DIY Tallow Balm Recipe + Photo

Beef Tallow for Skin

Beef tallow has long been used to nourish, hydrate, and protect the skin. Tallow contains a fatty acid profile similar to human skin. It's a gentle and effective solution for dry or sensitive skin.

Here, you can learn how to use beef tallow for skin, go through its benefits, and make tallow balm at home with the #1 DIY tallow balm recipe.

Tallow Balm Ingredients

  • Beef Tallow

    100% Grass-fed

  • Organic Oils

    Olive or Jojoba

  • Organic Essential Oils

    (Optional)

Overview

DIY Beef Tallow Balm Recipe

Making tallow balm at home gives you full control over the ingredients you use. Use the following DIY tallow balm recipe and take the steps to easily make your own beef tallow balm:

  1. Rendering Suet to Make Tallow (Optional)
  2. Making Beef Tallow Balm

Let’s go through each process and learn about the steps involved.

Optional

Rendering Suet into Tallow

To make tallow balm and soap, you can buy high-quality tallow or render it yourself. So, this step (rendering suet) is optional, and you can skip to "Making Beef Tallow Balm" if you prefer.

To render tallow, you need grass-fed raw suet, a slow cooker or a pot, a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, and a clean glass jar for storage. After preparing these, follow these steps:

  1. Prepare the Suet – Rinse the suet under cold water to remove any blood or debris. Trim off meat or connective tissue attached to it. Pat dry with a clean towel.
  2. Cut into Small Pieces – Chop the suet into small, even pieces. (You can freeze the suet slightly before cutting to process it easily.)
  3. Slowly Melt the Fat – Place the suet in a heavy pot or slow cooker over low heat. Let it melt slowly for 2–4 hours and stir 2, 3 times.
  4. Strain the Tallow – Pour the liquid fat through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a heat-safe bowl to remove solid bits.
  5. Cool and Separate – Let the strained fat cool at room temperature. If any water settles at the bottom, remove the solid tallow and discard the liquid.
  6. Remelt and Store – Slowly melt the resulting tallow over low heat. Pour it into clean glass jars, let it cool at room temperature, then store it in the fridge.

Optional Steps for Extra Purity

To make high-quality, odorless tallow for balms, you need double purification. This is The Primal’s unique process to remove any unwanted odors while preserving all the beneficial effects of tallow, including deep hydration, rich nutrients (Vitamins A, D, E, and K), skin barrier protection, and excellent absorption. Follow these extra steps to make the purest tallow:

  1. Water Purification – Add equal parts water to the melted tallow and gently simmer for 30–60 minutes. Let it cool, then refrigerate overnight until solid. (The tallow will solidify on top, separating from the water below.)
  2. Remove & Scrape – Lift the solid tallow from the container. If the bottom of the tallow has any dark residue, scrape it off with a knife. Store it in a cool, dry place.

This process takes time but results in the highest quality tallow for balms and soaps. If you're short on time, The Primal tallow balms are made with the same care and attention to quality.

Simplified Process

Making Beef Tallow Blam

To make beef tallow balm (or cream), we just need a cup of rendered beef tallow and the following instructions:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rendered beef tallow (from the previous step)
  • 1/4 cup organic oils (coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, or a mix of these)
  • (optional) 10-15 drops essential oils (lavender, cedarwood, or your preferred blend)

Instructions

  1. Reheat the Tallow – Melt the stored tallow from the previous step over low heat.
  2. Cool Slightly – Remove it from the heat and let it cool down a bit, but ensure it doesn’t solidify.
  3. Add Organic Oils – Add liquid oils and whisk the mixture slowly until light and creamy.
  4. (Optional) Add Essential Oils – Add essential oils and mix well.
  5. (Optional) Whipped Tallow Balm - To make whipped tallow balm, place the mixture in the fridge for about 5-15 minutes. Once it starts to thicken, use a hand mixer and whip it to reach a light, creamy texture.

This will create a smooth, nourishing tallow balm that moisturizes and protects the skin!

Benefits

Tallow Balm Ingredients

Grass-Fed Beef Tallow: Rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, tallow deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin. It helps the skin barrier function, promotes healing, and has anti-inflammatory effects, making it a great skincare solution for dry, cracked, or irritated skin.

Organic Jojoba Oil: Moisturizes, balances skin, and soothes irritation. Rich in vitamins E and B, it's great for sensitive skin and healing.

Cold-Pressed Organic Olive Oil: Hydrates, nourishes, and has anti-aging properties. Packed with antioxidants, it protects and softens skin.

Cold-Pressed Organic Coconut Oil: Moisturizes, heals dry skin, and has antibacterial properties. It supports the skin barrier and leaves skin silky smooth.

Lavender: Calms and soothes skin, reducing irritation. Has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Cedarwood: Grounds and soothes, reducing redness and irritation. Has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Frankincense: Fights signs of aging, reduces wrinkles, and promotes skin regeneration.

Lemongrass: Tightens skin, improves tone, and has antimicrobial properties.

Many people have used this tallow balm recipe or have used The Primal beef tallow balms and have shared positive feedback.

Beef Tallow Balm Reviews

Our customers have been excited about the positive results of The Primal tallow balms. Here are a few testimonials.

  • Sally C

    I’ve been using the tallow face and body balm for several weeks now. For the past couple of winters I’ve had dry cracked and red skin on my left elbow. Since applying the balm on my elbow at night, it has visibly improved. It’s less red, cracked and feels alot smoother which you can see in the photos—top is before and bottom is today.

    Unscented Tallow Balm 

  • Coline J.

    The blend with essential oils has done wonders for my aging skin. It’s a natural alternative with no chemicals that’s both effective and affordable. It is very moisturizing, yet soaks in quickly.

    Lavender Tallow Balm 

  • Diana B.

    First time trying this product as I've heard so much of it's benefits and I must say it truly is what people have been raving about. It leaves my skin feeling so soft for over 8-10 hours!!! I love that it's natural and I can also use it on my toddlers! Great product! Although it is called a lip balm, I use it for my lips and hands!

    Lemongrass Tallow Balm 
View All Testimonials

What Are The Best Beef Tallow Balms for Skin?

The Primal Shop offers a range of high-quality, grass-fed beef tallow balms.

Unscented

Whipped Tallow Balm for Face and Body

This product of The Primal has a natural tallow scent without additives and contains cold-pressed organic olive oil and organic jojoba oil.

Try This

Lavender + Frankincense

Whipped Tallow Balm for Face and Body

This balm comes with a pleasant scent of lavender and frankincense essential oils. It also contains natural olive oil and jojoba oil.

Try This

Lemongrass + Cedarwood

Whipped Tallow Balm for Face and Body

This beef tallow balm contains lemongrass and cedarwood essential oils, cold-pressed olive oil, and natural jojoba oil.

Try This

Unscented

Tallow Lip Balm

This tallow lip balm of The Primal contains 100% Alberta grass-fed grass-finished tallow, cold-pressed organic olive oil, and organic jojoba oil.

Try This

Lemongrass

Tallow Lip Balm

This lip balm contains natural lemongrass and cedarwood essential oils, cold-pressed organic olive oil, and jojoba oil with 100% Alberta grass-fed grass-finished tallow.

Try This

Lavender

Tallow Lip Balm

This beef tallow lip balm is made with natural lavender and frankincense essential oils, organic olive and jojoba oil, and 100% grass-fed tallow.

Try This

We Care for Your Health

Each of these products is crafted with special care, focusing on health and effectiveness, ensuring you receive the best of what nature has to offer, as The Primal beef tallow balms are 100% organic.

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What Is Beef Tallow?

Beef Tallow Origin and Extraction

Beef tallow is rendered from suet, which is the hard fat found around the kidneys and loins of cattle. To extract tallow, they slowly melt suet to separate the pure tallow from impurities.

Beef Tallow Usages

Tallow has been used in:

  • Soaps and lotions: As a moisturizer in natural skincare products
  • Candle making: As a clean-burning alternative to synthetic waxes
  • Cooking: As a source of healthy fats

Beef Tallow Nutrients

Beef tallow contains saturated and monounsaturated fats, which help repair the skin barrier and maintain moisture.

It naturally contains fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K, which improve skin health by helping cell regeneration and protecting against environmental stressors.

Due to containing these nutrients, beef tallow provides various health effects for the skin, especially for damaged or sensitive skin.

The Benefits of Beef Tallow for Skin

Similar Structure to the Human Skin Structure

The fatty acid profile of beef tallow resembles that of human skin, which means tallow is absorbed quickly, enabling a natural healing process without being heavy or greasy.

Non-Comedogenic

Unlike some heavy creams, The Primal beef tallow balm products are non-comedogenic. It means they hydrate without clogging pores, reducing the risk of acne and breakouts while providing the necessary moisture.

Vitamins

Beef tallow contains vitamins A, D, E, and K that help renew cells, protect against antioxidants, and improve general skin health.

Vitamin A repairs the skin; vitamin E fights free radicals, and vitamins D and K improve skin resilience and barrier function.

Skin Elasticity and Hydration

Using tallow balm can improve skin elasticity because it provides essential fatty acids and moisture, which rejuvenate the skin and prevent premature aging.

Healing and Soothing

Tallow provides anti-inflammatory effects, which can soothe irritated or inflamed skin. It can help minor cuts, scrapes, and even chronic skin conditions like eczema.

Natural Protection Layer

Beef tallow maintains skin moisture, which creates a protective layer that stands against environmental aggressors.

Compatibility with Sensitive Skin

Beef tallow is gentle and hypoallergenic and is naturally suitable for even the most sensitive skin types or those with allergies or reactive skin.

FAQs

Is Tallow Good for the Skin?

Yes. Tallow offers nourishing effects. The structure of its fatty acids is similar to our skin’s structure, making it a powerful moisturizer that hydrates and protects the skin without clogging pores.

Do Dermatologists Recommend Tallow?

The short answer is yes. Many dermatologists believe beef tallow can be good for the skin, especially for dry or sensitive skin.

Is Bison Tallow Better than Beef Tallow for Skin?

Both bison and beef tallow provide similar effects, but they have a different fatty acid composition. Beef tallow is more available and used in skincare products.

What Are the Side Effects of Tallow?

For most users, tallow is gentle and effective. However, like any natural product, it might cause allergic reactions for those sensitive to animal products. Always perform a patch test before the full application.