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I have been using tallow in skincare for years now, and I am so excited to share with you my simple tallow balm recipe! Affordable, all-natural, and customizable to your skin needs. Enjoy!
Making your own tallow balm is super easy, plus much lower in terms of cost compared to buying a tallow balm in-store, and you get to control how you fragrance it.
Why pay a premium if you don’t have to, I say!
I think it’s comforting and somewhat empowering when you know exactly what you’re putting on your skin too, which is why I love all kinds of DIY beauty products.
In this article, you’ll learn how to make your own tallow balm. From scenting the balm, tips for making it the right texture, and how to store and use it.
I am finally making this post after many requests following my popular Tallow Body Butter recipe. I think it turned out amazingly!
Let’s get started.
Why You’ll Love Tallow Balm
- Moisturize naturally: This recipe uses simple, natural ingredients to moisturize the skin. You can enjoy healthy, glowing skin without anything fancy or harsh.
- Save money: Tallow is increasingly popular in skincare and it can carry a hefty price tag. You’ll save loads of money by making your own tallow balm!
- Easy to make: Can you believe this hydrating balm is made with only 3 ingredients?! That’s all it takes to make homemade tallow balm that nourishes and moisturizes your skin.
- Eco-friendly: Homemade tallow balm is as eco-friendly as it gets! Not only can you reuse your tallow balm jar and reduce plastic waste, but tallow is a byproduct of meat production, so you are turning common “waste” into skincare gold.
Ingredients
- Tallow: Also called rendered fat, tallow is typically made from beef fat. It is a moisturizing ingredient that nourishes the skin. You can render your own or purchase tallow that is ready to use.
- Jojoba oil: Wonderfully moisturizing with a light texture, jojoba oil is an antioxidant with anti-aging and healing properties. It works in harmony with the tallow to reveal a youthful, vibrant look. Learn more about jojoba oil here.
- Beeswax: Beeswax gives this balm a good structure and locks in moisture on the skin. Learn more about beeswax benefits and uses. Note: you can leave out the beeswax for more of a creamy texture.
- Essential oils: These are optional, but essential oils add a lovely fragrance to this balm. Keep reading for some ideas on which oils to add!
How to Make Tallow Balm
Step 1: Begin by melting the beeswax, tallow, and jojoba oil in a double boiler.
Step 2: Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
Step 3: Stir it every couple of minutes to ensure the ingredients are well incorporated. Add the essential oils, if using.
Step 4. Once the mixture starts to set up, but isn’t yet firm, whip it with an immersion blender or hand mixer. Transfer to an airtight container.
Tips
- Wipe out the double boiler with a paper towel while it’s still warm but not hot before washing it out. You don’t want any beeswax going down your drain, as it’ll set and potentially block your pipes.
- Rather than a doubler boiler, you can use a glass bowl set atop a pot of water and bring it to a boil. You can also use a saucepan set over low heat, but it will take longer and you’ll need to be careful not to let it burn.
- For an unbeatable anti-aging tool, apply the balm upwardly over your cheeks, chin, forehead, and between your brows. Give yourself a mini face massage, in essence, which promotes blood flow to the area and helps iron out fine lines.
Essential Oils for Tallow Balm
If you like scented lotions and balms, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance.
I like to start with 15 drops and then add more if needed. Don’t add too much; you don’t want the scent to be overpowering.
Here are a few of my favorite blends for this tallow balm recipe:
Sweet floral
- Roman chamomile
- Ylang ylang
Flower petal
- Lavender
- Geranium
Citrus bloom
- Tangerine
- Grapefruit
Check with your healthcare provider before adding essential oils to any skincare products.
How to Use Tallow Balm
To use this tallow balm, scoop a small amount onto your fingertips and massage it into your skin.
The balm will melt on contact and absorb quickly, so you can apply more if your skin needs it.
Storage
First, ensure you put the lid on correctly once you’ve made your tallow balm and it’s cooled down.
Store your tallow balm somewhere cool, away from sunlight and heat sources.
It should last in the container for up to six months – though I expect it’ll have been well used before then, and you’ll be onto your second batch!
Recipe FAQs
If you don’t mind using animal products on your skin and are after a moisturizing, nurturing, 100% natural ingredient that shouldn’t clog pores or cause breakout, then yes! Tallow balm is a great option for the skin.
Of course, there are alternative vegan options available, such as this whipped mango body butter recipe.
Both tallow and lard are rendered animal fats. However, tallow typically comes from beef and lard comes from pork. Both fats are used for cooking, soap, and skincare. I’ve made homemade lard soap and many tallow products, including this balm and homemade tallow soap!
You can follow the instructions as written, but skip the beeswax to achieve a creamier texture. This will give it a consistency more like a face cream, rather than a balm. I have personally made it that way several times and love it!
Related Recipes
- Homemade Shea Butter Lotion
- How to Make Tinted Moisturizer
- Homemade Night Cream
- How to Make a Body Butter Stick
- Homemade Body Butter for Glowing Skin
If you tried this Easy Tallow Balm Recipe or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Easy Tallow Balm Recipe
Equipment
- Double Boiler
- 8 ounce storage container
Ingredients
- 3 oz Tallow
- 2 oz Jojoba oil
- 1 oz Beeswax, Optional, leave it out for a more creamy finish.
- 15-20 drops Essential oils, optional
Instructions
- Begin by melting the beeswax, tallow, and jojoba oil in a double boiler.
- Once melted, remove from the heat and let it cool down until it starts to set up. Stir it every couple of minutes to ensure the ingredients are well incorporated.
- If using essential oils, add them in right before the ingredients start to solidify.
- Once the mixture is set up but not firm, whip it with an immersion blender or hand mixer. Transfer to an airtight container and allow to cool completely before using.
Video
Notes
- If you use essential oils, be sure to add them before the ingredients are set up.
- Store this tallow balm in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
- Wipe out the double boiler with a paper towel while it’s still warm but not hot before washing it out. You don’t want any beeswax going down your drain, as it’ll set and potentially block your pipes.
- Rather than a doubler boiler, you can use a glass bowl set atop a pot of water and bring it to a boil. You can also use a saucepan set over low heat, but it will take longer and you’ll need to be careful not to let it burn.
- For an unbeatable anti-aging tool, apply the balm upwardly over your cheeks, chin, forehead, and between your brows. Give yourself a mini face massage, in essence!
Hey there, do you wet render the tallow to “purify” it for your skincare? If you don’t, then I’d just like the affirmation that my current dry rendered tallow is fine for skin balm to reduce the several other steps.
where do i buy Organic grass fed Tallow. the biggest issue I found researching tallow is that we never exactly know where the source of the tallow comes from, therefore not assuring its true origin. any suggestions?
I would look for a company that does disclose this information or purchase directly from a local farm.
I’ve played with this recipe and different amounts of ingredients. The beeswax I used seemed to set up too much.
I’ve found that I love 6 oz of tallow, 2 oz of jojoboa, and 1 oz of beeswax.
Thanks for all the tutorials and recipes. You are my go-to site!
Thank you for sharing & being part of our Oily House community!
Can I use this recipe for a lip balm? I was going to sub lard for the jojoba oil. Thanks!
It would be fine to use this recipe as a lip balm.
I made this a couple of days ago and do not like the “beefy” smell. I used about 20 drops of lemongrass oil but the “beefy” smell is still there. I do t know whether to remelt and add shea butter or to throw it out along with my 2 jars of tallow.
Any suggestions?
You can definitely add more oils to help mask the scent. Shea butter is also a great option, however, it will change the texture.
Use the tallow to cook with. It would be a shame to throw it out.
* Is your recipe by weight or volume?
* If by volume, and you want to use weight, would you compensate for the density of each ingredient or just do a straight up 1:1 ratio?
* Thanks for sharing your recipe.
I measure by weight in this recipe!
Love this! Ordering some tallow today! I’d love to see a tallow lip balm! Maybe a peppermint mocha themed for the holidays… ? All things tallow! Thank you for sharing!