Tallow Balm: The Superior Moisturizer

Tallow balm could just be the next best thing since sliced bread (okay, but really though!).

Sticky and greasy skin got you down? Wondering how you’ll ever keep your skin hydrated, and why those expensive moisturizers aren’t delivering what they promised?

It might come as a surprise, but tallow – the rendered kidney suet of beef animals – contains a plethora of the necessary nutrients our skin craves.

Picture of two bars of tallow, a lemon round, mint, rosemary and lavender sprigs on a wooden counter.

Skincare products are quickly becoming a hot topic in terms of production sustainability as well as for their effectiveness and safety for everyday use.

Families are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers synthetic chemicals – fillers, fragrances, and the like – are having on their health. They are wanting safer, more natural solutions for their dry skin needs.

Skin is our largest organ, absorbing anything we rub on our bodies. As such, it is imperative that we are careful about the products we use as moisturizer (or in our moisturizer).

Things You Won’t Find in Tallow

What are some of these sneaky chemicals masquerading as ‘safe’ for use in skincare products?

Artificial colors
BHA & BHT
Formaldehyde
Parabens
Artificial Fragrances
Petroleum By-Products
Phthalates
Fillers

We know these chemicals can cause or trigger a variety of ailments, including:

allergies & asthma
cancer
reproductive issues
endocrine disruption
neurotoxicity
damage to wildlife
rashes

Picture of two bars of tallow and a jar full of tallow on a wooden counter top.

Why Use the Chemicals Anyways?

Yes, it’s easy to demonize the cosmetic industry for throwing so many harmful chemicals into their products and then market them as safe and even healthy for our families, but why do they do it?

To start, the shelf life of natural skincare products, like tallow, is not very long. Generally, it is recommended that tallow based moisturizers – without any added preservatives – should be used up within a year.

In a world of mass production and long transit times, the need for shelf-stable products that last much longer than a year is preferred both for economic as well as practical reasons.

It’s just hard to sell a large amount of a product after having shipped it all over the world, without having preservatives to keep it from spoiling.

Additionally, some of these chemicals are responsible for the consistent texture of the skincare products found in chain stores. Consumers have been conditioned to expect a certain feel for different products.

They want that lotion to look, feel, and smell the same every single time. It builds brand loyalty.

That said, complete uniformity from batch to batch of tallow balm isn’t possible. Nor is it possible to keep preservative free skincare from changing in consistency overtime.

The same is true for fragrance. Natural products just don’t pack the same olfactory punch that artificially produced fragrances do. Of course they don’t cause cancer or have a neurotoxic effect either.

As with anything, there is a give and a take with utilizing natural products – like tallow balm – over commercial products.

A Society Changing Geers

As I mentioned earlier, families are starting to really pay attention to not only the ingredients in the products they purchase, but also how those ingredients are produced.

They are looking for sustainably produced ingredients for their skincare that didn’t come from factory farms.

That’s why so many people are turning back to tallow based moisturizers. Not only is it all-natural and healthy for your skin, but it also leaves a smaller ecological footprint than even many plant-based oils used in skincare products.

Not only that, but, generally tallow is regarded as a waste product with little mass market value. So utilizing it in skincare helps cut down on waste from the beef industry. A win win!

Add to that the sourcing of local grass-fed tallow, and suddenly the ecological footprint is drastically reduced.

Picture of two bars of tallow and several sprigs of lavender on a wooden counter top.

What is it in Tallow that Makes it so Great?

The unique composition of tallow makes it extremely similar to that of human skin. This allows it to be readily and easily absorbed by the skin, providing deep and lasting hydration and nutrition.

Fat Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin A – Helps produce collagen as well as plays an essential role in the regeneration of skin cells.
Vitamin D – Aids in reinforcing the skin’s natural barrier and boosting its immunity.
Vitamin E – Reduces stress caused by oxidation as well as helps to neutralize free radical production.
Vitamin K – Plays a critical role in the maintenance of the skin’s elasticity as well as promotes the healing of wounds.

Plethora of Fatty Acids in Tallow

Alpha linoleic acids
Stearic and oleic acids
Palmitoleic acid
Palmitic acid

What do these fatty acids do?

Help the structure of and provide a barrier for the skin
Aid in locking moisture into the skin to prevent drying out
Support cell function and increase smoothness of the skin
Fight oxidation and help build collagen within the skin
Increase skin elasticity and improve nutrient penetration

Picture of two bars of tallow and sprigs of wheat on a wooden counter top.

Success Stories!

Families have been thrilled with the results of utilizing tallow balm in their skincare routines. They found it helped not only with dry skin, but also in healing rashes, and taming the occasional stray hair 😉

“I am someone who not only has very dry hands but I am also allergic to a good amount of lotions I find on the market. I stick to a very small selection of lotions and I am not one to stray away from ones that work. When I tried the unscented tallow balm I was pleasantly surprised with how clean, and smooth the balm glided across my skin. I don’t enjoy a sticky feeling from my lotions but this balm does such an amazing job of soaking into my skin without leaving a tacky or sticky feeling behind. A little definitely goes a long way with this product!”

“I *love* what tallow based skincare has done for my family. We use unscented tallow balm and we use it for everything— daily moisturizer, after sun care, any kind of rash, we’ll even use it to tame hair fly-always. I love knowing what we use is a responsible use of resources and not just non-toxic but nourishing for everyone in my family. The addition of argan oil makes the balm absolutely luxurious. We recommend!”

These success stories stand as a testament to the value of returning to our roots and utilizing natural ingredients as the means to nourish our bodies.

Final Thoughts

The numerous nutritional benefits of tallow for maintaining healthy skin make it the easy choice when it comes to choosing holistic, natural products for your family’s skincare routine.

Do you use our tallow?

If so, tag us on social media – @threeheartshomestead – so we can see what tallow is doing for you and your family!