How to Make Whipped Tallow Balm

Whipped tallow balm is the BEST skin healing cream and all-in-one moisturizer. Use it on dry winter hands, eczema, diaper rash, sunburn, acne, or just as your basic, daily moisturizer. Tallow balm is super versatile, consisting of rich nutrients and antimicrobial properties proven to effectively heal and soothe.

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Whipped tallow balm is an incredible remedy for dry skin, especially during the winter months. I have been making whipped tallow balm for my family for a few years, and it’s the only lotion I keep on hand consistently. It works so well for diaper rash, sunburn, eczema and many other skin conditions. I even use it as a nightly moisturizer for my face. It’s great for all skin types, even for sensitive skin! I love that I don’t have to stock a bunch of different skincare products. This whipped tallow balm is literally my one-stop-shop! Tallow balm is made in small batches with only a couple of natural ingredients. One thing that’s super important to me is that it’s safe for my kids to use as much as they want, wherever they need.

what is tallow??

Tallow is rendered beef fat. It might seem super weird or gross to be rubbing beef fat onto your body. But the fat has virtually no smell after it is rendered. And it has a super luscious and creamy smooth consistency. It is solid at room temperature. It is actually the OG skincare product that our ancestors used for centuries! Whatever did they do without watered down grocery store lotion filled with toxic ingredients?! Tallow. 🙂

When using tallow for skincare (or anything, really), it is important to source grass-fed beef tallow. Toxins often settle into the fat tissue when cattle are raised conventionally. NOT what you want to be rubbing into your skin. I buy my tallow from Sulu Organics on Etsy. It is 100% pure, high quality grass-fed and grass finished tallow. You can get it HERE.

why tallow?

Grass fed tallow is an incredibly nourishing and vitamin-rich form of rendered animal fat. Tallow is like a superfood for the skin! It has so many amazing health benefits. It contains high concentrations of vitamins A, D and K which are great for skin and overall health. Grass fed tallow also contains vitamin E (4x as much as grain-fed cows), conjugated linoleic acid which is anti-inflammatory, as well as palmitoleic acid which is known for its natural antimicrobial properties.

Tallow is incredibly effective in improving skin cell health because it has a very similar cellular make up as our skin! Our cell membranes are made up of mostly fatty acids, with at least 50% being saturated fats. Tallow is also made up of about 50% saturated fats – with the remaining amount being monounsaturated – making it highly compatible with our cell biology and powerfully nourishing for our cell health.

Another benefit of using tallow in homemade skincare is that it doesn’t leave the greasy residue that many plant oils do. I have made many homemade lotions and balms using shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, etc. and it leaves your skin greasy instead of soaking in. When you apply a small amount of homemade tallow balm to damp skin, it soaks right in and leaves your skin feeling so soft and moisturized.

whipped tallow balm recipe

Homemade tallow balm is super easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients. I usually make one batch every couple of months. It lasts a long time because a little bit goes a long way. If you’re used to slathering on large amounts of regular lotion, just remember that is not the case with this whipped tallow balm. It’s highly concentrated and deeply nourishing. So a little will go a long way.

what you’ll need to make whipped tallow balm –

• grass fed tallow
• organic olive oil or organic jojoba oil
• therapeutic grade essential oils
• small saucepan
• measuring cups
• hand mixer or stand mixer
• glass jars

how to make whipped tallow balm –

Measure one cup grass-fed tallow and one quarter cup of organic olive oil or organic jojoba oil. Melt together in a saucepan over very low heat. When the tallow is totally melted, remove from heat and allow to cool and harden. This can be done at room temperature, or in the fridge if you want to speed up the process. Once the mixture is firm, add essential oils of your choice and whip in a stand mixer with a whisk attachment or with a hand mixer. After a few minutes, it will reach a white, fluffy consistency. Store in a mason jar at room temperature in a cool place. Whipped tallow balm has a shelf life of about 6 months to one year.

my favorite essential oils for homemade skin care products:

blends –

• Aroma Life – Aroma Life is a blend of 4 essential oils: cypress, marjoram, ylang ylang and helichrysum. Each of these oils promote the appearance of healthy-looking skin and rejuvenate the skin, reducing the appearance of uneven skin texture and tone.
• Blue Tansy – Blue tansy is part of the chamomile family which means it has similar soothing benefits for redness and dry skin. It is one of the best essential oils for beauty and skincare and is really great for sensitive skin.
• Elemi – Elemi essential oil is derived from the Elemi tree and is one of the best essential oils for beauty and skincare thanks to its anti-aging properties. It helps brighten the complexion and works wonders on fine lines and wrinkles.

single oils –

• Frankincense – Frankincense is a powerful essential oil for beauty and skincare. It is an effective way to calm the complexion naturally. Its healing benefits not only soothe irritated and damaged skin, but are also renowned for reducing the appearance of stretch marks and scars.
• Patchouli – Patchouli is a great essential oil for beauty and skincare thanks to its anti-aging properties. Not only does it promote detoxing and healing, but it also helps with fine lines and wrinkles too. It has an earthy aroma, so I like to pair it with a floral oil like geranium or lavender.
• Cypress – Cypress is another recommended essential oil for beauty and skincare as it helps with blemishes. It is a natural astringent, which means it is ideal for those with oily skin but won’t cause dryness which many store-bought products do.
• Tea Tree – Tea tree essential oil is naturally cleansing and purifying. It helps with uneven skin tone and texture, balancing oily skin, and reducing redness.
• Geranium – Geranium essential oil soothes irritated skin and boosts hydration. It’s also known as the poor man’s rose because it has similar properties as rose essential oil at a fraction of the cost.
• Lavender – Lavender essential oil has many benefits to the skin, and a calming aroma. It naturally reduces redness and helps to clean the skin’s surface without stripping its natural oils.

why young living essential oils?

I choose Young Living essential oils because they are noticeably higher quality than other essential oils I’ve used. I have tried other brands of essential oils in my whipped tallow balm and I notice the scent wears off very soon after applying. Overall, it seems like the essential oils from Young Living are a much higher quality and potency.

There are so many essential oils on the market, it’s hard to know which ones are best. I also prefer Young Living essential oils because of their Seed to Seal quality commitment. However, there are many high quality oils on the market that will also do the trick! Please just stay away from grocery store oils. They are almost never pure essential oils. Keep in mind that whenever there’s a massive price difference, there’s usually a reason.

That being said, I totally understand that Young Living products are expensive! If the Young Living brand is out of reach for you financially, I would 100% recommend the essential oils from Plant Therapy. I have used many of their oils as well, and they are really good quality for the price.

give it as a gift!

I have given Whipped Tallow Balm as a Christmas gift to many people, and everyone loves it! Adding a homemade gift like this for friends/mom/sisters/mother-in-law/etc really helps cut down on cost. You can put it in some nicer looking jars and add a cute label. So easy!

If you like the sound of tallow balm but just aren’t interested in making it yourself, I sell this same recipe in my Etsy shop! Find it HERE.

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