How We Started Making Our Own Tallow Skincare (And More)

Author: Robin Miller

There wasn't a big announcement.
No master plan.
No five-year projection.

Just small, quiet changes.

April and I had already begun making intentional shifts in our homes — the kind that don't seem dramatic on the outside but feel significant on the inside.

We ditched aluminum-based deodorants.
We removed seed oils from our cooking.
We swapped conventional soaps for natural options.
We started reading labels more closely — on food, on cleaning products, on skincare.

It was the beginning of our clean living journey. Not perfect. Just purposeful.

The Birthday That Changed Everything

For April's 53rd birthday, I gave her something simple: a jar of whipped tallow balm.

It wasn't flashy. It just aligned with the natural skincare direction we were already exploring.

I bought myself a jar at the same time — purely out of curiosity.

And we both loved it.

It felt clean.
Moisturizing but light.
Absorbed easily.
No heavy fragrance.
No complicated ingredient list.

It was one of those moments where you realize, "Oh. This makes sense."

That winter, when April purchased a half cow, they asked for the trimmings so they could render it down for cooking and soap. Around the same time, I split a half cow with a neighbor — and this time, we specifically asked for the suet to begin exploring skincare formulations.

We had learned enough to know: if we were going to explore grass-fed tallow skincare seriously, we wanted the best starting point.

And that's when things really began.

Learning to Render and Formulate

Rendering grass-fed suet was an education in itself. Slow, steady, patient. (And, so many dishes.) 

The first balm formula I created? Very loose.
Too soft.
Not quite right.

So I researched. A lot.

I tested ratios. Adjusted textures. Compared absorption. Studied traditional tallow balm formulations. I wanted something that felt elegant but remained rooted in simplicity.

Eventually, I landed on a blend of:

• Grass-fed suet tallow
• Jojoba oil
• Frankincense essential oil
• Lavender essential oil

That formula became what you now know as our Sunrise Tallow Balm.

It was balanced. Nourishing. Light enough for daily use. Clean and uncomplicated.

And then I started sharing it.

The First Real Testers

Friends and family were the first to try it. And then they came back asking for more. My favorite tester, though, has been my dad.

He experienced a stroke that left one side of his body paralyzed, and he bruises easily on that side. He doesn't miss a day applying the balm to his skin.

We shared a tester with a friend of his who was also experiencing frequent bruising. They, too, came back asking for a second container.

That's when it shifted from hobby to something more.

Not because of big sales.
But because of trust. And need.

Whipped vs. Solid: Finding Our Rhythm

Personally, I've always loved the solid balm as a rich, concentrated moisturizer.

But as we continued testing, the whipped versions began to win me over — especially in the mornings.

My current rhythm looks like this:

Morning:
Radiance Tallow Cleanser Balm
Sunrise Face Oil
Sunrise Whipped Tallow Balm

Evening:
Radiance Tallow Cleanser Balm
Sunset Face Oil
Sunset Tallow Balm

The whipped feels light and breathable for daytime. The solid feels protective and restorative at night.

It's become less about trends and more about listening to what my skin needs.

Why This Journey Matters

We didn't set out to create a tallow skincare line.

We set out to live better.

To reduce toxins.
To understand ingredients.
To use what we were already sourcing responsibly.
To honor the animal fully by utilizing the nutrient-rich suet fat.

Making our own grass-fed tallow skincare wasn't about jumping on a trend. It was about stewardship, curiosity, and care.

And honestly? We're so grateful we said yes to it.

Because what began as a birthday gift has become a shared mission.

We're still learning. Still refining. Still rendering.

But every jar we make feels aligned with the small, meaningful changes that started it all.

From meeting at a local coffee shop to kick-off this business to our launch has been less than 6 months and we are so excited to begin sharing what we have been working on with our friends, family and more! 

We look forward to continuing to learn with you on our journey.