Moisturize, Hydrate, and Feed Your Skin Naturally with Tallow Balm
For thousands of years, soaps and salves were made from grass-fed tallow (rendered animal fat). Tallow even made the precious commodities of soaps and candles for our homesteading forefathers. At the time, all tallow was grass fed because GMO feed, antibiotics, and synthetic hormones simply didn't exist. It wasn't until the beginning of the 20th century that tallow was becoming replaced with hydrogenated vegetable oils due to the rising vegetarian movement, and tallow lost meaning in our vocabulary.
Unfortunately, due to compounding factors in diet, skincare, and hectic lifestyles, we have seen a rise in health issues including degenerative skin conditions, skin cancers, and dry skin in general. However, while we find that synthetic detergents and artificial fragrance harm the skin, vegetable soaps don't necessarily benefit the skin, either. Vegetable soaps don't have the same skin repairing and moisturizing benefits that our tallow-based soaps do. Looking back to how our forefathers lived, we can clearly see that the healing benefit of tallow comes from that which is grass and organically fed.
Since tallow comes from an animal, it contains the same ratio of saturated fats to monosaturated fats as humans. This makes the tallow absorb quickly into our skin as nourishment without feeling greasy, heavy, or gooey. It has a natural feel because it's just like our oils on a molecular level, and it's non-comedogenic (doesn't clog pores). However, the source of our tallow is very important. Tallow from modern day cattle will be lacking in many essential nutrients as well as contain many man-made toxins which are found in non-organically raised animals such as pesticides, antibiotics, artificial hormones, and their metabolic by-products. It is not carefully selected, but rather, it comes from the offal from slaughterhouses, which then undergoes pulverization, steam-heating, refining, bleaching, and deodorizing with the final addition of chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and propyl gallate. By sourcing grass-fed and grass-finished tallow, we ensure that we have the highest nutritionally available tallow. Grass-fed tallow contains a better mineral and micronutrient profile, including higher levels of vitamins. For example, grass-fed tallow has 4x more vitamin E than its conventionally grain-fed counterpart. Grass-fed tallow was found to have three to five times more conjugated linoleic acid, which is anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory, as well as palmitoleic acid, which has natural antimicrobial properties. A 2006 study on fats shows that CLA has significant anti-cancer effects, and that supplying tallow increased those effects due its palmitic acid, another fatty acid.
What are the main nutritional BENEFITS of tallow?
* Tallow is easily absorbed by your skin! If you feel greasy then you are using too much. A little goes a long way! * An amazing vitamin profile- Vitamins A, D, E, and K that you can only find in an animal oil. Put them together with our plant oils and you have a match made in heaven. * The fatty acid profile- These fatty acids are found naturally in youthful and glowing skin and tend to decline as we age. * Palmitic Acid- Protects skin from the environment and smooths. * Omega 7 (Palmitoleic Acid)- Anti-Microbial. * CLA-Anti-inflammatory benefits; Calms inflamed skin and kills bacteria. * Stearic Acid- found in our own oils, this amazing fatty acid brings moisture to the skin, softens, rejuvenates and has anti-inflammatory properties. Helps with collagen and elastin. * Omega 9 (Oleic Acid)- Awesome carrier to the other oils and helps penetrate these nutrients deep into the skin.
We offer organic coconut oil in our balm. Coconut is rich in anti-oxidant vitamin E, making it an excellent carrier oil for anti-aging skin-healing serums. In addition, coconut is rich in medium-chain triglyceride lauric acid, which makes it one of the healthiest oils for the skin. While helping fade away age spots, coconut is good at strengthening the skin against cellulite, eliminating keratosis pillars and fading stretch marks. In addition, it is a natural sun blocker, so this oil helps to protect your skin against sun damage.
Combine tallow with coconut oil and essential oils and you have the best skincare product you can find on the market. Pick up a jar at The Apothecary at American Farm and Larder today. Order a jar or take a look at all of our products at Amy's Farm in the produce stand. Our product list is located on the Apothecary page!
