Tallow is rendered beef fat. It can also be fat from other animals such as lambs, but bovine fat is most common. Tallow can be rendered from suet fat or soft fat. The suet is the highly-valued, nutrient-dense fat from around the kidneys & internal organs of the animal, which is a harder/firm/crumbly-type fat and is prized for skincare applications. We use suet in our formulations. Soft fat is simply the softer fat from other parts of the animal (such as the fat in a ribeye steak or chuck roast). It is typically greasier with a stronger beefy scent.

If your tallow balm has melted or frozen in transit and no longer has the smooth, whipped texture, you can re-whip the product if desired. In the case of melting due to heat exposure, the quickest/easiest option is to scoop the product out of the product jar into a small bowl & if needed, place in the fridge until semi-firm and then whip the balm with a hand mixer for a minute or so to infuse air back into the product (like whipping frosting). Then return the whipped balm to the product jar. If you do not wish to do the re-whipping process, you can simply allow the balm to re-solidify/come back to room temperature and still use the product. It is still perfectly good to use and does not lose its nutrient content or skin-moisturizing properties. It will just have a different texture, so we recommend that you warm the product between the fingers first & then apply to desired area of skin. Any potential grainy texture from the fatty acid crystals should melt into the skin when rubbed in.

Our all-natural, anhydrous (waterless) balms do NOT contain any artificial/synthetic emulsifiers, stabilizers or preservatives. Tallow is naturally temperature-sensitive and will be firmer in cool temperatures and softer in warm temperatures. If exposed to heat or direct sunlight (such as sitting in a hot vehicle or mailbox or on a porch), whipped tallow can melt or mildly "deflate" or experience texture changes; this is just the nature of unadulterated tallow that does not have added synthetic stabilizers, and this issue impacts all truly-natural tallow products. However, melting does NOT RUIN the product or diminish its skin-nourishing properties. It will still be a balm once brought back to room temperature, but it will have a different texture. Please be aware of this when ordering in hot summer months or if you live in a hot climate. When the tallow leaves our facility after production, it has a creamy, soft texture. However, if the balm encounters very high or low temperatures during transport & delivery, the texture can change. It is still perfectly safe and good to use. We recommend that you melt it between your fingers first & then apply, or just rub a bit vigorously into the skin, and it will still absorb into the skin and do its job! Some oil separation can occur also as the product sets or experiences temperature fluctuations, but again, this does not diminish the effectiveness of the product, and it will still melt into the skin when applied. These issues do not make the product damaged or defective. If desired, you may re-whip the product for the luxurious application feel. (See instructions in above question).

For most people, tallow is not known to cause breakouts. It is low on the comedogenic scale and has been used by people for skincare for thousands of years. Many people battling acne have used tallow skincare. Of course, always perform a skin patch test when trying any new skincare product – even all-natural ones – as everyone’s skin is different, and sensitivity levels vary. If you have any medical skin concerns, please consult your licensed medical practitioner.

"Cosmetic-grade" is not an official certification obtained from a regulatory agency or certifying organization for tallow, so we do not use this marketing term. Very simply, quality tallow that is properly rendered and filtered is suitable for skin application and has been used for skincare throughout history.  

Currently, we are only shipping to the USA (50 states & Washington D.C.).

If the skin feels greasy after applying, it is most likely because too much product was used or there was not enough time allowed for full absorption. Each person's skin is different - some having more dryness than others.  It may take some experimenting to find the appropriate amount for your skin. Normally, a little will go a long way, but adjust your usage according to your particular skin's needs.

The short answer is a definite NO! We would not want our customers to smell like a steak or hamburger! When quality beef tallow is properly rendered and filtered, the “beef” scent is greatly reduced. Once fully rendered, tallow by itself does have a mild/light, inherent scent (it is an unadulterated product of nature after all). Natural tallow is not going to be 100% odor-free with zero scent unless some type of undesirable/synthetic deodorizing method or bleaching is used. We would describe the natural scent of our tallow as more of an earthy, grass-like scent, but people's noses pick up on different scents! Once the product is lightly-scented with pure essential oils, the natural tallow scent is virtually undetectable to most people. But no off-putting beefy smells here!

Thompson's Tallow sources our tallow from regenerative farms and ranches in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast regions of the USA that raise 100% grass-fed and grass-finished cattle on pasture. No pesticides, herbicides, added hormones, antibiotics, GMOs or mRNA.

Our tallow is dry-rendered which is a historic, time-honored tradition. Dry-rendering at carefully-controlled temperatures preserves the nutrient content of the tallow and maintains the fatty acid profile naturally occurring in the fat. Also, the potential for undesirable microbial growth is reduced by not using water in the rendering process.

Many people with the following skin issues use tallow skincare: dry skin, flaking, cracking, redness & inflammation, acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, melasma, dark spots/hyperpigmentation, fine lines & wrinkles, crepiness, loose skin/sagging, scarring/stretch marks, dullness, chaffing, razor burn, and more. This product is not intended to prevent, treat, or cure any medical skin condition. Always consult with your licensed medical provider regarding any medical condition – including skin conditions or concerns.

Our anhydrous (waterless) tallow balms are generally quite shelf stable due to no water content, but it is best to use the product within 6-12 months of purchase. Storing in refrigeration or a cosmetic cooler may extend shelf life a bit longer. Also, be sure to keep the product clean & free of contaminants or moisture to maximize shelf life.

Thompson's Tallow uses only pure, uncut/undiluted essential oils that are steam-distilled, cold-pressed/expressed, CO2-extracted, or hexane-free absolutes. We do not use any synthetic fragrance oils.

Our balms are handcrafted products of nature, and as such, there can be slight variations in scent from batch to batch, as essential oils can vary in scent from season to season or depending on the
region the material was grown in, etc. For example, neroli (orange blossom) essential oil can vary in scent depending on if it’s from Egypt, Sicily, Morocco, or Florida. The same goes for any other essential oil. Therefore, even though we make our products to the same specifications from batch to batch, we cannot guarantee that there won’t be slight variations, which is normal for natural, handcrafted products.

Our tallow balms are handcrafted products of nature, and tallow can naturally range in color from yellow to white, depending on various factors such as cattle breed, time of year, age of the animal, and types of grasses that the cattle grazed on. Therefore, the final product color can have slight variations from batch to batch. This is completely normal.

If you're interested in potentially offering Thompson's Tallow products in your shop, boutique, salon, wellness center, or retail store, please send an email to wholesale@thompsonstallow.com

Currently, we only accept online orders through this website/online store. We do not accept orders over the phone or through mail, and we do not accept cash, check, or money order payments.