Simple Tallow Balm Recipe (2024)

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Unveil the power of tallow in skincare and dive into my Tallow Balm recipe! Affordable, all-natural, and customizable to your skin needs. Enjoy!

Simple Tallow Balm Recipe (1)

Never heard of tallow before? You’re in for a real treat.

The stuff is everywhere right now, making headlines with its all-natural, deeply moisturizing effects on the face and body.

But with that comes an elevated price tag.

This is partly why I’m sharing my tallow balm recipe here in this post. You’re sure to love it!

Making your own tallow balm is super easy, plus much lower in terms of cost compared to buying a tallow balm in-store, and you get to control how you fragrance it.

Why pay a premium if you don’t have to, I say!

I think it’s comforting and somewhat empowering when you know exactly what you’re putting on your skin too, which is why I love all kinds of DIY beauty products.

In this article, you’ll learn how to make your own tallow balm. From scenting the balm, tips for making it the right texture, and how to store and use it.

This post is from numerous requests I received to make a tallow balm recipe, following on from the positive feedback from this Tallow Body Butter recipe.

Let’s get started.

Why use tallow in balms?

Tallow balm is rapidly becoming the go-to in the beauty world!

It’s an all-natural, deeply nourishing skin care product, protecting and replenishing dry and sensitive skin while offering a protective barrier against the elements.

Tallow locks moisture into the skin and keeps it there, so it’s perfect to use if you suffer from dry patches or flaking skin in freezing weather.

It also helps reduce wrinkles and age spots and smooth out your skin while you sleep, leaving it soft, smooth, and well-prepared for the day ahead.

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Ingredients needed for tallow balm

For the recipe below, you only need three ingredients.

They are:

Tallow: Another name for tallow is rendered fat (from animals,) with the most common source being beef fat. You can also buy 100% organic tallow from grass-fed beef.

Not only is tallow moisturizing for your skin, containing heaps of beneficial fats the skin absorbs like butter (literally,) but it’s also toxin and synthetic-free.

It whips up into a light texture really well, making it perfect as a body butter or balm, as you’ll discover in the recipe below.

Jojoba oil: Wonderfully moisturizing with a light texture, jojoba oil helps balance out the oils in the skin, working in harmony with the tallow to reveal a youthful, vibrant look. Read more about jojoba oil here.

Beeswax: Beeswax is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergenic; it has moisturizing abilities to boot, making it great as an anti-aging ingredient. You can read more about beeswax here.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosureHERE.

How to make tallow balm

Ingredients:

Tallow Balm Recipe:

  1. Begin by melting the beeswax, tallow, and jojoba oil in a double boiler. I use a double boiler to heat the ingredients gently and evenly. You can use a saucepan over low heat if you don’t have a double boiler; the result will be the same so long as it’s low heat.
  2. Once melted, remove from the heat and let it cool down until it starts to set up. Stir it every couple of minutes to ensure the ingredients are well incorporated. Add the essential oils in at this time if using.
  3. Transfer the balm to an airtight container as soon as it begins to set up. Leave the lid off until it cools completely. I like to stick it in the fridge to speed it up!
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Adding fragrance

Toward the end of step two, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance.

I like to start with 15 drops and then add more if needed.

Don’t add too much; you don’t want the scent to be overpowering.

Here are a few of my favorite blends for this tallow balm recipe. You can also check out this post on blending essential oils for skin care.

Favorite blends

Sweet floral

  • Roman chamomile
  • ylang ylang

Flower petal

  • Lavender
  • Geranium

Citrus bloom

  • Tangerine
  • Grapefruit

Check with your healthcare provider before adding essential oils to any skincare products.

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How to use tallow balm

To use this tallow balm, scoop a small amount onto your fingertips and massage it into your skin.

The balm will melt on contact and absorb quickly, so you can apply more if your skin needs it.

Tips

  • Wipe out the double boiler with a paper towel while it’s still warm but not hot before washing it out. You don’t want any beeswax going down your drain, as it’ll set and potentially block your pipes.
  • For an unbeatable anti-aging tool, apply the balm upwardly over your cheeks, chin, forehead, and between your brows. Give yourself a mini face massage, in essence, which promotes blood flow to the area and helps iron out fine lines.
  • The balm sets smooth in its storage container once cooled. Remember, if you want a whipped version, you can make a whipped version following this method here.
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Is tallow balm good for the skin?

If you don’t mind using animal products on your skin and are after a moisturizing, nurturing, 100% natural ingredient that shouldn’t clog pores or cause breakout, then yes! Tallow balm is a great option for the skin.

Of course, there are alternative vegan options available, such as this whipped Mango Body Butter recipe.

Storage

First, ensure you put the lid on correctly once you’ve made your tallow balm and it’s cooled down.

Store your tallow balm somewhere cool, away from sunlight and heat sources.

It should last in the container for up to six months – though I expect it’ll have been well used before then, and you’ll be onto your second batch!

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Wrapping up

That’s all there is to my tallow balm recipe! I hope you love making it and using it as much as I do.

Tallow balm is a versatile product with many uses, which is why I love it!

If you made this recipe and loved it, I would love for you to leave a review below!

And if you are looking for more great moisturizing skin care products, you may like reading one of these next!

  • Homemade shea butter lotion
  • How to make tinted moisturizer
  • Homemade night cream
  • How to make a body butter stick

Yield: 6 ounces

Easy Tallow Balm Recipe

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Discover the secret to radiant skin with this DIY Tallow Balm Recipe!

Prep Time5 minutes

Active Time20 minutes

Additional Time30 minutes

Total Time55 minutes

Difficultyeasy

Instructions

  1. Begin by melting the beeswax, tallow, and jojoba oil in a double boiler. I use a double boiler to heat the ingredients gently and evenly. You can use a saucepan over low heat if you don't have a double boiler; the result will be the same so long as it’s low heat.
  2. Once melted, remove from the heat and let it cool down until it starts to set up. Stir it every couple of minutes to ensure the ingredients are well incorporated. If using essential oils, add them in right before the ingredients start to solidify.
  3. Transfer the balm to an airtight container as soon as it begins to set up. Leave the lid off until it cools completely. I like to stick it in the fridge to speed it up!

Notes

If you use essential oils, be sure to add them before the ingredients are set up.

You will also need to store the balm in a glass or thick plastic container if the product contains essential oils.

Resources

https://healthnews.com/beauty/skin-care/heres-why-you-should-add-tallow-skincare-to-your-morning-routine/

https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/prohibitedrestrictedbyFDA%2011-30-2011.pdf

Simple Tallow Balm Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make tallow cleansing balm? ›

Melt the beef tallow, rosehip oil, and beeswax together in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the essential oils. Decant into a 2oz/60mL tin or jar. To use, massage into your face before going to bed.

How do you make tallow salve? ›

To mix the salve, melt your tallow in a double boiler, or a large mason jar in a pot if you don't have one. Add your oil and take off the heat. At this point, you can add a few drops of essential oil to add more scent to your salve if desired—usually, 20 drops is enough for a small batch.

How long does homemade tallow balm last? ›

I recommend straining into a pan if you're making tallow balm, because then you can easily do the next step by just adding your herbs to that pot of tallow. It will solidify at room temp and can be stored refrigerated or frozen for years and several years (if not more) unrefrigerated.

Does tallow balm clog pores? ›

Will tallow clog my pores? No, it will not! This is a common misconception.

Why add olive oil to tallow balm? ›

Why do you include olive oil? We add a little olive oil to the tallow because of its therapeutic qualities. Since ancient times, olive oil has been considered a healing salve for the skin due to its soothing, cleansing, moisturizing, and anti-cancer properties.

Why not to use tallow? ›

Dermatologists typically look for products that are high in linoleic acid and low in oleic acid, and the reverse can irritate the skin, he continued. He also noted that despite claims of being noncomedogenic, tallow will most likely clog pores because it is heavy and thick.

Do you need to refrigerate tallow balm? ›

You do not want it to be completely solid, but look like it is waxed over. You can now add the add in the aloe and essential oils (because they are sensitive to heat). Fill small jars with the tallow balm and store in the refrigerator or a cool dark place until ready to use.

How long does tallow balm last? ›

We recommend using our soaps and balms within one year. The shelf life of tallow soaps depends primarily on their ingredients. For example, we make our soaps with olive oil which has a much longer shelf life than other oils like grapeseed or palm oil.

Why is my tallow balm gritty? ›

During hotter months, butters and balms can partially melt and then cool down too slowly, creating the perfect conditions for that grainy, gritty feeling. And while Summer shipping is the WORST for this, it can also happen if wherever you keep your body butters has a lot of variation in temperature.

Why do you add salt to tallow? ›

Purifying is a refining process that may be performed after the initial rendering and straining process. It is achieved by adding salt and water to the cooking vessel as the suet renders. This helps "impurities" sink to the bottom as the tallow cools, and is subsequently scraped off.

Does tallow get rid of wrinkles? ›

Fatty Acids: Tallow contains various fatty acids that can support skin elasticity and firmness. These fatty acids contribute to maintaining the skin's structure, potentially minimising the formation of wrinkles.

Does tallow go rancid? ›

Oxidation occurs when beef tallow is exposed to oxygen, breaking it into fat molecules. This results in a rancid smell, off-flavours and reduced shelf life, and free radicals being created during this process – potentially with serious health implications.

Why is my tallow balm runny? ›

Occasionally, you may even find it's a bit runny if it's left in a warmer room. These are all normal variations that happen and there is nothing wrong with your tallow-based product.

Can you rub tallow on your face? ›

Like most skin care products, the benefits of beef tallow depends on your skin type. According to Dr. Green, tallow is thought to be compatible with human skin because of its compositional similarity to sebum, the natural oils produced by human skin.

What ingredient is best for cleansing balm? ›

Dr. Hammerman says that there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind when shopping for a high-quality cleansing balm. “Ingredients such as coconut oil, almond oil, vitamin E, coconut milk, and shea butter deliver high doses of hydration,” she says.

Can you use tallow as a cleanser? ›

In other words, Tallow is an all natural Oil Cleansing powerhouse! Oil Cleansing may sound like it is only for people with dry skin, but in reality, anyone can use this technique! No matter if you have dry, oily, or combination skin. The Oil Cleansing method is ideal.

What ingredients are in a cleansing balm? ›

A cleansing balm (also known as a balm-to-milk cleanser) is an oil-based facial cleanser. The three must-have elements of any cleansing balm formulation are oily emollients, an oil-soluble oil-in-water rinse-off ingredient, and thickeners.

What is tallow balm made of? ›

Tallow Balm is nature's perfect skin care product, supplying complete nutrition directly to the skin, resulting in optimal skin health. The principal ingredient is tallow, a fat or oil obtained from grass-eating animals such as cows and sheep. The tallow is obtained from 100% grass-fed animals that are not fed grain.

References

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