How to Use Tallow Balm on Your Face (Without Feeling Greasy)

Tallow balm is one of the oldest moisturizers there is, and it's having a big comeback for good reason. It's simple, it's rich, and a small jar lasts a long time. But if you've never used it before, the first time can feel a little different from a lotion out of a pump. Here's how to use tallow balm on your face so it sinks in and leaves your skin soft, not shiny.

What is tallow balm?

Tallow is rendered beef fat. For skincare, the best tallow comes from suet, the firm fat around the kidneys, from grass-fed, grass-finished cattle. Once it's rendered and cleaned, it's whipped into a soft balm that melts at skin temperature.

People like tallow because its natural fatty acids (like oleic, stearic and palmitoleic acid) closely resemble the oils your skin makes on its own. It also naturally contains fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. That's a big part of why it feels so nourishing on dry or sensitive skin.

How to use tallow balm on your face: step by step

1. Start with clean skin

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, or just warm water if your skin is dry. Pat it mostly dry, leaving it very slightly damp. A little moisture on the skin helps the balm spread and absorb.

2. Use less than you think

For your whole face, a pea-sized amount is plenty. This is the number one mistake new tallow users make. More isn't better. It just sits on top and feels heavy.

3. Warm it between your fingertips

Rub the balm between your fingertips for a few seconds until it turns from soft solid to a light oil. Whipped tallow melts fast, so this only takes a moment.

4. Press, don't rub

Gently press your fingertips over your cheeks, forehead, chin and neck, then smooth outward. Pressing spreads a thin, even layer without tugging on your skin.

5. Give it five minutes

Tallow can look a little shiny at first. Give it about five minutes to absorb before you put on makeup, sunscreen or go to bed. If it still feels greasy after that, use a bit less next time.

Morning or night?

Both work. Many people love tallow as a night moisturizer because it has time to fully sink in while you sleep, and you wake up with soft skin. If you use it in the morning, go with an even smaller amount and let it absorb before sunscreen or makeup.

Tips for different skin types

• Dry or flaky skin: Apply at night, and use a touch more on the driest spots. You can also add a thin layer in the morning.
• Sensitive skin: An unscented, single-ingredient balm is the simplest option. Patch test on your inner arm or jawline for a couple of days first.
• Oily or combination skin: Start with half a pea-sized amount, only at night, and focus on drier areas. See how your skin responds over a week or two before using more.
• Weathered or wind-chapped skin: Tallow is great after time outdoors in cold, dry or windy weather. Apply a thin layer to cheeks, nose and lips.

Can you use tallow with other skincare?

Yes. Think of tallow as your last moisturizing step. If you use a serum or toner, apply that first, then seal it in with a thin layer of tallow. If you're trying tallow for the first time, it helps to keep the rest of your routine simple for a couple of weeks so you can see how your skin likes it.

Does tallow balm smell like beef?

It shouldn't. Well-made tallow is washed during rendering to remove impurities and the beefy smell. Our Just Tallow is rendered with chlorine- and fluoride-free water and has no added fragrance, so it smells clean and neutral.

How to store tallow balm

Keep your jar somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sun. Tallow softens in warm rooms and firms up in cold ones. That's normal and doesn't affect it. Use clean, dry fingers to scoop it out. Our balms have a one-year shelf life.

The bottom line

Using tallow balm on your face is simple: clean skin, a pea-sized amount, warm it up, press it in, and give it a few minutes. Once you get the amount right, most people find they don't want to go back to their old moisturizer.

Ready to try it? Just Tallow is our pure, unscented whipped tallow balm made from organic, grass-fed, grass-finished beef suet. Nothing more, nothing less.