The fats in tallow are so close to the make-up of fats below the skin on our body, making tallow balm so nourishing and absorbable to our parched skin.
Why You Need to Make This
- Perfect for skin in all seasons - summer and winter on the farm are hard on hands and feet!
- Works for baby's tender areas at diaper changes.
- Can help with dry patches that crop up anywhere on the body.
Need to know how to "make" your own tallow? I've rendered bear, beef, and deer! It can also easily be done in your slow cooker.
Key Ingredients
Beef tallow - Try and stick with your own stock if at all possible. Since we are putting this on our skin (our largest organ!) I try and use organic, or from my own animals, or at least know the source.
Oil - I like avocado, but any "light" oil works such as sunflower or almond. Again, I try and use organic for this since it's for the skin. If you'd eat it, then it'll work!
Essential oils - These are optional, but sometimes the beef smell can be a bit much for some people, so adding oils helps with that.
How to Make Tallow Balm
Step 1
Measure out the tallow into a small saucepan and melt gently. You want it just melted, where you can still comfortably stick a finger in.
Step 2
Remove from the heat and stir in your essential oils.
Step 3
If your pot is large enough for using your mixer, then let it cool in there. Otherwise, pour into your mixer's bowl.
Step 4
Once mostly cooled, go ahead and whip just like making whipped cream, though it finishes a lot quicker than cream!
Step 5
Scoop into desired jars and label.
FAQs
Nope! The tallow and oil are of course edible, so there's no need to use special equipment. And as long as you aren't using any plastic bowls or utensils, any essential oil residue will wipe right out. I wouldn't be concerned using these dishes and utensils for food after a good washing.
I like lavender for a relaxing smell at bedtime. Tea tree has some great properties that might help with skin issues. Just pick scents pleasing to you and use common sense like maybe you won't use peppermint if you're using this balm for an infant.
Did you know that deer tallow makes awesome candles? It's super easy to do.
Tallow Balm
Equipment
- Small Pot
- Jar or Container
Ingredients
- 6 oz beef tallow preferably organic/know the source
- 2 oz "light" oil of choice such as sunflower, apricot kernel, avocado or almond oil
- 60 drops essential oils favourites include tea tree, lavender, frankincense, orange
Instructions
- Using a scale, measure out your tallow and oil into a small pot
- Over medium-low heat, gently melt until tallow is just about melted, take off the heat.
- If its too hot to hold a finger in, let cool until you can hold a finger in for a few seconds.
- Add essential oils, stir well.
- Let cool either in the pot or transfer to the bowl of your stand mixer.
- Once cool, whip like buttercream! It goes very quickly so keep watch on it.
- Scoop into desired containers and label.
Video
Notes
- We use this primarily for dry hands and feet. In winter our hands get so chapped and dry we cant live without it. In summer, the dirt from the garden dries out our feet and hands, often making cracks in our feet, ouch! I use it as a baby bum cream, for chapped cheeks, lip balm, cuts, you name it! Our all purpose balm.
Carli
So I just got a bunch of pork fat, is that a no-no for balm?
katehosie
No its too greasy
Katie
This is a game changer for my skin. The more trips around the sun that I take, the drier my skin becomes. I'm not a big fan of the way moisturizers feel on my skin- this doesn't feel like it's sitting on my skin. It soaks in and leaves my skin silky soft. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe and process!
kateschat
I love this!!
Caitlin Gray
Made this from my recent tallow rendering and we love it! It cleared up some dry spots behind my sons ears.
Carla Terry
Loved this recipe. Came out perfect.
Abigail
Love your stuff... but my girl what is this sonnng I'm going wild
Alisa Lilley
Does this need to be refrigerated?
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No, but if there is extra put aside I store it in a dark coolish place
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No it can sit on the counter. I would choose a cool location though.
sara
Do you need to use essential oils I am very scent sensitive?
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No essential oils are always optional.
Emma
The tallow that I got from the butcher has some meat mixed in. Do you just strain it out through a mesh strainer? Should I "cook" longer?
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Definitely strain it. You always end up with leftover bits in your tallow liquid. It won't all disappear.