Choosing Tallow for Skincare

There’s something almost reverent about tending to the skin with ingredients the body recognizes. Whole, unbothered, gathered with care. When it comes to tallow, not all renderings are created equal. The source deeply matters.

In this journal entry, we’ll walk together through what to look for when choosing tallow for your skin, and why at SALTF0LK we only use grass-fed, grass-finished, certified organic suet from ethically raised cows on clean pastures.

WHY GRASS-FED AND GRASS-FINISHED MATTERS

Cows are natural grazers. They are built to roam, nibble, and slowly digest wild grasses and pasture plants. When they are raised this way, their fat (suet) produces tallow rich in:

  • Omega-3 fatty acids (anti-inflammatory and healing)

  • Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) (supports cellular regeneration)

  • Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12

But if cows are fed a diet of corn, soy, or grain, especially in the final stages of life, their fat composition shifts. It becomes disproportionately high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can be inflammatory in excess and counterproductive when used topically, particularly for those with sensitive, acne-prone, or inflamed skin.

Think of it this way: the cow’s diet becomes your skin’s diet, too.

WHY ORGANIC IS MORE THAN A LABEL

Even if a cow is grass-fed, that grass can be heavily treated with pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. Since fat stores toxins, a non-organic tallow may carry fat-soluble residues that don’t belong anywhere near any skin, but especially not the delicate skin of the face, neck, or babies.

This is why organic sourcing is essential. It’s not just about clean eating. It’s about clean rendering, clean absorption, and clean results.

At SALTF0LK, we source only organic, grass-fed + grass-finished suet from ranches that never treat their pastures with synthetic chemicals. The tallow we use is pure, golden, and balanced as nature intended.

ETHICALLY RAISED, LOVINGLY RENDERED

We believe the relationship between land, animal, and human should be one of mutual care and deep respect. That’s why we source from small U.S. farms that:

  • Treat their animals humanely

  • Avoid feedlots and confinement

  • Rotate pastures and nourish the land

  • Never use hormones or unnecessary antibiotics

And when it’s time to render, we do so slowly and gently in small batches, preserving the nutritional integrity and sacred quality of the fat.

TL/DR POST SUMMARY

When sourcing or selecting a tallow-based skincare product, ask these questions:

Is it from grass-fed and grass-finished cows?
Is it certified organic?
Is it sustainably and ethically sourced?
Was it rendered in small batches, not industrial vats?

FROM OUR HOMESTEAD TO YOUR SKIN

Every jar is made with intention and respect, created to give you the assurance that you are feeding your skin the most nutritious blend of earth and sea. No compromises, only vitality. 

With love,
from the Homestead

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