From Suet to Skincare: How We Render Our Tallow (And Why It Matters)

When it comes to skincare, what’s inside the jar matters. But just as important is how that ingredient got there.

Most consumers have no idea how skincare products are made—let alone how their ingredients are sourced or processed. The result? Countless products filled with overprocessed oils, harsh preservatives, or tallow that’s been industrially bleached, deodorized, or blended with lesser fats.

At No Bull Tallow, we take a radically different approach. We believe your skin deserves ingredients that are clean, traceable, and processed with integrity.

This post breaks down exactly how we turn suet from regenerative Ontario farms into small-batch skincare—crafted by hand and powered by our proprietary Ancestral Lipid Blend™. This leading formulation blends skin-compatible fats like tallow, lanolin, and beeswax to mimic your skin’s natural barrier and deliver deep, lasting nourishment. Every step of the process is intentional, and it makes all the difference for your skin.

Tallow Isn’t Just an Ingredient—It’s Our Foundation

Tallow (specifically, suet-derived tallow) is the core of every No Bull product. It’s what gives our balms their skin-soothing richness, nutrient density, and shelf stability—without preservatives or synthetic emulsifiers.

Unlike plant oils that oxidize quickly or synthetics that simply coat the skin, tallow:

• Closely match the structure of human skin sebum
• Offers deep moisturization while allowing the skin to breathe
• Supports barrier repair and reduces inflammation

But not all tallow is equal. How tallow is rendered and purified dramatically impacts its quality—and unfortunately, many commercial brands use shortcuts that strip the fat of its nutrients or introduce impurities.

Step 1: Sourcing from Regenerative Ontario Farms

We don’t just “buy local.” We build relationships with Ontario farmers who practice regenerative agriculture—farming that heals the land, respects the animal, and nourishes the ecosystem.

Why this matters:

• Regenerative farms prioritize animal welfare, rotational grazing, and soil health 
• The cattle are grass-fed and never given antibiotics, hormones or vaccines
• We specifically request suet—the fat surrounding the kidneys—because it’s the cleanest, most nutrient-rich part of the animal

This is the foundation of our Ancestral Blend™—a skincare base rooted in tradition and transparency.

Step 2: Dry Rendering by the Butcher

Once the suet is harvested, it’s rendered—not by a machine, but by our trusted local butcher using a traditional, low-heat dry rendering method. This approach avoids the water bath process used in wet rendering, which can introduce excess moisture, degrade nutrients, and shorten shelf life. While dry rendering can leave more of the natural scent intact, it preserves the fat’s full integrity—and thanks to our advanced in-house Triple Purification Process™, we gently refine away any remaining odor without compromising quality. The result? A cleaner, more nutrient-rich tallow that lasts longer and performs better on your skin.

Here’s what makes this step so important:

• No water is added, which prevents contamination and spoilage
• The gentle, low heat preserves the natural vitamins and fatty acids in the fat
• It avoids the high-temperature, solvent-based processes used in industrial tallow production, which can destroy nutrient content

The result? A rich, unrefined fat that retains its skin-healing properties—and smells clean without the need for synthetic deodorizers.

Step 3: Custom Multi-Stage Scent & Impurity Filtration

Once we receive the rendered fat, we don’t cut corners. We purify every batch in house using our leading Triple Purification Process™—A Three-stage filtration system, developed in-house to meet our standards for clarity, scent, and stability.

Stage 1: Coarse Filtration
 Removes larger particles and visible impurities from the butcher-rendered suet.

Stage 2: Fine Filtration
Targets micro-impurities and trace compounds that contribute to residual odor or instability. This stage begins to refine the scent of our dry-rendered tallow without using chemical deodorizers.

Stage 3: Final Polishing Filter
 Delivers a clean, smooth, light-coloured tallow that feels and smells mild—perfect for even the most sensitive skin types.

Step 4: Circulation for Clarity and Aroma Control

Here’s where craftsmanship meets science. Before that final filtration, we allow the melted tallow to circulate slowly through the system multiple times.

This:

• Helps remove trace compounds that contribute to any residual odour
• Prevents the integrity of the fat by avoiding chemical deodorizers
• Results in a mild-smelling, smooth-textured tallow without any artificial scenting
  

It’s a step most brands skip—but it’s one of the reasons our tallow never smells “meaty” or greasy.

Step 5: Draw-Off and Controlled Cooling

After filtration, the purified tallow is:

• Drawn off and polished one final time
• Gently agitated while cooling to prevent separation
• Allowed to solidify in small, manageable batches for consistency

Why does this matter? Because cooling too quickly can create graininess or separation, leading to a poor user experience. Our method ensures:

• A smooth, stable, velvety texture
• Long shelf life without synthetic stabilizers
• A consistently premium product from jar to jar

Why This Process Sets No Bull Tallow Apart

Let’s be honest—tallow is having a skincare moment. But as more brands jump on the bandwagon, the differences in quality are becoming more obvious.

Here’s what sets No Bull apart:

We don’t just “make skincare”—we steward every step from animal to jar.

Tallow as a Skincare Ingredient: What Science Says

Research shows that tallow is particularly compatible with human skin:

• It shares a similar triglyceride and fatty acid composition with human sebum.
• Long shelf life without synthetic stabilizers
• Has antimicrobial properties that help reduce bacterial overgrowth without disturbing the skin's natural microbiome.

Scientific Reference: Studies have confirmed that saturated animal fats can be better tolerated by the skin than certain unstable vegetable oils, especially when used in topical applications that preserve their structure.

Why Purity Matters in Handmade Skincare

When skincare is made in small batches, every detail counts. There’s no margin for cutting corners.

That’s why our commitment to purity and craftsmanship doesn’t stop with tallow. We also:

• Use only essential oils with known topical benefits (and never in overpowering amounts)
• Source additional ingredients like clays and botanicals from ethical Canadian partners
• Avoid every common irritant: no water, no preservatives, no emulsifiers, no artificial fragrance

We’re proud to be part of the handmade skincare Canada movement—but even among artisan brands, our process is rare in its rigour.

Skincare That Starts With the Land

Clean Skincare Starts With Clean Ingredients

At No Bull Tallow, we believe skincare should be just as honest, nutrient-dense, and traceable as the food you eat.

That’s why we:

• Know our farmers
• Filter our own suet
• Purify in-house
• Hand-pour every batch

We don’t chase trends. We honour tradition, craftsmanship, and the biological intelligence of your skin.

From pasture to product, we control every step—so you can trust what you’re putting on your body.

 Want to experience the difference that process makes?

Shop our full line of handmade, biologically compatible skincare today!