If you are anything like me, you might dread the Winter season. The Northwest Ohio winters make it a long five months of gloomy, windy, and frosty days. Don’t get me wrong, there is beauty found in this season, but it is definitely not my first choice of weather.

One of my least favorite things about Winter is that my family and I always seem to take on the dry and itchy skin. My lips get pretty chapped and my hands get really rough. My toddler gets such dry skin that it makes her itch nonstop. This year, I had enough of my dry face that I did my usual “holistic remedies” research for dry skin. I want to share one of the best and cheapest ways to not only help soothe dry skin, but to give your skin some extra nutrients!

The main ingredient of my favorite face moisturizer is beef tallow. Ever heard of it? It’s just another name for beef fat. You can find it in most grocery stores. Or purchase online here. It is packaged very similarly to coconut oil and might even be sitting on the shelf next to it. If the thought of using beef tallow on your face has you ready to stop reading, let me share the health benefits before you make that decision.

Beef tallow is packed with nutrients that support our skin health. There’s more to it than just moisturizing the skin. Tallow is rich in fat soluble vitamins A, D, and K. It leaves your skin supple, bright, and smooth. Another great benefit to using tallow is that it does not leave your skin greasy, unlike coconut oil.

The second ingredient I use is jojoba oil. Again, another not-so popular natural product, but one that has great benefits. Jojoba oil is antibacterial and contains antioxidants that cleanse and protect the skin. It absorbs into the skin leaving you feeling hydrated but not oily. It’s full of vitamins A and E, is great for soothing inflammation, evening out skin tone, and smoothing out fine wrinkles and lines. You can purchase at a grocery store like Sprouts, Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme, your local health food store, or purchase online here.

I’ve been applying this two-ingredient tallow mixture to my face this Winter and it has truly given me the benefits I’ve explained above. I apply my moisturizer after a shower or after washing my face and it leaves me with not only hydrated skin, but a brighter skin tone. Get the recipe and instructions below to make your own! 

If you’re not into DIY at this stage of your life, checkout Toups & Co or Touch Of Tallow. They both make incredible moisturizing blends.

By Rachel Marroquin

@racheljoymarroquin