What is Tallow?
Tallow is rendered fat, usually coming from a cow. The rendering process cooks the fat, turning it into a hot liquid (or solid at room temperature). The highest quality beef tallow comes from the fat around the kidneys due to its high density of vitamins A, D, E, K, and B1. Tallow from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef has the highest nutrient content.
Why is Tallow Good for My Skin?
Beef tallow is a game-changer for skincare. It closely mimics human skin oils, making it incredible for nourishing and maintaining healthy skin. Plus, it’s a natural source of essential vitamins A, D, and E.
Grass-fed tallow has the perfect combination of skin-friendly nutrients, making it the ideal skin moisturizer. Because it is so compatible with how our skin is made, tallow deeply nourishes the skin like nothing else. It is also amazing for soothing eczema, diaper rash, sunburn, windburn, acne, and itchy skin.
Tallow is amazing for skin because it provides a rich abundance of beneficial nutrients that skin needs to stay healthy, soft, and youthful. Here are some key reasons to use tallow for skincare:
Tallow is a Very Healthy Fat
It contains a wide array of beneficial nutrients that our skin needs to repair itself. These include:
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Vitamins A, B12, D, E, and K: These vitamins are extremely nourishing for the skin and are only found together in animal products. They help in skin repair, hydration, and maintaining skin health.
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Alpha linoleic and linoleic acids: Known as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, these acids maintain the structure and barrier function of skin and are helpful for anti-inflammatory and immune responses in skin, including eczema and rosacea.
Promotes Youthful Skin
Many of the nutrients in grass-fed tallow help to promote youthful skin by providing substances that our skin naturally loses as we age. These include:
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Collagen: Helps maintain skin elasticity.
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Elastin: Helps keep skin flexible and resilient.
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Glycosaminoglycans: Maintain skin hydration and structural integrity.
Note: Tallow itself does not directly provide collagen, elastin, or glycosaminoglycans. However, it provides the building blocks (like fatty acids and vitamins) that support the production and maintenance of these substances in the skin.
How it Works
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Vitamin A: Helps in the production of collagen, which is essential for maintaining skin elasticity.
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Vitamin D: Plays a role in skin cell growth, repair, and metabolism. It enhances the skin's immune system and helps destroy free radicals that can cause premature aging.
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Vitamin E: An antioxidant that helps protect skin cells from damage and supports the production of elastin.
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Vitamin K: Helps with skin healing and reducing the appearance of scars and stretch marks.
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Essential Fatty Acids: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help maintain the skin’s barrier function, hydration, and elasticity. They support the skin's structural integrity, promoting the health and function of collagen and elastin.
Compatibility with Skin Oils
Tallow is extremely compatible with the oil that our skin naturally produces, known as sebum. Sebum is a mix of fats produced by our skin's sebaceous glands. Tallow has an almost identical profile to human sebum, which means it can blend well with our natural oils. This helps to balance oil production, keep the skin hydrated, and protect the skin barrier. Because tallow is so similar to our skin’s natural oils, it works very effectively.
Intense Moisture
Tallow provides intense moisture that plant-based oils often can't match. When applied to the skin, it penetrates deeply, providing long-lasting hydration and creating a protective barrier that locks in moisture. This makes it particularly effective for soothing and hydrating dry, chapped skin.
Skin Repair and Protection
Tallow is not only great for repairing skin, but it also helps to prevent damage to the skin. Key components include:
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Stearic acid and oleic acid: Found in the outer layer of our skin and in our sebum, these fatty acids are softening, moisturizing, regenerative, and anti-inflammatory. Stearic acid helps repair skin, improve skin flexibility, and enhance skin’s barrier function. Oleic acid helps beneficial nutrients penetrate deeply into the skin.
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Palmitic acid: Helps improve the smoothness of skin and supports the skin’s barrier function, which decreases as we age.
Natural Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Tallow contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and palmitoleic acid, which have potent antimicrobial properties. These substances help to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria on the skin, reducing the likelihood of acne and breakouts. Additionally, tallow is rich in anti-inflammatory components such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in almost a perfect ratio of 1:1. These fatty acids help to soothe inflammation and redness, making tallow effective in treating conditions like eczema, rosacea, and other inflammatory skin issues.
Is tallow good for acne?
Yes! The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and skin-repairing properties in grass-fed tallow make it very helpful for acne-prone skin. An oil cleansing method with tallow and aloe vera combines skin soothing and deep purifying benefits. Of course, the condition of the skin is a reflection of what is going on in the gut. So, if acne is an issue, we recommend looking into something that will heal the gut, and eliminate acne from the inside out.
Will tallow clog my pores?
No, tallow is noncomedogenic. Since it is so compatible with how our skin is made and our skin’s natural sebum, tallow works with our skin to moisturize, soothe, and repair it without clogging pores.
Ok seriously…Will it make me smell like meat?
No, you’ll be scentless. We focus on ingredients over scent. Put a little muscle into it - Proper use leaves you with a sweet and natural smell.
Does soap have to have fat?
True soap requires a process called “saponification” to occur. This means a fat needs to react with sodium hydroxide, transforming both into soap. Many "natural" soaps use inflammatory seed oils such as palm oil as a substitute. Remember, your skin absorbs 60% of what you put on it—use only what you'd consider eating!
Have ancient civilizations used Tallow?
Traditional cultures prized animal fats such as beef tallow because of their health benefits from important nutrients. Native American tribes, European settlers and even ancient Egyptians recognized that these different vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids helped in prolonged vitality into old age, easy fertility, healthy children and the prevention of tooth decay.
It’s time to ditch the toxic, hydrogenated “vegetable” oils and return to the healthy fats, like beef tallow, that our ancestors enjoyed.
Can I use Aloe Tallow as Shampoo?
Yes, using Aloe Tallow soap as a shampoo offers numerous benefits for hair care, making it an excellent alternative to commercial shampoos laden with harsh chemicals. Here's why tallow soap is a great choice for your hair:
Deep Conditioning and Moisturizing
Tallow is rich in essential fatty acids, which deeply moisturize and condition the hair. These fatty acids help to keep the hair soft, shiny, and manageable. Tallow is also packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K, which nourish and strengthen the hair, promoting healthy growth and preventing breakage and split ends
Gentle Cleansing
Unlike many commercial shampoos that contain synthetic fragrances and chemicals that can irritate the scalp and strip the hair of its natural oils, tallow shampoo is made from all-natural ingredients. This makes it gentle on the hair and scalp, suitable for people with sensitive skin or those who have experienced scalp irritation
Balances Oil Production
Tallow soap helps to balance oil production in the scalp. This is particularly beneficial for people with oily hair, as it helps to regulate sebum production without stripping away necessary oils, thus maintaining a healthy scalp environment
Soothes Scalp Issues
Tallow contains antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties due to its conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and palmitoleic acid content. These properties help to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, reducing the likelihood of scalp issues such as dandruff and acne. Additionally, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help to soothe inflammation and redness, making tallow effective in treating conditions like eczema and rosacea
Enhances Hair Texture and Volume
For those with thin or fine hair, tallow shampoo can add volume and thickness by coating the hair shaft with fatty acids. This improves hair texture, making it feel smoother and more manageable. For those with dry or coarse hair, tallow's moisturizing properties help to reduce frizz and prevent split ends
Sustainable and Natural
Tallow is a natural, sustainable product, especially when sourced from grass-fed cattle. It is free from synthetic additives, making it an eco-friendly choice for those looking to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining healthy hair
How to Use Tallow Shampoo
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Detox Transition: If you're switching from commercial shampoos to tallow shampoo bars, your hair may need time to adjust. This detox phase can last from a few days to a month.
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Application: Massage the tallow shampoo bar into your scalp and hair, allowing it to absorb for about five minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
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Vinegar Rinse: if your hair is medium length or longer, you’ll want to do a ph balancing and shine boosting rinse after washing your hair with a tallow bar. It’s really easy. Mix 2-4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice with 8 ounces of warm water and pour it over your hair after shampooing. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing out. This resets the ph of your hair back to its happy place, which will leave it smooth, shiny, and beautiful.
Disclaimer: Obligatory, but this is not medical advice. All claims should be consulted with a physician.