Have you ever tried tallow-based skin products? If you like them, but not the price, consider making it yourself at home with Deck Family Farm Grass Fed Tallow.
It is easy and satisfying to whip it up and save money, all while caring for your skin and family naturally.
Tallow is an all natural and rich product which contains nutrients that are more bioavailable to skin than most plant oils. I have severe eczema and find that tallow butter keeps me moisturized without causing any reaction in my skin.
Farm intern Summer Spell has been making tallow balms this year for the family and students to use. There's always a few jars of it in around the farm.
“Tallow is the only thing keeping my lips and hands from splitting this winter,” she said. “It works better than anything else. I wonder if it's because it's more similar to our skin's natural oil than most other things?”
Here’s a list of some of the benefits of tallow on skin:
Moisturizing: Tallow's fatty acids hydrate the skin and help restore natural oil production.
Anti-inflammatory: Tallow contains conjugated linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that can reduce redness, irritation, and eczema.
Skin barrier repair: Tallow's chemical composition is similar to the skin's lipids, which helps restore the skin's natural barrier.
Antioxidants: Tallow contains antioxidants that can reduce oxidative stress and signs of aging.
Vitamin A: Tallow contains vitamin A, which helps cells turnover faster, reducing acne and skin irritation.
Collagen production: Tallow contains vitamins and minerals that help the skin create collagen.
Wound healing: Tallow can help wounds heal quickly.
Skin tone: Tallow can improve skin tone and the appearance of UV-damaged skin.
Antimicrobial properties: Tallow can inhibit microbial growth.
How to make balm
Tallow is solid at room temperature, making it difficult to spread on skin. The solution is to melt it with a neutral oil that is liquid at room temperature. This causes the blend of both to be softer. Examples of what to add include jojoba oil, castor oil, avocado oil, or olive oil.
What about the smell?
Sometimes the tallow from Deck Family Farm has a bit of a beefy smell. In order to remove that, gently simmer equal parts water and tallow for an hour, then pour into a bowl and allow to cool all the way. The tallow will float to the top and harden. The water underneath may contain a layer of proteins and gelatin that is easy to dump out or scrape off, leaving pure, non-odorous fat.
Recipe
To make the salve itself, use a double boiler to melt the tallow with your chosen neutral oil. Ratios are yours to experiment with, but I like
1 ¼ c. tallow
½ c. neutral oil
Then pour into little tins or jars and let cool.
Whip it up!
You can also allow the melted tallow and oil to cool slightly and then, before it’s fully hardened, whip it just as you would if you were making whipped cream. This will bring air into the product and create a light, soft and buttery consistency.
Variations
If you enjoy essential oils, add a small amount to the melted tallow before it cools. Be careful not to add too much as essential oils can be difficult for sensitive skin to tolerate.
To make medicinal salves, infuse your neutral oil with dried herbs a few weeks before.
Comfrey in olive oil makes a rich green healing salve
Dried rosehips in jojoba oil makes a glowing face moisturizer