While the world of skincare is full of trends and “fancy” ingredients, I choose each ingredient with intention—and just as importantly, I leave many out on purpose.
Here are some common ingredients you won’t find in my tallow-based products—and exactly why they don’t belong:
1. Honey
I love raw honey for its natural healing benefits—but not in oil-based skincare.
Here’s why:
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Honey contains up to 18% water
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Water and fat don’t mix without an emulsifier
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And when there’s water, you must use a preservative to prevent mold and bacteria
Unless properly preserved (and third-party tested), honey in oil-based products is a microbial risk. Many brands using honey don’t disclose how they preserve it—so I just don’t go there.
2. Magnesium
Magnesium is fantastic as a supplement or in a bath soak—but not in a tallow balm.
Why?
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Magnesium is water-soluble, not oil-soluble
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It won’t properly mix with fat-based products without an emulsifier
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And again, that means needing a preservative to keep things stable
I keep water out of my formulations entirely, so magnesium doesn’t belong in my jars.
3. Zinc Oxide
This one comes up a lot because people ask about SPF in tallow.
But here’s the truth:
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Zinc oxide doesn’t mix well with fat—it settles unless chemically stabilized
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You’d need an emulsifier + preservative to make it shelf-stable
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Sunscreens are legally considered drugs—you can’t sell them without FDA-approved testing to verify the SPF rating
So unless you’ve seen third-party SPF testing, it’s not a sunscreen—and shouldn’t be sold as one.
4. Fresh Herbs & Vanilla Beans
Fresh plants may sound lovely, but they contain moisture—and that can introduce mold.
Here’s what I use instead:
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Only dried herbs and botanicals that are properly cured
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If I use vanilla beans, I dehydrate them myself for several days to remove all moisture before infusing them into oils
Water is the enemy of shelf stability—and I don’t take shortcuts.
5. Essential Oils or Fragrance
Even though I love aromatherapy and love the healing potential of essential oils—I don’t use them in my tallow products.
Why?
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Many essential oils are not safe for babies
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They can trigger reactions in sensitive or eczema-prone skin
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Some can actually worsen acne
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And fragrance (even "natural") is a common skin irritant
Instead, I slow-infuse dried herbs and botanicals into organic oils for gentle, skin-loving benefits—no scent necessary.
6. Preservatives
I dry render my USDA Organic, grass-fed + finished suet slowly and carefully—no water, no moisture, no additives. That means there’s no need for synthetic preservatives.
Every jar is:
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Small batch
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Water-free
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Hand-poured
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And crafted with the goal of being as clean, stable, and gentle as possible.
Just because an ingredient is trendy doesn’t mean it belongs in your skincare—especially if it compromises safety, shelf life, or skin sensitivity. I make each product from scratch with ingredients I fully trust—and I leave out the rest.