Nourishing Tallow Balm With Essential Oils (2024)

Nourishing Tallow Balm With Essential Oils (2)

An article by Andrew J. Gardner called Traditional Nourishing and Healing Skin Care caught my eye (winter 2012 issue of Wise Traditions journal). It’s a lovely read and in it, Mr. Gardner shares the traditional use of tallow in skin care for both slight and serious conditions. Mr. Gardner makes and sells tallow balm through his site vintage Tradition.

Tallow is the rendered fat of cows, sheep, and other ruminant animals such as deer.

I want to summarize the key points in Mr. Gardner’s article. I encourage you to read it for yourself — in fact, check out how tallow balm cleared up diaper rash.

Table Of Contents

1. What makes tallow so wonderful for skin care applications?

You might say that tallow is a match made in Heaven (and I believe this) for skin care.

  1. Tallow fat is 50 to 55 percent saturated, just like our cell membranes, making it helpful for skin health and compatible with our biology.
  2. Tallow is similar to our “sebum” — the oily, waxy matter that lubricates and waterproofs our skin.
  3. Tallow contains the abundant fat-soluble activators — vitamins A, D, E, and K — which are necessary for skin health.
  4. Tallow contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.
  5. Tallow contains palmitoleic acid, which has natural anti-microbial properties.

By the way, #3, #4 and #5 especially are qualities of grass-fed tallow, not conventional. Which brings me to the second point.

2. Is being grass-fed really that important?

Yes.

Mr. Gardner writes:

“Indeed, tallow from cows that are only fed grass has a better mineral and micronutrient profile, including higher levels of vitamins. For example, one study found that grass-fed cows have four times the vitamin E of grain-fed cows. Products from grass-fed animals were also found to have three to five times more CLA that those fed a ‘conventional’ diet.”

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3. In what ways can tallow balm be used?

Mr. Gardner shared a remarkable story about a woman with a horrible and painful ingrown toenail. After months of not being able to even wear shoes, tallow balm healed it almost overnight:

“The patient on whom I tried this plan was a young lady who had been unable to put on a shoe for several months, and decidedly the worst I have ever seen. The edge of the nail was deeply undermined, the granulations formed a high ridge, partly covered with skin; and pus constantly oozed from the root of the nail. The whole toe was swollen and extremely painful and tender. . . . I put a very small piece of tallow in a spoon, heated it. . . and poured it on. . . . The effect was almost magical. Pain and tenderness were at once relieved, and in a few days the granulations were all gone, the diseased parts dry. . . and the edge of the nail exposed so as to admit of being pared away without any inconvenience. The cure was complete, and the trouble never returned.” –Dr. A.W. Chase, MD, 1866

Tallow balm is very, very useful — take note!

Tallow balm can be used for all manner of skin conditions, including dry, chapped, calloused, cracked and sun-damaged skin, rashes, burning, itching, wrinkles, and so on, because it gives the skin the nutrients it needs to heal itself. It can even be used as a soothing aftershave. One mother applied it all over her baby’s body for eczema, which had been present for a couple months, and it disappeared. Another mother applied it on her baby for a terrible case of diaper rash that did not respond to other “natural” products, and it was gone after three applications. In addition, a man who had had a split lip for over a year and who had already ‘tried everything,’ including ‘natural oils and shea butter,’ had his lip heal in two weeks using tallow balm, and ‘it’s been healed ever since.’ Finally, numerous others have had success using it for calluses, dry and cracked skin, and sunburns, and for moisturizing, smoothing and softening their skin.”

I perked up at the word rashes, and began to think of how tallow balm might help my ‘kp’. Keratosis pilaris is a rash — and it is caused by Vitamin A deficiency. Tallow balm is a rich source of Vitamin A. Seems like it could work!

Keratosis Pilaris— Vitamin A Deficiency Rash

As long as I can remember, I’ve had keratosis pilaris, a skin rash caused by a Vitamin A deficiency. I wrote about it two years ago, and more recently including real food suggestions for improvement:

Keratosis Pilaris: ‘Sand paper’ bumps, most frequently on the back of the upper arms, appear when keratin forms hard plugs within hair follicles. This is a classic sign of vitamin A deficiency. In addition to taking cod liver oil orally, mix cod liver oil with evening primrose oil and rub on the affected area. Avoid soaps and shampoos containing sodium lauryl sulfate. —Skin Deep by Sally Fallon Morrell

Since then, my ‘kp’ has gotten better. Avoiding the icky shampoos made a BIG difference. I use hard lotion bars with coconut oil and shea butter for moisturizer (this gal says coconut oil cured her kp). I use a blend of essential oils good for skin, called Skin Care: lavender, frankincense, carrot seed, neroli, roman chamomile and rose otto. (If you order this, please use code 91353 to tell them I sent you!) Finally, my diet contains Vitamin A rich foods such as grass-fed cream and butter, and fermented cod liver oil.

And my rash is better. It isn’t so inflamed or itchy, and my skin is softer. Definitely not like sandpaper anymore. But the rash is still there, as you can see. This photo was taken yesterday.

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(That ugly red mark on the top left of my arm is a scar from getting snagged on a piece of wire. That was painful!)

Though I’m happy about the improvement, I’d really like the rash to go away completely.

Enter: tallow balm. (I’m pretty sure.)

I really, really want to see if tallow balm can heal my keratosis pilaris, and we happen to have loads and loads and loads of grass-fed tallow.

So I made myself some tallow balm. And surprisingly, it is not greasy feeling at all. My skin soaks it up right away and just feels nourished and moisturized.

Mr. Gardner’s article contains simple directions. Below you’ll see the recipe I created based on the proportions Mr. Gardner recommended.

Please use grass-fed tallow. If you don’t have a local source, you can get high-quality grass-fed tallow from U.S. Wellness Meats. A little goes a long way, and wouldn’t tallow balm make great gifts?

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Homemade Nourishing Tallow Balm With Essential Oils

You might say that tallow is a match made in Heaven (and I believe this) for skin care. Surprisingly, it is not greasy feeling at all. My skin soaks it up right away and just feels nourished and moisturized. Makes 20 ounces.

CourseHousehold & Health

Author Wardee Harmon

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Over low heat, melt tallow until just barely melted. Don’t let it get hot.

  2. Add olive oil and essential oils.

  3. Stir.

  4. Pour into containers (that have covers). Will harden fairly quickly.

  5. Store in a cool location and keep covered when not in use.

  6. Apply as needed.

Recipe Notes

*About essential oils: They are concentrated, so use sparingly. What I did was add just enough to mask the not-unpleasant-but-distinct tallow smell, as well as add a nice fragrance to the balm. I'd suggest starting at 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of straight essential oils for a batch this size. Scale up or down as needed. Since I used my Skin Care blend of oils, already diluted in a cucumber oil base, I ended up adding 2 teaspoons of it (and I just might remelt and add more).

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Now, wasn’t that easy?

I am planning on using my tallow balm at least once daily, if not twice, on my arms. I am documenting its effect on my ‘kp’ and I will report back with my results.

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Don’t Have Time For DIY? The Best Place To Buy…

Perhaps you don’t have time to make tallow balm or plain just don’t want to make it yourself… no problem! You’ll be happy to know that Mr. Gardner’s company, Vintage Tradition, offers whole food, grass-fed tallow balm right here!

It’s made from only 3 ingredients: 100% grassfed tallow, extra virgin olive oil, and therapeutic grade essential oils. I really, really love the scent of the Pretty Girl version pictured above… plus it really works on my KP rash! They also offer tallow-based lip balm and deodorant, which are really great products, too!

They also offer tallow-based lip balm and deodorant… which are really great products, too!

I have tried all their products and love the results on kp rash, sunburns, skin irritation, and more! I actually use the tallow balm regularly now (as of 2019) since I don’t always have my own tallow for homemade!

Update 11/21/2013 — My ‘kp’ is significantly better… I’m continuing my use of tallow balm and hopeful for 100% healing. Slowly but surely. 🙂

Do you use tallow balm? If so, for what and with what results? Or, do you have a skin condition that might benefit from tallow balm? Please share!

More posts related to healthy skin:

  • 10 Herbs for Healthy Glowing Skin
  • Top 5 Essential Oils for Nourished Skin
  • Keratosis Pilaris: 5 Steps To Get Rid Of “Chicken Skin” Naturally {with non-toxic product reviews!}
  • RFQM: Keratosis Pilaris — Natural Remedy

We only recommend products and services we wholeheartedly endorse. This post may contain special links through which we earn a small commission if you make a purchase (though your price is the same).

Nourishing Tallow Balm With Essential Oils (2024)

FAQs

Can you add essential oils to tallow? ›

If desired, you can add essential oils to the liquid mixture as well. We use specific essential oils, such as lavender, that are known for their long-standing tradition of promoting optimal skin health.

What are the disadvantages of tallow? ›

Tallow Drawbacks
  • Allergic reactions. While tallow soaps are often marketed as being free of allergens, it's possible to have a reaction to some of their ingredients.
  • Changes in skin pH. Healthy skin has a pH of 5.4 to 5.9. ...
  • Tallow is temperature sensitive. ...
  • People often use too much tallow moisturizer.
Sep 29, 2023

Is tallow balm good for your face? ›

Benefits of Using Tallow for Skincare

Plus, Vitamin E has been shown to prevent collagen breakdown. Provides adequate moisture for skin and is compatible with our skin's natural oils (fun fact: “sebum” translates to “suet” or “tallow” in Latin!) Generally okay for all skin types to use, even acne-prone!

Why add olive oil to tallow balm? ›

Why do you include olive oil? We add a little olive oil to the tallow because of its therapeutic qualities. Since ancient times, olive oil has been considered a healing salve for the skin due to its soothing, cleansing, moisturizing, and anti-cancer properties.

What essential oils to add to tallow? ›

Explore the diverse benefits of plant-based essential oils, such as Lavender, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Rosemary, and more. Lavender's Calming Effect - Lavender essential oil is known for its remarkable ability to calm and soothe the skin, creating relief for skin in need.

How much essential oil to add to tallow balm? ›

DIY Whipped Tallow Balm Recipe
  1. ½ cup tallow (organic, grass-finished)
  2. 2 Tbsp oil of your choice – I like extra virgin olive oil.
  3. 10 drops of essential oil(s) – I like lavender, cedarwood, frankincense, and patchouli.
  4. *Optional: medicinal herbs of your choice to infuse in the tallow (I like to use calendula)
Dec 1, 2023

Why is tallow bad for skin? ›

“Tallow, because it's high in oleic acid just like olive oil is, it's been shown to disrupt the skin barrier and actually cause more irritation versus plant oils that are high in linoleic acid,” Shah said, explaining why it's “not really the best moisturizer.”

Does tallow balm clog pores? ›

Tallow does not clog pores because it matches our skin's natural oils, making it a great option for keeping skin hydrated and healthy. People have used tallow in skincare for hundreds of years to protect and moisturize their skin, showing its long-standing benefits.

Does tallow go rancid? ›

Heat, light, and oxygen are the three main factors contributing to beef tallow's degradation. Light and heat exposure can speed up the breakdown of fat molecules found in beef tallow, leading to rancidity and an unpleasant aroma and taste.

Can tallow reverse wrinkles? ›

Hydration and Moisture: Tallow's emollient properties can help keep the skin well-hydrated, a cornerstone of plump and youthful-looking skin. Adequate hydration can make fine lines and wrinkles appear less noticeable.

Do dermatologists recommend tallow? ›

But dermatologists say they're not slathering beef tallow on their skin any time soon, as there's no scientific evidence that it offers skin care benefits. “As a medical professional, I cannot recommend or endorse the use of beef tallow for any medical purposes, including skin care,” said Dr.

Does tallow balm help with wrinkles? ›

Wrinkles and Acne

They may reduce the appearance temporarily, but over time they're wearing on your skin's natural microbiome. Instead, tallow includes the vitamins and minerals your skin needs to increase its natural collagen production.

Should tallow balm be refrigerated? ›

Once melted, remove the lid and let it cool in the refrigerator. This will ensure your balm remains soft and easy to spread. Remember, tallow behaves like many natural fats – solidifying in cold conditions and becoming soft in warmer temperatures.

Does tallow need to be refrigerated? ›

Tallow is shelf stable so no need to refrigerate, just keep it in an airtight container like a mason jar. You can keep grass fed tallow on the kitchen counter for a year. It's easy to scoop at room temperature, and hardens in the refrigerator.

How do you make beef tallow smell good? ›

Wet rendering is a gentle "purification" method using just three ingredients: Grass-Fed Tallow, salt and water. This method preserves the beneficial properties of grass-fed tallow while reducing the odor and color.

Why not to use tallow? ›

Since beef tallow isn't FDA-approved for topical use on your skin, it could put you at risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, DeRosa explained. “There are so many other fantastic products that one can use for the skin; I don't think this is worth the risk,” she said.

How much essential oil to add to tallow soap? ›

Ingredients:
  1. 15 ounces beef tallow (click here for my guide to rendering tallow)
  2. 7.5 ounces coconut oil.
  3. 7.5 ounces olive oil.
  4. 11.4 ounces distilled water.
  5. 4.3 ounces lye crystals (known as sodium hydroxide or NaOH)
  6. 1/2 – 1 ounce essential oil (optional)
Feb 11, 2024

What is the best carrier oil for tallow? ›

Both tallow and jojoba oil are non-comedogenic and do not clog pores. As tallow needs a small amount of carrier oil to help it whip nicely, deciding to use jojoba oil was a no brainer. Read more about jojoba oil by clicking on our "Articles" tab at the top of our website.

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