This easy tallow balm and whipped tallow balm recipe uses clarified beef tallow and a wild chamomile and calendula-infused oil to create a deeply moisturizing, traditional skincare balm. With store-bought tallow products often carrying a hefty price tag, making your own not only saves money but also adds a layer of self-sufficiency to your skincare routine.
Once considered an old-fashioned skin remedy, tallow products have made a serious comeback, and for good reason.
Tallow balm, for example, is deeply moisturizing, simple to make, and made with ingredients your great-grandmother would recognize. Whipped tallow balm is extra rich and creamy and requires an additional step: whipping until it's light and airy.
When paired with calendula-infused oil and a touch of lavender essential oil, this balm becomes a beautifully nourishing balm for dry skin, hands, and everyday use. I also use tallow to make nourishing tallow lip balms.
Jump to:
- What Is Tallow Balm?
- What is Whipped Tallow Balm?
- Why Add Calendula?
- Ingredients
- Simple Tallow Balm Recipe
- How to Make Whipped Tallow Balm
- How to Clarify Tallow for Skincare
- Does Tallow Balm Smell?
- How Long Does Tallow Balm Last?
- Is Tallow Balm Good for Your Face?
- FAQs
- 👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- Final Thoughts
- Related Posts
- Comments
What Is Tallow Balm?
Tallow balm is a natural moisturizer made from clarified beef fat (also known as beef tallow). Unlike tallow used for cooking, cosmetic-grade tallow is purified for skincare use. When properly rendered and purified, tallow for skincare becomes whiter, smoother, more shelf-stable, and surprisingly skin-friendly.
Because tallow's fatty acid profile closely resembles our own skin's natural oils, it absorbs well and helps support the skin barrier, especially in dry climates (hello, Montana winters)!
What is Whipped Tallow Balm?
Whipped tallow balm is made with the same ingredients, but it's prepared a little differently. After the balm is melted and cooled, it's whipped until it turns light and fluffy, creating a softer texture that's easier to scoop and spread.
Why Add Calendula?
Calendula and other medicinal herbs, such as wild chamomile, can be infused into the oil, adding a gentle herbal boost. Both calendula and chamomile have traditionally been used to support:
- Dry or irritated skin
- Minor skin discomfort
- Rashes and rough patches
Infusing calendula and wild chamomile (pineapple weed) into a carrier oil before adding it to tallow creates a softer, more skin-soothing blend without complicating the recipe. This herbal infusion adds additional skin-soothing properties without altering the balm's rich and creamy texture.
Ingredients
- 1 cup clarified beef tallow (grass-fed preferred)
- 3 tablespoons (or up to ¼ cup) infused oil. I prefer grapeseed oil infused with calendula and wild chamomile.
- 10-20 drops essential oil of choice (optional). Lavender, frankincense, or chamomile work beautifully. If you prefer unscented balm, simply leave them out.
- Vitamin E is optional but recommended. It helps protect the oils in your tallow balm from oxidation and offers additional skin-conditioning benefits. You only need ¼ tsp.
Simple Tallow Balm Recipe
This basic recipe creates a firm, traditional balm with a smooth texture.
- Gently melt beef tallow over very low heat.
- Stir in strained calendula-infused oil (or infused oil of choice).
- Remove from heat, allow to cool for a few minutes, then stir in vitamin E and essential oil, if using.
- Pour into clean jars or tins. Allow to cool completely before sealing, then label.
How to Make Whipped Tallow Balm
While the ingredients are the same, whipping incorporates air, making the balm softer and easier to spread.
- Melt clarified or cosmetic-grade tallow in a double boiler or over very low heat, then mix in the infused oil as above, using 2 tablespoons instead of 3.
- Mix in vitamin E and 10-20 drops of essential oil (optional).
- Let the mixture cool in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, until opaque but still slightly soft. Whip using a mixer until soft and fluffy.
- Spoon the mixture into clean jars and allow it to set fully before sealing, then label.
How to Clarify Tallow for Skincare
For balm-making, tallow is further purified using a gentle water-washing process to remove residual impurities and the natural "beefy" scent. After the tallow is rendered, it is melted and combined with hot water and a small amount of salt, then gently simmered and allowed to cool so the tallow solidifies on top while impurities remain in the water below.
The hardened tallow is lifted off, the water discarded, and the process is repeated several times until the tallow becomes light in color, clean-smelling, and suitable for skincare. This extra purification step results in a neutral, cosmetic-grade tallow that produces a smoother, more pleasant balm. Learn how to make your own in my latest tallow for skincare post.
Does Tallow Balm Smell?
High-quality beef tallow balm should not have a strong or unpleasant odor. Adding calendula and essential oils provides a light, pleasant scent. If your balm smells strongly "beefy", additional purification may be needed.
How Long Does Tallow Balm Last?
Because beef tallow balm contains no water, it does not require preservatives. Stored in a cool, dry place, it can last up to 12 months. Avoid introducing water into the jar to maintain freshness.
Is Tallow Balm Good for Your Face?
Many people use beef tallow balm as a facial moisturizer because it is compatible with the skin's natural oils. As with any new skincare product, patch test and adjust based on your skin type.
Head to my product recommendations page to see my favorite salve and balm-making essentials!
FAQs
Beef tallow balm is generally considered non-comedogenic (meaning it does not clog pores) for most skin types. Tallow's fatty acid profile closely resembles the skin's natural oils. Many people find that tallow balm absorbs well without leaving a greasy residue. However, as with any skincare product, it's best to patch test first-especially if you have acne-prone or sensitive skin.
Grass-fed beef tallow is often preferred for balm because it tends to be richer in beneficial fatty acids and nutrients. While both conventional and grass-fed tallow can be used, many homesteaders opt for grass-fed tallow for a more traditional, high-quality skincare balm.
Yes, you can substitute olive oil or another carrier oil if you don't have calendula-infused oil. However, calendula adds additional skin-soothing properties that make this beef tallow balm especially nourishing for dry or irritated skin.
Because tallow balm contains no water, it is naturally shelf-stable. When stored in a cool, dry place, beef tallow balm can last up to 12 months or longer. Adding vitamin E may help slow oxidation, but proper storage is key.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- Using a piping bag to transfer the whipped tallow into the jars is a lot easier than trying to spoon it in.
- Whipped tallow balm feels softer and spreads more easily, but it will firm up in cooler temperatures and deflate in warmer temperatures.
- Store balm in the fridge for a more consistent texture.
Final Thoughts
Tallow balm is a simple, traditional skincare option that fits beautifully into a homestead lifestyle. With only a few ingredients, you can create a deeply nourishing balm tailored to your needs. Whether you keep it plain or infuse it with calendula or comfrey, this timeless remedy is easy to make and surprisingly versatile.
Related Posts
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Easy Tallow Balm Recipe + Whipped Tallow Balm Option
Equipment
- 1 hand-held mixer (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup clarified beef tallow
- 3 tablespoon infused oil
- ½ teaspoon vitamin E oil
- 15 drops essentail oil
Instructions
- Gently melt beef tallow over very low heat. Stir in strained calendula-infused oil (or infused oil of choice).
- Remove from heat, allow to cool for a few minutes, then stir in vitamin E and essential oil, if using.
- Pour into clean jars or tins. Allow to cool completely before sealing, then label.
How to Make Whipped Tallow Balm
- Melt clarified or cosmetic-grade tallow in a double boiler or over very low heat, then mix in the infused oil as above, using 2 tablespoons instead of 3.
- Mix in vitamin E and 10-20 drops of essential oil (optional).
- Let the mixture cool in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, until opaque but still slightly soft. Whip using a mixer until soft and fluffy.
- Spoon the mixture into clean jars and allow it to set fully before sealing, then label.
Notes
- Using a piping bag to transfer the whipped tallow into the jars is a lot easier than trying to spoon it in.
- Whipped tallow balm feels softer and spreads more easily, but it will firm up in cooler temperatures and deflate in warmer temperatures.
- Store balm in the fridge for a more consistent texture.
Hilda Sterner says
I hope you try your hand and tallow balm making!
Kathy Fisher says
I'm using Hilda's tallow skin care and I love it. I use it as a night cream. I can't imagine anything better for skin than tallow. Also, it has a nice fragrance. I've been using another tallow face cream product for 2 years but I don't care for the fragrance and it is so expensive. I think I'll be making this recipe in the future. Thanks Hilda. It definitely is a 5 star cream.
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you so much, Kathy! You're my first satisfied customer, yay!