In the world of natural skincare, more people are rediscovering traditional ingredients that have stood the test of time. One such ingredient is tallow—specifically beef tallow. Used for centuries in skincare, tallow is packed with nutrients that deeply nourish the skin. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to make a simple DIY tallow face cream using just beef tallow and discuss how adding jojoba oil can boost its benefits.
Why Use Tallow in Skincare?
Tallow is rendered beef fat, and it has a unique profile that makes it highly beneficial for skincare:
1. Nutrient-Rich: Beef tallow is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, all essential for skin health. These vitamins help repair damaged skin, improve elasticity, and support overall skin regeneration.
2. Similar to Human Sebum: Tallow’s fatty acid profile is remarkably similar to the oils naturally produced by our skin, known as sebum. This makes it highly absorbable and ideal for delivering moisture and nutrients without clogging pores or causing breakouts.
3. Long-Lasting Moisture: Tallow penetrates deeply into the skin and provides long-lasting hydration, unlike many water-based lotions that sit on the surface of the skin.
4. Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Tallow contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a compound known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This makes tallow suitable for those with sensitive or irritated skin.
How to Render Beef Tallow
Before making your own tallow face cream, you’ll need to render beef tallow. Rendering is the process of slowly melting raw beef fat to separate the pure fat from any impurities. It may sound complex, but it’s a straightforward, hands-off task that you can do with a slow cooker.
If you’re unfamiliar with how to render tallow, I’ve written a detailed guide on how to render tallow in a crock pot. This method allows you to make clean, odor-free tallow perfect for skincare.
Once your beef tallow is rendered, strained, and cooled, you’re ready to create your DIY face cream.
If you don’t want to render it yourself, I suggest buying THIS.
DIY Tallow Face Cream Recipe
Here’s a simple recipe for a nourishing tallow face cream. While tallow alone is an excellent moisturizer, you can choose to add jojoba oil for extra benefits, which I’ll explain below.
Ingredients:
• ½ cup rendered beef tallow (room temperature)
• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil (optional, but highly recommended)
Instructions:
1. Soften the Tallow: Start with room-temperature tallow. If it’s too firm to work with, gently heat it over a double boiler just until it softens. Be careful not to melt it completely; you want it to be soft and pliable.
2. Add Jojoba Oil (Optional): Jojoba oil is a fantastic addition to your tallow face cream because it mimics human sebum even more closely than tallow does. It is light, non-greasy, and helps balance the skin’s natural oil production, making it suitable for all skin types, including oily or acne-prone skin.
Add 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil to the softened tallow. This will create a lighter texture, making the cream easier to spread on your skin. If you prefer an even lighter consistency, you can experiment with adding more jojoba oil.
3. Mix the Ingredients: Once you’ve added the jojoba oil, use a hand mixer or whisk to blend the ingredients until you achieve a creamy, whipped texture. This step isn’t necessary, but it can give your cream a smoother, more luxurious feel.
4. Store the Cream: Transfer your finished tallow face cream into a clean glass jar with a lid. Store it in a cool, dry place, and it should last for several months without needing refrigeration. However, if you prefer a firmer texture, you can store it in the fridge.
Benefits of Adding Jojoba Oil
While tallow on its own is a powerhouse for skin nourishment, jojoba oil can further enhance your DIY face cream in several ways:
1. Balances Oil Production: Jojoba oil helps regulate the skin’s natural oil production. This is particularly useful for those with oily or acne-prone skin, as it can prevent the skin from overproducing oil.
2. Non-Greasy Hydration: Jojoba oil is lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving a greasy residue. Adding it to tallow helps create a cream that feels less heavy on the skin, especially for daytime use.
3. Rich in Vitamin E: Jojoba oil contains natural vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from environmental damage and helps with healing and regeneration. This can be especially beneficial for those with dry, damaged, or aging skin.
4. Improves Texture: Jojoba oil smooths the skin’s surface, improving overall texture. It also softens fine lines and leaves the skin feeling soft and supple.
How to Use Your DIY Tallow Face Cream
Tallow face cream is highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way. After cleansing your face, take a small amount of the cream (about a pea-sized amount) and warm it between your fingers. Massage it gently into your skin in circular motions, allowing the cream to absorb deeply.
This tallow face cream can be used both as a daily moisturizer and as a night cream. If you find the cream too heavy for daytime use, simply use it at night to allow it to work its magic while you sleep.
You can also apply it to dry areas of the body, such as elbows, knees, and hands, for extra hydration. Tallow is especially beneficial in colder months when the skin tends to dry out more easily.
Why Choose Tallow Over Commercial Moisturizers?
Many commercial moisturizers are filled with synthetic chemicals, fragrances, and preservatives that can irritate the skin. Tallow, on the other hand, is a pure, natural alternative that provides all the hydration and nourishment your skin needs without any of the harmful additives.
Additionally, many store-bought moisturizers are water-based, meaning they evaporate quickly and leave the skin feeling dry again soon after application. Tallow, being fat-based, sinks deep into the skin and provides long-lasting moisture that protects the skin barrier.
By making your own tallow face cream, you can be sure of every ingredient you’re putting on your skin. Plus, it’s a cost-effective way to achieve soft, glowing skin without relying on expensive commercial products.
Final Thoughts
Beef tallow is a time-honored, nutrient-rich ingredient that provides deep, long-lasting moisture to the skin. By making your own tallow face cream at home, you can nourish your skin naturally and avoid the chemicals commonly found in store-bought products.
Adding jojoba oil to the mix can enhance the cream’s texture and provide additional balancing and healing benefits, but even on its own, tallow is a powerhouse moisturizer that your skin will love.
To get started, don’t forget to check out my guide on how to render tallow in a crock pot, and you’ll have your own clean, natural tallow ready to go in no time!
Whether you keep it simple with just beef tallow or add jojoba oil for an extra boost, this DIY tallow face cream is a natural way to keep your skin healthy, hydrated, and glowing year-round.