This tallow lotion recipe makes a light, non greasy lotion that is so much fun to use. You can even use it in a pump bottle.
Tallow lotion
For me, tallow balm will always be the clear winner when it comes to tallow skincare products. You just can’t beat how pure it is, and how well it works for any skincare need (source).
Learn more here where I share what makes tallow so amazing for skin in the ultimate guide to tallow skin care. I also show how to make tallow balm here.
You could say I am slightly obsessed with tallow. I have so much fun coming up with all sorts of skincare products using tallow, and I have quite a collection already, including scrubs, lip balm, salves, sunscreen, shaving cream, diaper rash cream, lotion bars, and more.
Even though tallow balm is incredible, I really wanted to try and come up with a true tallow lotion, just for the fun of it. I wanted something light and non greasy, like my shea butter lotion, but made with tallow. And, I wanted something you could use in a pump bottle.
After scouring the internet, I discovered that, to my knowledge, nobody else has come up with a tallow lotion recipe like this.
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A fun way to use tallow for skin
After blending and emulsifying and experimenting, I finally came up with a true tallow lotion recipe that does everything I wanted.
This lotion is lighter than tallow balm, and acts just like a traditional lotion on the skin. It absorbs right in without a greasy after feeling.
If you’re looking for the best ever DIY face moisturizer, check out my tallow face cream recipe here.
The ingredients you’ll need
Normally, I like to keep things as pure, simple, and natural as possible, and use something like beeswax to emulsify. That’s what I do in my shea butter lotion and my magnesium lotion recipes, and it always works great.
In my experimenting and designing this recipe, I discovered that beeswax doesn’t work for emulsifying tallow lotion. In order to make this work, I have to stay a little bit from my normally high standards of using only edible skincare ingredients.
I ended up needing to use an emulsifying wax and some stearic acid, just like many homemade lotion recipes call for. Now, in the whole scheme of things, this isn’t really a horrible compromise, and the end product still ends up being way more pure and natural than most commercial natural lotions.
I just had the add that disclaimer here, since this recipe does deviate a little from my normal way of doing things. But, this recipe is just for fun, and like I said, it really isn’t a huge compromise.
The emulsifying wax makes the emulsifying process foolproof. Tallow does naturally contain stearic acid already, but in my experiments, the batches of lotion that turned out the best all contained additional stearic acid.
Tallow lotion recipe directions
Ingredients (by weight):
- 5.6 oz. distilled water
- 0.4 oz. stearic acid
- 0.4 oz. emulsifying wax
- 0.76 oz. grass fed tallow
- 0.76 liquid oil, such as jojoba, olive, etc.
- 24 drops preservative
- 48 or more drops essential oil
Instructions:
- Weigh tallow, oil, emulsifying wax, and stearic acid and place in the top of a double boiler.
- Allow ingredients to fully melt and combine.
- Remove tallow mixture from heat and put mixture in a glass pitcher.
- Slowly pour in water into tallow mixture in a thin stream, while whisking constantly.
- Keep whisking while mixture thickens.
- Add preservative and essential oils, and whisk to combine.
- Pour into container of choice. Lotion will continue to thicken as it cools.
Keeping tallow lotion fresh and shelf stable
Since this recipe does contain water, you do need a preservative. You can use something more natural, like Optiphen Plus. That’s what I normally use when I need a preservative.
Another preservative option is Phenonip, although it is a little less natural than the first option. Phenonip is what is commonly used in homemade lotion recipes.
The choice is up to you. I have’t had a batch of lotion mold or go bad with either preservative.
Also, it’s important to use tallow that is of good quality and properly rendered. I cover all of the details here where I show how to render tallow.
Have fun customizing your lotion
One of the most fun things about making your own body products is that you get to decide what they smell like. I only use essential oils to scent my products. They are pure and natural, and have beneficial properties of their own.
My favorite way to come up with gorgeous scents for my homemade personal care products is to use a pre made seasonal blend from Plant Therapy and add some vanilla to it. It smells so good!
Another way I love to use tallow is as a deep conditioning treatment for my hair. Read all about how I use tallow for hair here.
More tallow skincare recipes
Tinted lip balm with tallow and honey
What do you like to make with tallow?
Share your favorite ways to use tallow in the comments!
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Organic, 100% grass fed tallow
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Check out the Bumblebee Apothecary Shop here.
Want to grab some labels for your homemade skincare?
I’ve done all the hard work for you with this set of 30 printable skincare product labels. All the recipes are included on the back labels, too! Get your set of printable skincare product labels here.
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Tallow Lotion Recipe Light, Non Greasy
This tallow lotion recipe makes a light, non greasy lotion that is so much fun to use. You can even use it in a pump bottle.
Ingredients
- 5.6 oz. distilled water
- 0.4 oz. stearic acid
- 0.4 oz. emulsifying wax
- 0.76 oz. grass fed tallow
- 0.76 liquid oil, such as olive, jojoba, etc.
- 24 drops preservative
- 48 or more drops essential oil
Instructions
- Weigh tallow, oil, emulsifying wax, and stearic acid and place in the top of a double boiler.
- Allow ingredients to fully melt and combine.
- Remove tallow mixture from heat and put mixture in a glass pitcher.
- Slowly pour in water into tallow mixture in a thin stream, while whisking constantly.
- Keep whisking while mixture thickens.
- Add preservative and essential oils, and whisk to combine.
- Pour into container of choice. Lotion will continue to thicken as it cools.
Notes
All ingredients are by weight.
