This soothing, homemade lavender tallow balm is a simple and nourishing way to care for your skin—without the long list of ingredients you can’t pronounce. It comes together with just a couple of ingredients, and if you’ve already made your own infused oil, you’re halfway there.
Tallow balm has been part of my daily routine for a couple of years now, and I still can’t believe how easy it is to make something that works this well.
Why Lavender? Why Tallow?
There’s a reason tallow balm is everywhere these days—it works. Tallow is full of vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and fatty acids that mimic the natural oils in our skin. That means it absorbs easily, moisturizes deeply, and helps support healing without clogging pores.
And lavender? It brings a soft, calming scent along with its own skin-soothing properties. When you infuse it into olive oil, you get the best of both worlds: gentle hydration and a bit of aromatherapy, too.
What Kind of Tallow Works Best?
I always recommend using suet tallow—that’s the fat from around the kidneys of the cow. It makes a cleaner, milder tallow that doesn’t carry a strong beefy scent (which no one wants in their skincare). Bonus points if it’s from a pasture-raised animal—those are higher in skin-loving vitamins.
If you want to learn how to render your own tallow from the suet fat, check out my post here.
Why Use Lavender-Infused Olive Oil in Tallow Balm?
I like to cut my tallow balm with a carrier oil to make it softer and easier to use. Olive oil is my go-to because it absorbs quickly and doesn’t irritate my skin. Infusing it with dried lavender takes it up a notch, both in scent and skin benefits.
Lavender is naturally anti-inflammatory, which makes it great for soothing irritated or dry skin—and it just smells so calming.
Not sure how to make lavender-infused oil? I’ve got a full blog post that walks you through the process, start to finish. Click here to learn how to make herbal-infused oils at home.
Homemade Lavender Tallow Balm Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rendered tallow (preferably suet)
- 1/4 cup lavender-infused olive oil
- Optional: 5–10 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions:
- Melt the Tallow
If your tallow is solid, chop it up and melt it slowly over low heat. No need to rush it—gentle heat helps preserve all the good stuff. - Mix in the Oil
Once the tallow has melted and cooled just a bit, stir in the lavender-infused olive oil. - Add Essential Oils (Optional)
If you want a stronger scent, add a few drops of lavender essential oil. I usually skip it because the infused oil already gives it a light fragrance, and I tend to keep things simple. - Cool It Down
Pour your mixture into a bowl and let it cool at room temperature. You can put it in the fridge to speed things up, but I’ve found the final texture turns out better when it cools slowly on the counter. - Whip It Up
Once it’s cooled and starting to solidify, use an electric hand mixer to whip it until it looks like frosting. (Yes, it’s tempting—but don’t taste it!) - Store It
Spoon your whipped balm into clean jars or tins. Store in a cool, dry place. It should last several months without any preservatives
How to Use Your Lavender Tallow Balm
Use it wherever your skin needs a little extra love—hands, face, elbows, feet, or even as an all-over body moisturizer. I use it nightly before bed and love how soft my skin feels in the morning.
This lavender tallow balm is one of those simple DIYs that makes a big difference. It’s quick to make, lasts a long time, and leaves your skin feeling nourished and calm. Plus, it’s completely free of synthetic ingredients—just real, whole, recognizable things you probably already have in your kitchen.
If you make it, I’d love to see how it turns out. Tag me on Instagram or leave a comment to let me know how it went!
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