Body Butter With Tallow & Shea Butter

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Making your own skin products at home can save you money and eliminate unwanted toxins and chemicals.  Two of the powerhouse ingredients when it comes to your skin are beef tallow and shea butter.  This non greasy body butter recipe with beef tallow and shea butter will leave you moisturized and glowing!

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What is tallow?

Tallow is the rendering (melting) of fat into a liquid form.  Beef fat is one of the most common & best fats to render and use in many ways around the home.

After the fat is rendered, the liquid solidifies and can be stored to be melted and used later in skincare, cooking, candle making, and so much more.

How to render beef tallow?

Beef tallow couldn’t be easier to make.  You’ll need to cube pieces of beef fat and melt them over the stove on very low heat.  Don’t rush the heating process as it might scorch the fat and give it an unpleasant odor.

After the fat has totally melted, strain it and put it into an airtight container to store.

It is shelf stable and can be kept on the counter for days at a time or stored in the fridge long-term for later uses.

Where to get beef tallow?

I can find beef tallow at my local butcher.  They sell it for around $10 for 12oz.  I like that I know it is locally sourced and is convenient to pick up.

If you don’t have a local butcher, you can purchase beef tallow online.  For best quality, I like to make sure it is rendered from grass fed cows.   

Uses of Tallow

Tallow has been used in the home for generations.  It was an inexpensive way to make cooking oil so the fat wouldn’t go to waste.

The tallow is also a wonderful agent to use when making skincare and skin balms.  It has the perfect consistency to make a healing salve for scrapes and injuries.

Many also use tallow in making candles & soap.  It has no scent and melts and solidifies very easily.

Body Butter Ingredients

This recipe uses both beef tallow & shea butter for their incredible skincare benefits.  Along with these two ingredients, you’ll use olive oil & arrowroot powder to help with the consistency.

Benefits of Beef Tallow

Beef tallow has so many health benefits, especially when it comes to skincare.  It is a great choice for skincare because it doesn’t clog your pores and it is non greasy when applied.

Beef tallow has many antioxidants and nutrients such as vitamins A, D, K, & E.  It helps repair skin, prevent skin damage, & treat acne.  Beef tallow has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce redness & skin irritations.

Because beef tallow comes from a cow, the properties are similar to our own skin which makes it the best option for moisturizing.  You’ll notice that your skin feels deeply moisturized and hydrated when you use this body butter with beef tallow.

Benefits of Shea Butter

Shea butter is a well-known ingredient in many skin care products.  Like beef tallow, it has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe & heal skin.  It also has many nutrients that promote anti-aging & relieve dryness.

Shea butter also prevents acne & keeps skin clear and healthy with its antibacterial and antifungal properties.  It is also a great option to keep skin moisturized and hydrated.

My favorite brand of raw shea butter from Aroma Depot.

How Do You Make Body Butter Less Greasy?

Many of the nutrient dense oils used in body butter can feel greasy when applied.  One trick to reducing the greasy feeling is using arrowroot powder to absorb the excess oiliness in the body butter.

If you don’t have arrowroot powder, you can substitute it for cornstarch or tapioca starch to have the same non-greasy effect.

How to Make Body Butter With Tallow & Shea Butter?

Ingredients

¼ cup Beef tallow

¼ cup Shea butter

3 Tablespoons Olive oil (or other liquid oil of choice)

½ tsp Arrowroot powder

5-15 drops of essential oils (optional)

Steps To Make Body Butter

1. Use a double boiler to melt the beef tallow and shea butter.
2. Let the melted oils cool for 10 minutes & then add the olive oil.
3. Place in the freezer until the oils start to solidify (about 10-15 minutes).  You don’t want it to fully harden, just enough to push your finger into it and it still leaves an indent.
4. Whip oils on high until the color changes from yellow to a white and becomes a nice whipped consistency (add essential oils in during this step if you choose to).
5. Add arrowroot powder and whip again until fully incorporated.
6. Put into a jar & enjoy!

Recipe Notes

• You can use cornstarch or tapioca starch in place of the arrowroot powder.
• The consistency will change slightly to a mousse as the whipped oils come back to room temperature.
• Use any oils you choose in place of olive oil (avocado oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil, etc.).
• Best to store out of direct sunlight and in an airtight container.

How To Use?

This body butter turns into a light mousse texture at room temperature.  Simply rub a small amount between your palms to melt it and apply to your skin.

For best results, use it right after the shower as your pores are open and will absorb it better.  I like to put on a tight shirt and leggings after I apply the body butter so it doesn’t rub off easily while it is soaking in.

Use For Pregnancy Belly Butter

Since beef tallow and shea butter combined are so powerful when it comes to repairing and healing skin, it is a great option to use during pregnancy as a belly butter.

The ingredients combined in this recipe will help to reduce stretch marks & keep your skin glowing and youthful.  Use the body butter with tallow during & after pregnancy to keep your skin strong & healthy as it goes through the different stages.

For best results, add patchouli, frankincense or myrrh essential oils as they help with skin elasticity & reducing scars/stretch marks on skin.

How To Store Homemade Tallow Body Butter?

Since all of the ingredients are shelf stable, you can store your body butter in an airtight container at room temperature.  It is best to store out of direct sunlight.

Using a glass container is best, especially if you are using essential oils as the plastic particles can start to seep into the body butter.

Depending on the expiration dates of the oils you use, this body butter can last you 6 months up to several years.  I just keep an eye on my body butter to make sure it hasn’t changed in color or started to take on an unpleasant smell.

FAQ

Can I use a different butter instead?

You can choose to use any other butters or oils you’d like, just keep the ratio the same.  The consistency might be slightly different, but it will still be luxurious.

Can I use this body butter as a face moisturizer?

In short, yes you can definitely use this body butter on your face.  Both beef tallow & shea butter are great at not clogging your pores, but everybody’s skin responds differently to moisturizer ingredients.  Start with applying a thin layer on your skin to test it out.

What can I add to my body butter to make it less greasy?

The best way to make body butter less greasy is to add arrowroot powder.  Arrowroot powder is silky and absorbs excess oils.  If you don’t have arrowroot powder, you can also use cornstarch or tapioca starch.

Can I use Tallow Body Butter In Hair?

Yes, tallow & shea butter are both moisturizing for your hair. Since this body butter is so moisturizing, you should only use it lightly on the tips of your hair for moisture. You can use it on your roots, but it might weigh your hair down & make it look greasy at the roots.

For extra moisture, you can use it as a hair mask before you wash your hair. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then shampoo like normal.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a body butter that isn’t greasy and has a wide range of benefits, then you’ve come to the right recipe.  The ingredients in this recipe are so nourishing for your skin & will leave you glowing & looking youthful.

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Posts on this blog are for informational or educational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with expert professionals. Always do your own research if pregnant, nursing, or dealing with young children.

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