In a world full of synthetic skincare products, there's something truly special about going back to the basics with all-natural ingredients. Enter How to Make Whipped and Solid Tallow Balm (Easy DIY) —an incredibly nourishing, multi-purpose ointment that has been a skincare secret for centuries. Whether you prefer it whipped for a light, airy texture or solid for a more concentrated formula, tallow balm is your skin’s new best friend.
Made from rendered suet (beef fat), grass-fed beef tallow balm is packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K, all known for their healing and rejuvenating properties. It's perfect for everything from dry skin to minor cuts, and can even help soothe skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or sore baby bums.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through making your own homemade tallow balm, so you can skip the toxic ingredients of store bought skin care products.
The possibilities are endless! Lip balm, shea butter, baby bum ointment, face cream, Vicks vapor rub, bug bite remedy, etc. Ready to start your homemade skincare journey? Let’s dive in!
Jump to:
What is Tallow?
In short, tallow is rendered beef fat. The initial product is actually called beef suet, and through a process called rendering homemade tallow is made.
Learn to make super simple tallow candles here!
Beef Tallow Benefits
First of all, it is anti-inflammatory so may help with conditions such as asthma or arthritis. Tallow supports gut health and a healthy microbiome because it contains butyric acid. In addition, tallow contains choline which has been proven to help regulate mood, muscle control, and memory.
It contains fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) which all support the immune system and bone health. When it comes to skin health, tallow’s vitamins can help produce collagen as well as smooth and heal a variety of skin issues (eczema, dryness, and acne). What a magical product!
What is Beef Suet
Beef suet is animal fat. It is the hard, white, crumbly fat from a cow. Essentially, it is a large chunk of solid fat found around the kidneys or the loins. The fat from the kidneys produces a milder taste (without the beefy smell) and is the best moisturizing fat.
So in summary, the fat from the kidneys (also referred to as leaf fat) is preferred for tallow, cooking and skincare or beauty products. In addition, beef suet is ideal for frying and deep frying due to its high smoke point.
Where to Find Beef Suet
The best place to find quality beef suet is a local farmer. I am super fortunate that my father in law raises grass fed beef cattle right on our property. Another option would be most local butchers, butcher shop / local meat markets or locker plants. These places will sell animals fats at a super reasonable price, as they aren’t in as high of demand as they once were. Pasture raised, grass fed suet is always the best option.
How to Render Beef Suet to Make Tallow (step-by-step)
To learn how to render beef suet into your own homemade tallow following this super simple step by step guide here!
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Tallow
- ¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or liquid oil Coconut Oil or Avocado Oil or Jojoba Oil)
- 10-45 Drops of Essential Oil
See recipe card for quantities.
Equipment
- Medium sauce pan or double boiler
- Glass Jar(s) with Lid
- Mixer
- Small Tins (optional)
Instructions
Measure 1 cup of freshly made tallow (in liquid form). Otherwise, slowly heat the tallow in a saucepan on low until it reaches its liquid form. Remove from heat.
In a medium sized bowl (I like to use stainless steel) add olive oil (or coconut or avocado) to the tallow and stir to combine.
Add in the drops of your favorite essential oil or essential oil blend and stir well.
For Whipped Tallow Balm:
Let the tallow balm stand in mixing bowl at room temperature.
Once solid, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to whip until it reaches a light and fluffy consistency. Transfer whipped balm to a glass jar with airtight lid for storage.
Note - the whipped version tends to spread more like a cocoa butter during application.
For Solid Tallow Balm:
Transfer tallow balm to a glass jar with an airtight lid. Place in the refridgerator until solid. Remove from refridgerator and allow tallow balm to reach room temperature.
Essential Oil Blends
Dry Skin (Add to Tallow Balm Recipe)
- 10 drops Lavender
- 10 drops Tea Tree
- 10 drops Frankinsense
Growing Pains (Add to Tallow Balm Recipe)
- 5 drops Lavender
- 5 drops Eucalyptus
- 10 drops Panaway
Vapor Rub (Add to Tallow Balm Recipe)
- 5 drops Eucalyptus
- 5 drops Peppermint
- 5 drops Rosemary
- 5 drops Bergamot
Explore more tallow balm recipes!
Diaper Rash Ointment (coming soon) is a go to tallow product for sensitive skin. It does an amazing job of providing a barrier protector to the baby bum as well as clearing up the diaper rash.
Does it matter which essential oils are used?
Yes! My favorite essential oils are Young Living brand for multiple reasons. First, Young Living offers the Seed to Seal promise, which means the oils are guaranteed pure, authentic and science backed.
Not all oils are created equal. Cheaper oils may not provide a very large fragrance load, or may smell off. There are other great essential oils on the market that are a bit cheaper than the Young Living brand, just do a little research to avoid the icky ones.
Storage
For storage, whipped and solid tallow balm should be stored at room temperature in a glass airtight jar.
FAQ
If you are transitioning from harsh cleansers and creams to tallow, there may be a short purge period (1-2 weeks).
Tallow is one of the most effective, natural options for maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
The initial product is actually called beef suet, and through a process called rendering homemade tallow is made.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
How to Make Homemade Tallow Balm (Whipped and Solid)
Equipment
- Medium sauce pan or double boiler
- Glass Jar(s) with Lid
- Mixer
- Small Tins (optional)
Materials
- 1 Cup Tallow
- ¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil or liquid oil Coconut Oil or Avocado Oil or Jojoba Oil
- 10-45 Drops of Essential Oil See notes section!
Instructions
- If tallow is freshly made, use it in its liquid form. Otherwise, slowly heat the tallow in a saucepan on low until it reaches its liquid form. Remove from heat.
- In a medium sized bowl (I like to use stainless steel) add olive oil (or coconut or avocado) to the tallow and stir to combine.
- Add in the drops of your favorite essential oil or essential oil blend and stir well.
For Whipped Tallow Balm:
- Let the tallow balm stand in mixing bowl at room temperature. Once solid, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to whip until it reaches a light and fluffy consistency. Transfer whipped balm to a glass jar with airtight lid for storage. Note - the whipped version tends to spread more like a cocoa butter during application.
For Solid Tallow Balm:
- Transfer tallow balm to a glass jar with an airtight lid. Place in the refridgerator until solid. Remove from refridgerator and allow tallow balm to reach room temperature.
Notes
-10 drops Lavender
-10 drops Tea Tree
-10 drops Frankinsense Essential Oils - Add to Tallow Balm Recipe for Growing Pains
-5 drops Lavender
-5 drops Eucalyptus
-10 drops Panaway Essential Oils - Add to Tallow Balm Recipe for Vapor Rub
-5 drops Eucalyptus
-5 drops Peppermint
-5 drops Rosemary
-5 drops Bergamot
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