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Donkey milk

Donkey milk (Equus asinus, INCI DONKEY MILK) is low in fat and rich in lactose and whey proteins, close to human milk2. CosIng lists it as a skin conditioning agent8. Human cosmetic evidence is lacking, and Annex II entry 419 requires documenting the category of the animal material89.

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Donkey milk at a glance

Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Regulatory data from the European Commission's CosIng database8. Copy the identifiers in one click for your files.

INCI name
DONKEY MILKCosIng: milk obtained from the jenny, Equus asinus. LACTOBACILLUS/DONKEY MILK FERMENT FILTRATE, a fermented milk filtrate, also exists and should not be confused with it8
Other names
Donkey milkJenny milk; Equus asinus milk
CAS number
Not assignedCosIng lists neither a CAS number nor an EC number for this ingredient8
Origin
Donkey milk (Equus asinus)Animal-derived ingredient: traceability and sanitary quality depend on the supplier
Composition
Low in fat, rich in lactose and whey proteinsAccording to reviews: little fat, cholesterol, total protein and casein; plenty of lactose and whey proteins (55 to 65% of proteins), close to human milk12
Protective proteins
Lysozyme, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, immunoglobulinsAlso α-lactalbumin2
CosIng functions
Skin conditioning"Skin conditioning"8
EU status
Annex II entry 419 to be checkedCosIng asks to check whether Annex II entry 419 applies: category 1 and category 2 materials as defined by Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002, and ingredients derived from them, are prohibited. That regulation has been replaced by Regulation (EC) 1069/2009, Articles 8 and 9. The supplier must therefore document the category of the material8910
Allergen to declare
No, as a fragrance allergenAbsent from Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 and the consolidated Annex III9. A case report describes lysozyme as an allergen of donkey milk7
Safety
No CIR or SCCS assessment foundWe did not find an official opinion specific to donkey milk in cosmetics

What the research says

Each result shows the protocol and the level of evidence. The higher the level, the better the result carries over to a finished formula.

Clinical trialReview or consensusLaboratory

Composition and raw materialChemistry

A milk close to human milk

Review
2023 reviewChemical composition

Donkey milk is remarkably similar to human milk. It is low in fat, cholesterol, total protein and casein, rich in lactose and whey proteins, and contains protective proteins (α-lactalbumin, lysozyme, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, immunoglobulins)2.

55 to 65% whey proteins

Review
2025 narrative review

Whey proteins make up 55 to 65% of proteins. Vitamin C is about 4.75 times higher than in cow milk. The review notes limits: low production, and no standardized production methods or quality control1.

Vitamins that vary by milk family

Review
2021 reviewHuman milk and donkey milk

On average, donkey milk contains fewer fat-soluble vitamins than ruminant milks, more vitamin C than cow milk, and more B vitamins than human milk. Levels vary with the diet and status of the mother5.

SkinSkincare

Activities measured in the lab and in animals, not on skin

Review
2022 reviewOxidative stress and inflammation

Donkey milk scavenges reactive oxygen species and activates the antioxidant system in in vitro and animal models. The authors note that the mechanism is poorly understood and that few clinical studies have been done in humans4.

A cited cosmetic use, with no trial retained

Review
2025 narrative review

The review mentions applications in cosmetic formulations among other uses, but without any quantified cosmetic result. Another review calls for human clinical trials to build stronger evidence12.

Quality, process and toleranceFormulation

Pasteurization: lysozyme is preserved

Laboratory
Raw and pasteurized jenny milkConcentration to 40 and 20% of initial volume

Pasteurization and concentration affected neither the concentration nor the antimicrobial activity of lysozyme, except for one Bacillus mojavensis strain that survived heating6.

Lysozyme, a reported allergen

Review
Case report, 2018

A case report describes lysozyme as an allergen of donkey milk. We found no data on skin exposure7.

A cautious systematic review

Review
2022 systematic review

It summarizes the composition, donkey milk products (cheese, ice cream, powder, fermented drinks, infant formula) and their potential effects, stressing that variation factors are the lactation stage, processing and manufacturing3.

This page summarizes published literature on a cosmetic ingredient. It does not describe the effect of a finished product, which depends on its formula, and it is not medical advice. Any industry funding is indicated in the sources. The literature on donkey milk is almost entirely about its use as food and its composition. We found no human trial on its application to the skin.

Which products can use donkey milk?

No formula in our white label catalog features donkey milk yet. Our formulation lab can add it to a custom formula or to a catalog formula. Its common uses:

Face

Gentle milk-based cleansing milks and face creams.

Body

Soaps, shower gels and body lotions with donkey milk, for dry skin.

Frequently asked questions about donkey milk

What is donkey milk in cosmetics?
It is the milk of the jenny (Equus asinus), INCI name DONKEY MILK, classed by CosIng as a skin conditioning agent8. It is low in fat and rich in lactose and whey proteins, close to human milk2.
What are the benefits of donkey milk for skin?
Reviews describe antioxidant activities in the lab and in animals4. We found no human trial on its application to the skin: the cosmetic benefit remains to be shown, and the authors call for clinical trials24.
What is the difference with camel milk and goat milk?
They are three animal milks used in a similar type of formulation (INCI DONKEY MILK, CAMEL MILK, GOAT MILK). We detail donkey milk here; see the goat milk entry to compare.
Is donkey milk allowed in cosmetics in the EU?
No restriction is specific to it, but CosIng asks to check Annex II entry 419 of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: category 1 and 2 animal materials (Regulation (EC) 1069/2009, Articles 8 and 9) and their derivatives are prohibited8910. The supplier must therefore document the category of the material.
Can donkey milk cause an allergy?
A case report describes lysozyme as an allergen of donkey milk7. We found no data on application to the skin. Tolerance is checked through tests on the finished formula.
Is donkey milk stable in a formula?
As a powder or as milk, it requires control of the supply chain and the process. One study shows that pasteurization and concentration do not change the concentration or antimicrobial activity of lysozyme, except for one B. mojavensis strain6. The preservation of your formula is validated through stability tests.
Can you manufacture a donkey milk product for my brand?
Yes, subject to the sanitary quality of the material. Our ISO 22716 certified lab adapts a catalog formula or develops a custom formula. Samples are free.

Sources

Peer-reviewed studies and official regulatory sources, checked on November 3, 2026.

  1. Xu Q, Wei L, Chen X, et al. Nutritional Composition and Biological Activities of Donkey Milk: A Narrative Review Foods. 2025;14(13):2337. doi:10.3390/foods14132337
  2. Živkov Baloš M, Ljubojević Pelić D, Jakšić S, et al.. Donkey Milk: An Overview of its Chemical Composition and Main Nutritional Properties or Human Health Benefit Properties J Equine Vet Sci. 2023;121:104225. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104225
  3. Garhwal R, Sangwan K, Mehra R, et al.. A Systematic Review of the Bioactive Components, Nutritional Qualities and Potential Therapeutic Applications of Donkey Milk J Equine Vet Sci. 2022;115:104006. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104006
  4. Li Y, Ma Q, Liu G, et al.. Effects of donkey milk on oxidative stress and inflammatory response J Food Biochem. 2022;46(4):e13935. doi:10.1111/jfbc.13935
  5. Vincenzetti S, Santini G, Polzonetti V, et al.. Vitamins in Human and Donkey Milk: Functional and Nutritional Role Nutrients. 2021;13(5):1509. doi:10.3390/nu13051509
  6. Cosentino C, Labella C, Elshafie HS, et al.. Effects of different heat treatments on lysozyme quantity and antimicrobial activity of jenny milk J Dairy Sci. 2016;99(7):5173-5179. doi:10.3168/jds.2015-10702
  7. Martini M, Swiontek K, Antonicelli L, et al.. Lysozyme, a new allergen in donkey's milk Clin Exp Allergy. 2018;48(11):1521-1523. doi:10.1111/cea.13232
  8. European Commission. CosIng, entry DONKEY MILK. ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
  9. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products, consolidated version of May 1, 2025. eur-lex.europa.eu
  10. Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption. eur-lex.europa.eu
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