If you’ve been searching for a natural moisturiser NZ stores don’t always stock, you may have come across tallow balm. This old-fashioned remedy – made from pure rendered animal fat – is making a comeback in the world of chemical-free skincare. But how does a jar of tallow balm compare to the creamy lotions and pharmacy creams most New Zealand families grew up using?
In this post, we’ll explore exactly what tallow balm is, how it works on your skin, and where it shines versus conventional moisturisers. We’ll look at differences in absorption, effectiveness, ingredients, and skin compatibility, and why a simple, nutrient-rich balm like Bloom Tallow’s lamb tallow balm can be a game-changer for sensitive, dry, or eczema-prone skin. If you’re new to natural skincare, don’t worry – we’ll also share some handy tips to help you make the switch gently and confidently.
What is Tallow Balm?
Tallow balm is a moisturiser made from rendered animal fat (typically beef tallow or lamb tallow) that has been purified and whipped into a creamy balm. It might sound unusual to put animal fat on your skin, but tallow has been used for centuries as a nourishing skin salve. High-quality tallow balms are usually very simple in composition – often just 100% grass-fed tallow with maybe a touch of beeswax or a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. The beauty of tallow balm lies in its simplicity and purity: there are no long chemical names on the ingredient list, just whole, natural ingredients that your great-grandparents would recognise.
How does tallow work on the skin? Tallow is remarkably compatible with our skin’s biology. Being an animal fat, it contains a mix of fatty acids that closely resemble the oils found in human skin (our natural sebum). In fact, tallow is naturally rich in skin-friendly fats like oleic, palmitic, stearic and linoleic acid, which help to replenish and support the skin’s protective barrier. This means when you apply tallow balm, your skin “recognises” those fats and readily absorbs them. Rather than sitting on top of the skin, the balm softens upon contact and sinks into the upper layers of the epidermis, delivering deep moisturisation. Tallow also carries a wealth of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K, and even B12), which help nourish and repair the skin – an especially welcome benefit for anyone with dry or eczema-prone skin. Essentially, tallow balm feeds your skin a concentrated dose of natural nutrients with each application.
Comparison of the lipids in human skin’s natural oil (sebum) versus the ingredients in a tallow-based balm. The similar portions of triglycerides, fatty acids, cholesterol esters, and squalene show how tallow balm provides the same kinds of fats our skin needs to stay hydrated and protected.
This similarity in composition is a big reason why tallow balm is so readily absorbed and effective at supporting the skin barrier.
Another advantage of tallow balm is what isn’t in it. Because a pure tallow balm contains no water, it doesn’t require any preservatives to stay fresh. The balm has a naturally long shelf life (especially if made from grass-fed tallow high in antioxidants) and is free of preservatives, emulsifiers, and synthetic fragrances. For someone looking to eliminate potential irritants and embrace chemical-free skincare, tallow balm offers a truly minimalist alternative.
How Do Conventional Moisturisers Work?
Now let’s look at the creams and lotions you’d typically find at a New Zealand pharmacy or department store. Most conventional moisturisers are water-based emulsions, meaning they contain a significant percentage of water mixed with oils and other ingredients. If you flip over a bottle of store-bought lotion, the first ingredient is often aqua (water). This water content gives lotions that light, spreadable feel and quick initial absorption. However, water alone doesn’t hydrate for long – it evaporates off the skin. To counteract that, conventional moisturisers rely on other components:
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Humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid to draw moisture into the skin.
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Occlusives like petrolatum (petroleum jelly) or mineral oil to form a light barrier that locks moisture in.
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Emollients like plant oils or synthetic lipids (e.g. dimethicone, a silicone) to soften and smooth the skin’s surface.
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Emulsifiers (such as stearates or PEG compounds) to bind the water and oils into a stable cream.
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Preservatives (parabens, phenoxyethanol, etc.) to prevent bacteria or mould, since bacteria love water.
- Fragrance (often synthetic) to make the product smell nice, and sometimes colours to make it look appealing.
In short, a mainstream lotion achieves moisturisation by delivering a quick hit of water and glycerin to plump the skin, then leaving behind an occlusive film that prevents that moisture from escaping. This can indeed help with dryness, and many conventional creams do provide immediate relief for thirsty skin. However, because of the water content, that initial hydration can be short-lived once the water evaporates – which is why you might find yourself reapplying a store-bought lotion multiple times a day. Additionally, the long ingredient lists of conventional products mean there are a lot of extra substances in the formula that don’t actively nourish the skin (for example, fragrances or colourants are there for a pleasant user experience but don’t improve your skin’s health). These additives also mean more potential irritants for sensitive individuals. If you have ever applied a cream only to feel stinging or see redness, it could be due to some chemical ingredient your skin doesn’t like.
The New Zealand context: Many popular pharmacy moisturisers in NZ – from the generic “sorbolene” creams to big-brand lotions – follow this formula. They’re designed for mass appeal: lightweight feel, non-greasy finish, and long shelf stability. There’s absolutely a convenience in being able to grab a pump bottle of cream that smells like roses and sinks in fast. But if you’re someone with sensitive skin, eczema, or allergies, that same bottle may contain preservatives or perfumes that your skin finds irritating. This is where the stark contrast between conventional moisturisers and tallow balm really becomes clear.
Tallow Balm vs Store-Bought Lotion: Key Differences
Let’s break down the major differences between an all-natural tallow balm and a typical store-bought moisturiser:
- Ingredients & Purity: Tallow balm has a short, all-natural ingredient list, often just tallow and perhaps a couple of natural additions (like beeswax or essential oils). In contrast, conventional lotions have a laundry list of ingredients, including stabilisers and synthetic additives that serve no nutritive purpose for your skin. With tallow balm, every ingredient in the jar is there to nourish or protect your skin, whereas in a commercial cream, many ingredients are there to improve texture, scent, or shelf-life. Fewer ingredients also mean fewer things that might trigger irritation. For someone seeking truly chemical-free skincare, a tallow balm checks the box with its simplicity.
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Moisturising Action: Tallow’s heavy, balm-like texture might lead you to think it would sit on the skin, but in reality it absorbs beautifully. Because its lipids mirror those found in our skin, tallow balm can penetrate and moisturise at a deeper level, providing long-lasting hydration.
Users often find that a little goes a long way – a single application of tallow balm can keep skin soft and supple for many hours without the need to reapply. A conventional lotion, on the other hand, tends to give quicker surface absorption (thanks to that water content) and a light finish, but needs reapplication sooner as the water evaporates and the effect wears off. In essence, lotion is great for a quick fix, while tallow balm offers deeper, enduring moisturisation for those who need serious nourishment.
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Nourishment & Skin Benefits: Beyond basic hydration, tallow balm feeds the skin. The naturally occurring vitamins in tallow (like A, D, and E) act like a multivitamin for your skin, supporting healing and promoting a healthy glow from within. The fatty acids in tallow actively help strengthen the skin barrier, which not only keeps moisture in but also keeps irritants out.
Conventional moisturisers, by comparison, are usually focused on hydration alone. Some may add synthetic vitamins or antioxidants, but often in smaller amounts and artificial forms. Tallow’s edge is that it moisturises and nourishes in one step, whereas a typical store lotion might moisturise but offer little in terms of natural nutrition for your skin cells.
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Skin Compatibility: Tallow balm is generally well-tolerated even by sensitive skin. With no perfumes, no dyes, and no harsh chemicals, it’s often a relief for people whose skin reacts to every new product. In fact, many folks with eczema or conditions like topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) turn to plain tallow as one of the few things their skin can agree with. Tallow is also considered non-comedogenic for most people (meaning it doesn’t clog pores easily) due to its purity and similarity to skin oils. Of course, everyone’s skin is unique – someone with very oily, acne-prone skin should patch test to see how tallow works for them (because even natural oils can occasionally trigger breakouts in some individuals).
By and large, though, the absence of common irritants in tallow balm (no preservatives, no artificial fragrance) makes it a soothing choice for troubled skin. Traditional moisturisers vary widely in compatibility. Many are formulated to be non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic too, but if you pick one with heavy fillers or fragrances, sensitive or acne-prone skin might still react. It’s not unusual for people to find that switching from a complex lotion to a simple tallow balm results in calmer, happier skin with fewer redness or irritation issues – largely due to the omission of unnecessary chemicals.
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Absorption & Finish: If you’re used to light lotions, the feel of tallow balm is different but pleasantly so. It starts as a thick balm, but melts with your body heat and sinks in after a few minutes. Properly applied, a good tallow balm shouldn’t leave you feeling greasy once absorbed – just comfortably moisturised with a slight protective layer. In contrast, many water-based creams give you that instant dry-to-the-touch feel (thanks to volatile silicones or powders in the formula), which is nice for not feeling oily, but it can be deceiving – sometimes a lotion only feels like it’s gone because the water evaporated.
Tallow’s absorption might take a tad longer, but it pays off by actually integrating with your skin’s natural oils and fortifying the skin barrier for longer periods. Think of it as the difference between a quick snack and a hearty meal for your skin – one gives instant gratification, the other provides lasting nourishment.
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Shelf Life Additives: As mentioned earlier, tallow balms contain no water, so they naturally resist spoilage and can last a long time without preservatives. Most can sit in your cupboard for months (even years) and remain perfectly usable, especially if they also include antioxidant ingredients like vitamin E or rosemary extract to keep the fats fresh.
Commercial moisturisers, on the other hand, must include chemical preservatives to remain safe on the shelf, since their high water content would otherwise invite bacteria. For those trying to minimise exposure to certain chemicals (like parabens or formaldehyde-releasing agents often used as preservatives), choosing a formulation that doesn’t need them – like tallow balm – is a huge plus.
Benefits for Dry, Sensitive, or Eczema-Prone Skin
One of the biggest reasons people are drawn to tallow balm is because of how gentle and supportive it is for problem skin. If you have dry, sensitive, or eczema-prone skin, you know that maintaining a healthy skin barrier is key. When the skin’s barrier is compromised (as is often the case in eczema or very dry skin), moisture escapes easily and irritants can get in, leading to redness, itching, and flare-ups. Tallow balm directly helps with this by replenishing the barrier with the very lipids it’s made of. The fatty acids in tallow literally give your skin the building blocks it needs to repair cracks and lock in moisture. Over time, using tallow can lead to stronger, more resilient skin that is less prone to irritation.
Many users report that stubborn dry patches and eczema spots improve when they switch to tallow-based care. In fact, a small study found that a moisturiser containing beef tallow significantly improved symptoms in people with eczema and psoriasis. The reasoning is simple: tallow doesn’t just cover up dryness, it actively heals the moisture barrier. And because it’s so plain and natural, there’s very little in it to cause irritation either. For a child with eczema or a person with allergies, a jar of unscented tallow balm can be a lifesaver when even the “sensitive” commercial creams sting.
It’s also worth noting that tallow balm is rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and vitamins that can soothe irritated skin. While more research is ongoing, traditional wisdom and plenty of anecdotal evidence suggest tallow can calm inflammation and even has mild antimicrobial properties that help prevent infection in cracked, rashy skin. All of this makes tallow balm an excellent choice for those with conditions like eczema, dermatitis, rosacea, or simply very reactive skin that flares up with conventional products.
Tips for Switching to Natural Skincare with Tallow
If you’re intrigued by tallow balm and ready to give this natural moisturiser a go, here are some helpful tips to ensure a smooth transition:
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Patch Test First: Whenever you introduce a new product – even an all-natural one – it’s wise to do a patch test. Apply a small amount of tallow balm on a discrete area of skin (like your inner forearm) and wait 24 hours to check for any reaction. Adverse reactions are rare with pure tallow, but it’s always good to be sure, especially if you have known skin sensitivities.
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Start with Clean, Damp Skin: Tallow balm is best applied to clean skin. After washing your face or showering, pat your skin until it’s just slightly damp. Applying the balm on damp (not dripping wet) skin helps it spread more easily and lock in that hydration. Your pores are also open from the warmth of water, which can aid absorption.
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Use a Pea-Sized Amount (Really!): A common mistake is using too much. Tallow balm is very concentrated, so you don’t need a big dollop. Start with a pea-sized amount for your face or a small fingertip scoop for larger areas. Scoop it out and warm it between your fingertips until it softens into an oil – this only takes a few seconds. That little bit will usually be enough to cover the area; you can always take more if needed.
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Gently Massage It In: Take your time to massage the balm into the skin using circular motions. This not only ensures even coverage but also boosts circulation, helping the nutrients absorb. Initially, your skin might look a tad shiny, but give it a few minutes. The balm will soak in, especially if your skin was thirsty to begin with. Any slight sheen that remains is a protective layer – not a greasy mess like you might get with mineral oil.
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Adjust As Needed: Pay attention to how your skin responds over the first week or two. If you find the balm is not absorbing fully or feels too heavy, you might be applying more than your skin needs – try using a smaller amount, or save tallow for night-time use and use a lighter product in the morning. On the other hand, if your skin is drinking it up and still feeling dry, don’t be afraid to reapply a bit more in the evening or target those extra dry spots (elbows, knees, eczema patches) with a thicker layer. Part of the joy of natural skincare is learning what your skin wants, and everyone is a little different.
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Be Patient and Consistent: Give your skin a couple of weeks to adjust if you’re switching from a synthetic product. You might notice immediate benefits (many do), but even if it’s subtle at first, consistency is key. Using tallow balm daily – even twice daily for very dry skin – will yield cumulative benefits as your skin’s barrier gradually strengthens. Remember, you’re nourishing your skin on a deeper level, so the results are often a healthy, lasting glow rather than a quick cosmetic fix.
- Store It Right: Although tallow balms are quite hardy, it’s best to keep the jar in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight (like a cabinet). This preserves those natural vitamins and prevents any melting in summer months. Because there are no preservatives, you’ll also want to use clean, dry fingers or a little spoon to scoop out the balm to avoid introducing any germs or water into the jar.
By following these tips, you’ll set yourself up for success in your journey into natural, chemical-free skincare. Switching to a product like Bloom Tallow’s lamb tallow balm can be a refreshing change for your skin – one that simplifies your routine and lets you truly nourish your skin instead of just coating it.
Embrace the Natural Difference
In a world full of fancy lotions and high-tech creams, tallow balm stands out as a back-to-basics natural moisturiser that just works. It’s a reminder that sometimes, simple traditional remedies can hold their own against modern formulations – and even surpass them for certain needs. While conventional water-based moisturisers certainly have their place (and can be lovely for a quick lightweight fix or targeted treatment), there’s something very comforting about a balm that delivers pure, old-fashioned nourishment without any unnecessary chemicals.
For New Zealanders seeking chemical-free skincare options, tallow balm offers a connection to nature and a gentler approach to caring for our skin. Whether you have a new baby with sensitive skin, you’re dealing with winter dryness and eczema, or you just love the idea of using wholesome, NZ-made ingredients on your body, tallow balm is worth a try. Its rich fatty acids and vitamins help support your skin barrier rather than disrupt it, and its minimalist formula means you’re giving your skin only what it needs, and nothing it doesn’t.
In the end, the choice between tallow balm and a conventional moisturiser comes down to what you value in your skincare. If you crave simplicity, deep nourishment, and a product that works with your skin’s natural processes, tallow balm might just become your new go-to. It’s skincare that doesn’t just make your skin feel good for an hour, but truly helps it be good – calm, hydrated, and resilient. And perhaps the best part is knowing that in that little jar of creamy balm, every ingredient is there to love your skin. That’s a difference you can feel, and it’s why tallow balm has earned its place as a beloved natural alternative for so many people.