Simple Tallow Lip Balm Recipe

This nourishing tallow lip balm recipe is a skincare essential you can make at home! All you need are 3 ingredients to create a simple moisturizing lip balm that is as smooth as butter.  

There is something deeply satisfying and empowering about creating your skincare products.  This is why I love tallow- it is so versatile you can use it for lotion bars, soap making, tallow body butter, and lip balm.

If you are anything like me, you always have some lip balm at arm’s reach.  I generally always have a tube in my purse, bathroom, and backpack on a hike.  A good lip balm is essential to soothe dry, chapped lips and protects against outdoor elements.

It is so easy to make and customize your tallow lip balm.  Personalize with essential oils and/or beneficial infused herbal oils.  You can also increase the batch size and make cute labels for gifts!

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Why Use Tallow In Lip Balm

• Nourishing.  Tallow contains fatty acids very similar to our natural sebum, making it a highly absorbable fat.
• Long shelf life.  Just like any fat, tallow can go rancid, but properly rendered and stored tallow will take a long time to go rancid.  Include vitamin E in this recipe to help reduce any concerns for rancidity.  
• Sustainable.  Unlike many mass-produced oils such as palm oil, tallow is often overlooked as a good option for skincare products.
• Render at home.  It is relatively easy to render tallow at home. Have a supply ready to make your next pie crust or body care product.

I go into more detail with this article.

Ingredients 

Tallow – Home rendered or I love Fatworks Tallow.  

Beeswax – pastilles are easiest to work with, but you could also use a block.

Sunflower Oil – Easily swap for avocado oil, jojoba oil, or any other liquid oil.

Vitamin E (optional) – This lip balm has a long shelf life, but it doesn’t hurt to add extra antioxidant protection for freshness.

Essential Oils (optional)- Add a subtle scent.

Lip balm tubes – You can also use lip balm tins!

Tools You May Need

Double boiler– I used a diy version with canning rings and a mason jar.

Heat-safe silicone spatulas– The one I linked here is great for small jars.

Grain/gram scale (optional) – I prefer to use this but it is of course, not necessary.  I would not recommend using a food scale.  There is too much room for error with a standard food scale vs. a grain/gram scale.

If you love to DIY, a grain scale is also great to have on hand to make small batches of balms, salves, and to measure out essential oils for soap making.

FAQ

Can I use deer tallow, bear tallow, etc?

I have not tried another tallow, but I think these tallows would all perform very similarly.  If you try something different, leave it in the comments section below!

Is this greasy?

No. I have not noticed any greasiness with this lip balm recipe.

Is there a beefy smell?

No as long as you are using properly rendered tallow it should be orderless or close to it.

Is this good for sensitive skin?

Tallow has been reported to be very gentle for all skin types.

Customization Ideas

Essential oil – Lip safe and popular essential oils include: spearmint, peppermint, and sweet orange.  1% of total recipe or 1 drop per tube is enough to scent your lip balm!

Infused oil – Use plain sunflower oil (or any other liquid oil of your choice) in your recipe or use an infused oil with skin loving properties.  

Some great options for an infused oil are calendula, chamomile, and plantain.  For this tallow lip balm recipe I had a calendula oil on hand so that is what I used.  

Tips

• When filling tubes you may find the middle sinks down a bit. This is due to the mixture contracting as it cools.  The solution is fill the tube in two layers.  Leave a small space in the first layer, then top off as the first layer has cooled enough to solidify.
• Sometimes the lip balm mixture hardens before you are done filling your tubes.  Simply place back in your double boiler and soften.

Tallow Lip Balm Recipe Step by Step