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If you are looking to ditch skincare products with toxic ingredients and transform your complexion, this homemade tallow balm recipe is the answer! Beef tallow, vanilla, and frankincense essential oil have been shown to clear acne, smooth skin, reduce wrinkles, and more. Whether you prefer the whipped or the solid version, I can guarantee that all-natural tallow balm is going to be your new favorite skin care regimen.
The first time I heard the idea that rubbing animal fat on your face was supposed to be a good moisturizer, I’ll admit… I thought “Gross!”
Certainly, a thick cooking-type oil was going to clog my pores, trigger breakouts, and make me feel like a greasy mess, right?
To understand why I finally caved and tried it, you have to understand a few things about me. First of all, I was a 36-year-old mom of 7 who didn’t wear a stitch of makeup. I didn’t have terrible skin, but I always had a pimple or two, and my fine lines were making me pretty self-conscious. It didn’t help that I lived in northern Wisconsin, which is known for its dry, cold winters that made my face feel chapped from October through May. No, really… that’s how long our winter months are! Ha!
Even though I was a total skeptic, I decided to give tallow balm a shot since I was reading about so many amazing benefits and loved that it only contained natural ingredients vs. the synthetic chemicals most skincare products contain. I remember getting my first bottle in the mail and giving it a go. “Nope, not for me!” I thought. It DID feel greasy going on! My first experience with tallow balm was definitely not love at first swipe, but I had bought what now looked like a year’s worth, so I continued to play with it.
After a few days, I realized that tallow balm should be applied more like chapstick than lotion. A little bit goes a long way! If you do that, it does soak in quickly and leave a silky (and not greasy) finish.
The most amazing thing I noticed, however, was the almost immediate changes in my skin. My pores closed up, and my once-dry skin looked radiant. Within a few weeks, my complexion was clear of blemishes, and my wrinkles looked fainter. I was shocked!
One thing I still did not love, however, was the price. My first ever tallow balm was from a company called Toups & Co. I now sell it, so I get that between sourcing quality ingredients and the time that goes into making it in small batches, the price can’t be too low. I will say, though, that learning to make my own tallow balm has been a great way to save money, and this simple recipe only takes a few minutes of hands-on time to make a year’s supply!
If you are curious to learn more about what exactly tallow balm is and how you can get these amazing results yourself, keep reading! Already educated on the benefits and just looking for the recipe? You can skip to the recipe below!
If you prefer, you can also watch the full tutorial on how to make both whipped and solid tallow balm in the video below. The video also shows how I make the most amazing tallow lip balm and homemade deodorant (that works!).
What is Tallow Balm?
Tallow balm is a super-nourishing, all-natural moisturizer made from beef tallow (aka rendered beef fat). It might sound weird at first, but trust me—your skin loves it. It’s like food for your face and body, without all the sketchy ingredients in store-bought products. You can simply whip up tallow all by itself, and it would still be “tallow balm,” but my recipe adds in a few other ingredients for some extra perks for your skin as well.
Why is Tallow Balm Good for Your Skin?
There are so many perks! Here are the highlights…
- Nutrient-Rich: Tallow is packed with vitamins A, D, E, K, and B1, which are essential for maintaining healthy skin. These vitamins promote skin repair, protect against free radicals, and encourage a glowing complexion.
- Mimics Skin’s Natural Oils: The fatty acid profile of tallow is very similar to the sebum produced by human skin, which makes it highly compatible. This allows tallow to deeply moisturize and nourish the skin without clogging pores. Here’s the main lineup:
- Oleic acid (Omega-9) – Super moisturizing and helps other ingredients absorb better. Great for dry or mature skin.
- Palmitic acid – Strengthens the skin’s barrier and helps it retain moisture.
- Stearic acid – Helps smooth and soften skin, and gives tallow balm that creamy, spreadable texture.
- Linoleic acid (Omega-6) – Helps calm inflammation and support acne-prone skin. Tallow has a small amount, but every bit counts.
- Myristic and palmitoleic acids – These have antimicrobial properties and help support skin repair.
- Deeply Moisturizing: Tallow penetrates the skin barrier more effectively than many plant oils, providing long-lasting hydration. It’s especially helpful for dry or mature skin as it helps lock in moisture.
- Anti-Aging: The rich concentration of antioxidants and essential fatty acids in tallow helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It supports skin elasticity and firmness, which can give a more youthful appearance.
- Gentle on Sensitive Skin: Tallow is soothing and non-irritating, making it ideal for those with sensitive or easily irritated skin. It can help calm conditions like eczema, rosacea, or dermatitis.
- Non-Greasy and Fast Absorbing: Despite being a rich fat, tallow absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving a greasy residue, making it suitable for daily use on the face.
- Helps with Acne-Prone Skin: Its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce redness and irritation, while the fatty acids can help balance skin oil production, which may lead to fewer breakouts.
- Healing Properties: Tallow contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and palmitoleic acid, both of which have anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that support skin healing and repair.
Where Does Tallow Come From?
Tallow comes from beef fat, usually, the fat around the kidneys (called suet), but other fat trimmings may be rendered down as well. You slowly melt it down and strain it until it becomes a clean, creamy oil. Sounds kind of rustic—but hey, that’s our style, right?
Don’t worry, when done right, it has very little odor. Any remaining odors are easily masked with the vanilla and frankincense in this recipe.
Where to Find Grass-fed Beef Tallow
If you would like to render the tallow yourself, check with your local farmer, butcher shops, or farmer’s markets and ask for beef fat or suet. You can also buy pre-rendered tallow online from places like Azure Standard, US Wellness Meats, and even Etsy. I have been buying our food from a place called Sulu Organics, and the quality has been great! Just make sure it’s grass-fed for the best quality and skin benefits.
How to Store Beef Tallow
Rendered tallow is super shelf-stable. You can keep it in a jar at room temp for months (as long as it’s sealed and out of direct sunlight). If you’re not using it right away, you can stash it in the fridge or even freeze it. It won’t go bad easily—it’s pretty forgiving.
What You Should Know About Tallow
Is tallow balm just good for faces, or is it for your body too?
Nope, it’s for your entire body! Slather it on dry hands, cracked heels, diaper rash, your belly if you’re pregnant, or your whole body after a shower. It’s gentle enough for your face but rich enough for tough spots, too. Warning… you are one jar away from becoming the lady who says, “Just put some tallow on it!” for just about anything. Ha!
Why does this tallow balm recipe include olive oil, vanilla, and frankincense essential oil?
When creating this recipe, I was trying to clear up my sensitive, acne-prone skin, and I was also looking for some anti-aging benefits as well. Here are the benefits of each of those additional ingredients:
- Organic extra virgin olive oil:
- Nutrients & antioxidants: EVOO is full of nutrients and antioxidants such as vitamin E and polyphenols, which are beneficial for the skin.
- Nourishes and hydrates: This oil contains healthy fatty acids, like oleic acid, which deeply nourish and hydrate the skin.
- Anti-inflammatory compounds: these make it particularly soothing for sensitive or irritated skin.
- Don’t settle for balms with regular olive oil! EVOO is less refined, which means it contains more of these beneficial properties.
- Organic vanilla:
- Neutralizes free radicals: Vanilla contains vanillin, an antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals, which can prevent skin damage and signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines.
- Soothes inflammation: Vanilla can help soothe irritated or inflamed skin, making it a great option for sensitive skin types.
- Locks in moisture and provides hydration: This property leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth.
- Heals and prevents acne: Antibacterial properties may help in reducing acne and preventing future breakouts by killing acne-causing bacteria.
- Reduces stress and anxiety: Vanilla has a calming, sweet scent that can reduce stress and anxiety when applied topically, adding a soothing element to your skincare routine.
- Organic frankincense essential oil:
- Reduces signs of aging: Regenerative properties can help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots, as well as fade scars, stretch marks, and dark spots.
- Acts as a natural astringent: Helps to tighten the skin, shrink pores, and reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone, resulting in a smoother complexion.
- Promotes healing: This oil promotes the healing of damaged skin tissues.
- Anti-inflammatory: Powerful anti-inflammatory properties can reduce redness, swelling, and irritation, making it ideal for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
- Heals and prevents acne: Antibacterial properties can help to kill acne-causing bacteria, reduce inflammation associated with acne, and promote faster healing of pimples.
- Balances skin’s oil production: Helps balance the skin’s natural oil production, making it great for both dry and oily skin types
- Supports the healthy growth of new skin cells: This can speed up healing and rejuvenation, leading to a more radiant complexion.
Is Whipped or Solid Tallow Balm Better?
When I bought my first container of tallow balm, it was a more solid consistency, and I didn’t even know a “whipped” version existed. I personally think a “lightly whipped” consistency is the best, at least for faces. It’s almost solid, but just light enough to easily get on your finger and rub into your skin.
I know many who opt for the heavily whipped version, but as someone who makes and sells this stuff, there is something you should know…. The more whipped the tallow balm, the shorter its shelf life. A solid tallow balm will last forever. A slightly whipped balm will last 6-9 months without any noticeable changes. A very whipped balm will only last a month or two before it begins to break down and look… well… less fresh? I would never sell a very “whipped” balm because I think that this could be disappointing as a customer. If you do choose a whipped consistency, make sure to keep your container out of any warm rooms. It’s definitely not the one to bring along in your beach bag!
One exception I can think of is if I were making more of a body butter than a face balm. In this case, I would probably want the more airy whipped consistency, and because I would go through it quicker, it wouldn’t have a chance to break down.
The good news is that this recipe allows complete flexibility in the consistency. Leave it completely solid, whip it a little, or whip it until it looks like marshmallow fluff- it’s totally up to you! This DIY recipe lets you pick your favorite way!
What You Will Need to Make This Easy Homemade Tallow Balm Recipe
Ingredients:
For exact ingredient amounts, see the recipe card below.
Tools or other supplies you may need:
How to Make Easy Homemade Tallow Balm
A little tallow balm goes a long way, especially if you are mostly using this as a face cream. With that said, this recipe will make a year’s worth for most people! This recipe will make 4 3.5 oz. jars, but you could purchase smaller jars and make several! A one to two oz jar of tallow balm would make a wonderful gift!
If you plan to supply your large family, give these as gifts, or sell your creations, I highly suggest starting with the small batch before making more. The reason is that different sources of tallow can create slightly different consistencies. You may need to alter the amount of olive oil in order to get your preferred consistency, but this recipe will be a great place to start.
Also, I highly recommend using a kitchen scale to measure out your ingredients. It isn’t mandatory, but it will give you much more consistent results. I do, however, use teaspoons to measure out my vanilla and essential oils since it is such a small amount (and harder to measure in grams or ounces).
Step 1:
To begin, add 178 g grass-fed tallow (about 3/4 cup) to a double boiler. If you don’t have a double-boiler (no worries, I apparently lost mine), you can simply place a metal bowl on top of a small saucepan with some water in it. Voilà! A homemade double boiler.
Step 2:
Next, add 19 g extra-virgin olive oil (about 4 teaspoons). Then, set the double boiler on the stove and turn it on medium-low heat.
Step 3:
Slowly melt the mixture, whisking occasionally until it is completely translucent with no little flecks of solids or cloudiness remaining.
Step 4:
Remove it from the heat and let it cool at room temperature. As soon as it is cool enough to put your finger in comfortably, you can safely add in your essential oils or other add-ins. It is important that you don’t skip this step! Essential oils can start to break down losing their amazing properties, scent, and evaporate completely at a very low heat.
I personally like to add frankincense and vanilla. Just make sure that whatever you use is skin-safe! If you have very sensitive skin, make sure to do your research on your chosen add-ins.
If following my recipe exactly, whisk in a scant (almost full, but not quite) ½ teaspoon (or two grams) of vanilla and ¼ tsp. Frankincense essential oil (1/4 tsp. is about 25 drops of essential oil).
Make sure to whisk the oils and extracts in very well. Then, you can set it aside to let it finish cooling and solidifying a bit.
Every once in a while, go and whisk it. After it thickens to a pudding consistency, you have a few options. You can give it a quick pass with a hand blender. Just to make sure it is nice and smooth before transferring it to your jars. This will give you a fairly solid consistency (think chapstick).
My preferred consistency is “slightly whipped,” which just means use a hand mixer for just a tad longer. It’s not fluffy like marshmallow fluff, but just slightly airy so that it goes on smoothly and feels luxurious.
DIY Whipped Tallow Balm Recipe
Or, if you want it really whipped, you can take this mixture and chill it. Then, in a few hours after the mixture is solid, blend it thoroughly with your hand mixer. Just keep mixing with your hand mixer until it’s light and fluffy! Note: one downfall to the whipped version is that it won’t keep that consistency for more than 1-2 months.
At this point, you can transfer the mixture to jars and store it in a cool place. I do keep mine in my bathroom drawer, but I will say that the very whipped version doesn’t last long. This is one reason I prefer the slightly whipped version instead.
To use your tallow balm, apply a small amount to your face, hands, or wherever you need it. I put some on daily after my shower as well as at night before bed.
Save this recipe for later by pinning it!
Easy Homemade Tallow Balm Recipe (whipped and solid)
Materials
- 178 g grass-fed tallow (about 3/4 cup)
- 19 g extra-virgin olive oil (4 tsp.)
- 2 g vanilla extract (scant 1/2 tsp.)
- 1/4 tsp. essential oils (such as Frankincense)
Instructions
- To a double boiler, or a metal bowl that fits on top of a small saucepan of water, add the tallow and the extra virgin olive oil. Weighing the ingredients is much more accurate and quicker if you have a scale.
- Place the double boiler over medium heat. Slowly melt the mixture, whisking occasionally until it is completely translucent with no little flecks of solids or cloudiness remaining.
- Remove it from the heat and let it cool at room temperature. As soon as it is cool enough to put your finger in comfortably, you can add in your essential oils or other add-ins. I personally like frankincense and vanilla.
- Make sure to whisk the oils and extracts in very well. Then, you can set it aside to let it finish cooling and solidifying a bit.
- Every once in a while, go and whisk it. After it thickens to pudding consistency, you have a few options. You can either give it a quick pass with a hand blender, just to make sure it is nice and smooth before transferring it to your jars. You can mix it just a little longer to give a slightly whipped version (my favorite). Or, you can chill it until sold and then blend it more thoroughly to get a very whipped consistency. Note: one downfall to the whipped version is that it won’t keep that consistency for the more than 1-2 months. I like mine just slightly whipped.
- Transfer to jars and store it in a cool place.
FAQs
Can I use a different essential oil in my tallow balm?
Absolutely! You can totally customize it to whatever vibe you’re going for by adding in your favorite essential oils. Lavender is calming, tea tree is great for acne-prone skin, and chamomile is super gentle—perfect for little ones. Just make sure you’re using skin-safe oils. Also, you can leave in the Frankincense and add just a few drops of your favorite essential oil. But be careful, a little goes a long way! When testing new oils, I also recommend doing a patch test on your skin before slathering yourself in it. Some essential oils cause rashes in some people, while others can use them with zero issues.
I will say, though, that frankincense was chosen for its amazing properties and for the fact that it is a natural preservative. Make sure to research the properties of the essential oil you choose!
Can I leave out the vanilla?
Yes, you can definitely leave out the vanilla in this recipe. It is there to help mask any “beefy” odors and as a natural acne-fighting ingredient. Feel free to skip it if that is what works best for your skin!
Can I substitute avocado oil for the olive oil?
While I have never tried it myself, I think that would work just fine! Avocado oil has some great skin benefits as well, such as being full of fat-soluble vitamins and gentle on sensitive skin. In order to make the swap, simply substitute the avocado oil for the olive oil 1:1. Depending on the skin conditions that you are trying to target, avocado oil might be the secret ingredient to your custom skin balm!
Does tallow balm need to be refrigerated?
Nope! One of the best things about tallow is how shelf-stable it is. As long as you keep it in a clean, dry container and out of direct heat or sunlight, it’ll last months at room temperature. That said, if your house gets really warm in the summer, you might pop it in the fridge to keep it from getting too soft.
What is beef suet vs tallow?
Beef suet specifically refers to the yellowish and very firm fat that surrounds the kidneys and loins of cows and sheep. Tallow is a more generic term that refers to any fat off of cattle or sheep after it is rendered down to a usable and pretty-well shelf-stable state.
So, which do you need? I personally don’t worry about specifically buying tallow made from suet for my skincare recipes, but you could argue that it is higher in some vitamins and other nutrients. I’d say just go with what is available to you and within your budget, focusing first on finding a reputable source of pure tallow, and then weighing the benefits of the extra cost of suet-only tallow. If you are rendering your own, it is easy enough to ask the butcher for “just the suet” and not “all of the fat trimmings” from the animal, if that is your preference.
Is leaf fat the same thing as suet?
It is the same concept, but from different animals. Leaf fat is the fat from around the kidneys and loins of a pig, while suet is from the same area of the animal, but on cattle or sheep.
Does tallow balm smell like a cow?
This really depends on your source, and how it is processed (and who you ask). It shouldn’t have a strong smell. When tallow is properly rendered, it has very little odor. Any remaining odors are easily masked with the vanilla and frankincense in this recipe. If you are rendering the tallow yourself, I recommend the wet method vs. dry to ensure that it doesn’t have a strong smell.
Can I add things like shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, or jojoba oil to my tallow balm?
You can absolutely add in these great options to create a tallow balm that has the properties you are looking for. One thing you need to keep in mind, though, is how the consistency will be affected. For example, shea butter is more solid while jojoba oil is generally liquid at room temperature. To create the perfect recipe while including these ingredients, you will need to experiment. Do a very small batch as your first batch and make sure that it doesn’t end up too runny or too thick. As a starting point, keep your liquid oil to solid oil ratio the same as in this recipe (olive oil to tallow).
Your skin looks great! Do you use any other skin care products?
Thank you! Nope. Tallow balm is honestly the only thing I have used on my face in years!
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a 5-star review so that others can try it as well! Mention us @thefromscratchfarmhouse on Instagram so we can see your creations! You can also leave a comment below!
For even more helpful DIY recipes, you may like these:
Homemade Coconut Oil Sunscreen Recipe
Homemade Essential Oil Bug Spray Repellent Recipe
