Why Tallow Is Making a Powerful Comeback in Skincare

March 10, 2025

The Truth About Tallow: Why This Traditional Skincare Staple Deserves Its Comeback

For centuries, tallow was a trusted staple in traditional skincare. Yet somehow, with modern-day life, it disappeared from the spotlight.

Now, this deeply nourishing yet super simple ingredient is making a well-deserved comeback, and for good reason.

If you've never heard of tallow before (or you have but you’re unsure what all the fuss is about), this post is for you.

I'll break down exactly what tallow is, why it's so good for your skin, and how to choose high-quality tallow-based products you can trust.

⚠️ WARNING:

Before we continue, please know that this post contains confronting images of my son during his journey through Topical Steroid Withdrawal. Please proceed with this understanding.

What Is Tallow & Why Was It Forgotten?

Tallow is rendered fat from ruminant animals (mammals that chew cud regurgitated from their rumen). In most cases, this means cattle or sheep.

While it may sound surprising in the world of modern skincare, tallow has been used for centuries to nourish dry, irritated skin. Our ancestors understood its value, using it to soothe, protect, and deeply moisturise their skin.

So why did tallow fall out of favor?

As the skincare industry turned toward mass production and synthetic ingredients, traditional remedies like tallow were pushed aside.

But now, with more people seeking pure, natural solutions for their skin, tallow is finally regaining the respect it deserves.

A large white chunk of triple rendered, clean, white, grass fed and finished beef tallow ready to be handcrafted into Whip Tallow Balm.

The Benefits of Tallow for Skin

Tallow is packed with skin-loving nutrients that make it an incredible moisturiser. Here’s why it’s so effective:

✅ Mimics the Skin’s Natural Oils: Tallow’s fatty acid profile closely resembles our skin’s natural oils. This similarity allows it to absorb easily and nourish deeply.

✅ Loaded with Essential Vitamins: Tallow is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K. These nutrients reduce dryness, improve elasticity, and support your body’s natural healing processes.

✅ Deep Moisture Without the Greasy Feel: Thanks to its unique structure, tallow penetrates deeply without clogging pores (it's non-comedogenic). This makes it ideal for dry, irritated, or eczema-prone skin.

✅ Naturally Anti-Inflammatory: Grass-fed tallow contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a powerful anti-inflammatory compound that helps calm inflamed skin.

✅ Incredible for Sensitive Skin: Tallow’s similarity to your skin’s natural oils makes it gentle on sensitive or compromised skin. It’s perfect for those battling dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, or Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW).

"When my son was going through topical steroid withdrawal, I turned to making my own tallow-based balm to calm his open, inflamed, and fragile skin and I’ve never looked back. It was one of the most effective, natural ingredients I could offer him. It changed our lives." — Asti Mary

Why Tallow Deserves a Comeback

Tallow isn't just powerful, it’s pure and a gift from nature. Unlike many commercial moisturisers packed with petrochemicals, preservatives, and synthetic fillers, high-quality tallow-based products contain minimal ingredients.

They rely on nature to deliver results. In fact, they’re so simple you can even make them yourself at home!

Our ancestors trusted tallow for generations. Now, in a world full of complicated skincare routines and seven-step processes, it’s time we embrace the simplicity and effectiveness of traditional remedies once again.

How To Choose a Quality Tallow Balm

If you're ready to introduce tallow into your skincare routine (and I hope you are!), here’s what to look for:

✅ Grass-Fed & Finished Tallow: Some grass-fed animals are grain-finished. Look for tallow that’s both grass-fed and finished for the most nutrient-rich product. If you can only find grass-fed, it will still work well but grass-fed and finished is the gold standard.

✅ Minimal Ingredients: The best tallow balms are simple, ideally just tallow and a carrier oil like olive oil or jojoba. Avoid products with synthetic additives or unnecessary fillers.

My Whip Pure Tallow Balm is made with organic extra virgin olive oil, while my Whip Naked Tallow Balm is crafted with organic virgin jojoba oil — nothing else.

✅ Handcrafted and Small-Batch: Small-batch producers often take more care in sourcing high-quality, locally grown ingredients while preserving traditional methods.

Larger-scale productions often result in grainy, lumpy, or poorly rendered balms because they rush the process. For best results, choose handcrafted products or better yet, make your own if you have the time.

Experience the Magic of Tallow

Curious to see what tallow might be able to do for your skin? My tallow balm is handcrafted in small batches right here in Australia using only the finest locally sourced grass-fed and finished tallow.

Like all my products, my Whip Tallow Balm Range is made with gentle care and transparency.

If you have any questions you can check my FAQ page, or my inbox is always open. Leave a comment below or hit the Contact button to get in touch.

I'd love to hear from you!

Asti Mary x

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Asti Mary

Hi there! I'm Asti Mary, the heart and hands behind My Herbal Apothecary. I’m passionate about creating natural skincare products with pure, thoughtfully sourced ingredients. My journey into herbalism began with a deep love for plants, but it truly became my calling when my son went through Topical Steroid Withdrawal (an experience that while I'd like to forget it, reinforced my commitment to natural healing). Every product I make is a reflection of my dedication to transparency, tradition, and the belief that what we put on our bodies should be as clean and nourishing as what we put in our bodies. Thank you for being here and for supporting small-batch, handcrafted, sh*t-free skincare x

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