Tallow for skin might sound like an old-fashioned remedy, but this natural ingredient is making a comeback in modern skincare – and for good reason. Tallow (especially grass-fed lamb tallow) is a nutrient-rich fat traditionally used to moisturise and protect the skin. In this post, we’ll explore what tallow is, why it’s a natural skincare hero (especially for those of us in NZ), and how it compares to conventional moisturisers. We’ll also share why we at Bloom Tallow choose lamb tallow balm as the star ingredient in our products, and why your skin has been craving this ancestral skincare remedy all along.
What Is Tallow?
Tallow is a pure, rendered animal fat – in our case, lamb suet sourced from New Zealand sheep. Rendering is the process of slowly heating raw fat (such as the suet from around an animal’s kidneys) to remove moisture and impurities. The result is a clean, shelf-stable fat that solidifies at room temperature. This creamy, pale substance has been used for centuries in cooking, candle-making, and notably in skincare as a base for soaps and balms.
Traditional cultures knew the value of tallow for skin. Historical records show that animal fats like tallow were key ingredients in ointments and soaps from the Bronze Age through to the Middle Ages. Before fancy lotions existed, people would moisturise with simple blends of rendered fat to protect their skin. Lamb tallow (from sheep) is very similar to the more commonly known beef tallow – both are rich in skin-friendly fatty acids. Lamb tallow in particular has a light, balmy texture when whipped, and (when properly rendered) carries only a mild, neutral scent.
Because tallow is an animal-derived ingredient, quality matters. We use grass-fed lamb tallow from local NZ farms, meaning the sheep graze on pasture and produce a clean, nutrient-dense fat. Grass-fed tallow tends to have a higher nutrient content, including more beneficial fatty acids like CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and vitamins from the animals’ natural diet. In short, tallow is a pure, traditional ingredient that connects modern skincare with nature and ancestral wisdom.
Benefits of Tallow for Skin
Why put tallow on your skin? The benefits of tallow for skin are numerous, especially if you struggle with dryness or sensitivity. Tallow is incredibly gentle yet deeply nourishing. Here are some of the top skin benefits of lamb tallow:
- Deep Moisturisation for Dry Skin: Tallow is a rich emollient that softens and hydrates even the driest skin. Its lipid profile closely mimics the oils in our own skin, allowing it to absorb easily and moisturise effectively. In fact, tallow’s fatty acids are so compatible with human sebum that they can penetrate deeply to restore lost moisture without leaving a heavy, greasy film. The result is long-lasting hydration and relief for rough, flaky skin.
- Soothing Eczema and Inflammation: If you have eczema-prone or irritated skin, tallow could be a game-changer. Dermatologists note that tallow’s natural, lipid-rich composition makes it an effective moisturiser and healing agent for eczema-prone skin. It’s packed with anti-inflammatory components and antioxidants that can calm redness and inflammation. Many customers report that tallow balms help soothe eczema patches and even conditions like psoriasis, thanks to its gentle, calming fats.
- Gentle for Sensitive Skin: Tallow contains no mystery chemicals – it’s just pure, natural fat. This means it’s well-tolerated by most skin types, even babies’ delicate skin. Its biocompatibility with our skin (sharing a similar fatty acid structure) makes it less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions. Tallow balm is often recommended for people with sensitive or reactive skin who struggle with commercial products. It provides the nourishment without the burn or stinging that harsh chemicals can cause.
- Nutrient-Rich and Bioavailable: Lamb tallow isn’t just inert oil; it’s a whole-food skin supplement. It naturally contains vitamins A, D, E, and K, plus vitamin B12 and essential fatty acids that feed your skin. These nutrients are bioavailable – meaning your skin can readily use them – unlike some synthetic additives in lotions. Vitamin A and D support skin repair and regeneration, while vitamin E provides antioxidant protection. The omega and conjugated linoleic fatty acids in tallow help strengthen the skin barrier and retain moisture. In essence, tallow delivers the kind of nourishment your skin recognises and knows how to use.
All these benefits add up to one thing: healthier, happier skin. By mimicking our skin’s natural oils and replenishing vital nutrients, tallow helps restore balance. Dry, cracked skin becomes supple; red, angry skin is soothed; and sensitive skin stays calm. It’s no exaggeration to say tallow is a multi-tasking skincare hero – providing moisture, protection, and healing in one simple ingredient.
Tallow vs. Chemical Moisturisers
How does a simple tallow balm stack up against the lotions and creams you find at the chemist? The difference is night and day. Natural tallow balms offer a purity and compatibility that most conventional moisturisers just can’t match. Let’s compare:
- Simple, Whole Ingredients vs. Long Chemical Lists: Pick up a typical water-based moisturiser, and you’ll see a long list of ingredients – many of them synthetic. Most standard lotions are 60-70% water, blended with emulsifiers, preservatives, and stabilisers to create a nice texture. They often include petroleum-derived ingredients (like mineral oil or petrolatum) to form a moisture barrier, plus synthetic fragrances and silicones. By contrast, tallow balms are made of whole, natural ingredients you can count on one hand. There’s no water in a true tallow balm, so it doesn’t require preservatives or heavy emulsifiers to stay fresh. For example, our Bloom lamb tallow balm contains just pure tallow and perhaps a touch of beeswax or essential oil – nothing more. Fewer ingredients mean fewer chances for irritation and no unnecessary fillers.
- Bioavailable Nourishment vs. Synthetic Additives: Conventional creams might advertise added vitamins or plant extracts, but these are often present in tiny amounts, or in forms the skin struggles to use. They mainly coat the surface with silicones or mineral oil to make the skin feel smooth, without truly nourishing it. Tallow, on the other hand, is naturally rich in the same kinds of fatty acids and vitamins that our skin’s sebum contains. There’s nothing artificial about it. The nutrients in grass-fed tallow (vitamins A, D, E, K and antioxidants like CLA) are readily absorbed to feed skin cells. Instead of a temporary fix, tallow helps repair and strengthen your skin’s barrier, leading to improved hydration and resilience over time.
- No Harsh Chemicals or Preservatives: Because mainstream lotions contain water, they must use chemical preservatives (parabens, phenoxyethanol, etc.) to prevent bacteria growth. They may also include alcohols, artificial fragrance, and other additives that can dry or irritate sensitive skin. Tallow balms are refreshingly chemical-free – no preservatives needed when there’s no water, and no fragrance needed when the base ingredients are pure and mild. This makes tallow an ideal choice for those avoiding endocrine disruptors and unnecessary chemicals in their routine. It’s skincare simplified.
- Long-Lasting Moisture vs. Short-Term Hydration: Ever notice how you need to reapply conventional lotion constantly? That’s partly because the water in it evaporates off, and the light oils don’t stay put. Tallow provides a more occlusive, protective layer that locks in moisture for much longer. It doesn’t just sit on top of the skin, it integrates with the skin’s oils. Many people find they need to apply tallow balm less frequently than their old cream – a little goes a long way. In fact, because tallow is so concentrated and effective, over time you may find your skin requires less product overall, as its natural moisture balance improves.
In summary, using a tallow balm is like giving your skin real food versus processed snacks. It’s natural skincare NZ can be proud of – free of the common irritants and empty fillers found in mass-market products. Instead of fighting your skin’s biology with chemicals, tallow works with your skin, replenishing what modern life and products strip away. Once you make the switch, you’ll wonder why we ever relied on those blue-tinted, perfumed lotions at all!
Why Bloom Tallow Uses Lamb Tallow
At Bloom Tallow, lamb tallow is the heart of everything we do. We believe this humble, traditional ingredient is the key to truly healthy skin. Here’s why we choose grass-fed lamb tallow as our star ingredient:
- Ethical, Local Sourcing: All our tallow is sourced from grass-fed New Zealand sheep, supporting local farmers and sustainable practices. We take what would otherwise be a wasted byproduct of farming and give it new life as skincare. This whole-animal approach is eco-friendly and respects the animal by utilising its nourishing fat for our balms. By focusing on lamb tallow, which is readily available from NZ’s free-range sheep industry, we ensure a supply chain that is ethical, traceable and close to home.
- Superior Nutrient Profile: We use only grass-fed lamb tallow because it’s nutritionally superior. Grass-fed tallow is higher in beneficial fatty acids and vitamins (thanks to the animals’ natural diet and sunlight) than grain-fed alternatives. That means each jar of our balm is packed with skin-loving nutrients – from vitamin A for cell renewal to CLA for inflammation – all naturally occurring. We gently render the tallow at low heat to preserve these nutrients, and we never bleach or deodorise it with chemicals. The result is a golden, pure tallow that’s as close to its natural state as possible, ensuring maximum goodness for your skin.
- Smooth Texture & Mild Scent: One thing that surprises people new to tallow skincare is how pleasant lamb tallow is to use. Our tallow is luxuriously whipped into a soft, creamy balm that melts upon contact with your skin. Lamb tallow has a light, non-greasy feel once absorbed – it leaves your skin nourished but not shiny. We also find that high-quality lamb tallow has a very mild, clean scent (often barely noticeable). We don’t use any artificial fragrances, so what you smell is just the gentle natural aroma of the ingredients or a hint of essential oils in our scented blends. The sensory experience is pure and simple, in line with our philosophy of no unnecessary additives.
- Purity and Gentleness: Bloom Tallow balms contain 100% natural ingredients, with no fillers or preservatives. This purity is especially important for those with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema and TSW (Topical Steroid Withdrawal). Our lamb tallow balm was born from a personal need – it was originally crafted to help our own family’s skin heal when nothing else worked. Because of that, we ensure every batch is gentle and safe. We add minimal other ingredients (like a bit of New Zealand beeswax or cold-pressed oils) to enhance the balm, but lamb tallow remains the hero. The final product is a jar of nature’s purest remedy for healthy, radiant skin.
Experience the Difference for Yourself
Healthy, glowing skin could be just a swipe of tallow away. If you’re ready to embrace an ancestral skincare approach and ditch the chemical-laden creams, our range of lamb tallow products is a great place to start. Bloom Tallow offers lamb tallow balms that are perfect for face, body, and troubled spots – all handcrafted with the utmost care.
Give your skin the treat it’s been craving by trying a tallow balm in your routine. Your skin will drink up the natural hydration and nutrients, and you’ll finally understand why tallow has stood the test of time as a skincare staple. Dry patches, fine lines, itchy irritation – watch them soften and settle as your skin returns to its happy, nourished state.
Ready to try it out? Explore our full Bloom Tallow collection here, and find the perfect grass-fed lamb tallow balm for your needs. We’re confident that once you do, you’ll love the simplicity and efficacy of tallow for skin. After all, sometimes nature’s oldest remedies really are the best – and your skin will thank you for going back to the basics!