Q+A
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Our tallow will warm up in your hands right from the jar. A tiny bit goes a looooong way and will absorb right into the skin after you rub it all in. If you feel oily at all, you've used too much... so start rubbing it in!
What is Tallow and where does it come from?
Tallow is the rendered product of Suet. Suet is the fat from around a cow's kidney (the most nutrient dense cow fat). We take this fat, straight from our local partner farms in Maryland and PA and we render it down to form our beautiful tallow, which is the base of all of our skincare products.
Beef fat has been used for thousands of years by our ancestors for.... cooking, skincare, soap, healing wounds and many other things. It was the original moisturizer! It was used as a nutrient-rich cream, as a skincare product, and the main ingredient to soaps and candles. Remember how grandma used to save her bacon fat?! Future generations knew a thing or two about the basics and how to never let anything go to waste.
What are the benefits of tallow?
The SUET fat (specifically around the kidneys) of 100% pasture-raised, grass-fed, grass finished cows - provides vitamins and saturated fats found in no other source. It contains high concentrations of fat-soluble Vitamins A, D, and K in a balanced combination with their activators. This is a big reason why beef tallow has such a profound impact on your skin and overall health. Grass-fed tallow also contains Vitamin E (four times as much as grain-fed cows). It even has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties thanks to high concentrations of essential fatty acids your skin needs, like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and palmitoleic acid.
TALLOW - Contains oleic acid (omega-9), palmitoleic acid (omega-7), linoleic acid (omega-6), alpha-linoleic (omega-3), conjugated lineic acid (CLA), palmitic acid, and stearic acid. The combination of these are amazing for moisturizing and healing the skin.
Vitamin A - Helps to speed up healing, prevent breakouts and support the skin's immune system and it promotes natural moisturising - which means it helps to hydrate the skin effectively, giving it a radiant glow. It also encourages the production of collagen, elastin, and healthy skin cells. This helps strengthen tissue to keep skin firm, smooth and youthful.
Vitamin D - Contributes to skin cell growth, repair, and metabolism. It’s able to protect and rejuvenate your skin by protecting against free radicals that cause premature aging.
Vitamin K - Effectively reduces bruises, improves your skin's ability to heal wounds, fights free radical damage and helps reverse premature skin aging. It plays an important role in skin tone, texture, and overall health.
Over 1/2 of tallow is made up of saturated fat just like the lipids found in healthy skin. Having such a similar makeup means that beef tallow is incredibly compatible with our cell biology. This translates to a powerful experience that nourishes and boosts our cell health.
WHAT CAN TALLOW BE USED FOR?MOISTURIZER + HEALING: Rendered Tallow has so many uses and can replace night cream, lotions, makeup remover, moisturizers, ointments for cuts, scrapes and bruises. It can be applied topically anywhere on the body.... eczema, dry skin, cradle cap, mastitis, sunburns, scratches, scrapes, ear infections, pink eye, stretch marks, athletes foot, shingles, acne, topical steroid withdrawal, ring worm, wrinkles, diaper rash, age spots, rashes, hemorrhoids, scars, c-section scars, cracked heals, face primer, sun damaged skin, chemical burns, chapped nipples from breastfeeding, psoriasis, Impetigo...and on and on...
OIL CLEANSING: Both whipped and balms can be used for cleansing. Because tallow so closely mimics our skins lipid structure, it is the perfect choice for the oil cleansing method. Apply the tallow blend of your choosing to your face. Apply a warm/hot wash cloth and hold it to your face until it has begun to cool. Repeat 2-3 times. For the final time gently wipe any remaining tallow off. Perfect for before OR after a shower.
MAKEUP REMOVER: Apply our just tallow to your face. Use your hands or wash cloth to rub it in, remove the excess with a warm wash cloth, and watch the make up melt off your face. Can be used in conjunction with the oil cleansing method for an all-in-one nighttime routine.
BEARD + HAIR TAMER: Tame those fly-aways with a little bit of tallow. Use it to smooth the ends of your hair. A little goes a long way, so don't over due it.
SOAP + LIP BALMS: (coming soon)
COOKING: Tallow can be used in place of other cooking oils (olive, coconut..) However our Tallow that we sell is not intended for cooking.
CANDLE MAKING: So many options....
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED + WHERE DOES YOUR SUET COME FROM?
We are located in beautiful Catonsville, Maryland. All of our beef suet comes from one local farm in Northern Maryland that we've selected to partner with. We put 100% of our trust into their organic, regenerative farming methods + the beef suet quality that they provide!
*We get ALOT of questions about which farm in particular our beef suet comes from. While we would love to disclose our partner farms, at this time we aren't willing to risk the potential for lack of inventory from our farmers, due to the increased interest in tallow makers. We hope you understand and trust in our quality, product and family to provide you with ONLY the highest quality ingredients. We've 100% visited, vetted and have a working relationship with all of our partner farms.
Some of the world’s earliest civilizations used infused oils for medicinal practice and food preparation. Because infused oils extract components of the whole plant, they provide superior nutritional, therapeutic and healing benefits. We offer infusion for certain products to reap the benefits of the plant.
BALMS soften the skin and can be applied to wet or damp skin to have the maximum benefit to seal in moisture. Unlike creams, balms contain no water. Their oil-based makeup is what gives balms such a powerful and nourishing protective layer to the skin, sealing in moisture while shielding from external elements like cold or dry air. This makes them excellent in cold weather and in areas with high pollution. Balms also moisturize, are great for lips, face and on the body, whereas creams are for one specific area. A little goes a long way!
SALVES are similar to balms, but salves primarily exist to support healing, while balms exist to prevent damage. You can usually find salves in a first aid kit or medical cabinet, as they are created to heal and soothe. Use salves on cuts, bruises, bites, and burns. They’re great to have on-hand, especially if you find yourself outdoors.
CREAMS are best used on the face and neck, as they have specific ingredients that help retain moisture in the skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and keep the skin soft and radiant. Creams can be applied to the skin at any time, and should be used daily to maintain elasticity in the skin. (We do not sell any creams as we don't use water in any of our products. Water in products requires a preservative to be added).
WHIPPED is the process we use to create a lighter product that goes on and spreads more like a cream. Our whips contain infused (for scent) tallow and jojoba oil. Essential oil is also used for certain scents.
SIGNATURE TALLOW: This is our BALM, but can also be ordered as a whip. It's a silky balm that deeply MOISTURIZES, nourishes, revitalizes and protects the skin on your entire body. It is formulated for your face, neck and spot areas due to its selection of ingredients that are geared towards fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage and eczema or overtly extra dry skin. Ingredients: Tallow, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Calendula Oil, Beeswax + Essential Oil / Infusion.
Scents: Frankincense + Myrrh (selected for their amazing benefits to your skin); Ylang Ylang; Lavendar Infused; Madagascar VANILLA Bean Infused, Custom Requests
WHIPPED TALLOW: A customer favorite. Whipped like a cream that can be used as a daily moisturizer for face and body. Spread easily all over the body. Ingredients: Tallow, Jojoba Oil, Castor Oil (with + without), Essential Oil / Infusion.
Scents: Lavender Infused; Madagascar VANILLA Bean Infused, Frankincense + Myrrh, YlangYlang; Custom Requests
JUST TALLOW: Made specifically for individuals with Eczema, severe skin conditions and/or sensitive skin (babies) who are just starting out with using tallow. It's a starting point. It makes an amazing moisturizer for eczema, burns, and acne. The goal is to move you into using our Signature Balm. Simple Ingredients: Tallow, with/without Herb Infusion
HEAL SALVE: Our Just Tallow with the inclusion of TEA TREE OIL used for it's antibacterial properties. Known to be beneficial for acne, eczema, psoriasis, wounds and fungal infections.
Scent: Un-scented; Tea Tree
MAMA's WHIPPED SHEA NIGHT BODY BUTTER {2oz}:
This is our version of a night body butter. It goes on thick and will soak into your skin and leave a soft silky feel of shea butter. It's meant for your body. Only 3 ingredients: Shea, Tallow, Jojoba Oil
Scent: Shea Butter; Infusions
TALLOW + TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS
Tallow has ‘FAT BLOOMS’ that will occasionally pop up in tallow products. This happens when the fat solids separate and then re-cool, resulting in a less smooth texture. This is completely normal and not a cause for concern. Once re-melted, separated fats will blend back together and the product will feel smooth again. To do this: Place your jar in hot water (LID ON TIGHT) until it becomes a liquid again. Then place in the fridge to solidify. From here you can use + store again at room temperature.
HOW DO I CARE FOR MY PRODUCTS
Our products do not contain any artificial preservatives and are remarkably shelf stable on their own and DO NOT need to be refrigerated. Tallow is shelf stable for years, but we recommend to use your skincare products in about 6 months and store your products at room temperature,
**Recommended to use clean, dry hands or the included scooper when scooping.
ARE YOUR PRODUCTS SAFE TO USE ON CHILDREN + DURING PREGNANCY + BREASTFEEDING?
Our Just Tallow is one simple ingredient - tallow and is the 1st line of recommendation if you are just starting out with using tallow products OR if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or a using on a small child. With our other products, a patch test is recommended to make sure there are no unknown allergies, especially since a small few of our products contain a small amount of essential oil and shea butter. We do use Castor Oil in some of our products as an option. Please let us know if you'd like anything made with or without specific ingredients.