Tallow 101
Before beauty aisles and modern marketing, there was tallow; trusted for generations to nourish, protect, and heal the skin. In Tallow 101, we’ll explore why this timeless ingredient still belongs in your daily routine and how it supports true, whole-body care from the outside in.
What Is Tallow?
Tallow is a clean, whole-animal fat rendered from grass-fed, grass-finished beef suet ; the hard fat around the kidneys. It’s gently melted at low temperatures to preserve nutrients, then strained to become a rich, creamy base for skincare.
Used for centuries in traditional healing, tallow closely mimics your skin’s natural oils, making it deeply compatible, soothing, and nourishing.
We only use 100% grass-finished, pasture-raised suet, rendered by hand in small batches using traditional methods.
Why We Love It
Tallow is nature’s moisturizer packed with skin-healing nutrients:
| Nutrient | Skin Benefits |
|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Supports healthy cell turnover and healing |
| Vitamin D | Helps regulate skin barrier function |
| Vitamin E | Fights free radicals and inflammation |
| Vitamin K | Promotes elasticity and even tone |
| Omega Fatty Acids | Calm irritation and deeply nourish |
| Stearic & Oleic Acids | Improve softness, hydration, and texture |
Why Tallow > Plant Oils?
While plant oils have their benefits, they can:
- Be highly processed
- Clog pores
- Sit on the skin without absorbing properly
Tallow, by contrast, is:
- Non-comedogenic
- Easily absorbed
- Moisture-retentive without feeling greasy
- Biologically aligned with human sebum
That’s why tallow feels luxurious, not oily and works beautifully for even the most sensitive skin.
Our Rendering Method
We use the dry method to render our tallow, which involves slowly cooking the suet at low temperatures without water. As the fat gently renders, any impurities naturally separate and are carefully removed, leaving behind clean, golden tallow. Once filtered, the result is a smooth, creamy fat that serves as the perfect base for our nourishing skincare products.
The benefits of dry rendering:
-
Cleaner, shelf-stable tallow:
By avoiding water, this method reduces moisture and helps prevent spoilage, creating a long-lasting, pure product. -
Preserved nutrients:
Low, consistent heat ensures the tallow retains its naturally occurring vitamins A, D, E, and K for maximum skin nourishment. -
Creamy, luxurious texture:
The result is a soft, stable tallow that blends beautifully into our balms and soaps, providing deep hydration and a smooth finish.
Essential Oil Blends — Or Keep It Pure
We blend our tallow with only organic, therapeutic-grade essential oils — or keep it completely unscented for those with sensitive skin.
Popular blends:
- Lavender + Frankincense – calming + restorative
- Vanilla Bean – warm + comforting
- Seasonal scents – rotating based on availability and mood
Sustainable & Ethical
Tallow supports regenerative agriculture and reduces waste in the meat industry by honoring the whole animal. We source from farms that prioritize:
- Ethical animal care
- Soil health
- Regenerative grazing practices
Choosing tallow is a vote for sustainability, quality, and ancestral wisdom.
Ready to Try Tallow?
Explore our signature products handcrafted with traditional wisdom and modern purity:
🔗 Shop Unscented Tallow Balm
🔗 Shop Scented Blends
💬 Have Questions?
Check our FAQs page or reach out at info@goldeneratallow.com - we’re happy to help you find the perfect balm for your skin.