By Marley Archibald
It’s no secret that our skin is the largest organ in the body. It protects us from bacteria, sun exposure, toxins, temperature changes, and more. Because it works so hard on our behalf, it only makes sense that we care for it just as intentionally as we care for the rest of our health. If we prioritize nourishing our bodies from the inside, why wouldn’t we also nourish them on the outside?
Enter tallow, nature’s most versatile moisturizer. Although it has gained popularity over the last few years, tallow is far from a fad. In fact, it’s one of the oldest skincare ingredients in human history, used for centuries before lotions and lab-made moisturizers ever existed. Now, as more and more people shift toward natural, clean living, tallow is finally getting the spotlight it deserves.
So, what is tallow? Tallow is a nutrient-dense balm made from purified animal fat; typically beef, sheep, or deer. While this may come as a surprise to modern skincare users, tallow undergoes a careful purification process called rendering, which removes impurities and yields a smooth, creamy moisturizer. The result is a balm packed with vitamins and lipids your skin instantly recognizes and easily absorbs.
Tallow naturally contains:
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Vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12 (all essential for skin repair and renewal)
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Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) — a powerful anti-inflammatory
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Stearic and oleic acids — deeply moisturizing fatty acids
One of the highlights of tallow is that tallow’s lipid structure closely mimics human sebum, the skin’s own natural oil. That means your skin doesn’t see tallow as a foreign substance. Because of this, tallow works for virtually every skin type, including sensitive and acne-prone skin, without clogging pores.
Instead of sitting on the skin’s surface, tallow penetrates deeply, delivering nourishment, restoring the skin barrier, and soothing irritation. That’s why people have turned to it historically for dry, flaky, or chapped skin, eczema and psoriasis-prone skin, fine lines and aging skin, and more specific uses such as diaper rash or sunburn relief.
The versatility doesn’t just stop at the skin, though. Tallow can be used as a full-body moisturizer, a healing salve, a lip balm, or even a deep-conditioning hair treatment to combat dryness and split ends.
At The Elderberry Co., our 100% grass-fed Whipped Tallow Balm is free of artificial ingredients and additives. It’s simple skincare that works, because sometimes the “old ways” really are the best ways. If you’ve been curious about trying tallow, consider this your sign. Clean, effective skincare doesn’t have to be complicated. With tallow, nature has already done the work for you.