Tallow Balm: The Natural Skincare Upgrade You Need Now

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If you are looking for a moisturizer made with natural ingredients, you’ve likely considered tallow balm. While the use of animal fat has become more popular in recent years, tallow has been a go-to ingredient in traditional skincare for centuries. Similar to the composition of the human skin and rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids, tallow is the original balm used to soothe and hydrate dry, chapped skin.

Most commonly made from beef tallow, tallow can also be rendered from deer, sheep, and other hoofed animals. For years, I paid a premium price to include beef tallow balm in my skincare routine. I was thrilled to learn that I could make my own natural skincare balm from the rendered fat of the deer my husband harvests each fall. 

What is deer tallow balm?

You may be familiar with beef tallow balm products. Beef fat is a renewable, widely available resource. Grass-fed beef tallow is the most widely sought, since the grass fed animals have not been fed questionable ingredients that make their way into the fat that is rendered into tallow.

Deer tallow is simply tallow that is made from rendered deer fat. Wild deer live off the land, browsing for only the best forage they can find. Deer are less fatty than domesticated animals, but most deer, especially does, have some fat that can be preserved by rendering.

Here on our Kentucky homestead, we are allowed to hunt multiple deer each season, which allows us to save the fat from multiple deer to produce enough tallow for soap making and my whipped tallow balm moisturizer to last the year (or two). 

Why is deer tallow good for your skin?

Tallow is very similar to our own skin’s composition, making it the perfect solution for pure skincare. Tallow is a rich source of fat-soluble vitamins and fatty acids. 

Vitamin A helps with skin turnover and regeneration. It plays an important role in your skin’s ability to repair itself. 

Vitamin D helps fortify the skin barrier, boosting its strength and flexibility. 

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from external damage and free radicals. Free radicals can cause premature aging and many health issues.

Vitamin K works with the other vitamins to help the skin heal and recover from bruising and irritation. It strengthens the skin’s natural barrier.  

Fatty acids in tallow include oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linoleic acid. They provide hydration and help to lock in moisture by reinforcing the skin’s protective barrier. 

Deer Tallow Balm Versus Store-Bought Skincare Products

Using natural products, like tallow balm, is perfect for all skin types, especially those with sensitive skin. Store-bought skin care products are full of harsh alcohols and surfactants, heavy oils, and waxes. Additionally, harsh essential oils and synthetic fragrance are added for sensory appeal, but can be irritating to your skin.

People with all skin types can benefit from the customizable formula made in small batches right in your kitchen. Since tallow is solid at room temperature, it is mixed with other natural oils to soften the tallow balm to make it spreadable. You can experiment with different blends of tallow and your choice of clean oils that are liquid at room temperature. Olive oil, argan oil, rosehip oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil are popular choices. 

Making tallow balm yourself is highly economical. You will be shocked at how little it costs to produce your own whipped tallow balm. Even if you purchase grass-fed tallow, you will save a significant amount. 

How do you render tallow for skincare?

Unlike highly processed plant oils, tallow is rendered at low temperatures. Rendering is the process of cooking perishable game fat down to make it shelf-stable. When rendered properly, no preservatives, chemicals, or fillers are needed. When rendering tallow for skin care products, I use both wet and dry rendering processes to produce a clean and low-scent tallow. 

Whipped Deer Tallow Balm Recipe

This recipe is a starting point for your unique blend. I use a 4:1 ratio of tallow to oil in my whipped tallow balm. This balm will have a thicker consistency like body butter; it is less light and airy. If you want a lighter tallow balm, you can adjust this formula to 3:2.

Equipment Needed

How to Make Whipped Tallow Balm

Add water to your double boiler and bring the water to a boil. Place your oil bowl to the double boiler while the water heats. Gently melt 8 ounces of tallow until just melted; don’t overheat.

Add 2 ounces of your choice of liquid oil and 1 teaspoon of vitamin E (if using), stirring well. 

If you are using essential oils, add them while the oils are melted to blend them thoroughly. Start with 25 drops of essential oils.  If you are not pleased with the scent, add more now; the aroma will not develop as it sets.  Allow to cool to room temperature. 

Once cool, begin whipping the tallow blend on high. Stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl frequently to ensure thorough mixing. Add the arrowroot powder about midway through the mixing. It helps the consistency if you feel the tallow balm feels too greasy.  Start with 1 teaspoon and increase as needed. (I like 2 teaspoons in my whipped tallow balm). Mix until it reaches a smooth texture.

Once smooth, put the deer tallow balm into glass jars.  I find it easiest to fill the jars using a ziplock bag cut like a pastry bag. Snip off one corner and squeeze the balm into the jars. Store extra jars in a cool, dry place. 

How to Use Deer Tallow Balm

Tallow balm is my favorite body butter for all moisturizing needs.  It’s perfect in the winter months when my hands are dry and cracked from hard work and harsh cold. It’s my daily face cream, helping to naturally reduce fine lines and protect my skin from windburn. It’s my favorite lip balm for sore, chapped lips. I don’t make fussy lip balm tubes. At home, I use my main jar, but you can put a small jar in your purse for travel. 

I use it on the homestead, too. Unscented deer tallow balm is a natural balm to use on my cows’ udders to calm irritation when they are chapped. When you use food safe oils, such as olive oil, there is no need to worry about nursing calves.

Luxurious Deer Tallow Balm

Deer tallow balm has become one of my favorite simple, natural skincare staples, not just because it’s effective, but because it lets me use every part of the animal harvest in a meaningful way. Whether you make tallow balm from wild game fat or purchase high-quality beef tallow, this traditional moisturizer is an easy, cost-efficient upgrade to your skincare routine. Every person should experience just how nourishing, affordable, and practical homemade skincare can be.

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