DIY Easy Whipped Calendula Tallow Balm at Home
This whipped calendula tallow balm with is a great way to include herbs in your every day routine! The resin found in this beautiful flower can provide a light and natural fragrance as well as some skin healing properties in small doses. This is especially helpful if you live in a climate that gets cold and dry for half the year. Additionally, unlike most lotions in stores, calendula tallow lotion is non-toxic, easy and inexpensive to make.
What Is Tallow?
Tallow is raw fat/suet that has been slowly cooked to remove any impurities and then cooled until solidified. Although most commonly taken from beef, this fat can also come from deer, goats and sheep.
Why Use Tallow?
Until recent years, tallow has been a staple in many homes that was used in multiple ways. The homes of our ancestors used tallow to cook, make candles, soap, and other skincare.
Utilizing the fat from an animal you have harvested is a great practice as it reduces any potential waste along with respecting that animal.
This fat is rich in essential fat soluble vitamins and minerals such as: vitamin A, D, E and K. If used as a lotion, these vitamins and minerals can get absorbed through the skin and ultimately help your health more than other lotions.
The fatty acid profile of tallow has also been touted as being the closest to the makeup of what human oils are made of. Because of this, it’s easily and quickly absorbed into the skin.
Where to Buy or Get Suet/Tallow
Although tallow is still not as common as it once was, it’s gaining popularity with many homesteaders, health enthusiasts, and conscious minded individuals. Because of this, it’s gaining some traction in stores and general availability.
You may find tallow or suet at health food stores, Co-ops and with local farmers. These places will likely have beef tallow available.
If you purchase bulk meat from a farmer, you can ask if they can include the suet fat with your next order. If you are a hunter or you know one, you can ask them to save the deer fat with their harvests.
When talking to a local farmer and they’re not selling it, ask them if they would consider selling. They might surprise you! If you need a resource to find a local farmer, a great online resource to find one is The Weston A. Price Foundation.
Why Add Calendula Infused Oil to Tallow Balm?
Adding calendula infused oil into your homemade tallow balm is not only great for a gentle fragrance but also for the herbal benefits! Calendula has become widely known for many benefits such as being anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antifungal and promoting wound healing. These attributes of calendula flowers made them a great addition in formulating any herbal healing salve.
Adding a little bit of calendula infused oil to this nourishing whipped tallow balm allows you to incorporate this gentle healing herb every time you need a little bit of lotion!
How to Use Tallow Balm
I currently use my DIY tallow balm as my primary hand, face and body lotion to soothe dry skin. Many of my friends and family have used tallow balm to soothe cuts, scrapes, itching, eczema and dermatitis.
Looking for more DIY ideas? Try this Easy Homemade Vanilla Extract or this wood conditioner for all your wooden utensils.
Ingredients & Tools
1 cup rendered tallow (if you only have raw suet, see HERE on how to render it)
¼ cup Coconut oil (or other oil of choice jojoba oil, olive oil, sweet almond etc)
¼ cup Dried calendula flowers
A double boiler
A fine mesh strainer
Tight weave cheesecloth
A storage container (I like canning jars and glass storage containers) this recipe will make enough to fill approximately two pint jars.
A hand or stand mixer
Silicone spatula
A heat source
Directions
Begin by adding coconut oil and calendula flowers to your double boiler and melt on low heat. Maintain this low heat for 2-6 hours. Be careful to keep the heat low. You don’t want to cook the calendula, just gently heat it.
Once the coconut oil has infused the calendula to your liking, strain the coconut oil through your fine mesh strainer layered with cheese cloth.
Return the calendula infused oil to the double boiler and add tallow.
Melt the tallow and calendula oil in the double boiler together on low heat.
Once completely melted and gently mixed, pour into a mixing bowl.
If you want to add essential oils, add them when you see the tallow mixture begin to solidify and gently stir to evenly distribute the scent. Adding any desired essential oils at this cooling point is important to ensure the fragrance and medicinal qualities are maintained.
Leave to cool until all oils are solidified. If you want to speed up this process, you can place the mixing bowl in the refrigerator.
Once solidified, use a mixer with a whisk attachment to whip the tallow until light and fluffy.
After the tallow mixture is light and fluffy, transfer it to a storage jar with a silicone spatula and secure the airtight lid.
When you’re not using your tallow, store in a cool dark place.
Note: The most important step is to have the tallow mixture cool until almost solidified. Doing this creates a thick, luxurious, creamy texture. If you’re looking for a lighter texture, you can begin the whipping process when the tallow mixture is at a warmer temperature. If you begin whipping at a warmer temperature, it will take longer for it to whip and the end result will have a different texture.
Scenting Tallow Balm
Essential oil scent suggestions:
Citrus and Mint
Eucalyptus
Frankincense
Lavender
Lemon – this oil may make you more sensitive to sunlight and make your skin burn easier. If you add it to your balm, I suggest using the balm only at night or in the winter.
Calendula Whipped Tallow Balm FAQ:
What is Tallow?
Tallow is raw fat/suet that has been slowly cooked to remove any impurities and then cooled until solidified. Although most commonly taken from beef, this fat can also come from deer, goats and sheep.
Why Use Tallow?
The fatty acid profile of tallow has also been touted as being the closest to the makeup of what human oils are made of. Because of this, it’s easily and quickly absorbed into the skin.
This fat is also rich in essential fat soluble vitamins and minerals such as: vitamin A, D, E and K. If used as a lotion, these vitamins and minerals can get absorbed through the skin and ultimately help your health more than other lotions.
Where Do I Find Tallow?
Although tallow is still not as common as it once was, it’s gaining popularity with many homesteaders, health enthusiasts, and conscious minded individuals. You may find tallow or suet at health food stores, Co-ops and with local farmers. These places will likely have beef tallow available.
If you purchase bulk meat from a farmer, you can ask if they can include the suet fat with your next order. If you are a hunter or you know one, you can ask them to save the deer fat with their harvests.
When you contact a local farmer and they’re not selling it, ask them if they would consider selling. They might surprise you!
How Do I Use Tallow Balm?
I currently use my DIY tallow balm as my primary hand, face and body lotion to soothe dry skin. Many of my friends and family have used tallow balm to soothe cuts, scrapes, itching, eczema and dermatitis.
Did you try this? Share your creations in the comments or by tagging @MissysHomestead on Instagram.
Whipped Calendula Tallow Balm
Equipment
- A Double Boiler
- A fine mesh strainer
- Tight weave cheesecloth
- An air storage container
- A hand or stand mixer
- Silicone spatula
Materials
- 1 cup Rendered tallow
- ¼ cup Coconut oil or other oil of choice jojoba oil, olive oil, sweet almond etc
- ¼ cup Dried calendula flowers
Instructions
- Begin by adding coconut oil and calendula flowers to your double boiler and melt on low heat. Maintain this low heat for 2-6 hours. Be careful to keep the heat low. You don’t want to cook the calendula, just gently heat it.
- Once the coconut oil has infused the calendula to your liking, strain the coconut oil through your fine mesh strainer layered with cheese cloth.
- Return the calendula infused oil to the double boiler and add tallow.
- Melt the tallow and calendula oil in the double boiler together on low heat.
- Once completely melted and gently mixed, pour into a mixing bowl.
- If you want to add essential oils, add them when you see the tallow mixture begin to solidify and gently stir to evenly distribute the scent. Adding any desired essential oils at this cooling point is important to ensure the fragrance and medicinal qualities are maintained.
- Leave to cool until all oils are solidified. If you want to speed up this process, you can place the mixing bowl in the refrigerator.
- Once solidified, use a mixer with a whisk attachment to whip the tallow until light and fluffy.
- After the tallow mixture is light and fluffy, transfer it to a storage jar with a silicone spatula and secure the airtight lid.
- When you’re not using your tallow, store in a cool dark place.
