Tallow has been used in skincare for a long time, and for good reason.
It’s rich, nourishing, and full of the kinds of fats and vitamins our skin actually knows how to use. It hydrates, protects, and helps support the skin barrier in a way a lot of modern products don’t.
But like anything, not all tallow is the same. And the quality of it matters more than most people realize.
What people don’t always talk about
Lately I’ve been thinking more about sourcing and what can come along with certain ingredients, even ones that seem really simple.
Things like phthalates, which are chemicals commonly found in plastics, can sometimes show up in fats, including tallow. And because your skin absorbs what you put on it, it’s something worth paying attention to, not from a place of fear, just awareness.
Why sourcing matters
A lot of this comes down to how the animal was raised and how the fat is handled.
Factory-farmed animals are often exposed to more inputs, things like grain-heavy diets, antibiotics, and other environmental stressors. That can affect the overall quality of the fat.
But it’s not always that straightforward either.
Even with pasture-raised animals, the way tallow is rendered, stored, and transported can impact its purity. Things like plastic contact or certain processing methods can introduce unwanted compounds along the way.
So it’s not just about what the ingredient is. It’s about the whole process behind it.
Why I’m careful about what I use
This is something I’ve put a lot of thought into.
The bison tallow I use is pasture-raised, and I’m really intentional about where it comes from and how it’s handled. It’s also tested to make sure levels of things like phthalates stay extremely low.
That doesn’t mean anything is ever perfect or completely free of exposure. But it does mean I’m paying attention and doing everything I can to keep it as clean as possible.
I also don’t add synthetic preservatives or anything unnecessary to “stabilize” it. That part has never sat right with me. If I wouldn’t feel good about putting it in my body, I’m not putting it on my skin.
Why small batches matter
Making everything in small batches gives me more control over all of this.
I can pay attention to the quality, the sourcing, and the final product in a way that just isn’t possible at a large scale. It also means what you’re getting is fresh and handled with care from start to finish.
This isn’t about fear
I’m not here to make people feel like everything is toxic or unsafe.
Tallow is still one of the most supportive, skin-friendly ingredients you can use. Even when it’s not perfect, it’s often still a better option than a lot of highly processed alternatives.
This is really just about being intentional.
The bottom line
I’ll always do my best to source the cleanest ingredients I can and be honest about what goes into what I make.
Your skin absorbs what you give it, and that matters to me.
So I keep it simple, I pay attention to quality, and I make everything in a way that feels aligned with how I’d want to use it on myself and my family.