Springtime longing and nourishing skin butter
Well friends, it’s about that time of winter where I crave more sun, warmth, and to be out in the garden. We recently received some spring weather and it’s been such a nice reminder that spring is almost here! I am especially excited for the spring season as baby is due in April. It feels very harmonious to be birthing new life as the plant life awakens and blooms around me as well. But in the meantime, I am focusing on eating warming foods, sipping teas, and continuing to incorporate gentle movement as I can (and feel motivated to do so!).
I wanted to share a simple but really beautiful body and face butter I have been using on my skin, over my face and body oils to keep my skin nourished and moisturized throughout the cold and dry winter season.
I shared this evergreen tallow and lard butter with my local herb group recently and we discussed the wonderful benefits of these fats for the skin, especially for the winter months when we could all use a little more moisture in our lives, and therefore I thought I could share it with you all.
Tallow contains Fat soluble vitamins that are vital for various bodily functions when used internally and externally - immune support, bone health, cellular function and skin health. Below are some of the amazing benefits of tallow
100% Grass Fed tallow will provide a more nutrient dense product although cows are able to metabolize unhealthy/ inflammatory fats into healthier saturated fats
Rich in triglycerides (oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid, and linoleic acid)
Contains essential vitamins such as A, D, K, E, and B12
Similar to human sebum, considered non-comedogenic, may improve skin elasticity, lock in moisture, and reduce oxidation when applied topically
Lard on the other hand is also very similar to tallow in its makeup and incredibly similar to our skin’s natural sebum. Sourcing pasture-raised lard is especially important as pigs cannot metabolize unhealthy fats into healthy ones - so you truly become what you eat/ use on your skin!
You can use any oil you’d like. I’ve used jojoba and avocado and really enjoy both. You can take it a step further and infuse gentle skin supporting herbs into the oil for a more potent and plant infused product. I used organic avocado in this recipe and infused fresh spruce that I wildcrafted recently.
How to use: You can slather this butter all over your face and body - it really seeps in leaving your skin feeling moisturized and nourished without feeling heavy like a face cream would. I personally like to use this both morning and night on my face and body. I specifically use my Sun Dweller face serum in the morning after splashing my face with cool water and then lock in the serum with this tallow/lard butter. In the evening, I simply use this on my face before bed and slather it all over my body after a shower.
I hope you enjoy this simple tallow and lard butter as much as I do and wish you well. Stay healthy and get outside. Spring is coming!
-C
Spruce going into double-boiler with avocado oil to heat for a few hours (I did about 3-4 hrs)
Infused oil:
Fresh harvested evergreens
Organic Avocado oil or oil of choice
Double Boiler
Jar and cloth with rubber band
Harvest evergreens (juniper, pine, spruce, etc.) and cut up into smaller bits
Place greens into double boiler, covering with avocado oil - gently heating on and off for a few hours, mixing every now and again (notice how the color of the evergreens fade into the oil)
Strain oil or you can let it infuse longer using the method below.
Pour double-boiler contents (oil and evergreens) into jar and cover with cheesecloth and rubber band, letting sit for 2-3 weeks, using a clean spoon to mix contents daily or every other day - top with more oil if necessary
Strain and store in a clean jar away from sunlight
Butter after whipping for about 3-5 minutes (I used ¼ C of oil here for this consistency)
Tallow/ Lard Body Butter Recipe:
¼ C tallow
¼ C Lard
2 tbsp of infused oil (for more butter consistency) or ¼ C infused oil for more of a cream consistency
25-30 drops essential oils total (Patchouli and Rose Geranium or combination of any preferred essential oils)
Using a double boiler, melt down lard and tallow individually and measure each to achieve ½ C total of melted fat (equal parts of each).
Combine melted tallow and lard, and add infused oil, mixing together well.
Remove from heat and add essential oils after a few minutes of cooling (2-3min). Mix well and move melted liquid to the freezer for 5 min
Once semi-solidified, use a hand mixer to beat for 1-2 minutes until fluffy/ butter consistency is achieved.
Scoop into clean glass jars, label and store at room temperature for use after a shower or anytime you want to moisturize
