Q&A

Tallow is a kind of rendered fat, traditionally from beef or mutton, but can also be from other animals. The process of making tallow starts with obtaining raw fat from the animal, often from around the kidneys and loins. The raw fat is then cut into small pieces to increase the surface area and speed up the rendering process.

The chopped fat is then placed into a large pot and slowly heated. The key to this process is slow, gentle heating. Melting the fat too fast can result in burning and an unpleasant smell. As the fat heats, it begins to melt, separating from any meat, tissue, or impurities.

The liquid fat is then strained to remove all the solid bits, often by using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. What is left after straining is a clear, golden liquid – this is the raw tallow.

This liquid is then allowed to cool and harden. Once solid, it should be a pale white or cream color and have a firm, waxy texture. This tallow can be stored in a cool, dark place and used for cooking, soap making, candle making, and more.

Tallow has been used
as an effective skincare ingredient for centuries!  Our ancestors wisely used animal fats along with plant concoctions for a variety of skin and healthcare needs.  As a skin moisturizer tallow has stood the test of time because of its luxurious emollient properties. It has been recently rediscovered for the important role it plays in nutritional bioavailability. 

CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid), an Omega-3 isomer of linolenic acid.  Topically,  it fortifies the skin barrier and helps the skin retain moisture by boosting ceramide synthesis in the cells. 

Small amounts of Vitamins A, E and K. It's worth noting that tallow IS NOT a rich
source of vitamins, as the common claim states. Tallow's real magic lies in its
fatty acid profile.

Omega-3 Alpha Linolenic Acid, stearic acid, and
other fatty acids that promote skin health in its naturally balanced state.

We source our beef fat from a local butcher who processes beef raised by families across the Rogue Valley. We then render the fat down ourselves to create tallow.

Home Rendered - Our Tallow is dry rendered using stainless
steel equipment and stored in glass containers.

We never refine or "purify" our tallow with the salt water boiling method that's popular these days.  Suet is a very pure fat by nature, which is what makes it an ideal fat for skincare. It only needs to be properly trimmed, gently warmed to separate it from the protein tissues that encapsulate it, and lightly filtered to remove any
remaining bits. This minimal processing preserves the precious vitamins found in tallow and prevents the growth of pathogens that water exposure can
lead to. 

Our Tallow is rendered only from Suet (cavity fat surrounding the kidneys).  Rendered subcutaneous fats are often mixed with suet and called "tallow".  But fat drained off of meat may be contaminated with blood and other tissue.  It's not harmful, but not what we consider the
purest or the best quality for skincare.  Additionally, pure, unrefined tallow will not clog pores!

The short answer is - no, you won’t. Yes, tallow has a very slightly animal/natural (sometimes buttery!) scent to it but it is so mild that once applied to the skin you won’t even notice and it is only noticeable in the unscented varieties. We add just enough essential oils to our scented products that you’ll want to slather our tallow products everywhere!

We recommend using our Tallow Balm and Tallow Sugar Scrub products within 6 months and keeping them in a cool dry place away from sunlight.

Milk soap is a gentle cleanser rich in fatty acids that can help support a healthy skin barrier to keep skin nourished and moisturized.

We take pride in sourcing our A2A2 cow milk from The Whipped Creamery, a reputable farm located in Sam's Valley, Oregon.

Currently, A2A2 milk is only used in our handmade bar soaps.

We only source phthalate and paraben-free fragrance oils. We try to only use natural ingredients in our products. Sometimes we do have some soaps, scrubs, and candles that are scented with fragrances but we’ve sourced paraben and phthalate-free fragrances for those.