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tallow

homemade deodorant with tallow
Natural Living

Simple Tallow Deodorant Recipe That Actually Works

by From Scratch Farmstead August 11, 2022

It can be tricky to find the right natural deodorant that really works. After making our own homemade deodorant for years, we have recently moved to making this tallow deodorant and have found a new favorite!

Jump To Recipe

When it comes to skincare, we love tallow! Slowly we have been transitioning our home skincare products to being tallow based and this tallow deodorant is our latest addition.

We keep our skin care routine super basic but tallow magnesium lotion, tallow shampoo bars, sunscreen, and tallow balm are constantly being used in our house.

homemade tallow shampoo bars

Will Tallow Deodorant Work for You?

If you are switching directly from using a conventional, store-bought deodorant, making the change to this tallow deodorant or any natural deodorant may leave an unpleasantly stinky result. 

This is because the ingredients that are used in most standard deodorants contain a long list of chemicals and additives that unnaturally block the body’s ability to sweat. Ingredients that have been known to cause a wide range of health problems from cancer and dementia to hormone and endocrine disruptions.

This list includes: 

  • Aluminum
  • Phthalates
  • Propylene glycol (aka antifreeze)
  • Parabens
  • Formaldehyde

How to Detox Your Pits

If that describes you, no need to be concerned. There are very gentle ways to detox your pits that can make that transition from conventional to natural deodorants like this tallow deodorant go much more smoothly.

diy tallow dedorant recipe

This is important because your body needs to clear out these ingredients that are likely clogging those pores in your armpits. By pulling these chemicals out of the armpit tissue, it allows the body to adjust much more easily to the new natural deodorant ingredients.

To detox your pits, simply mix about 1 tbsp of bentonite clay with 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar and 1 or 2 tsp of water. Rub this mixture on your armpits and let sit for 15-20 minutes before washing off. Repeat this daily until you notice underarm odor has greatly reduced or gone away and you are adjusting well to natural deodorant.

Why Tallow for Deodorant and Skincare?

There are so many benefits to using tallow on the skin. We began by switching our lotion to tallow balm and were so pleased with how it felt and what it did for our skin that we haven’t looked back. Tallow has been used both internally and externally for hundreds of years and with good reason – its benefits are hard to beat! 

  • High in vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12
  • Rich in minerals
  • Contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) with natural anti-inflammatory properties
  • Palmitoleic acid is a powerful antimicrobial agent that is also a basic building block of our skin
  • Palmitic acid helps to improve the function of the skin’s protective barrier
  • Stearic acid helps to repair damaged skin and improves the skins flexibility and suppleness
pasture raised cows from terra vitae farms

Other Effective Ingredients in Tallow Deodorant

Another reason we love this deodorant is how simple it is to make. It uses only a few basic ingredients that we always have on hand.

Arrowroot Starch or Tapioca Flour

Arrowroot or tapioca starch are very absorptive in nature and work really well to pull out odors. Cornstarch is often used instead but it is challenging to find non-GMO cornstarch and can cause more sensitivities in people.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is the classic deodorizer and it is no different in this tallow deodorant. It works to remove smells while also having that drying effect.

homemade tallow deodorant ingredients

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and antifungal while also being soothing to skin.

Beeswax

Beeswax is used to help give the deodorant a firmer texture and hold everything together so the oils don’t separate.

Essential Oils (Optional)

We generally make our tallow deodorant unscented. But essential oils are a great option to naturally provide some fragrance without being nearly as harsh and toxic and synthetic fragrances. Geranium, tea tree, and lavender are some of my favorite more gentle and beneficial essential oil options.

How to apply?

While deodorant sticks have become the norm in our culture, we have found that we actually prefer to just keep our deodorant in a small jar and apply with our fingers. This option, for us, tends to be less messy with no crumbling or malfunctioning deodorant sticks and gives us better control over how much deodorant we are using.

DIY tallow deodorant in a jar

However, if deodorant sticks are your preference, you could totally buy applicators like this and pour your homemade deodorant into the stick container instead of a jar. If you are going this route, I would recommend increasing the amount of beeswax you use to 2 tbsp to give the deodorant a firmer texture more suitable to the stick.

Tallow Deodorant Recipe

One of the intimidating things about making your own skincare items is the belief that it is going to be hard. But this often couldn’t be further from the truth. Typically, most skin care items, this tallow deodorant included, are simply made by measuring out a handful of ingredients, melting them together, and pouring them into your container of choice. Easy Peasy!

Yield: 

½ cup

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp Tallow*
1 Tsp Baking Soda
2 Tbsp Tapioca Starch or Arrowroot flour
1 Tbsp of Beeswax**
2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
10-15 drops of Essential Oils (Optional)

tallow deodorant recipe

Directions:

  • Measure out all ingredients and place in a heat safe glass container. I like to use a 1-cup Pyrex measuring cup for this.
  • Place container inside and small saucepan of water, like a double boiler.
  • Place over low-medium heat, stirring mixture occasionally until everything is completely melted (10-15 minutes).
  • Pour contents into a 4 oz glass jar or container of choice***.
tallow deodorant ingredients in heat safe container
heating ingredients for homemade deodorant

*When rendering tallow for skin care uses, it’s important to use the wet method of rendering to avoid the beefy smell. This is the tutorial we follow to render tallow to use in all of your skin care items.

**If you are making a stick deodorant or want a firmer texture, increase the beeswax to 2 tbsp.

***If you find that the oils separate to the top, just stir together either before deodorant sets up or after.


Looking to add more tallow-based skin care items? Check out this tallow magnesium lotion and tallow sunscreen!

Some of the above links are affiliate links. This means we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We are so appreciative of your support!

magnesium and tallow in a lotion

DIY Tallow Magnesium Lotion

simple homemade sunscreen with tallow

Simple Homemade Sunscreen with Tallow

homemade deodorant with tallow

Simple Tallow Deodorant Recipe That Actually Works

Yield: 1/2 Cup
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

It can be tricky to find the right natural deodorant that really works. After making our own homemade deodorant for years, we have recently moved to making this tallow deodorant and have found a new favorite!

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp Tallow*
  • 
1 Tsp Baking Soda

  • 2 Tbsp Tapioca Starch or Arrowroot flour
  • 
1 Tbsp of Beeswax**

  • 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil

  • 10-15 drops of Essential Oils (Optional)

Instructions

    1. Measure out all ingredients and place in a heat safe glass container. I like to use a 1-cup Pyrex measuring cup for this.
    2. Place container inside and small saucepan of water, like a double boiler.
    3. Place over low-medium heat, stirring mixture occasionally until everything is completely melted (10-15 minutes).
    4. Pour contents into a 4 oz glass jar or container of choice.

Notes

*When rendering tallow for skin care uses, it’s important to use the wet method of rendering to avoid the beefy smell. This is the tutorial we follow to render tallow to use in all of your skin care items.
**If you are making a stick deodorant or want a firmer texture, increase the beeswax to 2 tbsp.

© From Scratch Farmstead
August 11, 2022 0 comment
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magnesium and tallow in a lotion
Natural Living

DIY Tallow Magnesium Lotion

by From Scratch Farmstead April 7, 2022

Magnesium is a critical mineral for health, yet many people are deficient. This DIY tallow magnesium lotion is a great option for boosting magnesium levels.

Why is Magnesium Important?

Magnesium is involved in over 500 processes in the body! To name a few, the body needs sufficient levels of magnesium for cell metabolism, producing energy, and regulating insulin. Furthermore, magnesium is the first mineral to be depleted when the body is under stress. I think we can all agree that we have stress in some way, shape, or form. So, some extra magnesium would likely be beneficial! 

magnesium lotion with tallow

Other indications that your magnesium could be low are:

  • Anxiety/Depression
  • Sleep Issues
  • Migraines/headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Infertility
  • PMS
  • High or Low Cholesterol
  • Arrhythmia/heart palpitations
  • Numbness/Tingling
  • Nausea

Our Story Around Magnesium Lotion

We’ve been on a significant health journey for many years. This was actually the instigator for us in beginning our homesteading journey. However, even after making a lot of changes, there were still a few things that I was trying to figure out, especially around hormonal imbalances. 

I began to do a deep dive into understanding how minerals work in the body and how important they are for health. The hormone healing rd is a great resource for this. In my exploration, I realized I had several symptoms of possible magnesium deficiency and wanted to begin adding it in to our family’s routine.

applying magnesium tallow lotion

How Do You Know If You Need More Magnesium?

The way to find out your magnesium status is by a magnesium RBC blood test or a Hair Mineral Analysis. Talk to your practitioner if you want to get more testing done to find out exactly what your levels are.

Ways to Get more Magnesium

The foods with the most robust amounts of magnesium present are cooked leafy greens, bone broth, grass fed dairy, or cacao. In fact, if you often crave chocolate, this could definitely be an indication that your body is actually depleted in magnesium.

As you can see, this is a pretty short list. It is difficult to get in sufficient amounts of magnesium solely through food. Especially if you are under stress and are burning through magnesium rapidly.

magnesium tallow lotion

Enter in, adding magnesium topically! There are three options of getting magnesium in through the skin.

  • Magnesium oil
  • Magnesium lotion
  • Epsom Salt Baths or Soaks

My preferred method is lotion. I’ve tried simply rubbing magnesium oil on my skin, which is the first step in making the lotion, but found that it left a burning sensation on my skin and dried it out. I really like the idea of Epsom salt baths or foot soaks, but with three young children and a homestead, my time for baths is limited. I love that the lotion is quick and easy to apply and leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized.

What Is Tallow?

Tallow is rendered suet or beef fat. Don’t worry, if rendered in a specific way the tallow is completely odorless. This video shows exactly how to render tallow to make it odorless and ready to use for all of your skincare needs.

cows on pasture with sunrise

Why Tallow?

There are so many benefits to using tallow on the skin. In fact, after we started incorporating it, it’s all we use for our complete skin care regimen – shampoo bars, soap, lotion, moisturizer, and deodorant. Tallow has been used both internally and externally for hundreds of years and with good reason – its benefits are hard to beat! 

  • High in vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12
  • Rich in minerals
  • Contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) with natural anti-inflammatory properties
  • Palmitoleic acid is a powerful antimicrobial agent that is also a basic building block of our skin
  • Palmitic acid helps to improve the function of the skin’s protective barrier
  • Stearic acid helps to repair damaged skin and improves the skins flexibility and suppleness

FAQ About Tallow Magnesium Lotion

Who is this lotion good for? Is it safe for Kids?

If you are unsure about adding a topical magnesium to your routine, you should always consult your medical provider before implementing anything. That being said, the amount of magnesium you would get from the lotion is not a high dose. Our whole family uses it including babies and kids. It is my opinion that almost everyone could benefit from adding a bit of magnesium, especially if you are under stress or experiencing any of the above symptoms associated with magnesium deficiency.

Where do you buy tallow?

In order to get the maximum nutrients and health benefits in tallow for your skin, you will want to find tallow from grass fed and finished cows. Contact your local farmer or if you are unaware of a regenerative farm in your area, you can check out localharvest.org for some options in your area.

magnesium tallow lotion ingredients

What type of magnesium?

My favorite magnesium for this is the magnesium flakes from Ancient Minerals. As far as I am aware, this is the most reputable product for high quality magnesium available.

How frequently and where do you apply it?

Our routine is to apply it to our kids and ourselves as part of our bedtime routines. You will want to avoid applying it to any areas with a cut or open wound as it may burn. Besides that, we just lather it on. I like to put it on areas under clothing like feet or belly that won’t get the sheets potentially stained from the oils in the lotion. If I remember, I try to use it in the morning as well.

Tallow Magnesium Lotion

Yield: 1.5 Cups

Ingredients:

½ cup water
½ cup magnesium flakes
½ cup tallow
3 tbsp olive oil (or avocado oil)
1 tbsp cocoa butter (or shea butter)
1 tbsp beeswax
10 or more drops of essential oils (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat ½ cup of water to just before boiling.
2. Stir ½ cup of magnesium flakes into the hot water until the magnesium flakes are completely dissolved.
3. Add tallow, oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax to a heat safe glass container
4. Add water to a pot and heat on stove. Place a rag or towel at the bottom of the pot and add your container of tallow and other ingredients on top of the rag.
5. Heat up the water on medium heat on stove to heat up tallow mixture until everything is completely melted.
6. Once melted, remove from heat.
7. Using an immersion blender*, blend the tallow mixture while slowly pouring the magnesium water into the tallow mixture.
8. Blend until the magnesium solution is completely blended in, a lotion is formed, and desired consistency is reached.
9. Pour into jars.

*A blender on a low speed or food processor will work if you don’t have an immersion blender.

Have you tried adding magnesium topically? We’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below!

Some of the above links are affiliate links. This means we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We are so appreciative of your support!

magnesium and tallow in a lotion

DIY Tallow Magnesium Lotion

Yield: 1.5 cups

Magnesium is a critical mineral for health, yet many people are deficient. This simple DIY tallow magnesium lotion is a great option for boosting magnesium levels.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup water
  • 
½ cup magnesium flakes
  • 
½ cup tallow

  • 3 tbsp olive oil (or avocado oil)
  • 
1 tbsp cocoa butter (or shea butter)

  • 1 tbsp beeswax

  • 10 or more drops of essential oils (optional)

Instructions

    1. Heat ½ cup of water to just before boiling.

    2. Stir ½ cup of magnesium flakes into the hot water until the magnesium flakes are completely dissolved.

    3. Add tallow, oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax to a heat safe glass container

    4. Add water to a pot and heat on stove. Place a rag or towel at the bottom of the pot and add your container of tallow and other ingredients on top of the rag.
    5. 
Heat up the water on medium heat on stove to heat up tallow mixture until everything is completely melted.

    6. Once melted, remove from heat.
    7. Using an immersion blender*, blend the tallow mixture while slowly pouring the magnesium water into the tallow mixture.
    8. 
Blend until the magnesium solution is completely blended in, a lotion is formed, and desired consistency is reached.
9. Pour into jars.

    *A blender on a low speed or food processor will work if you don’t have an immersion blender.

© From Scratch Farmstead

April 7, 2022 0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

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From Scratch Farmstead
  • About
  • Homestead How-to’s
    • Family Milk Cow
    • Gardening
    • Chickens
    • Small Scale Farming
    • Buying A Homestead
    • Homestead Living
  • Nourishing Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Main Course
    • Sides
    • Dessert
    • Sauces & Condiments
    • Home Dairy
  • Natural Living