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Beef Tallow For Skin... Who Knew
Who knew that grass-fed beef tallow would turn out to be the best ingredient to use in skincare?!
Certainly not us.
When we first heard of it, we cringed. Gross, beef stew lotion, no thanks.
But then we did our research and tried it ourselves. Holy sh*t. We were hooked.
Thick like shea butter, rich like coconut oil, long-lasting like beeswax, but with none of the greasy-oily-sticky side effects. Ah, yes please.
The Backstory
Back in the day, the hubby and I wanted to eat healthier. More fruits and veggies, whole grains, farm fresh eggs, and grass-fed, steroid-free meats.
So, we found a family-owned, local ranch offering grass-fed beef and reached out to order.
The rancher asked us how much suet (or cow fat) we wanted with our order and, curious, we researched why anyone would use it.
Impressed by the rich amount of nutrients and long history of use, but grossed out by the prospect of rubbing cow fat on our skin, we decided the only way to know was to give it a try!
So, we rendered 25 pounds of fat into tallow, used it to make a batch of soap and a moisturizer, began using it, and saw an immediate improvement in the way our skin looked.
To our surprise, it didn’t smell beefy like we thought it would, absorbed quickly and didn’t leave a greasy feel. We were hooked!
We Got the Family Involved
Around the same time, our first son was born covered in red, blotchy skin, assumed to be eczema.
We applied our tallow moisturizer on him and found his skin condition healed within days! (I know...terrible before and after picture, but you get it...)
Knowing we had to tell others, we began sharing with family and friends, then selling at local markets.
While it took some people a moment to get over the “yuk” factor of using cow fat on their skin, when they did, they too were hooked.
Then, they wanted the science behind why their skin was so soft! So we told them....
The Science Behind Tallow for skin
So, turns out that of all the ingredients on the planet, beef tallow is more similar and compatible to human skin oil than anything else. 🤯
Seriously. We're more like cows than we are coconuts or bees so it makes sense that tallow and sebum would jive moreso than shea and sebum.
IN FACT, sebum is the WORD for tallow in some languages (like Latin). Hmm. Coincidence, I think not!
Why should you care?
Well, because this allows tallow to soak deep within the layers of the skin whereas many other oils, butters and waxes, tend to sit on top of the skin or only soak into the first layer.
This can lead to feeling greasy, drying out after just a few hours of application, and oil stains on your clothes!
Tallow on the other hand, soaks in fast and efficiently, giving you day-long hydration without shining like a piece of fried chicken!
Plus, it's loaded with vitamins, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and this vital fat called CLA...
this fat is vital
Conjugated Linoleic Acid, or CLA, is an omega-6 polyunsaturated essential fatty acid that is absolutely critical for our health.
Not only does it provide support, flexibility, and structure to our cell membranes, but it has also been shown to help reduce body fat, nourish vital brain tissue and allow our bodies to absorb fat-soluble vitamins...woah, what?!
Yup, fat is good for ya. Turns out those "no-fat" campaigns from the 1970's were just illogical shenanigans.
So where do we get it?
The "Journal of Dairy Science" revealed in a 1999 study that beef and fat from grass-fed cows are the highest sources of CLA.
Grass-fed cows, a sustainable and ethical alternative to factory farming, have higher CLA due to their omega-3 rich diet of grass, as compared to corn-fed cows.
But let's back-up a second and understand what tallow really is...
What is Tallow?
Tallow is the purified, end result of rendering the suet (nutrient-dense hard fat) that comes from around the kidneys of a ruminant animal, namely cattle. (See our render process in the image below).
Tallow is very different from lard which comes from pig fat.
Does the Cow Have to Die?
Yes, the cow has to be butchered, sorry vegans, tallow is not for you. But for meat-eaters, and those who appreciate the entire animal being used nose-to-tail, the bonus here, is that using this suet prevents waste and ensures the life lost was not in vain.
Let's be honest, if there are beef eaters out there, there's gonna be suet too. So, why waste it.
Where is Tallow Used?
Tallow has been used since the beginning of time (or at least recorded history that we know of).
Back in the day, it was commonly used to lubricate locomotives and steam engines, make candles, soaps and other skin salves.
Nowadays, it's used in way more ways than you could imagine, in fact, almost guaranteed you have a byproduct of tallow in your home right now...
Lip sticks, candles, soaps, lotions, as biofuel, as cooking oil, in the textile industry, as animal feed, as flux for soldering, as a lubricant for casting, in print making, aviation fuel, Native American pemmican, McDonald's french fries (ok, they did away with real tallow in 1990, in favor of vegetable oil with beef flavoring added...uh gross...), as shortening, dog food, and a plethora of other uses that most people have NO IDEA about.
But keep in mind, that all tallow is not the same...
Why Grass-Fed Tallow Specifically?
Grass fed tallow, like we use in our skincare, comes from cattle that has specifically been allowed to live like nature intended: open pasture, green grass and sunshine which produces a tallow that is rich in specific essential fatty acids and vitamins not found in modern-day skin care.
In addition, these grass-fed cattle are raised without the use of hormones, steroids, or antibiotics, unlike the inhumanely-raised, "factory-farmed cattle" which produce tallow with dangerous chemical byproducts present.
PLUS...the benefits of Grass-Fed Tallow, as opposed to grain-fed tallow, is unmatched...
Benefits of grass fed tallow
Grass-fed tallow is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, vital minerals, antioxidants and essential fatty acids.
It also happens to be damn-near identical to our skin's oil (sebum), so naturally, it absorbs better and faster.
It’s thick enough to handle the toughest rough patches, light enough to absorb quickly into the skin, and gentle enough to use on baby's skin.
Plus, it's great for EVERY skin type. Whether you have extremely dry, overly sensitive, super oily or combination skin, tallow is the ingredient for you.
Because of it's unique composition, it can absorb quickly, helping to stabilize oil production. Over time, the skin oil balance is restored.
Tallow is soothing, all natural, and non-irritating.
It doesn't clog pores and has proven to be a miracle for many people with eczema.
Our tallow is best...(puffs up chest pridefully)
Our tallow (raw suet) comes from local, grass-fed, grass-finished cattle, raised without the use of hormones, steroids, or antibiotics, by families who actually give a darn about the planet and its people.
Once we receive the fat, we chop it up, place it into large pots with some water, and low-simmer it until all the solids melt.
We then carefully strain the tallow through numerous layers of bread cloth to ensure no impurities come along for the ride.
Then, we freeze it, transfer it to curing racks, and let it sit for 1 week undisturbed (well mostly...we also sing songs by Whitney Houston to it to infuse it with good vibes...it makes a difference, trust us).
THEN...we repeat the process.
BUT THEN... we repeat the process one last time without water.
FINALLY... we let it cure for about a month before we use it in any of our products.
WHY IN THE H*LL DO WE DO ALL THIS?
Our meticulously processed tallow is nearly scentless, void of impurities, and extremely firm, making it the highest quality available.
Our labor-intensive, proprietary, triple-purification rendering process ensures we produce the world's best tallow. Period.
The Best Tallow Skincare on the market
Shop Tallow Skincare
Here at Nefertem, we offer the highest quality, purest tallow skincare products, and have for YEARS (before it was cool).
We combine our hand-rendered, grass-fed tallow with organic, unrefined plant oils, pure essential oils, soothing herbs, and 100% good vibes.
Every tallow skincare product is handmade in small batches right here in Park Forest, Illinois, USA, by a family (our family...like husband, wife, 3 kids, and sometimes grandma) committed to keeping the lost art of tallow skincare alive.
No parabens, preservatives or junk. No artificial fragrances, colors or flavors. Packaged in glass and recycled cardboard - NOT plastic.
And so darn silky on the skin, you might be mad you didn't find it sooner. Sorry.
So there you have it
Who knew tallow would be the single best ingredient to use on your skin?
Well, now YOU know.
If you’re ready to ramp up your skincare routine, and enjoy glowing, radiant, natural skin, it's time to try tallow for yourself.
Start with our Tallow Skincare Bundle, all of our best sellers, in one convenient set.
Grab a Tallow Skincare Bundle
