Welcome! If you’re new to tallow-based skincare, you might be curious (or even a bit hesitant) about using it. At Bloom, a New Zealand brand specialising in lamb tallow skincare, we believe in gentle, natural purity backed by authentic results. Below we answer ten common beginner questions just for you! Read on to learn how tallow can soothe, nourish, and revive your skin – the Kiwi way!
1. What is tallow, and how is it made for skincare?
Tallow is simply purified animal fat that’s been rendered (melted down and filtered) for use in skincare. In Bloom’s case, we use lamb suet – the hard, nutrient-rich fat around a lamb’s kidneys – sourced from grass-fed New Zealand sheep. To make our tallow balm, we gently heat this lamb suet to remove impurities and then cool it until it solidifies into a smooth, creamy balm. The result is pure lamb tallow: a clean, shelf-stable fat rich in beneficial oils and vitamins. Using lamb suet is ideal for skincare because it produces an exceptionally high-quality tallow (it’s the best kind of fat to render for this purpose). In other words, we take a natural ingredient and carefully turn it into a balm that’s ready to nourish your skin – with nothing artificial added.
2. What are the benefits of using tallow on your skin?
Tallow is packed with skin-loving goodness. One big benefit is how bioavailable it is – in plain terms, tallow is so similar to the oils your skin naturally produces that your skin readily recognises and absorbs it. Thanks to its unique fatty acid profile, tallow closely mimics our sebum (the protective oil our skin makes). It contains fatty acids like oleic, stearic, palmitic, and linoleic acid, which deeply hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier. This means tallow can replenish moisture and protect your skin more effectively and for longer than many water-based creams. It’s also loaded with fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, which support healthy skin cell turnover, elasticity, and repair. In short, using tallow balm helps to moisturise, nourish, and balance your skin at a very deep level. Many people find it leaves their skin soft, supple, and resilient – all with a completely natural product that works with your skin, not against it.
3. How do I use tallow balm in my skincare routine?
Using tallow balm is simple and will quickly become second nature. For best results, apply it as the last step of your skincare routine (after cleansing and any serums or treatments) to seal in hydration. Here’s a quick guide:
- Start with clean, slightly damp skin: Gently cleanse your face, then pat dry so it’s clean but a bit dewy. Tallow balm absorbs best on warm, damp skin.
- Use a pea-sized amount: A little goes a long way. Scoop out a small dab (about the size of a pea) of the balm.
- Warm it up: Rub the dab of tallow balm between your fingertips until it softens and melts. This makes it easier to spread.
- Gently massage in: Apply the balm to the desired areas – it could be your whole face or just any dry patches. Massage it in gently using circular motions. Focus on rough or extra-dry spots (like elbows or cheeks) if needed.
- Allow it to absorb: Let the balm sink in for a minute or two. It will form a light protective layer that locks in moisture. Your skin should feel comfortably nourished, not oily.
- Use daily (or as needed): For most, tallow balm can be used both morning and night. Many people love it as a night moisturiser – you can wake up with soft, hydrated skin – and also as a daytime barrier against dryness.
Feel free to use Bloom’s tallow balm on your face, lips, hands, or anywhere your skin needs extra love. It’s a versatile, all-natural moisturiser. If you’re ever unsure, start with once a day at night, and adjust based on how your skin feels.
4. Is tallow balm suitable for all skin types (including sensitive or oily skin)?
Yes. One of the wonderful things about tallow is that it’s highly compatible with all skin types. Because its lipids are so similar to our natural sebum, tallow balm “matches” your skin’s needs whether you’re dry or oily. For dry skin, tallow provides intensive moisture and helps repair a weakened skin barrier (goodbye, flakiness!). If you have oily or combination skin, tallow can actually help balance oil production – when your skin feels nourished and balanced, it may signal your pores to produce less excess oil. The balm is formulated to absorb deeply without clogging pores, so it won’t cause congestion or greasiness even on oily, acne-prone areas.
For sensitive skin, tallow is a gentle choice. Bloom’s unscented balm contains 100% natural ingredients with no unnecessary additives or fragrances, which means there are fewer things that might irritate reactive skin. Pure tallow itself has no synthetic chemicals; it’s just a simple, whole ingredient, which makes it well-tolerated by most people. In fact, tallow balms have been used to soothe conditions like eczema precisely because they are so kind to troubled skin. We always recommend patch-testing any new product if you have very sensitive skin, but tallow balm is about as skin-friendly as it gets across the board.
5. What does tallow balm feel like on the skin? Will it feel greasy?
Tallow balm has a rich, buttery texture in the jar, but on your skin it feels surprisingly light. When you first apply it, you might notice a soft, dewy sheen – that’s the balm beginning to melt in. Unlike some heavy ointments, tallow actually absorbs deeply thanks to its lipid-rich composition. Give it a few minutes, and you’ll find it sinks in without leaving a greasy film. High-quality tallow products (like ours) are designed to provide deep hydration without that oily residue. The key is to apply only a small amount. Your skin should end up feeling soft and velvety, not slick or sticky.
Tallow naturally forms a breathable protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture while still letting your skin breathe. So the feel is more akin to a healthy glow than an oily coating. Many of our customers are pleasantly surprised that something which starts as a solid “balm” can make their skin feel nourished but never greasy. If you do feel a bit oily at first, you may have applied too much – try using a smaller dab, and you’ll notice it absorbs beautifully. After application, expect your skin to feel calm, moisturised, and comfortably protected, with just a natural, subtle radiance (and no slick shine).
6. Will tallow balm clog my pores or cause breakouts?
No – in fact, tallow is considered non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores. This is a common concern, especially since tallow is an animal fat, but rest assured: used properly, tallow balm should not cause pimples. Because it’s so similar to our skin’s own oils, tallow doesn’t block the pores; instead, it works with your skin to balance oil levels. It even contains a fatty acid called linoleic acid that is known to help keep pores clear and calm inflammation, which is great news for acne-prone skin.
Many people with acne-prone or oily skin actually report fewer breakouts after switching to tallow-based moisturiser. Tallow’s natural anti-inflammatory properties can soothe redness and irritation associated with acne, helping blemishes look less angry. It also lacks the synthetic chemicals and pore-clogging fillers that some commercial creams have, so your skin can “breathe” and recover. Of course, everyone’s skin is unique – if you’re very prone to breakouts, you can patch test on a small area first. But overall, tallow balm is gentle and balancing. It aims to nourish your skin without triggering acne. In short, it’s an ally, not an enemy, for acne-prone complexions.
7. Does tallow balm have a smell?
Tallow balm’s scent is very mild. Since it’s made from rendered fat, people sometimes worry, “Will I smell like a roast dinner?” The answer is no! High-quality tallow, especially from grass-fed sources, has only a faint, earthy aroma. Most Bloom customers describe our lamb tallow balm’s scent as neutral or subtly “nutty” – nothing overpowering. In fact, well-rendered tallow products have a low odour profile. Any natural scent you do notice when first applying tends to fade quickly.
Unscented tallow balms like ours might have a slight woolly or creamy fat smell in the jar if you sniff closely, but once on your skin, it’s hardly noticeable. The mild, natural scent doesn’t linger – after a few minutes, you probably won’t smell it at all. This makes tallow balm a great choice if you’re sensitive to strong perfumes or just prefer your skincare without a lot of fragrance. So, while there is a whisper of a scent (you know it’s natural!), it won’t leave you smelling like a farm. It’s a subtle, clean smell that simply lets the purity of the ingredients shine through.
8. Can tallow balm help with eczema or very dry, irritated skin?
Yes, tallow balm is wonderful for eczema, psoriasis, and ultra-dry or irritated skin. In fact, Bloom was born from our founder’s journey to soothe her family’s eczema, so this is close to our hearts. Tallow’s natural composition makes it extremely soothing and reparative for troubled skin. It’s rich in stearic acid and other lipids that actively help repair the skin’s barrier – that’s crucial for conditions like eczema, where the barrier is weakened. By strengthening the barrier, tallow balm helps prevent moisture loss and keeps irritants out, giving damaged skin a chance to heal. It also delivers long-lasting hydration (much longer than water-based lotions), which is key to managing eczema flares.
Moreover, tallow contains anti-inflammatory nutrients that can calm redness and itching. It’s high in vitamins (A, D, E, K) and essential fatty acids that support skin regeneration and reduce inflammation. Many users with eczema or dermatitis find that applying tallow balm relieves itch and dryness, and over time, their skin becomes less reactive and more supple. Because our balm has no added chemicals or fragrances, it won’t sting or irritate cracked eczema skin – it just gently nourishes and protects. Always be gentle when applying (pat or softly rub on affected areas), and let the balm’s natural goodness work its magic to soothe and moisturise. We’ve seen it bring real comfort to parched, irritated skin.
9. Is using tallow for skincare sustainable and ethical?
We believe so, absolutely. Using tallow is actually a very sustainable choice in skincare. Tallow is a natural byproduct of livestock farming – it comes from fat that already exists as part of ethical meat production. By repurposing tallow for skincare, we’re reducing waste and giving new life to a material that might otherwise go unused. Rather than let good resources go to waste, Bloom turns locally sourced lamb fat into a skin-loving balm. No animals are raised just for tallow; we are simply utilising an ingredient that’s readily available and would be discarded by others.
From an eco-friendly standpoint, tallow ticks many boxes: it’s biodegradable, and when sourced locally it has a lower carbon footprint than exotic butters or oils that must be shipped from across the world. It also means we avoid synthetic chemicals – our balm is 100% natural, which is kinder to you and the planet. By choosing a tallow-based product, you’re supporting a form of upcycling (using the whole animal) and reducing reliance on heavily processed, industrial ingredients. In short, tallow balm is a conscious choice: it’s good for your skin, and it’s using what nature has already provided in a respectful way. We’re proud that Bloom’s products reflect Kiwi values of sustainability and community.
10. Why choose tallow balm over other moisturisers or oils?
Tallow balm offers a unique combination of benefits that can be hard to find in other moisturisers. First and foremost is its biocompatibility – tallow’s fat profile is remarkably close to that of human skin, far closer than most plant oils or synthetic creams. This means your skin readily accepts tallow balm, absorbing it deeply and utilising its nutrients effectively. In contrast, many conventional moisturisers are water-based and contain emulsifiers, preservatives, and fillers that sit on the surface and evaporate quickly. Tallow, on the other hand, is a whole, nourishing ingredient on its own. It provides long-lasting hydration (since it isn’t mostly water that dries off) and delivers vitamins A, D, E, K directly in a form your skin can use.
Another reason to choose tallow is what’s not in it. Bloom’s tallow balm has no synthetic fragrances, no parabens, no mystery chemicals – just pure natural goodness. It’s a minimalist approach to skincare: a single primary ingredient (with perhaps a couple of natural extras) that gives your skin only what it needs, and nothing it doesn’t. This simplicity can be a game-changer for sensitive skin that gets overwhelmed by long ingredient lists. Despite being simple, tallow is incredibly effective. It moisturises more deeply and more gently than many fancy creams. Because it so closely mimics our skin’s own sebum, it helps maintain balance – soothing dry patches without clogging oily areas. People often find they don’t have to reapply as often as with conventional lotions, and their skin stays soft and protected throughout the day.
In short, tallow balm is a return to basics in the best possible way. It’s natural, nutrient-rich, and compatible with our skin. If you’re looking for a moisturiser that truly feeds your skin and aligns with a back-to-nature philosophy, tallow is a beautiful choice. Bloom’s lamb tallow balm embodies this: gentle effectiveness, natural purity, and authentic results – it’s nature’s purest remedy for healthy, radiant skin, straight from New Zealand to you.