Facts and Myths about Pine Tar Soap

Our Pine Tar 20% tallow soap is one of our most unique and powerful soaps. That is why we decided this month’s blog post will be all about pine tar soap. Have you heard about the miraculous benefits of using tallow soap made from pine tar but don’t know if it’s true? From skin-calming properties to odor-absorbing abilities, pine tar soap has been popular among those with sensitive skin for centuries. But what exactly is this spectacularly powerful tool in your natural beauty arsenal? In this blog post, we will explore the facts and dispel some myths about how you can take advantage of all this incredible soap has to offer! So keep reading - you’re sure to love what you discover about our Pine Tar 20% tallow soap.

Fact: Pine tar oil is made by burning pine tree stumps 

People have been using the age-old method of creating pine tar oil by burning pine tree stumps to extract the sap for centuries. This traditional approach yields genuine peasant-made tar that maintains a dark golden hue packed full of qualities beneficial to your skin, such as antiseptic and antibacterial properties that protect against bacteria and fungi. Now this valuable oil can be found in soaps crafted exclusively with natural ingredients like coconut oil and tallow blended into it – making it the ultimate soap for soft, smooth, and healthy skin!

Myth: Pine tar smells bad

One myth that has been floating around is that pine tar soap smells bad. This couldn’t be further from the truth! In fact, many people are pleasantly surprised by the campfire scent of this soap. While some may describe it as a burning wood scent, others feel it has a pleasant earthy aroma that they find quite enjoyable! It is definitely worth a try for the amazing benefits this soap has to offer.

Fact: Pine tar’s uses for skin go back thousands of years 

The use of pine tar for skin care goes back thousands of years, and it still remains popular today due to its effective cleansing properties and refreshing scent. Not only does it help clear up acne and reduce inflammation, but it also helps soothe irritation caused by eczema or psoriasis. And thanks to its antibacterial properties, it can help keep bacteria at bay while soothing dry skin patches simultaneously! That said, using pine tar soaps can really make a difference in your overall skincare routine!

Myth: Pine tar soap and black soap are the same

Another myth is that pine tar soap and black tar soap are the same — this is false, as they are two different products with different benefits and uses. It’s important to note that while pine tar soap and black tar soap may appear similar, they are actually quite different. Pine tar soap is made with natural ingredients like pine resin, while black tar soap contains coal tar, which is used to treat dandruff, kill lice, and aid skin conditions similar to pine tar. Black soap also has a more intense and unpleasant smell that some cover up with essential oils. While both soaps have their own unique benefits, neither should be considered a substitute for one another.

Fact: Pine Tar soap Has a ton of benefits for your skin

Pine tar oil is a true triple threat when it comes to skincare: its antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic qualities make this natural ingredient an excellent choice for providing soothing relief from common skin conditions like dryness, eczema, dermatitis, and hives. Its antibacterial properties also help protect against potential bacterial growth or spread. Combined with the nutrient-packed tallow in our soaps, pine tar’s benefits become even greater as they work together in synergy to nourish your complexion while relieving any itching and irritation. So why not enjoy all these amazing advantages – try pine tar soaps today! 

Fact: Pine Tar can absorb other odors

With its special ability to absorb unwanted odors, pine tar soap is a must-have for anyone looking for unstoppable freshness. It prevents bacteria growth that causes body odor and can also trap unpleasant smells such as smoke and food scents - meaning you won’t have to worry about smelly feet or hands! Get ready: Unstoppable freshness awaits with the natural power of pine tar soap.

Whether you have skin issues you are concerned about or want something new, give pine tar soap a chance! With its long history as a beneficial cleanser as well as its earthy aroma, there’s no doubt why so many people are turning towards this soap for their everyday skincare needs. Not only does it smell great, but it also provides numerous health benefits for your skin! So why wait? Give it a try today!

Why should tallow balm be a part of my skincare routine?

If you are already using tallow soap, adding tallow balm would be complimentary to your routine. Tallow soap and tallow balm work together to keep skin smooth and moisturized for longer. However, tallow balm can be a great addition to any skincare routine, even if you don’t use tallow soap. Tallow balm lasts longer than traditional lotions without constant reapplication. The long-lasting effects of tallow balm are just one of the benefits. The vitamins and nutrients in tallow balm are what really make it worth ditching regular lotion. 

Our tallow balms are made with all-natural beef tallow that comes from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows. We believe that sourcing our tallow (rendered fat from certain animals like cows or sheep) from grass-fed, and pasture-raised animals produces higher quality tallow than traditionally fed animals. This helps our tallow maintain a ton of vitamins and nutrients without unnecessary chemicals or cortisol present in traditionally fed animals. Choosing to use high-quality tallow ensures it is packed with vitamins and nutrients. Tallow balms contain vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, which can all benefit your skin health and appearance. 

What benefits do the vitamins in tallow balm provide? 

Vitamin A is commonly known to smooth wrinkles, lighten sunspots, calm acne, balance oil, and more. When vitamin A is used on the skin, it promotes the production of collagen, which helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin A also supports the healthy function of your sebaceous glands. 

Vitamin D has been shown to have antimicrobial properties, which help improve your skin’s natural defenses, help repair cells, and rebuild your skin’s barrier. This allows your skin to retain moisture and prevent damage from the environment. Vitamin D is also a known anti-inflammatory that has been used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis. Think of vitamin D as a great protector for your skin, making it stronger for longer. 

Vitamin E is known for promoting skin rejuvenation through protection against free radicals. Free radicals like pollution, chemicals, and others have been shown to cause wrinkles and damage our skin. Vitamin E is also prevalent in tallow and has been shown to prevent collagen breakdown. Sun exposure tends to deplete our body’s antioxidants. Using skincare products with these antioxidants can help replenish what the body loses. Antioxidant skin care acts as the first line of defense from things like sunlight and pollution.

Vitamin K is known as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It will help protect your skin and keep it looking its best. Vitamin K is also ideal for soothing skin ailments because it helps speed up the recovery time of certain skin injuries, such as cracks in the skin.

The vitamins in tallow balm have their own unique benefits, but they come together in the balm and soap to help repair, protect, and soothe your skin. 

How can tallow balm improve your skincare routine?

Tallow balm will make your routine a little more seamless—fewer reapplications and soft skin that will last all day long. The vitamins and nutrients in tallow balm are game changers. They will make your skin look and feel better with less effort. Tallow balms are a natural alternative that will give your skin the vitamins and minerals it needs to protect and reinvigorate itself. Tallow balms help aid skin conditions, including cracked, calloused, dry skin, rashes, burning, itching, wrinkles, sun damage, eczema, and more. Tallow balms give the skin the nutrients it needs to repair itself and the natural oils that keep in the moisture and nutrients. We recommend going in with our all-natural tallow soaps first and following up with a tallow balm, but it isn’t required. Adding tallow balm as a lotion replacement to your initial routine can make all the difference. Check out our balms today!

What vitamins and nutrients are in tallow soap, and why are they beneficial to you?

We chose tallow for our soaps and balms because it is a natural, sustainable, and nutrient-dense base for skincare. In our earlier blogs, we discuss why tallow is a sustainable and natural choice, and today we want to hone in on the nutrient-dense properties of tallow. Tallow is packed with vitamins and nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, and K. All of these vitamins have different properties beneficial to your skin. We wanted to highlight each one to showcase the fantastic benefits of tallow soap for your skin.

Vitamin A: A powerhouse for your skin and a soft and soothing vitamin, vitamin A is an excellent addition to any skincare product. Vitamin A already exists in our bodies, and we typically get a regular supply of it through food like eggs, cheese, oily fish, or milk. While getting a healthy source of vitamin A through your food is essential, adding vitamin A to your skincare can be equally beneficial. When used topically, your skin can directly absorb vitamin A to retain the benefits.

Vitamin A is commonly known to smooth wrinkles, lighten sunspots, calm acne, balance oil, and more. When vitamin A is used on the skin, it promotes the production of collagen, which helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin A also supports the healthy function of your sebaceous glands. It helps your sebaceous glands and skin operate at their optimal capacity when used correctly. This is also why it is great for reducing acne. With quick cell turnover and optimal skin conditions, vitamin A helps prevent acne. Finally, as a known antioxidant, vitamin A can help protect your skin against pollution and sun damage. You see similar properties in other antioxidants like vitamin C and A.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D is common in tallow, and it exists in our bodies naturally. We typically get vitamin D from sunlight and in our diet through foods like red meat, fish, and eggs. People often have common vitamin D deficiencies, especially in the winter months when there is less natural sunlight. As a topical skincare product, vitamin D has been known to restore vibrancy in the skin due to its many benefits.

It may or may not surprise you to know that vitamin D is an antioxidant. Therefore, it can help stop damage to your skin created by free radicals. Vitamin D has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties, which help improve your skin’s natural defenses, help repair cells, and rebuild your skin’s barrier. This allows your skin to retain moisture and prevent damage from the environment. Vitamin D is also a known anti-inflammatory that has been used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis. Think of vitamin D as a great protector for your skin, making it stronger for longer.

Vitamin E: Vitamin E is another common vitamin in tallow and many skincare regimens. As a very commonly known antioxidant, vitamin E is known for promoting skin rejuvenation through protection against free radicals. Free radicals like pollution, chemicals, and others have been shown to cause wrinkles and damage our skin. Vitamin E is also prevalent in tallow and has been shown to prevent collagen breakdown. Sun exposure tends to deplete our body’s antioxidants. Using skincare products with these antioxidants can help replenish what the body loses. Antioxidant skincare acts as the first line of defense from things like sunlight and pollution.

Like many of the other vitamins on this list, Vitamin E is fat-soluble and can easily penetrate the layers of your dermis to deeply protect and repair your skin. Vitamin E is also extremely moisturizing as a fat-soluble and will help your skin retain the moisture it needs to look and feel its best.

Vitamin K: Vitamin K is another fat-soluble vitamin; however, this one is much less common than the others we’ve mentioned. Even though it is less common, vitamin K is still a great addition to your skincare routine. In fact, vitamin K is known as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It will help protect your skin and keep it looking its best. Vitamin K is also ideal for soothing skin ailments because it helps speed up the recovery time of certain skin injuries, such as cracks in the skin.

These vitamins work together to repair, protect, and soothe your skin. When used regularly as a soap or balm, you will see how these vitamins work to make your skin look and feel better for longer. You can also use products paired with other ingredients like essential oils for added benefits. We can’t always control our health or our skin’s reactions to the elements; however, we can use products that help make our skin stronger and more protected when the time comes.

How do you make tallow soap?

Soapmaking is our passion, and we want to share it with all of our customers. That is why we have decided to give you a look into our soapmaking process. As always, we want our customers to choose our products based on the facts. We want to ensure you know just what goes into our products, and we believe they are the best choice for your skin.

If you ever choose to make soap on your own, please be careful, wear protective gear, and look up full instructions with safety requirements.

Our soapmaking process begins with us rendering suet into tallow we can use for our products. This isn’t necessary because you can buy the tallow already rendered, but we do it ourselves because we want to support local businesses and utilize local resources.

How We Turn Suet into Tallow

Step 1 - We pick up our suet from Walden Local Meat.  We always choose grass-finished cattle that are pasture-raised.

Step 2 – We begin the rendering process. The suet is ground, rendered and filtered.

Step 3 – Let the freshly rendered tallow cool. Once cooled, it’s ready to be used for soapmaking.

Now we are ready to begin the soapmaking process.

How We Make Tallow Soap

Step 1 – First, we heat all of the oils. While they are heating, we start putting together our lye solution.

What is lye? Lye is a general term for two different alkaline compounds known as Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH). They are highly water-soluble and are sometimes referred to as caustic soda.

Soap is the result of a reaction that occurs when you mix lye with liquid oils. Lye, which has a scientific name of sodium hydroxide, reacts when it is properly mixed; the process of mixing and causing this reaction is called saponification.

The process typically involves mixing lye with oils or butters, which contribute to soap's scents and other natural properties, such as vitamins and minerals. The oils and butters also react with the lye, resulting in a product that is safe for use on the skin. At the end of the soapmaking process, there's no lye left in the soap. It forms a bond with oil and becomes soap! All soap is made with lye at some point in the process.

Step 2 - Once the oils reach the proper temperature, the lye solution is poured into the oils.

Step 3 – Mix the oils and lye solution using a hand mixer. We do this very carefully to limit mess and ensure lye isn’t exposed to our skin.

Step 4 - After several minutes, you will notice a light trace. At this point, you would add any essential oils, color, or coffee grounds, pumice, etc. Continue to mix until you are at a heavy trace.

Trace is the point at which the soap has thickened and blended enough to have formed a stable emulsion.

Step 5 – Once you have a heavy trace, the soap batter is ready to be poured into the molds.

Step 6 – Let the soap sit in the molds overnight so it can saponify.

Step 7 – The next day, when the soap is set in the molds, we remove it from the molds and cut it. Then the soap is put onto curing racks where it says to cure for four weeks.

Done! Now the soap is all ready to be used.

Tallow Soap Facts and Myths

Tallow is known as a common base for high-quality, long-lasting soaps and balms. However, like most products, there are many misconceptions regarding the sourcing and benefits of tallow. These misconceptions have generated a series of common myths about tallow soaps. As always, we want our customers to be informed. We want you to choose our soaps because you trust what goes into them. That is why we are highlighting some of the facts and myths of tallow soaps. 

Myth: Tallow soap is created with an animal byproduct, so it can’t be good for the environment.

FALSE. Tallow soap is actually a sustainable base for soap. Unlike palm oil, which benefits from massive deforestation, tallow utilizes an animal byproduct that typically goes to waste. Pasture-based tallow is made by rendering suet. The suet used to make tallow is generally considered waste in the farming industry. The primary harvest for most meat-based farms is the meat that people commonly eat. Once the parts people eat are harvested, the suet and other non-traditional parts are wasted. Tallow soap making helps eliminate this waste by utilizing the remaining tallow for nutrient-dense soaps and balms. 

Fact: Tallow-based soaps moisturize my skin better.

TRUE. Tallow has a high percentage of oleic acid, a well-known skin conditioner. Oleic acid is a non-essential fatty acid that is found in human sebum. Oleic acid has a wide range of positive effects on the skin, including acting as an emollient and moisturizer. Oleic acid aids skin regeneration and helps reduce inflammation. Oleic acid is readily absorbed by the skin and can help the absorption of other important molecules like omega-3 fatty acid, which plays an important role in inflammation and the reduction of bad cholesterol. The similarities of oleic acid to human sebum allow its vitamins and nutrients to be absorbed into the body easier, and it locks in moisture and nutrients without clogging your pores.

Myth: Tallow Soap can clog your pores. 

FALSE. Tallow soap is rich in oleic acid, a known skin conditioner. It also contains a similar fat content to human skin making it easy for our skin to absorb. This is why tallow soaps are a great source of vitamins and nutrients for our skin. When we use tallow soaps regularly, they help build up our natural sebum creating soft, healthy-looking skin. 

Fact: Tallow soaps have more nutrients than other soaps. 

TRUE. Tallow contains vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, contributing to skin health and appearance. Given that the fat saturation of tallow is close to human fat, the vitamins within it can be absorbed into the body easier, and it locks in moisture and nutrients without clogging your pores. On the other hand, palm oil is high in vitamin E and vitamin A, and it has refatting agents that allow your body to restore its natural oils. While these are amazing benefits, it is clear there are more benefits of tallow soap, making it even better. 

Myth: Tallow-based soaps have a meat smell.  

FALSE. This is a very common concern and definitely one we understand. However, if you render and strain the tallow correctly, the soap will not smell like meat. It will smell like tallow soap, which has a mildly fatty smell to some, but it is very soft and non-offensive. Essential oils are a great way to enhance the soap’s properties and scent. Essential oils have their benefits, and when used in conjunction with traditional tallow soaps, they are typically soft and soothing. 

Fact: Tallow can help soothe dry, cracked skin. 

TRUE. Tallow is packed with nutrients, and it has similar fat saturation levels as we do - making it easy for our body to absorb. Tallow balms contain vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, which can all be beneficial to your skin health and appearance. Given tallow’s organic compatibility with our skin, it works as natural sebum, locking in moisture and nutrients without clogging your pores. These properties are what make tallow balms so great for skin conditions including dry, chapped, calloused, cracked, and sun-damaged skin, rashes, burning, itching, wrinkles, and so on. Tallow soaps and balms give our skin the nutrients to heal itself and the natural oil to retain moisture and nutrients.

Myth: All tallow soaps are created equal. 

FALSE. Like any other product, where you get the ingredients matters. Depending on the kind of suet used to make tallow, there can be vast differences in the final product for tallow soaps. Our suet always comes from grass-finished cattle at a farm in our region. We choose grass-finished cattle that are pasture-raised. By obtaining our suet locally, we can ensure that the cows are treated humanely, graze freely, and live happily. It is important to us that we make high-quality soaps in the most humane way possible. That is how we can create quality soaps and balms that set us apart from the rest. 

Are tallow soaps and balms a sustainable option?

Sustainability is a crucial topic these days. With the effects of climate change ever-present, we want to make sure the products we use and create are made with sustainability in mind. When considering how to opt-out of the chemical lifestyle, we knew we wanted to make soaps that were good for our bodies and better for the environment. That is why we chose tallow for our soaps and stopped using palm oil products. Palm oil is the most common tallow soap alternative because it is cheap; however, it is typically not harvested sustainably or ethically. Unfair labor practices, animal cruelty, and rapid deforestation are common in the palm oil industry, making it far less sustainable long term.

On the other hand, tallow soap utilizes an animal by-product that would typically go to waste. Pasture-based tallow is made by rendering suet. Beef suet is the fat found around the loins and kidneys of cows. To render the tallow, the suet is chopped up, melted over low heat, the liquid fat is strained to separate solid pieces, and the liquid fat is allowed to cool, resulting in rendered tallow. The suet used to make tallow is typically considered waste in the farming industry. After the meat that most people eat is harvested, the suet is leftover with other non-traditional parts.

Rendering tallow from suet when making soaps and balms helps reduce waste by using something otherwise discarded. As for the type of suet we use, we use grass-fed, pasture-raised suet to make our tallow. We want to ensure our soaps are made using humanely sourced ingredients that are high quality. While tallow may seem like an odd choice for soap, the added vitamins and nutrients and the sustainable benefits actually make tallow a better choice for soap than palm oil.

Ultimately, Tallow soaps help alleviate waste from the farming industry by utilizing suet (beef fat) and turning it into a vitamin-rich skincare product. Using suet from grass-finished and pasture-raised cattle can ensure humane treatment of the cattle. In addition to these great ethical and sustainable qualities of tallow soap, we also make sure to use recyclable packaging to limit delivery waste.

We believe that tallow soap is the perfect choice for sustainable soap. It is compatible with our skin and filled with the vitamins and nutrients our skin craves. Try out one of our soaps and balms and see for yourself how beneficial tallow soap is for you and the environment.

What does it mean to opt-out of the chemical lifestyle?

Over eight years ago, we decided it was time to opt-out of the chemical lifestyle. To us, opting out of the chemical lifestyle is a decision to use natural products with straightforward ingredients whenever possible. We use chemicals in our homes, our bodies, and at work. While we know some chemicals are necessary, and it would be difficult to cut them out 100%, limiting our exposure to unnecessary chemicals can benefit our health and the world around us. Specifically, we want to limit our exposure to synthetics—artificial chemical compounds that are usually cheap and easy to make. These synthetic chemicals are typically not environmentally conscious and can be bad for our health/skin. 

When it comes to soap and skin specifically, we began making soap because we realized how damaging these synthetic chemicals could be to our skin. They have little to no health benefits, and they can actually work against us. Opting out of the chemical lifestyle was a way for us to take control of our skin health by making and using products that give us added health benefits. That is why we only use pasture-based beef suet in our soaps and all-natural essential oils in our products. By using pasture-based beef suet, we can ensure our tallow is nutrient-rich without unnecessary chemicals and hormones.

Similarly, using all-natural essential oils help keep our products safe for most skin types with less risk of irritation than synthetic fragrance oils. Making our products healthy for our customers and us is our top priority, but sustainable production is equally important. We make sure we support sustainable farming practices that value and nourish the soil, and we use reusable packing whenever possible to help keep our oceans clean. When it comes to our soaps, opting out of the chemical lifestyle is more than a motto, it's a lifestyle. We want to make sure we embrace it while also making it easy for our customers to opt-out of this lifestyle along with us. 

Opting out of the chemical lifestyle may look different for everyone, but ultimately, it is choosing to use natural ingredients and products. It may not always be possible, but making that choice and working towards it is enough. When you start to consider opting out of the chemical lifestyle, there are several ways to do it and how you begin is also up to you. Here are some great suggestions to get you started: 

• Shopping at local businesses with locally sourced ingredients.

• Utilize reusable packaging through package-free wholesale stores or alternative uses.

• Research ingredients and learn what natural, sustainable products work best for you.

• Using companion gardening to deal with pests and diseases instead of pesticides. This hugely aides the bee community.

We want to emphasize that we are not perfect; no one is. But, we should always strive to be better a little bit at a time. Keep educating ourselves, and apply one thing at a time. We hope this blog makes opting out of the chemical lifestyle a little easier for you. 

The Benefits of Essential Oils

Aside from the Pure Tallow Soap, Pumice Tallow Soap, Pine Tar Soap, and the Unscented Tallow Balm, all of our soaps and balms include natural essential oils made from plant extract. We use essential oils in our soaps for their scent and their potential health benefits. When choosing the right soap, you have to figure out which essential oils work for you and why. To make it a little easier, we have compiled all of the essential oils we use and some of their benefits. If you want to know more about a specific essential oil, we recommend doing some individual research to confirm which one is right for you. 

Cedarwood - Cedarwood essential oil is derived from the needles, leaves, bark, and berries of cedar trees. It is known for its soothing, relaxing, and comforting properties. Cedarwood essential oil is commonly used for sleep, anxiety, aromatherapy, and in colognes. It is also great for oily and acne-prone skin because it helps alleviate and reduce stubborn breakouts. Cedarwood oil may also be beneficial for other skin conditions. For example, it may reduce the appearance of scars, treat minor wounds, alleviate arthritis pain, and soothe symptoms of eczema.

Coffee – Coffee essential oil is derived through a cold-pressed distillation process of coffee beans. It acts as a vasoconstrictor and is rich in antioxidants and phytosterols. This means it protects your skin from free radicals, helps your skin retain moisture, and reduces inflammation. It is known in the skincare world for its skin tightening and cellulite-reducing potential. 

Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus essential oil is made with eucalyptus leaves that are dried, crushed, and distilled. Eucalyptus essential oil is known to relieve respiratory based ailments and muscle pain and soreness. It also has properties that strengthen your immune system, act as an antiseptic, and stimulate brain activity. It is an excellent bug repellent and DEET alternative for those who cannot use DEET. 

Peppermint – Peppermint essential oil is made by extracting oil from the leaves of the peppermint plant. Peppermint essential oil has been used medicinally for centuries and dates back to the ancient Egyptians. Peppermint oil has a wide variety of uses, but its most common properties are itch relief, muscle pain, and headache relief. Peppermint oil also has a cool, sharp scent that can be refreshing and awakening. 

 Lavender – Lavender essential oil is derived from the lavender plant, and it is commonly known for its calming and soothing properties. As a natural antidepressant and detoxifier, lavender essential oil is typically used for aromatherapy and stress relief. Lavender essential oil is also said to have antibiotic and antiseptic properties that can help promote healing and prevent scarring. It is a great soap ingredient with healing properties that leave skin feeling smooth, silky, and moisturized.  

Tea Tree – Tea tree oil comes from the evergreen leaves of the Australian Melaleuca Alternifolia tree. It is a very fragrant oil that is known for its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Tea tree oil can be used to soothe skin, hair, and nail conditions and as an insect repellent. When used topically, tea tree oil can aid certain skin conditions or improve the skin's overall appearance.

Lemongrass – Lemongrass essential oil is extracted from the leaves and stalks of the lemongrass plant. It has a bright citrus scent that can help with symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Lemongrass essential oil is also known to have anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. It can help with infections, arthritis, fungi, and free radical damage. 

Orange – Orange essential oil is extracted from the rind of the sweet orange, Citrus sinensis. Much like lemongrass essential oil, orange has a bright citrus scent that can improve your mood and combat symptoms of anxiety and depression. It can also be used to reduce pain and inflammation in some cases. 

Clove – Clove essential oil is derived from clove trees known as Syzygium aromaticum. It is native to Southeast Asia, although today, you may find it growing in other locations, too. It has antiseptic, antiviral, and antifungal properties that can help kill bacteria and fungi and ease pain. Clove oil has also been found to aid in severe itching. 

Patchouli - Patchouli essential oil is derived from the leaves of the patchouli plant. The leaves and stems of the plant are harvested and allowed to dry out before the distillation process to extract the oil. Patchouli has a calming, earthy scent, and it can be used as an insecticide, antifungal, and antibacterial. Patchouli essential oil can help relieve anxiety and depression, and it can soothe skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and dry skin.

Rosemary – Rosemary essential oil is extracted from the needle-like leaves of the rosemary evergreen shrub. It has been known to help increase memory and brain function and can help relieve stress. It is also ideal for removing other strong scents from cooking or working. Rosemary essential oil has anti-inflammatory, insecticide, and antibacterial properties. It can help improve circulation and healing. 

Pine Tar – Even though pine tar is not an essential oil, we feel it’s important to list its benefits. The pine tar we use is derived from pine tree stumps and burned in a kiln resulting in "genuine peasant made tar." This pure form of pine tar is known for its antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It is excellent for relief from long and short-term skin conditions like dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis. 

This list is not all-encompassing, and we hope to continue to try new essential oils in the future. If you’re looking for a fresh new soap this summer, we recommend our Lemongrass Tallow Soap or our Eucalyptus and Peppermint Tallow Soap. Both of these soaps are the perfect summer fresh vibe. Check out one of those, or use this list to find the perfect soap for you.

What are the benefits of handmade soap?

People buy handmade soaps for a variety of reasons. Maybe it’s to support local businesses, to live healthier, to use better ingredients, or to have transparency in the ingredients they use, but no matter what the reason is, we believe it is the right choice.

Benefit No. 1: Handmade soaps use are often natural and free of chemicals  

We believe that a soap is only as good as its ingredients. Why not use a soap that helps your skin and smells nice, instead of one or the other? That is why we chose to opt-out of the chemical lifestyle about eight years ago. By handmaking soaps that are formulated with fewer chemicals and more simple ingredients, you get higher quality bars of soap. Our all-natural tallow-based soaps are made with grass-finished beef tallow that has a similar fat composition to human skin. This means the body absorbs the nutrients from the tallow, like vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, much easier than traditional soaps.

 Mass-produced soaps are often filled with chemicals and ingredients that people can’t even pronounce like synthetic detergents and preservatives that offer little to no benefit to the skin. These added chemicals are used for smell, preservation, or aesthetics and can cause skin reactions and irritations.

Going with a small brand usually means you can easily obtain and understand the ingredients. Our handmade natural soaps are made in small batches with grass-finished tallow, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and natural essential oils that are gentle and soothing for the skin. We want you to trust and rely on our soaps as much as we do.

Benefit No. 2: Natural soaps are typically more moisturizing

Natural soaps are typically free of harsh and unnecessary chemicals. In our case, we only use all-natural tallow that comes from grass-finished beef. Given the similar fat saturation levels of the tallow to human skin, it is easily absorbed by the skin. Tallow’s organic compatibility with our skin allows it to works as natural sebum as well, locking in moisture and nutrients without clogging your pores.

Typical mass-produced soaps may try to include the same vitamins, but they struggle to match the quality of handmade soaps. By using easily mass-produced ingredients and chemicals, the mass-produced soaps don’t have the same properties to facilitate healthy skin. Tallow soaps, on the other hand, give the skin the nutrients it needs to soothe itself and the natural oil to keep the moisture and nutrients in.

 Benefit No. 3: Natural soap can keep your skin looking and feeling healthier

Tallow acts as a natural moisturizer and its nutrient-rich composition can help soothe skin from a variety of skin irritations. Working by itself, natural tallow soap can help soothe dry cracked skin, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. However, for people who enjoy a scent in their soap, essential oils are a great way to add scent and additional skin soothing benefits. Each essential oil plays its part and provides different types of relief. If you check out our social media posts or our website, you can see how each essential oil has different properties to improve your skin and your overall wellness.

Benefit No. 4: It is better for the environment and local economies

We are proud to be owners of a small business and we try and support other small, local businesses as well. One of the benefits of buying handmade soap is supporting local economies. It is also a great way to support your community. Small businesses actually have been found to support local communities the most. Making it a more circular shopping model.

 Supporting local businesses is also a good way to help the environment and reduce your carbon footprint. Small businesses have the freedom to choose more sustainable packaging and can use it while still being cost-effective. Due to the size of larger mass-produced soap, they often don’t choose sustainable packaging because profit is the purpose. Overall, small businesses have a smaller carbon footprint than larger companies, and supporting them means you are shrinking your carbon footprint too! 

Handmade soaps are really the way to go. They allow you to learn about the products you are using and how they really benefit you. They provide transparency between the business and the consumer. They keep your skin feeling soft, looking better, and feeling healthier. They also support local businesses and help the environment. While these soaps may cost a bit more, the cost is worth it for all of these incredible benefits. The most important thing is that your skin is healthy and you find a product that works well for you.

We offer a variety of tallow-based soaps and balms that are all handmade with care and skin-sensitive ingredients. We want you to opt-out of the chemical lifestyle and take control of your skin today!

Pasture-Raised, Grass-fed, Feedlot, Grain-Finished Cattle - What's the difference?

Most of us have heard of grass-fed cattle and understand it to be a healthier option, but does it actually mean, and how do we know it is the best choice? Having so many options can be confusing especially when we don’t know the differences and technicalities in each. For example, grass-fed, and pasture-raised may seem like the same thing, but there are small differences that can make a huge impact when it comes to the products you use or the food you eat.

What are feedlot cattle or conventionally raised cattle?  

All cattle in the United States begin on the pasture. Calves are pasture-raised for six months to a year, and once they are weaned (separated from their mothers) and vaccinated, they are auctioned and moved to a feedlot.

When cattle are grown on a feedlot the primary focuses are efficiency and growth of the animal, but nutrition and health are also important. The main purpose of feedlots is to help the animal reach a certain weight as efficiently as possible. This happens through providing a steady, high-energy diet and managing the cattle to minimize health problems and stress. One major part of this equation is to lower the amount of energy the animal spends trying to find food and direct that to growth. 

Once the cattle are in the feedlot they are vaccinated, ear-tagged, and started on a high forage diet. The longer they are in the feedlot, the more their diets become concentrated with grains and high-energy products. This diet along with cortisol from stress, allows the cattle to gain weight exponentially in the feedlot. This makes the overall harvesting process fast and cost-effective.

This fast and cost-effective method still comes with a high moral price tag. The cattle in feedlots are often shoved by the thousands into small, dirty spaces, fed poor quality food, and offered little to no exercise. These cattle aren’t even provided the sight of the outdoors in most cases and mistreatment is common as well.  

It is no wonder that these harsh conditions and poor dietary options result in cattle with significantly less nutrients than the other methods. In fact, grain-fed cattle have four times less vitamin E and unhealthy ratios of omega-6 to omega-3. This unhealthy balance can lead to serious health conditions.

Feedlot cattle are raised efficiently for mass production, but the ethics, nutrition, and quality are lacking. With that being said, it is a cheaper meat option, but it isn’t the healthiest option for your body or the most ethical choice for consumption.

What are grass-fed cattle? 

Grass-fed cattle spend the majority of their lives eating grass and foraging in pastures, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the cow was fed a grass diet their entire lives. If the cattle have spent the majority of their life eating grass, no matter how it is finished, means it can be labeled grass-fed. 

In other words, as long as the cow was fed greenery at one point in its life, it can be labeled as grass-fed beef. However, grass-finished beef means the cow was fed grass — and nothing but grass and plants — for the duration of its life.

So when choosing a grass-fed beef product, it is important to note whether it was grass-finished or grain-finished because each yields a different outcome.

What are grain-finished cattle?

Grain-finished cattle, like grass-finished, spend the majority of their lives eating grass and foraging in pastures. However, these cattle are “finished” with grain and corn before they are harvested. When beef is grain-finished, cattle are free to eat a balanced diet of grain, local feed ingredients, and hay.

So in this case, the cattle were started and spent the majority of their lives on a grass-fed diet and may have been fed grains for the remainder of their lives. The term for this is actually grass-fed, grain-finished beef. 

These cattle still end up in the feedlot for the remainder of their life, producing cortisol and eating grain to produce more fat. While this is a slightly better option than conventionally raised cattle, it is still ethically questionable and leaves the cattle with less nutrients and a higher fat content. Ultimately, this leads to lower quality meat with more fat, more chemicals, and fewer nutrients.

What are pasture-raised cattle?  

Pasture-raised cattle refers to cattle that live and feed on a pasture their entire life. Not all pasture-raised cattle are grass-fed. Some pasture-raised cattle are still fed grains while on the pasture. This typically happens in colder climates when there isn’t enough grass or hay available on the pasture.

While there are pasture-raised cattle that are 100% grass-fed, it is not always the case. We need to be mindful of what the cattle eat and where. The benefit of pasture-raised cattle is that it gives the cows a chance to be cows. They have the freedom to wander, lots of space to graze, and are treated well by the farmers who raise them. 

If raised properly pasture-raised cattle will typically have less cortisol and can be nutrient-dense if they’re grass-finished. Pasture-raised cattle that are grass-finished are an ideal choice for beef products.

What cattle does The Healthy Porcupine use? What cattle should you choose? 

All of our suet comes from grass-finished cattle. We choose grass-finished cattle that are pasture-raised. We get our suet sourced locally in the Northeast, courtesy of Walden Local Meat. They are located in Billerica, Massachusetts, and provide beef and dairy products to businesses throughout the Northeast. By obtaining our suet locally, we can ensure that the cows are treated humanely, graze freely, and live happily. It is important to us that we make high-quality soaps in the most humane way possible. We choose to use Walden Local Meat’s suet in our soaps because it is sourced from several local farms that provide 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised beef suet rich in nutrients, perfect for our all-natural tallow soaps.

The tallow we make from this suet contains healthy amounts of vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, which can all be beneficial to your skin health and appearance. Choosing a soap or a product with grass-finished cattle is a great way to ensure you get a nutrient-rich product that is good for your body. No matter what you choose, always try and make the right choice for you. We want to make sure you have the knowledge you need to opt-out of the chemical lifestyle and move on to better you.

Fragrance Oil vs. Essential Oil

When we began our handmade soap journey over eight years ago, we had so many choices to make when it comes to what we put in our soaps. We know that our customers have to make the same choices when it comes to choosing a soap. Should I use a palm oil or tallow based soap? Should I get a fragrance-free or scented soap? Essential oils or fragrance oils? The questions could go on and on. In today’s blog, we will discuss the difference between fragrance oils and essential oils, and why we choose to use essential oils in our soaps. If you want to learn more about tallow vs. palm oil, check out last month’s blog.

What are fragrance oils?

Fragrance oils are made with a mixture of synthetic and natural ingredients. Some are made with as many as sixty different ingredients in one small bottle. Due to the synthetic nature of the ingredients in fragrance oils, they typically last longer than essential oils. Resins, preservatives, and other synthetic ingredients allow the fragrance oils to withstand the soap-making process better and remain stronger once the process is completed. Fragrance oils also come in a much larger variety of smells than essential oils because they aren’t limited to natural scents. This means they are typically cheaper than essential oils and can be found in many commercial products. 

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are extracted from different parts of a plant, such as flowers, herbs, or roots. The extraction processes, steam distillation or cold extraction, are what creates 100% natural essential oils. Essential oils are not mixed or diluted with any other substances making them very neat compounds of a plant’s essence. It is difficult to recreate the scent of an essential oil in a fragrance oil and when it is attempted it contains an abundant mixture of synthetic compounds. The purity of essential oils allows them to retain the health benefits of the plants they are sourced from. The same purity makes it difficult for the scent of essential oils to remain stable during the soap making process, especially when it is done on a large-scale, like commercial soap making. However, for smaller retailers like us, we take the time and care to ensure the scent and beneficial qualities of the essential oils remain in our soaps.

Where do you get your essential oils for your soaps?

We get our essential oils from New Directions Aromatics. They offer a wide variety of products at a reasonable cost so we can keep our soaps reasonably priced for our customers. Aside from the cost, we choose their essential oils because they are certified 100% pure essential oils and Certified Fair Trade. We want to make sure we are using quality essential oils for our soaps, so we can help our customer’s skin look and feel its best while using natural products.  

Why should I choose essential oils over fragrance oils?

As we mentioned before, essential oils are 100% natural oils made from plant extract. The reason we use essential oils in our soap, and the reason you should choose them, is for their health benefits and gentle qualities for sensitive skin. Synthetic ingredients used in fragrance oils are more likely to cause skin irritation than essential oils. Typically, unless you are allergic to the plant itself, essential oils are safe to use on the skin and can actually help the skin. Depending on the type of essential oil, the health benefits may differ along with the scent and shelf life. Many essential oils are used for their anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, and pain relief properties. However, each essential oil has specific health benefits and should be chosen based on each person’s health and skincare needs.

Much like the essential oils put into our soaps, each soap has unique health benefits based on the oils that are used. When choosing a soap, we encourage you to read up on the essential oils and the grass-finished tallow, so you can make an informed decision that aligns with your health and skincare goals. We want to make sure our soaps allow you to opt-out of the chemical lifestyle to create the healthiest version of you.

Palm Oil Soap vs. Pasture-Based Tallow Soap

When choosing a soap, it can go far beyond simple smells, costs, and brands. The quality and source of the ingredients are equally important.

So, what is the main difference between pasture-based tallow and palm oil?

Palm oil and tallow are used as the base in the soap making process. The hard oils and fats in the palm oil and tallow allow the soap to stay firm when it gets wet. The most apparent difference between them is that one is a plant-based oil and one is a pasture-based fat, but the differences don’t stop there. The way palm oil and tallow are sourced is different, and their nutrients, cost, sustainability, and texture are different as well. We know it is practically impossible to know everything about the ingredients in every product we use, but when it comes to soaps we think it is possible to make an informed decision.

How are palm oil and pasture-based tallow sourced?

Pasture-based tallow is made by rendering suet. Beef suet is the fat found around the loins and kidneys of cows. To render the suet, it is chopped up, melted over low heat, the liquid fat is strained to separate solid pieces, and the liquid fat is then allowed to cool resulting in rendered tallow. While to some tallow may seem strange or gross, the added vitamins and nutrients along with the sustainable benefits, actually made tallow a better choice for soap than palm oil.

Palm oil comes from the fruit of oil palm trees, the scientific name is Elaeis guineensis. The majority of palm oil harvested today comes from South Asia; although, it was originally native to Africa. There are different types of palm oil, but the oil that is typically used in soap making comes from squeezing the fruit of the oil palm tree. It is squeezed to get all of the palm oil out and this crude oil is then used to make soaps and many other household products. Palm oil is very common in household products because it is cheap and easy to work with, however, the conditions of its sourcing often call for ethical concerns. The ethical concerns in palm oil production stems from unfair labor practices and massive deforestation that further risks endangered species.

While tallow comes from animals, it is not the primary reason the animal is harvested. In fact, suet is typically considered waste in the farming industry. After the meat that most people eat is harvested, the suet is leftover with other non-traditional parts. Rendering tallow from suet to make soaps and balms is a sustainable way to use something that would be otherwise discarded. As for our soaps and balms, we also ensure the use of grass-fed cattle for any of our suet. We want to ensure our soaps are made using humanely sourced ingredients that are high quality.

What are the benefits of tallow vs. palm oil?

In addition to palm oil creating a long-lasting soap, its benefits also include high vitamin E and vitamin A content and refatting agents that allow your body to restore its natural oils. While these are amazing benefits, the benefits of beef tallow are even better. Tallow contains vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, which contribute to skin health and appearance. Given that the fat saturation of tallow is close to human fat, the vitamins within it can be absorbed into the body easier and it locks in moisture and nutrients without clogging your pores.

Why choose beef tallow over palm oil?

We made the choice ourselves when we began making soaps, with skin conditions and health concerns we were looking for natural remedies that help our bodies and don’t break the bank. Tallow is known for its nutrient-rich properties that naturally heal and nourish our skin, so for us, it seemed like the perfect base. We make sure our tallow is ethically sourced and ensure it comes from a high-quality source. By doing so we can create soaps that are good for us and don’t come with the moral dilemmas of palm oil. Why not use a soap that is good for your health, your skin, the orangutans, and the elephants too!

Source: wwf.org