Beef tallow seems to be all the rage these days for skin care, but it’s actually been around for centuries. My students keep asking me about it, and I’m seeing it popping up everywhere on social media and in online shops.
Comments I see about tallow tell me a lot of people are a little weirded out by the idea of putting animal fat on their skin, and I can understand why it seems strange if you didn’t grow up with it.
Tallow is just rendered beef fat that usually comes from grass-fed cows. You can gently melt it and strain it into a clean, shelf-stable fat that has been traditionally used on skin, as well as in the kitchen. Back in the day, when you couldn’t simply run to the store and grab lotion off the shelf, this was one of the most common ways people cared for their dry hands and other parts of their body, especially in harsher climates.
The Benefits of Tallow
I’ve been using tallow on my skin for years, and while some people may question the effectiveness of this recent “trend”, this study shows that tallow can increase fatty acid on the skin and offer hydration.
I’ve noticed when I use it, my skin feels softer for longer and I don’t have to reapply it as much throughout the day. Most lotions you find at the grocery store contain harsh ingredients such as fragrances and alcohol that can actually dry out your skin even more. I use tallow because it’s simple and natural, and my skin loves it.
Adding Rose to Your Tallow Body Butter
While you can use tallow on its own, you’ll find many people like to turn it into a body butter. I like to make a whipped tallow body butter using herbal infused oil. There are a variety of skin-loving herbs to choose from, but when I whip up my homemade version, rose is my favorite.
When you infuse rose into oil and blend it with tallow, you get a lovely scent and some great benefits for your skin. This herb acts as a gentle astringent, toning the skin and easing redness and puffiness. The cooling qualities of rose are especially nice on irritated or sunburnt skin. It’s also been used since ancient times as a vulnerary to help heal wounds.
Any time you use rose, it’s important to make sure they are organic. Conventionally grown roses are often heavily sprayed, and that’s not something you want in a product meant for daily skin care.
I use jojoba for the oil infusion. It tends to feel lighter than other oils and blends easily with the tallow without making your body butter greasy.
Tallow Body Butter Recipe with Rose
Ingredients
- 12 oz tallow (grass-fed if possible)
- 6 oz rose (Rosa spp.) infused jojoba oil
- 2 tbsp beeswax
Instructions
- Melt your tallow and beeswax in a small saucepan over low heat until fully liquid.
- Stir in your rose-infused jojoba oil and mix well.
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator until it becomes firm.
- Remove from the fridge and allow it to soften for 5-10 minutes at room temperature.
- Whip with a hand mixer until light and fluffy, don't over whip, just a quick whip will do.
- Spoon into clean jars and store in a cool place.
Other Herbal Oils & Ideas to Try
Here are some other herbal infused oil options you can use for this recipe. Calendula oil tends to work with all skin types, particularly sensitive skin. If you want something that will give you a beautiful fragrance, try lavender.
For those who don’t do well with using tallow for skin care, you may want to try a different herbal moisturizer such as my lavender whipped body butter, which is also free of harmful chemicals like xenoestrogens.
Some people also enjoy anointing oils as part of their personal skin care routine. I like to go this route on days when I want something intentional and nourishing.
Everyone’s skin is unique, so it’s worth taking the time to notice what works best for you and make it a part of your regular skin care ritual.
Have you tried using tallow on your skin? Do you like it?
