FAQ
Product Information
How is tallow good for skin?
Organic tallow is a type of rendered animal fat from grass-fed cows or bison that works really well with the skin.
It’s highly bioavailable, which just means your skin recognizes it and can actually use it. Instead of sitting on top like a lot of products, it absorbs in and helps support your skin from within.
Tallow is naturally rich in vitamins A, D, and beneficial fatty acids. These all play a role in keeping your skin healthy. Vitamin A supports skin renewal, vitamin D helps with repair and overall skin function, and fatty acids help strengthen the skin barrier so it can hold onto moisture better.
All of that together is what makes tallow so effective. It hydrates, protects, and helps keep your skin balanced without overcomplicating things.
If you want to go deeper into it, I break everything down more in my blog post: (Bison Tallow: Honoring a Timeless Tradition).
Why use herbal skincare?
Herbal medicine isn’t the alternative. It’s the original.
For a long time, plants were our main form of healing. A lot of what we now call modern medicine actually comes from plant compounds that were used long before anything was made in a lab.
Across different cultures, people have always turned to plants for support. For pain, for immunity, for everyday health. That relationship has been there for generations.
And plants are resilient. They’ve adapted to changing environments over time, and that same resilience is part of what makes them so supportive for the body.
Working with herbs also brings you back to a more natural rhythm. Things change with the seasons, and so do our needs. The plants growing around us tend to reflect that. What your body needs at different times of year is often already there.
It’s less about forcing anything, and more about paying attention and working with what’s naturally available.
Why don't you use essential oils?
Using essential oils in skincare can miss the bigger picture.
They’re highly concentrated and can be beneficial, but they only represent one part of the plant. When you focus only on essential oils, you’re leaving out everything else the plant has to offer, the nutrients, the minerals, the compounds that actually support the skin long term.
It also takes a large amount of plant material to produce a very small amount of essential oil, which isn’t always the most sustainable way to work with plants.
Instead, I work with the whole plant.
I slowly infuse herbs into each batch of tallow so you get the full spectrum of what that plant offers. Not just one isolated part, but everything working together the way it naturally does.
It’s gentler, more balanced, and more in line with how I believe skincare should be, simple, effective, and working with your skin instead of against it.
Can I use it if I have sensitive skin?
Yes, absolutely. Dear Oaklyn products are made to be safe for all skin types, including sensitive skin, and gentle enough for babies.
I don’t use ingredients that disrupt the skin or overwhelm it. Everything is chosen to support the skin’s natural balance, not work against it.
I keep things simple. Whole, recognizable ingredients, no unnecessary additives, nothing extra. That’s what makes them gentle, effective, and something you can feel good using on your whole family.
Is it safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Yes, for the skincare products. I formulated everything with my own daughter in mind when she was an infant and I was breastfeeding. I wanted it to be something I could use daily without second guessing it. Simple, gentle, and made with ingredients that support the skin, not stress it.
There are no essential oils, no synthetic fragrance, and nothing harsh or overly active. Just whole, nourishing ingredients that are generally considered safe for both you and your baby’s skin.
That said, everyone’s comfort level is different, so if you ever want extra reassurance, it’s always okay to check with your healthcare provider.
For herbal tinctures and bitters, it’s a little different. Some herbs haven’t been widely studied during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so I always recommend being more cautious there. Even though they’re natural, they can still be potent and affect the body in different ways.
When it comes to internal use, it’s best to check with a qualified practitioner to make sure what you’re using is appropriate for you during that time.
What is the shelf life?
Because Dear Oaklyn products don’t contain additives or preservatives, they’re best used while they’re fresh.
I always recommend using them within a year. The balms are naturally shelf-stable because of the fats, but like any oil, they’re at their best when they’re not sitting around too long.
It’s the same idea as cooking oils. Fresh is better.
I suggest buying what you know you’ll use so you’re getting the most out of it.
Where do you source ingredients from?
I’d love to say everything is sourced locally here in North Carolina, but I’m not quite there yet.
I do my best to source herbs from small, family-run farms across the U.S., especially ones that focus on sustainable and regenerative practices. That matters to me, not just for the quality of the ingredients, but for the health of the land they come from.
The tallow comes from pasture-raised, vaccine-free bison raised on regenerative farms. The animals are raised with care, and that translates into a cleaner, more nutrient-rich fat.
I’m really intentional about where everything comes from. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about doing it in a way that feels responsible and aligned, for both your skin and the environment.
What if a product I want is sold out?
Everything is made in small batches, by hand, with a lot of care put into each step.
Because of that, things can sell out from time to time. I only make what I can do well, not in excess.
I do my best to keep everything restocked as consistently as I can.
Thank you for being here and supporting it, it really means a lot.