The "Secret" Ingredient: TALLOW!
It is so heavenly. I want to share the recipe so you can make your own. Here is an excerpt from Mommypotamous' blog post:
"Tallow is uniquely compatible with the biology of our cells. About 50% of the structure of our cell membrane comes from saturated fats, with remaining amounts consisting of monounsaturated and to a lesser degree polyunsaturated fats. According to Nourishing Traditions, it is the saturated fats that give cell membranes the “necessary stiffness and integrity” necessary for proper function (p. 11). In a research article which I was privileged to preview before publication, I recently learned that:
Now, on to the recipe:“Healthy, ‘toned’ skin cells with sufficient saturated and monounsaturated fats would undoubtedly make for healthy, toned skin.Interestingly, tallow fat is typically 50 to 55 percent saturated, just like our cell membranes, with almost all of the rest being monounsaturated, so it makes sense that it would be helpful for skin health and compatible with our cell biology.” (emphasis mine) There are other points of biological compatibility, too, such as the fact that tallow and sebum consist primarily of a type of lipid called triglycerides. (“Sebum” actually means “tallow” in Latin, so we are not the first to make this connection!)
INGREDIENTS:
9 parts tallow (grassfed is the best) (How to make your own tallow)
1 part liquid oil (i.e. avocado oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, almond oil)
Essential oils of your choice (I use a blend of lavender and lemongrass, my favorite!)
(for example: If you use 4 1/2 cups of tallow, then you would use 1/2 cup oil -- this would be a LOT of night cream, so you may want to use 2 1/4 cup tallow and 1/4 cup oil, or whatever ratio works best for you).
Note: The tallow will be hard, so you want to melt it. I am not 100% accurate with my 9:1 ratio of tallow, and it doesn't matter. If you want the final product to be a bit softer and easier to spread, use a little more oil, and if you want it to stay a harder cream (reminds me of the consistency of Burt's Bees lip balm), then use the 9:1 ratio.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Add the tallow to a saucepan and melt it ON LOW HEAT. Alternatively you can put it in a glass jar in a pot of boiling water. Since it is food grade and edible, I don't mind using my saucepans.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Add the liquid oil. My favorite is avocado oil. My second favorite is almond oil. Whatever your preference is.
4. Let cool slightly. We don't want it to cool off too much, as it will turn to a solid at room temperature and we still need to add the essential oils. Maybe 10-15 minute cool off period
5. Add your essential oils. The tallow does not smell bad, but you can sort of smell it still, so I go a bit overboard on the essential oils. I love lavender and lemongrass together, and the lavender adds a lot of benefits to your skin. If you do choose a citrus oil, just be aware that the citrus oil will make your skin more susceptible to a sunburn, and proceed with caution. If you have acne issues, adding tea tree oil will be beneficial.
6. Pour into small jars. Let cool on the counter.
I use half pint canning jars. I have seen some people use old baby food jars (the perfect size for about 3-month supply if you use a lot -- otherwise you can stretch it further).
TIP: This works GREAT as a night time hand cream as well.
About Me: Hi! I am Rebecca :) I am the owner of Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads. I love natural health and wellness, and I love to eat real food. :)
I love my family, and my pets. I actually love all animals -- they are much nicer than most humans! I don't watch TV and haven't watched a movie in the theater for more than 6 months. I would much rather read a book!
I love to garden and make homemade products -- body butter, toothpaste, perfume, cheese, yogurt, etc. It tastes better when it's made from scratch! Contact me here: sales@purifyyourbody.com
