Tallow Choice Guide: Which Etti Soap Tallow Product Is Right for You?

If you have been hearing the word "tallow" everywhere in skincare lately, you are not imagining it. Rendered beef fat has been used to nourish skin for centuries, and it is having a well-deserved comeback. As a former science teacher who formulates every Etti Soap recipe myself, here is what convinced me.

Not all tallow is equal. I work with suet, the hard, clean fat from around the cow's kidneys. This is the fat traditional soapmakers and cooks have prized for generations, because it renders into the purest, mildest tallow. And it is naturally rich in the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, the very vitamins your skin thrives on.

Here is the part that made me a believer: tallow's fatty acid profile is remarkably close to the oils our own skin produces. That is why it feels so natural going on. It melts in instead of sitting on top of the skin, and a little goes a very long way. No long ingredient list, no fillers. Just rich, simple skincare, handmade in small batches here in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

I make tallow products in two forms: whipped creams and soap bars. Here is a simple guide to choosing between them.

Whipped Tallow Creams

My whipped tallow creams start with grass-fed tallow whipped with jojoba oil and apricot kernel oil into a light, fluffy cream. No long ingredient list, no fillers. Just rich, simple skincare, handmade in small batches here in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Three options:

• Face Cream (2 oz), $25 — a little jar that lasts a surprisingly long time. For your daily facial moisture, morning and night. Comes in Unscented, Lavender & Frankincense, and Palm Vanilla.
• All-Over Cream (4 oz), $40 — the same whipped formula in a bigger jar, made for daily full-body moisture. If your legs, arms, and hands are always dry, this is your jar. Comes in Unscented, Lavender & Frankincense, Palm Vanilla, and Goat Milk, Honey & Oatmeal.
• Cooling Menthol Tallow Foot Cream (2.5 oz), $30 — tallow cream with cooling menthol for temporary relief of tired legs, feet, and achy muscles. Lovely after a long day on your feet or a tough workout.

How to choose your scent: If your skin is easily irritated or you simply prefer no fragrance, start with Unscented. Lavender & Frankincense is calming and lovely before bed. Palm Vanilla is warm and cozy, a customer favorite in the cooler months. Goat Milk, Honey & Oatmeal (All-Over size only) is the most nourishing-feeling of the bunch, combining tallow with three classic skin soothers.

How to use: A little goes a long way. Warm a pea-sized amount between your fingertips and press it into slightly damp skin, morning and night. On the body, apply right after your shower while skin is still warm. The menthol foot cream goes on legs and feet whenever they need relief.

Tallow Soap Bars

Prefer your tallow in soap form? I make several tallow and honey bars, each around 4.5 to 5 oz, hand-cut:

• The Blushing Sister, $15 — tallow and honey with juicy mango and creamy coconut, plus kaolin clay for a silky feel, finished with a honeycomb design detail.
• The White Mountains, $15 — unscented tallow and honey bar. Nothing but gentle cleansing, a simple and gentle choice for very sensitive skin or anyone avoiding fragrance entirely.
• Farmhouse Style, $15 — tallow and honey bar scented with lavender, lemongrass, and cedarwood. Rustic and refreshing.

And for those sensitive to coconut oil, I make two coconut-free tallow soaps (both limited edition, available while stock lasts):

• Wildflower Whispers, $12 — coconut-free tallow soap with a delicate wildflower floral fragrance.
• Smell the Rainbow, $12 — coconut-free tallow soap with a sweet fruity fragrance. Only the last few bars remain.

If you are new to tallow, the 2 oz face cream in Unscented is the gentlest place to start. Many of my customers pair a tallow bar in the shower with a cream after.

You can find the whole tallow collection at ettisoap.com. And if you are ever unsure which product fits your skin, just ask me. I love helping you find your match.

Warmly,
Ester (Etti)
Founder, Etti Soap