Tallow & Honey - Why I Walked Away from Modern Skincare — and Found the Perfect Balance with Tallow, Honey and Nature

My journey into skincare didn’t begin with a business idea or a desire to follow trends. It began because my skin simply stopped coping with what I was putting on it.

For years, I trusted mainstream skincare — products labelled gentle, dermatologist approved, for sensitive skin. Like most people, I assumed that if something was widely sold and well marketed, it must be safe. I didn’t question ingredient lists. I didn’t think about cumulative exposure. I just wanted my skin to feel comfortable.

But over time — and especially as I moved through perimenopause and menopause — my skin changed dramatically. It became drier, thinner, more reactive, and far less tolerant. Products that had once worked began to sting. Others caused redness, tightness, or a burning sensation. Relief, when it came, was temporary.

That was the turning point.

Instead of blaming my skin, I started asking a different question:
What was I actually putting on it — and was it helping or harming?

The Hidden Toxicity in Everyday Skincare

Once I began reading ingredient lists properly, I couldn’t unsee what was there.

Even products marketed as “natural” or “for sensitive skin” often contained:

• Synthetic emulsifiers and stabilisers

• Preservatives designed for shelf life, not skin health

• Alcohols that dry and disrupt the skin barrier

• Artificial fragrance blends

• Ingredients included purely for texture, colour or consistency

Our skin absorbs a significant amount of what we apply to it. Yet modern skincare encourages us to layer product upon product, rarely stopping to consider the toxic load we’re placing on our skin every single day.

I began to realise that my skin wasn’t failing — it was reacting exactly as it should when overwhelmed.

So I made a conscious decision to step away from “normal” skincare and go back to basics.

Starting with One Ingredient: Tallow

I stripped everything back and started using pure, grass-fed tallow — nothing else.

At first, it felt almost too simple. No complicated formulation. No long ingredient list. Just one ingredient that humans have used on their skin for centuries.

And my skin responded almost immediately.

Tallow works because it is incredibly similar to our own natural skin oils (sebum). The skin recognises it. It doesn’t have to adapt or defend itself. It absorbs easily and supports the skin barrier instead of disrupting it.

Tallow is naturally rich in:

• Vitamins A, D, E and K

• Essential fatty acids that support barrier repair

• Nutrients that promote resilience and regeneration

My skin felt calmer, less tight, and far less reactive. For the first time in years, it felt comfortable. Not artificially smooth. Not masked. Just healthy.

That was the moment I knew I was on the right path.

Refining the Formula — Not Complicating It

While tallow alone was powerful, I didn’t want to stop there. I wanted to refine it — not by adding more ingredients, but by adding the right ones.

This is where honey came in.

Honey has been used in skincare and healing for thousands of years. It is naturally antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and a powerful humectant, meaning it draws moisture into the skin and helps retain it.

When I began experimenting with honey alongside tallow, the difference was noticeable. My skin felt not just nourished, but hydrated and soothed.

However, honey isn’t a simple ingredient to work with. Too much and it sinks. Too little and its benefits are lost. It took trial, testing, failed batches and refinement to get the balance right.

Eventually, I found it — the point where honey could do its job, supported by tallow and beeswax so it remained evenly dispersed and stable within the balm.

Adding Jojoba and Olive Oil for Deeper Nourishment

As my formulation evolved, I introduced jojoba oil and olive oil — not as fillers, but as purposeful additions.

Jojoba oil is technically a liquid wax, making it exceptionally compatible with the skin. It closely mimics sebum, helping to:

• Balance moisture levels

• Improve absorption

• Support the skin barrier without clogging

Olive oil brings something different. Rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, it adds softness and depth to the balm, supporting:

• Long-lasting nourishment

• Improved elasticity

• Comfort for very dry or damaged skin

Together with tallow and honey, these oils help create a deeply nourishing cream-like balm that supports the skin on multiple levels — hydration, barrier repair, and protection.

A Carefully Chosen Essential Oil Blend

Scent matters — but only when it serves a purpose.

The essential oils I use are not there to overwhelm or perfume the skin. They are included in low, considered amounts, chosen for their traditional skin-supporting properties and their ability to create a calming, grounding experience.

My blend includes:

• Frankincense, known for its soothing and restorative qualities

• Ho Wood, gentle and calming, ideal for sensitive skin

• Myrrh, traditionally used to support dry or compromised skin

• Bergamot, uplifting but balanced

• Grapefruit, light and refreshing

Together, they create a subtle, natural aroma that feels calming rather than cosmetic — never synthetic, never overpowering.

Why This Balance Matters for Menopause, Eczema and Psoriasis-Prone Skin

Menopause can dramatically change the skin. Reduced oestrogen often means less natural oil production, increased dryness, slower healing and heightened sensitivity.

This balm supports what the skin is losing naturally. Tallow replenishes lipids. Honey boosts hydration. Jojoba and olive oil soften and nourish. Beeswax protects and locks everything in.

For eczema- and psoriasis-prone skin, simplicity is key. These skin types don’t want actives or harsh interventions — they want support. Fewer ingredients. Less disruption. More nourishment.

That philosophy sits at the heart of everything I make.

From Personal Discovery to Purpose

Tallow Be Thy Name exists because I refused to accept that irritation, discomfort and dryness were just “part of ageing” or “something to live with”.

Every ingredient in this balm has been chosen deliberately:

• Grass-fed tallow for deep nourishment and barrier repair

• Raw honey for hydration and soothing support

• Jojoba and olive oil for softness and resilience

• Beeswax for protection

• Essential oils chosen with care, not trend

Nothing unnecessary. Nothing toxic. Nothing your skin doesn’t understand.

This balm is the result of stepping away from overloaded skincare, stripping back the noise, and trusting ingredients that have supported human skin for generations.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for your skin is stop adding more — and start giving it what it actually needs.