A Short History of Tallow Skin Care
Tallow in Ancient Times
Long before skincare meant chemical peels and synthetic serums, it was a ritual grounded in nature. In Ancient Egypt, where beauty and self-care were deeply tied to spiritual practice, skincare formulas often included tallow, combined with botanical extracts like frankincense, cedar, and myrrh. Egyptian healers and embalmers relied on these fat-based preparations to protect skin from the desert heat, soothe inflammation, and preserve the body in life and in death. Their use of tallow was intentional: rich in fat-soluble vitamins and biologically compatible with human skin, it softened, protected, and healed.
The Greeks and Romans regularly used animal fats in combination with olive oil to make unguents and pomades for both cosmetic and athletic use. Roman athletes would apply fat-based oils to their skin before competition and scrape it off after with a strigil. While olive oil dominated for general skincare, animal fats, especially from sheep and oxen, were favored for medicinal salves and winter skincare, particularly among soldiers and laborers.
Tallow from the Middle Ages to the Victorian Era
As centuries passed, skincare practices ebbed and flowed. The Middle Ages were marked by minimal hygiene and an increase in superstition over science, but by the Victorian Era, interest in beauty and skincare had resurged. Women concocted creams at home, using fats, waxes, oils, and floral waters, many of which had to be stored in ice boxes due to spoilage. That nostalgia for homemade creams would later influence product marketing in the early 20th century.
Tallow's Decline in the Industrial Revolution
At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, skincare became commercialized. Enter Pond’s Cold Cream, one of the first shelf-stable mass-market moisturizers. The term “cold cream” was a clever nod to the homemade versions women once chilled at home, tapping into a longing for tradition while offering the convenience of modern chemistry.
However, with mass production came synthetics. To reduce costs and extend shelf life, manufacturers began replacing natural ingredients with petrochemicals, emulsifiers, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives. Over the decades, these additives became the norm despite mounting concerns about their long-term impact on skin health. The very products designed to moisturize and protect began to strip the skin barrier, trigger sensitivities, and encourage dependence through overuse. But in recent years, something has shifted. Consumers are reading labels. They're questioning ingredients. And they’re turning back to whole, nutrient-dense skincare that is proven.
Tallow's Return as a Skin Care Staple
One of the most powerful returns? Tallow. After being used for thousands of years, and then cast aside in favor of synthetic “innovations”, tallow is being rediscovered by those seeking real results from real ingredients.
When made properly, tallow mimics the skin’s natural lipid profile, absorbs beautifully, and delivers concentrated levels of vitamins A, D, E, and K. But not all tallow creams are created equal. True skin nourishment comes from tallow that is grass-fed and grass-finished, unbleached, and rendered from suet, the cleanest fat around the kidneys. It must be paired with cold-pressed, non-comedogenic oils to unlock its full potential without clogging pores or irritating sensitive skin.
At Garden Club, we’ve returned to these ancient principles with a modern sensibility. Our tallow creams are small-batch crafted using only the highest quality suet, cold-pressed oils, and no synthetic fillers. Every jar is designed to deliver deep nourishment, not shelf-life manipulation.