What is Tallow?

Are you wondering “what is tallow?” Or maybe you’ve never even heard how it can be used! In this blog you can find answers to all of your questions concerning what tallow is, how to make it, and how it can positively affect your skincare routine. Not only that, but you can find links to tallow products and other natural products that make some amazingly simple tallow balm recipes.

What is Tallow

So what is tallow and how can you use it? Tallow is 100% animal fat. It is made up of about 52% monounsaturated fat and 42% saturated fat. Tallow has no water, proteins, or carbohydrates in it. Tallow is most often known as the rendered form of beef or mutton suet mostly made up of triglycerides. In the commercial sense, tallow can also mean fat derived from pig or even plant sources. But in this blog when we talk about tallow it is beef fat.

So what exactly is beef tallow? Beef tallow is the fat that is taken from the steak, roast, rump, ribs, or really any cut of meat from the cow. Tallow can also be the pure skimmed fat that comes off the meat and melted into a liquid before hardening into a more solid substance. 

Traditionally, beef tallow, or any kind of tallow, was used for so much more than just cooking. The tallow was converted into a biofuel and used in so many ways such as making medicinal salves, making candles, and even greasing your gun! They also made a variety of soaps and cleaning products with beef tallow. 

Before the influx of unhealthy man-made products, beef tallow played a prominent role in skin care. It was in almost every skin care product used by our ancestors. 

Unfortunately, today many people don’t use this great ingredient anymore. Instead, beef tallow is a novelty ingredient that is used very rarely. Some chefs use this tallow for dipping bread or spreading on toast. Others use it for frying vegetables and meats. Mostly however, people use more convenient ingredients such as butter or coconut oil. 

It is great to use beef tallow. Not only because you are using up an amazing product that often goes to waste, but it is also so good for your skin! 

How To Make Beef Tallow

If you are looking to step out and be adventurous, this is definitely for you! Here is the complete guide to making your own beef tallow! 

Many people prefer “leaf fat” which is the mass of fat around the kidneys. This is generally more mild tasting. If you are only using it for your skin though, you can use other fat.

1. For those of you who butcher your own cows, or would like to, here is how to identify the leaf fat. The leaf fat is a big mass around the kidneys. It has a coating that is cellophane-ish and feels waxy. Simply pull the whole mass out and refrigerate it until you are ready to use it. If you are not butchering your own beef you can ask your butcher to save the leaf fat for you. If you have a local butcher you could also call them to ask if they have any tallow. Since this product is usually not highly sought after, there is a good chance that your butcher will have some. 
2. After you have your tallow you can either refrigerate it or render it right away. Rendering tallow is not hard but it may take some time. The two major ways to render tallow is: wet rendering and dry rendering. Wet rendering means you add water to the pot as you render it. Many people would rather do dry rendering as there is no chance of the fat going rancid.
3. You will need to trim the beef fat. This basically means cutting it down into manageable chunks and cutting out any bits of meat or whatever you may find. It is usually easier to do this when the tallow is cold. 
4. Once you have the fat trimmed, run it through a food processor. Again, this is definitely easier if it is cold! You can also hand chop it if you don’t have a food processor but it will take much longer. After you have it all chopped to a fine consistency, pour it into a slow cooker or a large pot. 
5. You can now begin the melting process. It is very important to cook it on low heat. It may seem like it takes awhile but this is definitely better than having it burn. Tallow does have a distinct smell while it is cooking but don’t worry, this does not carry over into the finished product! This melting process is going to take several hours depending on how much fat you used so you can feel free to do other projects in between. Just make sure to check it every once in a while and stir it whenever you think of it. You will know it is getting done when the fat starts to separate. 
6. When there is a clear liquid at the bottom and a bunch of stuff floating on the top, you will know it is done. The crispy pieces on the top are the impurities. You can scoop this out using a spoon. Once you have a majority of the bigger pieces out, you will want to strain the liquid through a mesh strainer. 
7. After you are sure that all that is left is this pure liquid you can now cool it. You can pour it into jars and let cool or you can pour it into a pan. If you are using a pan, make sure you line it with parchment paper first. (I would suggest using a pan and then cutting it into bars because tallow is nearly impossible to get out of a jar when it is cold.) When you have put it in a container of choice, allow it to harden completely. As it cools, you will notice that it turns either a creamy white color or a bright yellow color. Neither of these are bad, it is just the different kinds of cow that affects the color. If you use a pan, you may cut the hardened tallow into chunks and store it that way. 
8. Many people store it in their pantry or cupboard at room temperature but if you want it to last longer you should store it in your fridge. Many people store the extra in their freezer and this will last even longer. The amazing thing is that you can reuse your tallow! If you are frying french fries, you can strain the tallow and reuse it next time! 

If this whole process sounds a bit daunting or overwhelming, never fear. You can always buy beef tallow online or maybe even in a store near you. Many stores don’t carry beef tallow. If they do, check it carefully before buying. Most tallow/lard that you find in the grocery stores is hydrogenated and just as bad for you as vegetable shortening. 

If you are buying online, make sure you are buying 100% grass fed beef tallow because this is the healthiest for your skin and body. The link below takes you to the beef tallow that I buy and I love it!

Get your own 100% grass fed beef tallow here!

Note: the whole process explained above can be used to render lard as well. Lard though, is only used in cooking and not as a skin care product.

How is Tallow good for your skin?

Over the past couple of years fat has changed into a “dirty word”. Health experts are telling us to stay away from eating and using fat. So it’s no surprise that many people are skeptical about using tallow for their skin. I mean, how can it do any good? But, did you know that our bodies need fat? We actually were not made to function without it! For optimal health you should contain somewhere between 18.5% and 24.9% fat. So how can you best use tallow to benefit your body?

First off, any tallow that you ever use for your skin should be 100% grass fed. I mentioned this earlier but I will again. Using this kind of tallow is good because it has the densest concentration of nutrients. 

Tallow contains high concentrations of fat-soluble Vitamins A, D, and K in a balanced combination with their activators. This is a big reason why beef tallow has such a profound impact on your skin + overall health. Grass-fed tallow also contains Vitamin E (four times as much as grain-fed cows). It even has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties thanks to high concentrations of essential fatty acids your skin needs, like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and palmitoleic acid.

So how do these vitamins actually help your skin?

Vitamin A

It encourages the production of collagen, elastin, and healthy skin cells. This helps strengthen tissue to keep skin smooth and youthful. It also has the ability to heal a variety of skin issues, like acne scarring. It can also help slow down the effects of aging on your skin by smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D contributes to skin cell development, repair, and immune function. It’s able to protect your skin by guarding against free radicals. This means protecting from acne and other skin irritations. 

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is widely known for its ability to even out skin tone and texture. Its soothing qualities can reduce redness and irritation. This keeps your skin looking young and fresh while reducing redness and spots left from acne. 

Vitamin E

This vitamin is a hydrator. It is an antioxidant that can repair acne damage done to your skin. The hydrating qualities in Vitamin E allow your skin to remain soft and moisturized all day long. This can curb dry and flaky skin problems.

Above all these amazing things, tallow works so well with our skin because the makeup of tallow is the closest to the makeup of our own skin. Our cell membranes are 50% saturated fat and beef tallow is also 50% saturated fat. Because of this incredible similarity, beef tallow is very compatible with the makeup of our cells. 

Another positive impact of beef tallow on our skin is its similarity to sebum. Sebum is an oily, waxy substance that moisturizes and protects your skin. Both sebum and tallow are mainly composed of triglycerides. Sebum actually translates to tallow in Latin!

Great Tallow Balm Recipes

Now for some great DIY tallow balm recipes that you can use! 

Whipped Tallow With Honey and Shea

This recipe should make around 2 small jars.

Ingredients: 32g tallow, 10g shea butter or mango butter, 5g raw honey, 1 oz. Rosehip oil (or oil of choice such as jojoba, Marula, or argan), 5g aloe vera, optional 5 drops essential oil

1. In a large heat-safe bowl, weigh your tallow and shea butter separately.
2. Meanwhile, prepare a pot of simmering water and place the heat safe bowl over the water so the shea butter and tallow are gently heated. If you don’t have the pots for this you can just use a kettle. If you are doing this though, be sure to watch it carefully and cook it very slowly so it doesn’t burn.
3. Once the mixture is melted, remove from heat and add the oils (not the essential oil) and honey. Stir until mostly dissolved.
4. Place your bowl in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes until it begins to solidify. You do not want it to be completely solid, but look like it is waxed over.
5. You can now add the add in the aloe and essential oils (because they are sensitive to heat).
6. Use a hand or stand mixer to whip on high for around 10 minutes until the tallow balm is pale, creamy, and has air pockets. 
7. Fill small jars with the tallow balm and store in the refrigerator or a cool dark place until ready to use.
8. This can last up to 6 mo. but you will most likely have it used before then.

Tallow Balm

1. ½ cup tallow balm, 2 Tbsp. Rosehip oil, 10 drops essential oil of choice 
2. Melt the tallow low and slow till it is all melted. Be sure to watch it so it doesn’t burn! 
3. Once melted, pour into a bowl and let it cool slightly. Then mix in the other ingredients. Let it finish cooling until it is slightly hardened. If you want to whip it you can. Just use a hand mixer and mix until it is soft. If not, that is fine too. When you are finished store it in an airtight container and keep it in a cool dark place.
4. This is the recipe I normally use and I will definitely give it a 5 star review!

Beeswax Tallow Balm

1. Ingredients: Tallow 3 oz. Jojoba Oil 2 oz. Beeswax 1 oz., essential oil of choice.
2. Melt Beeswax, tallow, and jojoba oil low and slow. Once melted, remove from heat and let it cool down. Stir it occasionally. Add the essential oils and let it cool completely. Pour into an airtight container and store in a cool dark place. 

Tallow Tips

1. A little goes a long way. Unlike regular lotions, tallow balm is very concentrated so you don’t need much to get the desired results.
2. Tallow can be used for anyone, even babies! Tallow is gentle and safe for all skin types. It is not just used for the face but can be used all over your body as a moisturizer.
3. Always use 100% grass fed beef tallow. 
4. Use Tallow Balm before bed for awesome results. If you like to use it more often, put it on when you wake up too!

Conclusion

‘What is tallow balm?’ was so much fun writing! I have been using tallow for a couple of months and could not keep this wonderful skin care product a secret! It has totally changed my face for the better. It not only feels good on your skin but it is very effective at removing scarring and keeping your face hydrated. Even though tallow balm is fat, it does not make your face feel oily. It simply makes it feel fresh and moisturized. I have been putting it on every morning when I get up and every evening right before bed. It is an all day moisturizer and you only have to apply it once!

I would love to hear all your thoughts about tallow balm! Try one of these recipes and comment below on how it works for you! If you are adventurous and try rendering your own tallow, I would love to know how it turns out!

If this blog has helped or informed you in any positive ways, pass it on! Let your friends find out about the wonders of Tallow. Simply like this blog and share it with your friends through facebook, email, or whatsapp!

If you are looking for some other great DIY skin care recipes, you can visit my other blogs as well!

This blog was meant to be informational. Nothing in this blog was meant to take the place of a doctor’s orders. If you are unsure about using any of the ingredients listed above for your skin, make sure to check with your doctor first. Ekati Joy is not liable for any risks associated with this information.