The thing I sell more of than anything else is a jar of whipped beef tallow with rose petals in it.
I know how that sounds. Every time someone finds out, I get the same face. So let me explain what it is, why I use it, and who it's not for, because it isn't for everybody.
What tallow actually is
Tallow is rendered beef fat. You heat the fat slowly, strain it, and what's left is a firm, creamy fat that keeps well. People used it on their skin for a very long time before lotion came in a pump with an ingredient list as long as your arm.
Why I started using it
I started this business by reading labels. After losing my grandmother and two aunts to dementia, I started paying close attention to what my family was putting on their bodies every day. Most of the face creams I picked up had ingredient lists I couldn't pronounce, and I wanted something I could actually understand.
Tallow was about as simple as it gets.
Why it works more like a balm than a lotion
Most lotions are mostly water. They feel nice going on, and then the water evaporates. Tallow is a fat, so it works differently. It softens as soon as it hits warm skin, and it sits there holding moisture in. That's why people tend to reach for it when the weather turns dry and cold, which is right about now.
I whip mine so it's lighter and easier to spread. A little goes a long way.
Why the rose petals
I infuse rose petals into the tallow myself before it's whipped. Rose has been used in skincare for about as long as tallow has, and it turns a plain, practical fat into something you actually look forward to putting on.
It's also what started my whole rose line, which has grown into a facial bar, a body oil, and a simple 3-step routine.
Who should be careful
Here's the honest part. Tallow is rich. If your skin is very oily or you break out easily, patch test it on a small spot first and give it a few days. Some people with oily skin love it, and some don't. Better to know before you put it all over your face.
And if you're vegan or don't use animal products, this one isn't for you, and that's completely fine.
Where to find it
• Rose Tallow Face Cream: the original
• Farm to Face Rose Barrier Hydration System: the full 3-step routine
• Shop the whole Rose Skincare collection
If you've been curious about tallow and a little scared of the words "beef fat," I get it. I was too.