Elizabeth Hucker, the artisan behind Solstice Soap Co.’s products, explains how beef tallow changed her skin for the better and how she created her original whipped tallow and tallow balm recipes.
Solstice Soap Co. started in early 2024 when I began selling my handmade natural soaps. I started attending local farmers markets and craft shows and added some body care items such as lotion bars, lip balms, and herbal salves.
It was at the farmers market that I was introduced to tallow skincare by a fellow vendor. At first, I was a bit skeptical, as I think most are. What is tallow, and why would I possibly want to smear beef fat on my face?! I sort of blew it off. I sampled a few different tallow products and eventually bought some for myself to try. I learned that tallow is a multi-purpose moisturizer for face, hands, body, cuticles, split ends, minor burns or bug bites, eczema patches, tattoo aftercare, sunburns, chapped skin, diaper rash, and more! I really enjoyed how it made my skin look and feel, so naturally, as someone who loves DIY, I decided I needed to learn how to make some myself.
I learned that tallow is rendered beef fat. The tallow used as skincare comes from a very specific fat on a cow called suet—which is the hard, nutrient-dense fat around the kidneys. It is rendered down (slowly melted over low heat) and purified into a shelf-stable fat that is a creamy off-white color and has an earthy scent. Tallow can vary in color and smell based on the breed and/or age of the cattle and its diet. There are other parts of fat on the cow that can be turned into tallow, however that is considered “trim” fat, and is less desirable for use as skincare.
When sourcing tallow for use as skincare, I learned the gold standard is to use suet fat from cows that have been grass fed and grass finished. Grass-finished beef tallow is considered superior because the animal’s natural grass and forage-only diet results in a more nutrient-dense fat.
Since suet fat is solid and hard at room temperature, it needs to be combined with a liquid carrier oil to create a soft, spreadable texture. I went with my go-to favorite carrier oil: organic jojoba oil. Jojoba oil is actually a liquid wax which is cold pressed from the seeds of the jojoba tree. It is golden in color, has a very lightweight feel, and absorbs quickly. It is also very stable and has a very long shelf life, due to its naturally high antioxidant content.
I started by making a simple two-ingredient tallow cream, made from just grass-fed and finished suet tallow and organic jojoba oil. Tallow is sensitive to fluctuations in temperature, so it took some trial and error to learn how to melt down the tallow to combine it with the oil, and then cool it down again to whip it into a fluffy cream. I experimented with different scent combinations using high quality, pure essential oils such as sweet orange, lavender, and vanilla. Essential oils are wonderful in skincare not only for their aromatherapeutic benefits, but also for their skin benefits such as brightening or calming the skin.
I truly fell in love with tallow skincare, and as I shared it with my friends and family, they did too. Eventually, I realized I needed a more portable tallow that was more resistant to heat and wouldn’t melt in my car or my purse on a hot day. I formulated a recipe for a tallow balm, starting with the same two ingredients as my whipped tallow, just adding in a small amount of local beeswax to increase the melting point of the formula. Tallow balm has a smooth, creamy texture that is soft when warm, but doesn’t fully melt, making it great for travel and on-the-go.
Our line of premium tallow skincare includes unscented varieties of both tallow balm and whipped tallow, perfect for the most sensitive skin or for those who prefer no added scent. We offer an herbal infused version of both called Midsummer, which is infused with organic calendula and chamomile—herbs known for their calming and healing benefits for skin. We also offer a variety of scented options, made using the highest-quality, pure essential oils.
Tallow skincare has truly changed my skin for the better. My complexion has never looked better. My skin feels so soft and smooth, and it helps keep my sensitive and reactive skin calm and happy. I’m so thrilled to share my tallow skincare with others and am grateful to Rebekah’s for the opportunity to do so. You can find Solstice Soap Co. premium tallow skincare at all four Rebekah’s locations.
Elizabeth Hucker
Owner/Maker
Solstice Soap Co.
Highland, MI
www.solsticesoapco.com
