If you’ve been looking for a deeply nourishing, toxic free skincare option that is full of skin nourishing benefits, whipped beef tallow lotion is what you are looking for!
It’s one of the most old fashioned treasures you can add to your skincare routine.
It’s incredibly gentle for most skin types because it’s so highly compatible with our skin.
Think about this for a second, have you ever looked on the back of lotion only to find a paragraph long ingredient list full of words you can’t even pronounce?
There is a shift taking place in natural skincare and people are turning back to simpler products made from real ingredients.
It’s a movement I’m proud to be a part of and share with you today!
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First of all, what is Whipped Beef Tallow Lotion?
Whipped beef tallow lotion is a skin moisturizer that is made from rendered beef fat. If you’re new to this, stay with me cause I know it sounds crazy!
It is made from beef fat that has been rendered down and purified. Depending on how many cycles of purification it goes through, it will either be scent free or slightly still carry a fatty scent to it. Which can be masked by adding in essential oils, but more on that later.
Unlike conventional lotions that are mostly water combined with synthetics, preservatives, emulsifiers and additives, tallow lotion is made from just beef fat with some kind of nourishing oil to soften it. That’s it!
It’s rich in natural fats, vitamins and deeply moisturizing!
What are the benefits of Beef Tallow Lotion?
Beef tallow lotion, when made from high quality, grass fed tallow, contains fat soluble vitamins and fatty acids:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Anti-inflammatory Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
- And more, but these benefits are most recognized 🙂
Why is Beef Tallow so compatible with Human Skin?
Beef Tallow lotion works so well on human skin because it mimics our own skins natural lipids, or sebum. Because of this it allows the beef tallow to easily absorb into our skin supporting the skin barrier.
It works with the skin, instead of sitting on top of it, helping prevent moisture loss. Which deeply nourishes skin all day long! And when paired with rose water, it’s a dynamic duo, but more on that topic later 😉
So if your skin is dry, flaky or even oily already, tallow gives your skin what it already understands because of its compatibility to our own skin profile for both dry and oily skin.
My favorite component to using beef tallow is that it provides me with a natural looking glow, and not in a sense that appears greasy, but vibrant and healthy like I’m sun kissed all year long!
How long does Beef Tallow Lotion Last?
Short answer–a long time!
When stored in a cool place at room temperature, beef tallow lotion can be shelf stable for 6 months. (and honestly I go up to a year with no issues)
Refrigeration can extend the shelf life for a year or longer! So if you made a few jars, you can keep them in the fridge until you want to use them.
How do I know if my beef tallow lotion has gone bad?
It will get moldy. And you will notice it, so it’s not like you need to constantly be concerned about it.
If you keep it stored in temps around 70 degrees, it will not go moldy on you for a very long time!
And let me ease your mind and tell you that tallow getting moldy is RARE! I have gone up to a year without seeing any signs of mold. In fact I can only remember one time mine has gone moldy, (because it was probably 18 months old) and I’ve been making beef tallow lotion for 7 years!
What kind of Beef Tallow do you recommend?
I have used so many different companies for making beef tallow lotion. My favorite is Paleo Valley’s Beef Tallow. (not sponsored, I truly love this brand!) I love the consistency it turns my lotion into.
But I also love Fatworks. They used to carry this at Costco and it was amazing to get two jars for the price of one! Thankfully they still carry it on Amazon. Here is the link for that Beef Tallow.
No matter what you use, just be sure it is a high quality, 100% Grass Fed Beef Tallow to achieve maximum nourishment!
Why I like applying Rose Water with my Beef Tallow Lotion
Like I mentioned above, tallow is so compatible with our human skin! I love to use it on it’s own but I also love to use it in combination with Rose Water because I observe it to increase my skins hydration even more!
And here is why. Tallow is oil based.
And our skin naturally loves a water based hydration. This is why so many conventional lotions have water listed as their first ingredient.
Insert Rose water! It lightly hydrates the skin, supporting it’s natural pH and prepping the skin so the beef tallow lotion spreads and saturates more evenly.
Rose water can help seal in moisture, lock in hydration and doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy.
Now I love tallow alone, especially in the dry winter months, but I love it even more when I use it in combination with rose water. It truly absorbs differently when combined together and I absolutely love it!
Do you have to use rose water? Of course not!
But if you find the tallow to be a little greasy on your skin, try using a rose water spray, or even prepping your skin with a light spray of purified water first, then rubbing in the tallow.
See if you notice a difference, it may surprise you like it did for me!
Does Beef Tallow Lotion smell?
This is the most commonly asked question.
And simply put, yes. It does have a subtle “beefy” scent.
This is why purity matters! Because if the tallow is purified several times, it will have less scent. But if it’s only rendered and then bottled, it will have a stronger scent.
You can combat that subtle smell with essential oils, which you can read more about below.
But truthfully, it is something I have gotten so used to, that I don’t even smell it anymore. So if you can get past the subtle beef smell, I promise the end result is WORTH IT!
How Easy is it to make whipped beef tallow lotion at home?
I don’t want you to feel intimidated here. DIY skincare sounds scary, but I promise it’s so simple, even for beginners!
Now you can go the whole rendering route. Where you render down beef fat for several hours, then strain it. Refrigerate it and start the process over and over until you have purified it for you skin. But that’s not what I’m showing you today.
I’m eliminating the rendering part and just having you purchase a grass fed beef tallow already rendered and purified from a jar. That’s step one!
Step two is melting down the tallow on the stove top. Then adding in a carrier oil such as jojoba, olive or castor oil. My favorite is castor oil for it’s deeply nourishing properties!
Step three is allowing the mixture to firm up then adding it to a mixer with a whisk attachment. Whisk on high for 5-7 minutes until it resembles whipped cream.
That’s it! Simple
Now you can add in some essential oils during the whipped part here, but I keep my beef tallow lotion as pure and simple as possible.
What essential oils could I add to my whipped beef tallow lotion?
There are so many options here and it really comes down to preference.
Disclaimer: I personally do not add essential oils to my Beef Tallow Lotion. This is because I find that my skin can react to some essential oils, and I would rather not go through the time and money to not be able to use something my skin reacts too.
Many people love to add essential oils because of their many benefits to skincare.
Some people need to add essential oils in because they can’t stomach the subtle beef tallow scent. And that’s fine, because like I said, adding essential oils is everyones own preference.
Essential oils you can add in:
- Frankincense: Popular for scent and “anti aging”
- Myrrh: Used for dry or cracked skin
- Lavender: Gently, soothing and calming for most skin types
- Tea Tree: Commonly used for acne prone skin
Now how many drops you add in is also preference. For this recipe you can use anywhere from 10-50 drops of essential oils! Or portion out a small bowl and only add in essential oils to a small amount of tallow. It’s entirely preference.
Remember, less is more! Always start with a small amount first, try it out and add more to your liking.
If you have any other favorite essential oil that works well for your skin, by all means, add it into your beef tallow lotion! You don’t have to go by my recommendations. This beef tallow lotion is so customizable!
What can I store my Whipped Beef Tallow Lotion in?
Glass mason jars are my number one recommendation. But any kind of glass jar works.
I actually love to use these smaller jars so that when I travel I have a small container to pack my tallow along.
Just be sure you always store the lotion in glass, because it’s an fatty product and can absorb the plastic, and you don’t want to put that all over your skin!
Can I make more than Beef Tallow lotion?
YES! Chapstick!!!!
This is the ONLY chapstick you will ever use again! I’m not kidding!
It is the best, most moisturizing chapstick, leaving your lips feeling hydrated and refreshed all day long!
Beef Tallow, in combination with Castor Oil has miraculous healing properties, I’m not kidding! This dynamic due can not be matched–it’s simply the best for your lips. Period.
Not to mention how healing this is! During the dry winter months my kids lips get so chapped and begin to crack. After just a day or two of constantly putting on tallow chapstick, they are healed!
I love to add in beeswax to the chapstick too, because it firms it up and locks in the moisture all day long–truly a game changer when I started adding this in!
Tallow chapstick is the only remedy that has ever worked for our dry lips and I want to shout it from the rooftops because of it’s healing power!
I use these chapstick containers off Amazon and always have them on hand for when I need to make more! (though my recipe makes a lot, and I love to share this with others)
Below my lotion recipe is the recipe to make tallow chapstick (and it’s easier than making whipped tallow lotion 😉
Let’s Make Beef Tallow Lotion!
How to Make Whipped Beef Tallow Lotion
If you've been looking for a deeply nourishing, toxic free skincare option that is full of skin nourishing benefits, whipped beef tallow lotion is what you're looking for!
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Beef Tallow (high quality, grass-fed)
- 1/4 cup Castor Oil (or jojoba oil)
- Optional: 10-50 drops Essential Oils (see post for more)
Instructions
- Gently Melt Tallow: Over low heat in a small saucepan, gently melt the beef tallow into a liquid and remove from the heat.
- Combine Oil: Add and stir in castor or jojoba oil.
- Cool Mixture: Allow liquid mixture to come to room temp and is partially set. You want it to resemble the consistency of softened butter. *Add the the fridge to speed up process but be careful it doesn't harden too much!
- Whip it: Using a stand or hand mixer, whip the semi-solid mixture on high speed until it's white and fluffy for 5-7 minutes. *It will resemble whipped cream.
- Storage: Scoop the whipped lotion into clean glass jars and seal them tightly with a lid.
- Enjoy! A little goes a long way. Pair with rose water for maximum hydration (see post above for more info)
Notes
Store in a cool place to maintain whipped consistency.
Shelf stable at room temperature for 6 months.
Refrigeration will extend shelf life for a year or longer!
Let’s make Beef Tallow Chapstick
How to Make Beef Tallow Chapstick
Beef Tallow Chapstick is simple, deeply nourishing and has a buttery texture that melts onto your lips. It's a healing balm that leaves your lips feeling softer even after it's worn off!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Beef Tallow (high quality, 100% Grass Fed preferred)
- 3 Tablespoons Castor Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Beeswax
- Optional: 10-15 drops of Essential Oil of choice
Instructions
- Gently Melt Tallow: Over low heat in a small saucepan, gently melt the beef tallow into a liquid. Add in beeswax pellets and melt them completely then remove from the heat.
- Combine Oil: Add and stir in castor oil (and essential oils if using) and add to a glass measuring cup.
- Pour into Molds: Carefully pour liquid into chapstick molds and allow mixture to harden before moving and adding covers.
- Cover and Store: Once the tubes of chapstick are fully hardened, add covers to each tube. Store at room temp for 6 months or place tubes into in a ziplock bag to store in the fridge. This extends shelf life for over a year!
Notes
Shelf Stable for 6 months (I've gone up to a year at room temp)
Keep refrigerated to extend shelf life.
Links:
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links that I make a small commission on but it is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
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