeskin
[Images courtesy of Milk Made Skin]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk