Field Notes
(A Few Things Worth Knowing)

• Tallow has nourished skin long before the skincare industry and the FDA existed.

• Not all tallow is created equal. Ours comes exclusively from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished cattle raised on regenerative farms.

• Our tallow is dry-rendered in copper vessels according to artisan traditions, resulting in a remarkably stable, unadulterated finished product

• We slowly infuse biodynamic olive oil with fresh botanicals from our own garden before blending it with traditionally dry-rendered tallow.

• We never whip our tallow, thus preserving its naturally stable and exceptional texture.

• No water. No fillers. No emulsifiers. No preservatives. All of which are exceptionally common in skincare.

The Moisturizer That Never Should Have Left is Back…this time with PR!

There are ingredients that become fashionable for a few years and then quietly fade away.

Tallow isn't one of them. For thousands of years, people cared for their skin with ingredients they could gather, grow, or raise themselves. Clay from the earth. Honey from the hive. Herbs from the garden. Animal fats from the harvest, all parts used. Long before skincare became an industry, these were simply the materials people had, and many of them worked remarkably well and continue to do so.

The moisturizer that never should have disappeared is back, and this time…it has PR!
There are ingredients that become fashionable for a few years and then quietly fade away.

Tallow isn't one of them. For thousands of years, people cared for their skin with ingredients they could gather, grow, or raise themselves. Clay from the earth. Honey from the hive. Herbs from the garden. Animal fats from the harvest, all parts used. Long before skincare became an industry, these were simply the materials people had, and many of them worked remarkably well and continue to do so.

Over the last century, skincare became increasingly industrialized. Traditional ingredients gave way to petroleum-derived oils, silicones, synthetic fragrances, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and preservatives. Products became shelf-stable, preserved, standardized, and often far more complicated. Overtime, tallow was largely forgotten.

Today, it's making an easy-to-understand return, not because it's trendy, but because people are ready for something real again.  People are rediscovering things our great-grandparents knew but modern life replaced with branded, patented, scientific solutions.  
Over the last century, skincare became increasingly industrialized. Traditional ingredients gave way to petroleum-derived oils, silicones, synthetic fragrances, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and preservatives. Products became shelf-stable, preserved, standardized, and often far more complicated.  Overtime, tallow was largely forgotten.

Today, it's making an easy-to-understand return, not because it's trendy, but because people are ready for something real again.  People are rediscovering things our great-grandparents knew but modern life replaced with branded, patented, scientific solutions.

What is Tallow? 

Tallow is the rendered fat surrounding the kidneys and loins of cattle, also known as suet. Unlike the fat trimmed from steaks or briskets, suet is naturally firm, pure, and exceptionally stable, making it one of the finest traditional fats for skincare.

For generations, it was used in soaps, balms, salves, and moisturizers because it was nourishing, long lasting, and readily available.

Is Using Tallow Humane?

We believe that depends entirely on where the tallow comes from.

Most tallow available today comes from the conventional beef industry. Since most cattle in America are raised within that system, most tallow inevitably comes from factory feedlots. That isn't something we support, ever.

Instead, we source our tallow from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished cattle raised on regenerative farms by people who genuinely love the land and the animals in their care. These are farmers who see themselves as stewards, environmentalists, and animal activists. Their cattle spend their lives on pasture, grazing diverse grasses, expressing their natural behaviors, living in family groups, and improving the health of the land through thoughtful management. To us, that is the definition of responsible, humane animal husbandry.

If tallow is going to support your skin, then the life of the animal matters perhaps more than anything else. Just as we care where our herbs are grown, and how our olives are pressed, we care how our tallow was raised. Healthy soil, healthy pasture, healthy animals, healthy skin. Better ingredients make better products. The math is straight forward.

What if I'm Vegan?

Choosing not to use animal products is a personal decision, and we respect it.
Our philosophy is, however, different.

Many people choose to eat meat. When an animal is harvested for food, tallow is one of the many valuable materials that can either be discarded or mindfully used. For thousands of years, it has been transformed into soaps, balms, candles, and skincare. We believe honoring the whole animal is more respectful than wasting it.

We also do not believe that the words plant-based, vegan, natural, healthy, and humane are in any way synonyms. A product can be completely plant-based and still rely on heavily processed ingredients or agricultural practices that damage soil and ecosystems. Likewise, an animal-derived ingredient can come from a regenerative farm that restores the land while providing animals with lives that reflect their natural behaviors.

For us, the question is always whether an ingredient was grown, raised, and crafted in a way that leaves all involved in a better way–people, animals, plants, soil, surroundings, and beyond.

Why Does Tallow Work so Well as a Moisturizer?

Healthy skin depends on many things, but one of the most important is a strong moisture barrier.

Contrary to what many people believe, moisturizers do not hydrate your skin. Water hydrates the skin. A moisturizer's job is to help keep that water from escaping, and this is where tallow shines.

Its rich blend of fatty acids forms a breathable protective layer that helps reduce transepidermal water loss while leaving skin feeling soft, comfortable, and resilient. Many people also find that tallow absorbs beautifully because its fatty acid profile shares similarities with our skin's own natural oils.  Everyone is unique, so all products should always be patch tested.

We love applying our Botanical Tallow after a few spritzes from one of our Hydrating Essences, single-farm distillations of various floral waters. Whether you use our Hydrating Essence, or your own high quality water, remember the basic formula:
First add water. Then keep it in.

What Makes Our Botanical Tallow Different?

Before our tallow ever reaches a jar, we slowly infuse biodynamic olive oil with fresh, nutrient-dense botanicals that we grow and hand-harvest on our farm, including Nettle, Comfrey, Roman Chamomile, and Damask Rose.

Those whole-plant infusions are then blended with 100% grass-fed, grass-finished, dry-rendered tallow, creating a moisturizer that brings together two kingdoms of nature: plants and animals.

The result is a rich, decadent balm that feels surprisingly light and breathable on the skin. Tallow helps soften, moisturize, and support the skin's natural moisture barrier, while our fresh botanical infusions bring the soothing, antioxidant-rich, and skin-loving qualities that have made these plants cherished by herbalists for thousands of years.

Rather than relying on isolated compounds or heavily processed extracts, we begin with extraordinary ingredients and do our best to preserve the remarkable complexity that nature created in the first place.

Why We Only Use Dry-Rendered Tallow

Every step in making Botanical Tallow is intentional, including our decision to use only traditionally dry-rendered tallow and never to whip it, despite that becoming a popular trend.

Most tallow balms are wet rendered, meaning the suet is simmered in water before being separated and purified. It is a faster, more common process, but not the one we prefer.
Our tallow is traditionally dry rendered in copper vessels over low heat, using no water at all. It takes more time and greater attention to detail, but produces a beautifully clean, unadulterated, and naturally stable tallow with a rich, luxurious texture.

Why We Never Whip Our Tallow

Whipping creates the light, frosting-like texture many people have come to associate with tallow balms, especially at farmer’s markets. This is a production method which results in certain positive outcomes, but also incorporates air throughout the finished balm (the whipping results from the air). Because oxygen is one of the primary drivers of oxidation, and eventually rancidity, we prefer to leave our tallow as nature intended—dense, silky, remarkably stable, and naturally bioavailable.

The result is a Botanical Tallow that looks different, feels different, and ages beautifully, along with your skin. Most importantly, it allows our world-class tallow—and the remarkable botanicals infused into it—to remain the stars that they are.

Does Tallow Smell Like Beef?

Some tallow products definitely smell like beef. Even worse, many smell like rancid beef. Statistically speaking, most tallow products are also sourced from the conventional beef industry. There simply are not enough small, independently owned regenerative farms to supply the rapidly growing global demand for tallow skincare.

The scent of our Botanical Tallow, however, is one of its most beloved qualities.
It begins with exceptionally pure suet from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished cattle, thoughtfully dry rendered and blended with our own fresh botanical infusions, finished with the lightest touch of Spanish Sage, Vetiver, and Damask Rose essential oils.  

The result is a balm whose aroma is defined far more by plants than animal. Most people notice the sweet florals, herbaceousness, and grounding, woodsy tone without even noticing a distinct tallow scent of any kind.  It is balanced, unisex, and unmistakably pleasant.

Does Tallow Clog Pores?

Every person's skin is different, and no ingredient works perfectly for everyone.
Tallow is generally considered to be relatively low on the comedogenic scale, commonly rated around a 2 out of 5—similar to olive oil and lower than avocado oil, shea butter, and coconut oil.

Many people with dry, mature, or sensitive skin find that tallow becomes their favorite moisturizer. Others with oily skin also appreciate it because a healthy skin barrier is important for every skin type, not just dry skin.

If you're unsure, start with less than a pea-sized amount and gently press it into damp skin. Give your skin a week or two to respond before deciding whether it's the right fit.

What Are The Ingredients In Botanical Tallow?

Every ingredient in Botanical Tallow a purpose. Nothing is added because it is trending or fashionable.

100% Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished Dry-Rendered Beef Tallow – the foundation of the balm, chosen for its remarkable affinity with the skin and its ability to support the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Biodynamic Olive Oil – slowly infused with fresh, hand-harvested botanicals from our garden:

• Nettle – traditionally prized for its mineral-rich composition and ability to support healthy-looking skin.

• Comfrey – long treasured by herbalists for its reputation as a comforting, restorative botanical for dry and weather-stressed skin.

• Roman Chamomile – cherished for its exceptionally gentle, calming nature and affinity for delicate or easily irritated skin.

• Damask Rose – valued for helping soften, condition, and support a radiant, healthy-looking complexion while lending its timeless floral elegance.

Essential Oils (used sparingly for their aromatherapeutic qualities and botanical character):

• Spanish Sage – provides an herbaceous, grounding aroma that encourages clarity and presence.

• Vetiver – contributes a deep, earthy fragrance long associated with relaxation, steadiness, and emotional grounding.

• Damask Rose – adds a delicate floral note that brings warmth, beauty, and a sense of emotional uplift to the blend.
  

That's it. No water, fillers, emulsifiers, preservatives, synthetic fragrances, factory farmed animals, and no chemically grown products of any kind.

What is Botanical Tallow + Zinc?

Botanical Tallow + Zinc is our newest product in the Be Here Farm + Nature skincare collection, and it begins with the exact same Botanical Tallow described above.
The only additions from our signature Botanical Tallow are 23% uncoated, non-nano zinc oxide with a touch of French Burnt Umber.

The zinc creates a breathable mineral canopy that rests on the surface of the skin, while our Botanical Tallow nourishes the skin beneath. The French Burnt Umber gently softens the natural white cast of zinc, creating a more universally flattering finish across a wide range of skin tones.

The result is not a sunscreen, nor do we assign it an SPF rating. Instead, we think of it as a whole-body mineral, plant, and animal-based balm for days spent gardening, hiking, swimming, working, or simply enjoying life outdoors.

Our Mantra

Our production mantra is always the same:  When you have ingredients like these, the next thing to do is always...as little as possible. 

All of our products are obsessively crafted with the same commitment to regenerative agriculture, extraordinary ingredients, and artisanal production methods as Botanical Tallow + Zinc.

Head to our shop to experience this for yourself.