Discover 3 Amazing Tallow Products for Dry Winter Skin Relief

Tallow products have become super popular recently, and for good reason! They are so beneficial to our skin and I think the benefits need to be talked about more. Using tallow for dry skin this winter will be a game changer for you and I can’t wait!

What is Tallow?

Tallow is rendered and purified beef fat. Yup, you read that right! When you render beef fat (specifically suet, found around the kidneys) you are ridding it of impurities and water. You’re left with a nutrient-dense fat that will nourish your skin. It can then be mixed with lye and made into soap, used as a moisturizer, or used in cooking. Read more about why we need lye to make soap in this post.

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Tallow works with our skin on a cellular level to seal in moisture without clogging our pores. Because tallow is so similar to the oils naturally produced by our skin, it can deeply penetrate and hydrate our skin like other oils can’t. Tallow is nourishing and rejuvenating and it shields our skin from harsh environmental factors.

Benefits of Tallow for Dry Skin

Vitamins A, D, and K are all found in tallow along with antioxidants like vitamin E. These aid in keeping a youthful appearance on your skin. These nutrients help prevent the breakdown of collagen and help fight off free radicals that cause wrinkles.

Tallow is also filled with oleic acid which is great for skin conditioning. It helps skin regenerate and helps reduce inflammation. Your skin will feel soft and smooth after you use it. Tallow helps to seal in moisture. This is especially important if you live in a climate that gets cold and dry in the winter. When the season changes, the moisture leaves our skin so quickly. Tallow helps to slow that drying process.

Soap – Store Bought VS Natural Tallow Soaps

Storebought soaps are often made with detergents and/or surfactants. Ingredients I learned to avoid early on in my low-tox days are called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). These detergents and surfactants are widely used especially in shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, and facial cleaners. It is used for its lathering properties and to remove oil and dirt. The drawback of using these ingredients is that they cause skin irritation, especially for someone who has eczema, psoriasis, or sensitive skin. Another ingredient often used in store-bought or more widely available soaps is fragrance. If you see fragrance, parfum, or even natural fragrance on the ingredients list, you’ll want to put what it is back on the shelf. Unfortunately, companies aren’t required to disclose what is included in their fragrance. Many of these ingredients can be bad for your skin and general health.

Tallow soaps are highly moisturizing because the fatty acids that are in it are so similar to the ones in our skin. Other soaps that are made with synthetic moisturizers tend to strip the natural oils on our skin which leave us feeling dry and tight, have you ever felt that before? When it comes to dry winter skin, a store-bought soap is going to dry out your skin and require an additional moisturizing lotion, it’s an uphill battle. With a natural tallow soap, you’re getting a two-for-one. Tallow soap will clean your skin as well as keep your skin soft and seal in the hydration for longer. If you’re looking for a tallow soap made with the best ingredients, check out our shop where you’ll find a variety of scents!

Tallow Balm

Tallow balms and butters are great for battling dry skin. It creates a barrier on your skin which helps seal in moisture during those dry months. The beauty of tallow products is they don’t clog your pores. You can use them even in acne-prone areas to help heal your skin and not add to any breakout issues. Products made from tallow are thick and luxurious leaving your skin feeling healthy. Naturally-made tallow products often have ingredients or herbs (like calendula, plantains, etc.) added to them that can help your skin heal even more. Always be aware of ingredients in tallow balms that you don’t recognize. Always steer clear of fragrance on the ingredients list (not to be confused with essential oils, which can be helpful!)

Sugar Scrub

Tallow sugar scrub is a product you didn’t even know you needed! The combination of natural exfoliation with tallow’s moisturizing and soothing properties is perfect. With other exfoliators, your skin is often left feeling dry, sensitive, or even inflamed. Sugar is a gentle exfoliator. When mixed with tallow’s anti-inflammatory properties, they will work together to leave your skin feeling smooth, calm, and hydrated. Additionally, tallow sugar scrubs are easy to make and you can add your favorite essential oils to the mix. Make sure you use an essential oils calculator and a trusted recipe.

Best Time to Use Tallow for Dry Skin

The way tallow works is it seals moisture into your skin. Because there is no moisture (water) in tallow products it isn’t going to add moisture to your skin. The best way to use it, knowing this, is to apply it right after you wash your hands or get out of the shower! You want to lock that moisture in with your tallow. In the wintertime, your body will lose moisture quicker so using tallow balm more often will be helpful. Now you see what a benefit tallow is to dry skin, I hope you’ll give it a try! If you want a little more info on the benefits of tallow soap and skincare, here’s another post. Grab some tallow-based soap from our shop and let us know what you think of it.