At our house, we use lotion bars all the time. They look like soap bars but work like lotion on dry skin. I’ve even personalized them to make sunscreen, bug repellent, and pain relief lotion bars. These recipes are natural and safe for sensitive skin and babies, though I leave out essential oils for little ones. Some readers have asked about alternatives because of coconut oil allergies. So, after some experimenting, I came up with a hypoallergenic lotion bar that’s now our favorite, especially for skin issues.
The key ingredient is tallow, which is beef fat. It might sound odd, but tallow has been used for ages in skincare due to its benefits. Our favorite bone broth company describes tallow as a mix of coconut oil and butter, with a dry, waxy feel. It’s mostly made from cattle fat and is similar to cow lard. Beef tallow consists of 50% saturated fat, 42% monounsaturated fat, and 4% polyunsaturated fat.
Interestingly, our cell membranes are about 50% saturated fats, making tallow, which has a similar composition, a great skincare ingredient. It contains vitamins A, D, E, and K that are good for skin health. Historically, other animal fats like duck fat and lard have also been used for skincare.
If you’re not into animal products, you can replace tallow with plant-based oils or fats like mango butter, shea butter, cocoa butter, or coconut oil. I was hesitant at first about putting tallow on my skin, but it left my skin feeling incredibly smooth and soothed minor irritations.
Thanks to the natural SPF in shea butter and the vitamins in tallow, these lotion bars provide mild skin protection during short-term sun exposure. They’ve also been great for healing my son’s eczema scars and a scratch on another child’s face. Overall, tallow skincare products are a fantastic coconut-based product alternative for allergy sufferers and don’t seem to clog pores.
Making this lotion bar recipe only takes about 15 minutes. You can store them in a cool, dry place for up to six months—or even a year. To use, just hold the bar in your hand and rub it on dry skin. Your body heat will melt the bar slightly, allowing it to transfer to your skin. I keep my lotion bars on a small plate on my dresser and bathroom counter.
If you’re interested in lotion bars but lack the time or ingredients to make them, I’ve found a wonderful small business called Made On that offers lotion bars, soaps, baby products, and hair products. They also give a 15% discount to Wellness Mama readers. Do you make your lotion bars or prefer buying them? Have you tried tallow in your skincare routine? Let me know!
