Get in on this skin care craze with our easy DIY beef tallow moisturizer stick.
Before the advent of beauty counters and drugstore skin care galore- simplicity abounded.
Can you imagine that time? It seems so long ago, but really it wasn’t.
Things like beef fat and pork lard were rendered down and used for so many practical applications.
Today, women everywhere are starting to return to more natural moisturizers such as beef tallow, and for good reason.
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Nature’s Moisturizer
Why are we seeing beef tallow products everywhere lately? I think it’s likely a product of the modern homesteading movement and the desire for many of us to return to our homespun roots.
It simply feels right to be good stewards of what we have- including simple things like the leftover fat from a beef or hog.
Many of us in the millennial generation, I think, are tired of consumerism culture and would rather use natural products that come from the land and the animals God has provided.
We prefer to swap out lab-made chemicals for nature’s goodness (whenever possible). In the past, I’ve even found that my so-called “clean” moisturizers weren’t really that clean or natural at all.
My great-grandparents would never let animal fat (or anything else, really) go to waste. After the pig fat was rendered, for example, it was made into bars of soap after cooling in a wooden mold in the attic.
As for beef tallow, today we can either buy it or render it down after procuring it from a local butcher shop. If you buy a butchered steer for processing, you can ask for the beef fat and easily turn it into tallow with a few simple steps.
The Wonders of Tallow
Is beef tallow really good for your skin, though? I had to do some digging before buying into the concept. I mean, sure- natural options are great, as long as they work!
But there is actually peer-reviewed evidence that points to the numerous benefits of using tallow in your skin care routine.
First, it has essential vitamins: A, D, K, E and B12 that are absorbed into the skin in a very bio-available form.
It helps to protect the skin in several ways and has shown to be beneficial for skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and even psoriasis.
Tallow is also known to help heal wounds; it has anti-inflammatory properties and is incredibly moisturizing, as you would expect.
Overall, I believe it’s a cost-effective, natural way to soothe dry skin and it’s safe to use as a daily moisturizer.
On a personal note, I’ve found after using it as my main face moisturizer for a few months, it seems to have reduced fine lines – which is a nice bonus.
How to Make a Beef Tallow Moisturizer Stick
I’m a huge fan of moisturizers in a stick form, as it’s the easiest application method.
For this moisturizer stick, you only need a few ingredients, and some of them are optional.
You’ll start with rendered tallow in a glass jar or bowl, over a double broiler on the stove. To that, we’re adding dried rosemary and lemon balm. (You can find great prices on these at Azure Standard.)
Rosemary + Lemon balm (a great skincare duo)
Rosemary is great for clearing pores and is also anti-inflammatory, antibacterial; helps tighten skin, treats dark spots and blemishes.
Lemon balm is easy to grow (try it in your garden this year!), and has many of the same properties as above. It can also protect against UV radiation, which is great if you’re using it as a facial moisturizer.
If you like lemon balm, be sure to try our lip balm recipe made with lemon balm, too.
Shea butter + beeswax
After the beef tallow mixture has melted in the double broiler, you will strain it and add shea butter and beeswax and add back to the double broiler to melt down once again.
Shea butter and beeswax help to give the tallow stick a creamy, yet firm texture and honestly are just as good for your skin as the tallow.
Essential oils are optional, but you can add them after removing the mixture from the heat if you want a stronger scent.
After pouring into stick containers, you only have to allow the mixture to cool and solidify; then you’re ready to take this homemade tallow moisturizer wherever you go.
Don’t forget, it’s great for those dry elbows, and minor cuts and burns, too.
Make it for yourself, and then make some for your crunchy friends. They’ll love you for it.
Beef Tallow Moisturizer Stick
A natural moisturizer with numerous advantages for your skin. You'll want to make it a part of your daily skin care routine, and gift it to all your friends.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup rendered tallow
- 3 tablespoons dried rosemary
- 3 tablespoons dried lemon balm, crushed
- 2 tablespoons beeswax pellets
- 1/3 cup shea butter
- 15 drops essential oils (optional)
- Push-up stick containers
Instructions
- Add the beef tallow, dried rosemary and lemon balm to a glass jar or bowl and slowly heat in a double broiler until melted.
- Remove from heat and let infuse for 30 minutes.
- Strain the lemon balm and rosemary from the tallow.
- Add the shea butter and beeswax pellets to the strained tallow and melt again over the double broiler.
- Remove from heat, and add essential oils of your choice (optional). Let cool for just a few minutes.
- Pour into the push-up stick containers and let sit overnight or until solid.
You might also like:
Honey Calendula Infused Face Wash
Honey Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner
