How To Make Tallow Balm

Heather Dessinger

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Years ago, when I misplaced my regular moisturizer in a move, I discovered by happy accident that tallow is uniquely compatible with our skin’s biology, leaving it supple and nourished after use. Rich in fat soluble vitamins A, D, and K along with a saturated fat ratio that closely resembles what our cells use to maintain integrity, it absorbs easily without leaving a greasy residue behind.

I’ve used this tallow balm for dry/chapped skin, diaper rash, and sunburns, and many of my friends swear by it for soothing eczema. But don’t think of it just as a “boo boo” balm – it makes an amazing daily moisturizer for the face and body. You can also slather it on your feet and throw some socks on for an intensive moisture treatment.

What To Buy If You Don’t Want To DIY

If you have tallow on hand – either homemade or purchased – it’s super easy to make. However, if you don’t have easy access to tallow or are short on time, my friend Emilie sells pre-made tallow balm blends that smell amazing.

Although I love to make my own so that I can customize my essential oil blend, there are times when I’ve got too much going on and order from her instead.

tallow balm

She’s carefully formulated the essential oils in each balm to be safe for use on the face and with children. If you want to try it out, click here and use HEATHERD10 at checkout for 10% off your first order.

Wondering what essential oils to use?

For skin balms I prefer oils that support skin repair and renewal, elasticity and firmness, and even skin tone, such as

Two pre-made blends that would also work beautifully are Anti-Age (which smells amazing) and Soft Skin.

Note: The essential oils marked with an asterisk (*) should be avoided if pregnant or nursing. For a longer list of essential oils to avoid during pregnancy/breastfeeding click here, and for a list of oils that are considered safe for pregnancy/nursing click here.

What type of tallow is best?

Tallow obtained by scooping the fat off the top of a chilled container of beef broth will likely have more moisture than traditionally rendered tallow. For that reason it tends to go bad quickly. Stick with the traditional process and your finished product should last about a year at room temperature.

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How To Make Tallow Balm

Makes approximately 1/2 cup – I fill a 4 ounce jelly jar to the brim when I make a batch.

Ingredients

  • 3.5 ounces tallow by weight – about 1/2 cup melted (Buy it here or render your own tallow using this method)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 27 drops essential oil for face application, or up to 54 drops for body application – optional, see suggestions in the post above. If you’re making this balm as a natural diaper balm for babies under two, use up to 8 drops of a child-safe essential oil.

Instructions

Melt the tallow gently over low heat, then pour into a large bowl and mix in the olive oil and essential oils. Allow to cool for about an hour, then whip with a hand mixer until it looks like frosting. Whipping gives it a lighter consistency that makes application easier. Place in a clean jar and use as needed. Shelf life is about one year.

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About HEATHER

Heather is a holistic health educator, herbalist, DIYer, Lyme and mold warrior. Since founding Mommypotamus.com in 2009, Heather has been taking complicated health research and making it easy to understand. She shares tested natural recipes and herbal remedies with millions of naturally minded mamas around the world.