Everything you need to know about tallow’s properties, benefits, production and sourcing. 

Tallow and Animal Fats

• Tallow: Rendered fat of ruminant animals, typically from cattle or sheep. Rich in fatty acids and nutrients beneficial for skin hydration and repair.

• Suet: The solid fat found around the kidneys and loins of cattle and sheep. Known for its high purity and minimal impurities. When rendered, it produces high-quality tallow ideal for skincare products.

• Ruminant Animals: Mammals with a specialised stomach that has multiple chambers, enabling them to digest tough plant materials like grass through a process called rumination. Common ruminant animals include cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. Their fat, especially suet, is often used to produce tallow.

• Cattle: Domesticated ruminant animals, primarily raised for meat, milk, and hides. Cattle are one of the primary sources of tallow, particularly from the fat around their kidneys and loins, known as suet.

• Grass-Fed: Refers to animals raised primarily on a diet of grass or forage, producing tallow with a different fatty acid profile, including higher levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

• Pasture-Raised: Animals that are raised on pasture for a significant portion of their lives, allowing them to graze freely. This practice contributes to healthier animals and can affect the quality and nutritional profile of tallow.

• Biodynamic Farming: A holistic, sustainable approach to farming that focuses on the relationship between soil, plants, and animals. Tallow from animals raised on biodynamic farms is often considered higher quality due to the natural farming methods used.

• Factory Farming: A system of industrialised agriculture where large numbers of animals are raised in confined conditions. These practices can impact the quality of tallow and the overall health of animals.

• Industrial Revolution: A period of significant industrialisation beginning in the late 18th century, leading to changes in agriculture and animal husbandry, including the introduction of factory farming practices.

• Rendering: The process of melting and purifying animal fat to produce tallow.

• Wet Rendering: A method of rendering fat where the fat is cooked in water and salt. This process allows the fat to separate from the water and any impurities, resulting in a clean, high-quality tallow.

• Dry Rendering: A method of rendering fat without the addition of water. The fat is heated on its own, allowing the impurities to be strained out. This method can produce a richer, more concentrated tallow but may require careful monitoring to prevent burning.

• Carrier Oils: Oils used to blend with tallow. Carrier oils like jojoba oil help to enhance the balm’s moisturising properties and provide additional benefits.

• Infusions: The process of soaking herbs or botanicals in a carrier oil to extract their beneficial properties before adding them to tallow balms. Common infusions might include chamomile or calendula.

• Melting Point: The temperature at which tallow transitions from solid to liquid. Understanding the melting point helps in formulating balms with the desired texture and consistency.

• Fatty Acids: Essential components of tallow, including oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids, that provide moisture and help maintain the skin’s barrier.

• Fatty Acid Profile: The composition of fatty acids in tallow, influencing its texture and skin benefits. It varies depending on the animal’s diet and breed.

• Emollient: A substance that softens and smooths the skin. Tallow is a natural emollient that offers deep nourishment.

• Hydration: Adding moisture to the skin. Tallow helps by creating a barrier that prevents moisture loss.

• Occlusive Agent: Ingredients that form a protective layer on the skin. Tallow acts as a natural occlusive agent, sealing in moisture.

• Ceramides: Lipid molecules in the skin that retain moisture and support the skin barrier. Tallow aids ceramide function with its fatty acids.

• Non-comedogenic: Products that do not clog pores. Tallow is generally non-comedogenic, suitable for various skin types.

• pH Balance: The equilibrium between acidic and alkaline substances in skincare products; tallow is generally skin-friendly and helps maintain natural pH.

• Balms: Thick, oil-based skincare products with a high concentration of fats and oils, such as tallow. They typically do not contain water, which makes them more occlusive, providing a protective barrier on the skin. This barrier helps to lock in moisture and protect the skin from environmental factors. Balms are often used for their intense moisturising and soothing properties, making them ideal for dry or chapped skin. They generally have a denser, firmer consistency and can be applied directly to targeted areas.