Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no cost to you. All opinions remain my own.When it comes to skincare, people are constantly on the lookout for the next big thing,
From fancy serums to exotic oils, there’s no shortage of trendy ingredients to try. Plenty of companies will try to convince you that they have the answers. That by purchasing their expensive and complex concoctions you will be on your way to healthier skin. But sometimes, the answer to radiant health is found in the simplest and most unexpected places. Not so long ago, the last thing that came to my mind in my pursuit of skin health was cows… But there you have it! Enter beef tallow face cream! Made out of rendered beef fat and formulated for dry skin, sensitive skin, and even oily skin. Tallow face cream is ideal for skin health.
The first time I started using Tallow balm…
was about the same time I started consuming cod liver oil. I read in the Nourishing Traditions cookbook by Sally Fallon about how important cod liver oil is for our bodies. I checked out the resources at the back of the book and immediately was on my way to buy some from ‘Green Pasture Oils’. While shopping on the site, I found also a tallow balm for skin, specifically for the face. I was like “whattt”??
At the time I had just had my first child. I was awfully depleted and not in good health from those early motherhood days as a momma and a farmer. My skin, my hair, everything was a reflection of that depletion. I was unusually dry from the nursing demand. My body just could not keep in all the water it needed (that’s a whole different issue). But let me tell you, I was not looking too great.
I ordered this face balm from ‘Vintage Tradition‘ and wow! It really did wonders to my skin. It perked my face back up from dull and dry and brittle to glowing and healthy looking again. I still had a lot of health issues to figure out, but at that point I was definitely hooked on the tallow as my skin care. The farm was also raising pigs and cows at the time. I thought, ‘Hmm, I bet I can make this pretty easily.’. I rendered the beef fat as normal, scooped out a spoonful to put on my face, and I’m never going back.
What is beef tallow?
Beef tallow is rendered fat from a cow. Tallow is also be made from the fat of deer, elk, moose, caribou, bear, sheep, goats, and other ruminants. Fat that is rendered from pork is called lard. Fats that are rendered from chickens, turkeys, and other fowl are referred to as schmaltz. Rendering is the process of gently heating fat that has been removed from the meat. Gradually it separatesfrom any remaining connective tissue and muscle while also evaporating all moisture. The pure fat that remains is a precious product. It is rich in unsaturated fats, has a high smoke point, and is remarkably shelf stable–if kept in airtight containers. Tallow can be kept at room temperature for up to and over one year! This property has made tallow one of the essential building blocks of civilization for thousands of years.
The advent of the refrigerator has really changed the structure of human life in many ways. Rendered fat has fallen out of favor in modern cultures. I see no need for that, though–put it in the fridge and it will last even longer!
We can make tallw with any fat from the animal,
but suet is the best fat to use. Suet is a dense fat that surrounds the loins and kidneys of cows, sheep, and other ruminants . Suet is rich in calories and nutritive value. This fat is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin D, and filled with usable energy. It is so energy packed, in fact, that sled-dog travelers traditionally consumed it on their long journeys in frigid climates that required them to maintain intakes of 5,000-6,000 calories per day! Long story short, tallow is packed with goodness. There are many ways for us to make the most of it.
(Check out our recipe to render your own grass-fed beef tallow!)
People all over the world have used beef tallow for millennia. You can use it to replace toxic vegetable oils and get in your essential fatty acids…
Did I just say toxic?
You bet! Refined cooking oils such as canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, and vegetable oil are not simply pressed the way that unrefined oils are. Manufacturers combine them with a variety of chemicals that alter the properties of the natural material in order to create the intended products that consumers have come to expect.
However, if the average shopper understood what they were putting into and onto their bodies, they might think twice, and I hope that you do too! You can look further into refined oils, free radicals, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, and heart disease, or you can take my word for it and stick with the good stuff! There are plenty of plant based oils that are good for us: olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, and lots of other seed oils are very nutritious. But don’t forget about tallow, which might just be the healthiest way to cook!
…When used in skin care products like face creams, hand creams, balms and body butters, beef tallow provides a wide range of skin benefits. Moisturization, hydration, anti-inflammatory properties, increase of skin elasticity, reducing fine lines, and evening skin tone–All of these benefits and more come along with using beef tallow on your skin. It really is incredible to watch the transformation from before applying to after. It’s a shiny, glowing version of yourself!
Human skin is a very complex tissue:
It is composed of several layers and countless microscopic components, each of which plays a vital role in the healthy function of our largest organ. Out of all the organs, the skin is one of only two in the human body which can regenerate themselves (anybody know the other one??). To nourish the skin and assist it in its complicated work requires just the right sort of stuff. And what stuff is that? You guessed it. Grass-fed tallow is uniquely compatible with the composition of our skin. Because we are also mammals, the fats can more easily absorb at a cellular level than fats extracted from plant sources.
Now, at first it may seem strange to be putting animal fats on your skin, but because of this compatibility, those who use tallow products notice a significant decrease of skin problems. Once you start using it, I bet that you will probably join me in thinking that it’s crazy that so many people are not using it! Beef tallow face cream can also be kept at room temperature, which is again, pretty incredible. You can make it from scratch from a few simple ingredients, and then put it on your face…and you can keep it in the cupboard in the bathroom. That’s a win win for me! So let’s learn some more about the health benefits of Tallow Face Cream.
The Benefits of Beef Tallow Face Cream
- Moisturization: Beef tallow plays an important role of supplying moisture for the skin. It contains a high amount of oleic acid (similar to that which is in fatty fish oil), which helps to lock in moisture and keep the skin hydrated.
- Nourishment: Grass fed Beef tallow is rich in vitamins A, D, E, K, and fat cells, all of which are essential for healthy skin. These vitamins help nourish the skin and promote cell regeneration. Tallow contains polyunsaturated fats which are great for nourishing our bodies and our skin way better than any kind of commercial products!
- Anti-inflammatory: Beef tallow contains a compound called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which has anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it an excellent choice for people with sensitive or inflamed skin. You can also put it onto skin ailments like burns, scrapes and cuts for quicker healing and reduced scarring. I make an excellent healing salve out of Beef tallow you can check out in the Shop.
- Healing: Beef tallow is also rich in palmitic acid and palmitoleic acid, which have been shown to have healing properties. This can help to reduce the appearance of scars and blemishes with topical use. New products are coming out all the time that claim to heal skin issues of all sorts, but in recent years beef tallow is making its come back. It’s time we return to these ancient traditions and restore our health, naturally! Tallow balm can also help with free radical damage, repair cell membranes and even boost our immune system.
Why Choose Beef Tallow Face Cream?
If you’re looking for a natural, effective, and affordable skincare solution, look no further. Beef tallow face cream is full of amino acids, essential nutrients, and powerful antioxidants making it an excellent choice for skin hydration. People have been using beef tallow as skin care for a long time. Unlike many commercial skincare products, beef tallow face cream contains no harsh or synthetic chemicals. This means that it’s gentle on the skin and suitable for all skin types. Plus, if you make it yourself, you can choose EXACTLY what goes in it! I like to keep mine really really simple, but you can make your finished product to your own preference.
Additionally, beef tallow face cream is easy to make at home, making it a budget-friendly option. All you need is high-quality beef tallow and a few other simple ingredients such as vitamin e, olive oil and jojoba oil. Add some essential oils for fragrance if you want, but I actually prefer mine without any.
You don’t need to live on a farm to get a hold of some beef fat, either. You may be able to find beef fat for sale (look for suet, especially!) in local farmers’ markets or butcher shops. Ask the farmers and butchers, and they may be able to direct your search. If all else fails, you can buy it on the internet and have it shipped to your door! Very convenient, but try to support your local farmers if you can (we need all the help we can get!). Check out our beef tallow face cream recipe made with all natural ingredients!
How to Use Beef Tallow Face Cream
To use beef tallow face cream, start by washing your face with warm water and a gentle natural cleanser. (Bonus points if you use tallow soap!) You’ll want to wash first so that your skin doesn’t have any dirt or debris left on it. The cool thing about the tallow is that it locks in moisture, but if your face it dirty it can also lock that in and cause breakouts! Pat your skin dry with a clean towel, then apply a small amount of beef tallow face cream to your face and neck. A little goes a long way with beef tallow.
I find that it is easiest and most absorptive when I apply it to a slightly damp face. Massage the cream into your skin in a circular motion, for better results pay special attention to any dry or rough areas. Once you’re done, rub whatever is left on your hands into them! Dual action moisturization there!
For best results, use beef tallow face cream twice daily, in the morning and at night, as a great addition to your regular skincare routine. The natural oils will get you glowing in no time!
In Conclusion
Beef tallow face cream is a natural, effective, and affordable solution for healthy, glowing, supple skin. It provides moisturization at a cellular level. Nourishment, anti-inflammatory properties, and healing benefits are all an added bonus making it a better choice for all skin types. We’ve come a long way from natural skin care. It’s time now to take control of our beauty products again and return to our ancient traditions. So say hello to radiant skin! Give it a try and see the difference it can make for your skin. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Enjoy!
