It’s become so popular for a reason: see how whipped tallow can transform your skin.
If you start searching for natural skin moisturizers, you’ll find there are dozens of different ways to create DIY lotions. The options can feel overwhelming!
Rendered beef tallow has been one of the most trending ingredients for skincare (and cooking) in recent years, but of course, it’s not a new discovery.
It’s been known for its skin-softening and healing properties since ancient times.
If you haven’t jumped on the beef tallow bandwagon yet, this lotion recipe is a great one to start with. No skill needed!
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What to know about tallow lotion
First of all, tallow is my favorite “secret ingredient” for hand cream. It seals in the moisture and seems to last much longer than any other product I’ve tried.
In fact, it’s the only thing I’ve found that helps prevent and heal my hands when they get dry and chapped in the winter.
The fatty acid profile of beef tallow is close to that of human skin, which may be why it works so well for locking in moisture.
Word of caution
I have found over time that beef tallow creates such a good barrier, in fact, that the only downside is it may not let skin breathe as freely as lighter moisturizers.
For me personally, tallow can cause breakouts on my acne-prone facial skin, but you may have different results. Some of my friends use it religiously on their face with no problems.
Regardless, it’s perfect for dry hands, feet and cracked heels especially.
I keep a portable tallow stick in my purse for when I’m out and about and have tallow lotion to use at home.
Rendering tallow for skincare products
The most cost effective way to make recipes like this tallow lotion is to use tallow that you render at home from raw beef fat. Some butchers (and farming friends!) will give it away or sell it cheaply.
For making lotions and cosmetics products, you need to make sure to purify it. It should not have any smell once it’s ready to use.
Lean, grass-fed beef tallow is your best option and will have the most benefits for your skin. In order to have clean, odor-free tallow, you will want to:
- Strain it after first rendering (melting it down)
- Scrape off any brown areas off the bottom after it cools & hardens
- Melt it down again
- Strain it with cheesecloth
You can repeat the process as many times as needed until there is no more brown color on the bottom of the hardened tallow, and it smells clean and neutral.
Alternately, you can buy tallow for making this lotion.
You might find rendered tallow at local natural food stores. This one looks like a great pick on Amazon. (It has consistent positive reviews for being pure and non-smelly.)
How to Make Whipped Tallow Lotion
The process for tallow lotion is easy enough for kids to make! You can use a double broiler on the stove, or a microwave to melt down the tallow and shea butter.
Jojoba oil is added after the tallow and shea butter are melted, and then it needs to harden. It’s best to let it harden in the bowl of a stand mixer (or a mixing bowl that you can use with a hand mixer).
After it hardens, you can whip it and add your favorite essential oils for scent.
As you can guess- this lotion makes a great DIY gift as well!
See the full recipe card below for making Whipped Tallow Lotion.
Easy Whipped Tallow Lotion
Tallow makes a silky, natural moisturizer your skin will love.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rendered grass-fed beef tallow
- 2 Tablespoons jojoba oil
- 2 Tablespoons shea butter
- 20 drops essential oils
Instructions
- Add the tallow and shea butter to a glass jar and slowly heat in a double broiler until melted. You can also do this in the microwave if you prefer.
- Once melted, add the jojoba oil.
- Pour into a mixing bowl and let the mixture harden. (Use the bowl of your stand mixture, or a bowl you can use with an electric hand mixer, prior to letting it harden.) This can take up to several hours.
- Whip mixture with a blender until it's a fluffy texture, adding in your essential oils as you mix it.
Notes
*You can use any kind of skin-friendly essential oils (that aren't considered "hot" oils). Make sure to test any you haven't used before on a small area of skin to rule out sensitivities.
*Essential oil ideas: peppermint, lemon/orange, orange/vanilla, lavender, rose.
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