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  • RecipesWe love to create delicious recipes with gut health in mind. By using our recipes, you can easily create any dish knowing that it’s good for gut health! Our recipe blog also includes Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, and Paleo Recipes.
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DIY Tallow Balm Recipe
Miscellaneous Articles

Tallow Balm Recipe for Eczema Relief

Tallow balm is whipped beef fat used as moisturizer. It is biodynamic and wonderful for skin health. Tallow is organically compatible with with our skin, because the fat composition of tallow is similar to human sebum. It locks in moisture and nutrients without clogging your pores. I used tallow balm to help heal my eczema for good, and I’ve continued to use it for six years.

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Recipe Index | Miscellaneous Articles

Tallow Balm Recipe for Eczema Relief

Tallow balm is whipped beef fat used as moisturizer. It is biodynamic and wonderful for skin health. Tallow is organically compatible with with our skin, because the fat composition of tallow is similar to human sebum. It locks in moisture and nutrients without clogging your pores. I used tallow balm to help heal my eczema…

DIY Tallow Balm Recipe

What is Tallow Balm?

Tallow balm is whipped beef fat used as moisturizer. Simply put, it’s a silky smooth moisturizer that helps keep your skin nourished and hydrated! It’s the only moisturizer I currently use, and it was vital to keeping my skin healthy while I healed my eczema naturally. The ingredients are minimal and it’s preservative free… so it’s WONDERFUL for skin and microbiome health.

What are the benefits of tallow balm?

Tallow balm made from the rendered fat of grass fed cows, contains minerals and vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, which are all beneficial for skin health and appearance. Beef fat is organically compatible with with our skin, because the fat composition of tallow is similar to human sebum. It locks in moisture and nutrients without clogging your pores.

a jar of whipped beef fat moisturizer

Beef Tallow Balm

Tallow is balm is made from rendered beef fat. I get my beef fat from our local farm/butcher shop, Iverstiens. Local shops are a more sustainable option because they focus on providing high quality and natural meat products to the local community. They take the best care of their animals and they are VERY transparent about their agriculture practices.

I’ve also used Epic brand tallow to make my tallow balm before and it worked great!

Kaitlynn applying tallow balm in the mirror
Kaitlynn sitting down and apply tallow balm to her face
Kaitlynn sitting down and apply tallow balm to her face

Beef Tallow Face Cream Recipe for Eczema

My skin care routine is pretty simple. You can read the full details about my skin care routine in this blog, where I discuss how I cared for my skin during and after steroid cream withdrawal.

Simplifying my skin care routine had the best impact on my skin health. So now I have a basic rule: If I’d have to call poison control if I ingested a skincare product, I absolutely will not put it on my skin. Plain and simple. I usually use Toups and Co. Organics tallow balm, but it’s way more affordable for me to make my own. We’ve been trying to cut down on our spending a lot this year, and since I use so much of this balm this is a great way for us to save lots of money. It cost me an estimated $1.70 to make my own four ounce jar.

Other Skincare Blogs to Read

  • Natural Ways to Cure Eczema
  • My Natural Eczema Skincare Routine That Healed My Skin
  • My Eczema Diet Plan and The Best Probiotics for Eczema
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DIY Tallow Balm Recipe
Miscellaneous Articles

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 2 reviews

Tallow Balm Recipe for Eczema Relief

Tallow balm is whipped beef fat used as moisturizer. It is biodynamic and wonderful for skin health. Tallow is organically compatible with with our skin, because the fat composition of tallow is similar to human sebum. It locks in moisture and nutrients without clogging your pores. I used tallow balm to help heal my eczema for good, and I’ve continued to use it for six years.

  • Prep: 20 minutes
  • Cook: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

    • 1/2 Cup Grass Fed Tallow
    • 1/4 Cup Organic Cold Pressed Olive Oil
    • Frankincense, Ylang Ylang, Rosehip, and Chamomile Essential Oils (OR any essential oils you prefer, this is just the combo I came up with.)
    • Stand mixer or Electric hand mixer for whipping.

Instructions

  1. In a glass bowl, melt the tallow over a small pot of boiling water.
  2. Once the tallow is melted, let it cool for approximately 10 minutes.
  3. Add in the 1/4 cup of olive oil.
  4. Begin whipping the oil mixture using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer. As the mixture gets back to a cool room temperature it will being to turn white and solidify. The mixing adds air into it so that it’s a spreadable, lotion consistency. I generally have to whip it for about 20 minutes.
  5. Continue to whip the mixture as it solidifies and add in the essential oils. I used 2 drops of each oil listed in the ingredients.
  6. The consistency should look and feel similar to whipped body butter (or like whipped buttercream frosting).
  7. Using a rubber spatula, transfer the whipped tallow balm to a small jar and store it in a cool dark place. I keep mine in my nightstand drawer.
  1.  

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a 5-star review below if you loved it! Tag @cultured.guru on Instagram

 

Nutrition information is auto-calculated and estimated as close as possible. We are not responsible for any errors. We have tested the recipe for accuracy, but your results may vary.

Kaitlynn holding finished tallow balm in the mirror
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Kaitlynn Fenley Author, Educator, Food Microbiologist
Kaitlynn is a food microbiologist and fermentation expert teaching people how to ferment foods and drinks at home.
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hey i’m kaitlynn, i’m a microbiologist and together with my husband jon we are cultured guru.

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  1. Leeritta Christian
    08|29|2020

    Hello I just stumbled across you blog and I’m do thankful that I did! I’ve been up all night researching cause abs cures for eczema. My son has terrible eczema and nothing has helped so far. I will start with changing his diet and healing his gut. But what can I use to soothe his skin? I do not feel that The Eucerin is healing or helping. What type of moisturizer did you use on your body while healing your eczema? Is the tallow only for face?

    Your blog has been extremely informative and helpful during this process. Also, I’m looking forward to trying your kimchee! I hope my 2 year old wil eat it to heal his eczema! ?

    Thank you so much for the info!

    Reply
    1. Kaitlynn Fenley
      08|29|2020

      Hey there, I used Toups and Co.Organics tallow balm for my face and body while healing my own eczema! Glad to hear that the blog posts have been helpful for you!

      Reply
      1. Rachel
        07|19|2022

        Thankyou for recipe. I am going to try on my daughter who has had eczema since she was born and nothing has worked. Healing her gut health is the first priority then this to follow.
        Just wondering how long will this keep for at room temperature ? Will it solidly in cold weather…currently wintertime here in Australia.

        Reply
        1. Kaitlynn Fenley
          07|19|2022

          It keeps for at least 6 months… I usually use the whole amount this recipe makes in about that time. Since it is whipped, it will become more firm at cold temperatures, but it will keep it’s light spreadable texture.

          Reply
  2. Melissa
    12|06|2020

    Hi, thanks for all of the info on your website, it’s very helpful. My daughter has moderate to severe eczema and we’ve of course been through the whole range of eczema lotions. We’ve been using the take you recommend, but since she’s 4 and this goes on her entire body, we have been going through it at an unsustainable rate. I’m going to make a batch myself using your recipe (without essential oils because they can be irritating for her) and I’m wondering if you have experimented using other oils to prepare this. The reason I ask, is that when she was a baby, adding safflower oil to her bath was soothing for her skin. At the time I recall reading that it has particular attributes that may be helpful to eczema. Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Kaitlynn Fenley
      12|07|2020

      Hey there! I have not experimented with any other oils. This is the only recipe I’ve made. You’re welcome to experiment with safflower oil, but that’s up to you, and I don’t know how it will turn out. I assume if the oil consistency is similar to olive oil the balm texture should come out fine.

      I only write about my own, personal eczema healing journey, and my own experience with products here. I do not provide personalized instruction or recommendations on how to treat other’s eczema.

      Reply
      1. Melissa
        12|08|2020

        Thanks for your reply! I know how problematic it can be sharing eczema treatments. Everyone reacts differently and I thank you for sharing what worked for you, even if it doesn’t wind up working for us. Thanks again!

        Reply
  3. Penny
    02|14|2021

    This is an excellent article. Thank you for sharing your journal Kaitlynn. I am a licensed Manicurist/Pedicurist having several clients with psoriasis &/or eczema. Finding treatments for them has been an amazing journey. Just recently stumbling across Tallow is an exciting adventure in itself. There are many carrier oils that help with inflammation and pain, one of them being Hemp Seed oil. Just want to share food for thought…Edens Garden Essential Oil company has a phenomenal bank of information on their carrier oils.

    Reply
    1. Kaitlynn Fenley
      02|15|2021

      Thank you and you are welcome! I’ve heard a lot of good things about hemp seed oil. Thanks for the tips!

      Reply
  4. Stacey
    08|29|2021

    Helpful recipe! Thank for sharing. I’ve started making my tallow but wondering if the microwaving of the tallow to heat it up will destroy the structure of any of beneficial ingredients?

    Reply
    1. Kaitlynn Fenley
      09|09|2021

      I’m unsure how microwaving influences the structures of the beneficial fats in the tallow. If you have any aversion to microwaving, just heat it up using the double boiler method.

      Reply
  5. Brittany
    11|26|2022

    I rendered my own tallow especially for this recipe. It turned out so great! I tripled the recipe easily. Will save so much money. Thank you!

    Reply
  6. Samantha
    01|22|2024

    Hi! Does the olive oil have to be cold pressed? Thanks.

    Reply
    1. Kaitlynn Fenley
      01|22|2024

      other olive oil will work fine, cold pressed is best.

      Reply
  7. Donna Z
    09|21|2025

    Can you use pig tallow instead of beef tallow?

    Reply
    1. Kaitlynn Fenley
      09|24|2025

      not sure! I haven’t tested it! I have bought some lard soap recently from Etsy, so I feel like in theory lard can be good for skin too.

      Reply

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Fermented garlic honey, and I make mine as an oxym Fermented garlic honey, and I make mine as an oxymel 

🍯✨🫧🧄 the recipe is on my website!
https://cultured.guru

Many historical texts mention the use of both garlic and honey in traditional medicine. Still, none explicitly describe the modern method of combining only these two ingredients and leaving them to ferment. In all my readings on fermentation history, I’ve never come across any historical descriptions of fermented garlic honey, made with only garlic and honey.

However, I did come across many accounts of over 1,200 types of oxymel in Ancient Greece and Persia, many of which include garlic.The ancient Greeks and Persians used oxymels to extract and preserve potent herbs, including garlic. Oxymel is an ancient preparation, and Hippocrates wrote records about its benefits around 400 B.C.E. in On Regimen in Acute Diseases.

The thing to note here is that oxymel uses a combination of honey and raw vinegar.

When we make fermented garlic honey as an oxymel, the pH starts at a safe acidity and remains at a safe acidity (below 4.6). This is because the microbes in raw vinegar (or raw kombucha) ensure the honey is metabolized into more acids. These microbes “eat” sugars similarly to the way they do when making kombucha, wild mead, and vinegar. When we add raw vinegar or raw kombucha to a garlic honey oxymel, we are guaranteeing the presence of many acid-producing microbes that keep the mixture acidic and safe.

PSA: I’m not saying that your garlic honey made without raw vinegar is destined to have botulism. But I am saying without raw vinegar/kombucha it is a concern, and it can happen. I am saying that I’m not comfortable making it without raw vinegar/kombucha. 

I have compiled all my thoughts on garlic honey and botulism in the blog post, linked in my bio! You can also type “cultured.guru” right into your web browser and the recipe blog is on my homepage. 

#garlic #honey
Oxymel is a medicinal herbal elixir, made through Oxymel is a medicinal herbal elixir, made through the fermentation of herbs in honey and raw vinegar. 

It’s my favorite time-tested herbal remedy that’s over 2,400 years old. It originated in ancient Greece and Persia, where it was considered a gift from the gods.

Hippocrates, the famous ancient Greek physician, was a staunch advocate of oxymel and incorporated it into his medical practices. Depending on the herbs used to make it, oxymel can help with many ailments and improve health in various ways!

In a world where everyone is asking AI, I set out to learn about the best herbal combinations from real, practiced experts in herbalism.

I felt so much joy collaborating with these herbalists @openspace.center @karlytheherbalist @lilianaruizhealy and @the.brettivy to recommend the best medicinal herb combinations in this recipe!

You can get my oxymel recipe from the link in my bio!
Okay, fine, it’s not the only reason, but it’s Okay, fine, it’s not the only reason, but it’s a reaallllyy good reason to buy another pumpkin!

My new sourdough pumpkin bagel recipe is up on our blog!
https://cultured.guru

these roasted pumpkin bagels can be made savory or sweet! Both options are included in the recipe and are perfect for fall sourdough baking. 

The savory is a pumpkin, parmesan, onion (leek) flavor, and the sweet is a cinnamon brown sugar pumpkin flavor! ✨

You can also choose to use active starter or discard with yeast. It’s up to you! 

Let me know if you try baking these this weekend! 🍂🎃🥯
#bagels #pumpkin
Google “golden beet kvass recipe” and you’ll Google “golden beet kvass recipe” and you’ll see mine, it’s the first one. 🫧✨

I only like to learn fermentation from two places: from knowing the microbes and from cultural recipes passed down in families.

I originally learned how to make kvass from a Russian food blogger, named Peter. @petersfoodadventures He grew up drinking beet kvass made by his grandfather. It doesn’t get more historically/culturally accurate than that

After learning from Peter’s blog, I developed my golden beet kvass recipe, with some slight variations of my own and a secondary fermentation to carbonate it. (Peter is credited and linked in the recipe blog too, so you can check out his original beet kvass recipe!)

Anyways, beet kvass is a delicious, sweet, bubbly beverage, not a salty lacto-ferment 🤗🫧✨

#beets #fermentation
dont want to be dramatic, buttttt these sourdough dont want to be dramatic, buttttt these sourdough apple carrot muffins are the best thing I bake every fall! 🍎🥕they’re perfectly spiced, soft, sweet and moist,  and I love to top them with a little icing. If you’re looking for a fall sweet that isn’t toooo sweet and is still healthy,  the full recipe is available on my website  https://cultured.guru and linked right in my bio. happy baking!
nuance is needed in the alcohol conversation. Pe nuance is needed in the alcohol conversation. 

People in Blue Zones , particularly in Mediterranean regions, often drink 1-2 glasses of wine daily with meals and among friends, enjoying organic wines rich in antioxidants. 

This contrasts with new studies that show “no safe level of alcohol.” These new studies lump together all types of alcohol (including hard liquor) consumed in unhealthy ways, without distinction of specific lifestyle and beverage consumption environment.

I think context is key. Wine is not necessarily a reason for longevity in Blue Zones, but it is a small, supportive component of a larger lifestyle that includes a fiber-rich diet, regular physical activity, strong social connections, and a sense of purpose. Consumption is limited to about 1-2 glasses per day and is almost always enjoyed with food and in the company of friends and family. 

This turns wine into a ritual that promotes social bonds. Not a toxic coping mechanism.

And type of alcohol does matter. Many Blue Zone populations, especially in the Mediterranean, drink natural, organic, or locally grown and brewed wines, which have a much higher antioxidant content and a lower sugar, pesticide, and additive content. 

Because of all of this, I think more nuance is needed in the alcohol conversation. 

🫧Get my apple and pear hard cider recipes on my website! https://cultured.guru 
🍎You can GOOGLE “cultured guru cider” to easily get to all my cider recipes! 
🍐You can always find all my recipes in my website recipe index too!

(Disclaimer: I am very well aware of the epidemiology that states no amount of alcohol is safe. In the general population, especially in America, drinking patterns, social patters, and lifestyle are all predominately unhealthy. So yes, for the general, average population no amount of alcohol can be considered safe.)
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