Why You Need Tallow Moisturizer
Have you ever wondered how people cared for their skin before the days of modern lotions and creams? Using ingredients that were quite common on the farm, they were able to make their own natural skin care products – like tallow moisturizer.
I know what you’re thinking. Our ancestors used things like tallow because they were poor and didn’t have a choice. But it probably didn’t work as well as the products you can now purchase ready made.
Well, you’d be mistaken. Yes, we’ve gotten away from using items like tallow for our natural skin care, but it’s not because tallow isn’t effective. We’ve just become accustomed to the convenience of store-bought products.
Benefits of Tallow
Tallow is rendered from the fatty tissue of sheep, cattle, or deer. It consists primarily of fatty acid glycerides. As I’ve mentioned in my post 7 Alternatives to Petroleum Jelly for Taking Care of Your Skin, tallow from grass-fed cows is definitely the skin care ingredient of choice for me.
Sebum, the oily substance secreted by our skin is similar in composition to tallow. Is that why it feels so wonderful on my skin? Perhaps.
Tallow contains A, D, E, and K, fat-soluble vitamins which promote skin health. And fats like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which has anti-inflammatory properties, and palmitoleic acid, which has natural antimicrobial properties.
Tallow moisturizer, or tallow balm as some call it, is really the perfect product for homemade, natural skin care. I use it everywhere on my body, from face to feet.
It’s wonderful for dry, itchy skin, soothes eczema and diaper rash, and is perfect for chapped lips.
Where to Get Grass-Fed Tallow to Use as Skin Moisturizer
Each fall, we purchase a quarter of grass-fed beef from a local farmer. I always ask for the fat from the cow so that I can render it into tallow for cooking, soap-making, and skin care.
If you don’t have access to beef fat to render yourself, you can buy grass-fed beef tallow here.
Or if you want to try tallow for your skin, but aren’t interested in making this balm yourself, you can purchase a high quality tallow moisturizer here.
Making the Moisturizer
Because tallow is too hard on its own to use as skin moisturizer, a small amount of another oil must be added. Olive, avocado, and almond oil all make nice additions and are each great for skin care themselves.
And I always like to add some essential oil to give my tallow moisturizer a nice, fresh scent. I used grapefruit oil in my latest batch and it’s such a pick-me-up. I probably wouldn’t use that in the summer, though, since it can be phototoxic (cause a skin reaction when exposed to sunlight).
Some other good essential oil choices for skin care:
And if you’re wondering about the shelf life of tallow, it can be kept at room temperature for extended periods without the need for refrigeration or preservatives. Definitely another plus.
Are you ready to try it?
Other Posts That Will Interest You
7 Alternatives to Petroleum Jelly for Taking Care of Your Skin
Make Your Own Alternative to Petroleum Jelly
From Plantain Leaf to Healing Balm
Ingredients
- 1 cup tallow melted
- 4 tablespoons olive, sweet almond, or avocado oil
- 30–40 drops essential oil of choice
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine melted tallow, oil of choice, and essential oil.
- Cool until it begins to thicken, but not completely hard.
- Whip with hand or stand mixer for several minutes. *
- Store at room temperature for up to a year.
Notes
Thank you for visiting Learning And Yearning. May "the LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Num 6:24-26
Marce says
Good morning.
Just read this email.
It’s sounds interesting and a cool thing to do!
Question I have is: Can or is suet same thing or being substituted for tallow?
Thanks.
And seriously thankyou for this forum you have going I enjoy it.
Only wish that you had more stuff in readable format on this forum and I cannot hear. And cannot afford the book bundles ?
Marce
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Marce, thanks for stopping by. Tallow is suet that has been rendered. See this post here to learn how to render fat: https://learningandyearning.com/how-to-render-lard/.
Lisa Hill says
Nice article! This homemade moisturizer seems very easy to create. I will definitely try this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Susan Vinskofski says
Thank you, Lisa. It definitely is an easy recipe, and quite effective for dry skin!
Brenda says
If I have whipped tallow how do I convert the 1 cup measurement?
Susan Vinskofski says
Can you tell me more about this whipped tallow? It’s my understanding that it would already have the olive oil in it. No need to do anything further.
Melanie says
I have been doing this for sometime now and my mom and I can both feel it penetrate and soften our skin! I’ve run out of it but I have some chicken fat in the frig. Do you think that would work as effectively?
Melanie
www.mytradesofhope.com/melaniesunukjian
Empower women out of poverty with us!
Kankemwa says
Hello. Thank you for this information and recipe. I wonder if the following oils are suitable for addition to the tallow:
1. Coconut oil
2. Baobab oil
3. Desert date seed oil
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Susan Vinskofski says
Yes, you’ll have to experiment, though, to get the right consistency. <3
Ian says
When making the moisturizer can you mix different essential oils in it or only one?
Susan Vinskofski says
Feel free to mix and match essential oils.
Leah Todd says
Hi there, I love this recipe! I am curious, where did you get the jar that is in your photo for it?
Susan Vinskofski says
I’m so sorry; I really don’t remember. Any time I get something in a small jar, I save it.
Melanie says
Hello Susan,
do you “purify” your tallow that you use for skin care? I have rendered tallow for skin care both ways but I’m not sure I’m crazy about the purified way because of the retained salt in the tallow. I was just curious about your thoughts.
Susan Vinskofski says
I don’t. I scoop out the fat that melts early on to use for skincare. It’s nice and clean – I find most impurities at the end.
ChristinaTom says
Thank you so much for this! I also love pure cocoa butter for super dry skin. It takes forever to melt on you skin, but it sure feels great!