Tallow Sugar Scrub: The Best DIY Exfoliator for Dry Skin

Exfoliate and moisturize with this simple DIY tallow sugar scrub—crafted from clean, natural ingredients for healthy, glowing skin.

Tallow sugar scrub in a black glass jar.

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Why You’ll Love This

Ease – Homemade tallow skincare is quite simple and in this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to make your own nourishing sugar scrub.

Sustainable – Tallow skincare is fully sustainable as you are utilizing the fat from a beef cow that is traditionally thrown away.

Gentle – Sugar is gentle on skin with small granules that easily dissolve and help hydrate skin.

Tools You May Need

Why Use Tallow For A Sugar Scrub

Tallow skincare is all the rage right now. And it should be. I have personally used tallow for years on my face and body and I can say without a doubt I’ll never go back to anything else. NEVER

  • Skin Benefiting Nutrients in Tallow – Tallow (beef fat) shares biological traits similar to our skin allowing our bodies to use this substance easily in order to provide the nutrients your skin needs to stay moisturized and healthy. 
    • Vitamin A – Promotes healthy skin and skin repair.
    • Vitamin D – Soothes skin and retains moisture. 
    • Vitamin E – Antioxidant 
    • Vitamin K – Vital for protecting the skin barrier. 
    • Palmitic/Stearic/Oleic Acids – Fatty acids that help protect, hydrate and clean the skin.
  • Tallow is semi-solid at room temperature – When making a sugar scrub you don’t want an oily liquid as your base, you want to use something that is easy to apply to your skin.
  • Tallow is Naturally Antimicrobial – Wonderful for preventing acne and breakouts.

Why Use Sugar For A Body Scrub?

  • Exfoliating – Fine sugar granules gently exfoliate the skin. By quickly dissolving, sugar will not damage cracked dry skin.
  • Hydrating – Unlike salt which draws water out of the skin, sugar is a natural humectant which means it draws water into the skin creating natural hydration.
  • Texture – Sugar dissolves easily into oil or water, giving a smooth gentle texture to a homemade tallow sugar scrub. If you like a rougher exfoliant, try using raw sugar instead of granulated.

Why Make Your Own Tallow Skincare, Is It Worth It?

Cost: The going rate for any commercial tallow beauty product is quite expensive. A quick google search will show you sugar scrub jars ranging from $20-$30. Way too EXPENSIVE! And, you are only getting a small amount. I like to use my scrub regularly and I don’t want to be thinking about how much each shoer costs me. With this recipe, if you purchase tallow at the average cost of $20 per quart, you can make a 8 ounce jar of whipped tallow $2.50. That’s a 80% savings.

Quality: As with anything, making a sugar scrub at home insures you the best quality product and the knowledge of what is in that product. Sugar scrubs should be made of a pure oil and an exfoliant, like sugar, with an added scent of preference. No fillers like so many commercially made cosmetics. Plus if you render the tallow yourself you will know the quality beef you have purchased. Opt for grass-fed, non GMO and local. Learn how to render your own tallow here!

Customizable: Creating your own tallow sugar scrub has many benefits. One major benefit is that it is fully customizable to your preferences. If you’re sensitive to certain scents or essential oils – leave them out.

Ingredients To Make Tallow Sugar Scrub

  • 1/2 Cup Tallow
  • 1/4 Cup Sugar
  • 40 Drops of Essential Oil for an optional scent.

Step-by-Step Guide: How To Make Tallow Sugar Body Scrub

Step 1

Create a ready workspace with all ingredients and supplies.

Step 2

Measure out 1/2 cup of rendered tallow. Tallow doubles in size when whipped, this will fit an 8 ounce jar.

Step 3

Using a mixer, whip tallow until fluffy (30 seconds) like whipped cream. You will see the color change from cream to white.

Step 4

Once the tallow has whipped to your desired consistency add in any essential oils if you choose to scent the tallow base.

Granulated unrefined sugar being added to whipped tallow to create a tallow sugar body scrub

Step 5

Pour in 1/4 cup of sugar and gently mix with a spatula to incorporate fully.

Tallow sugar body scrub in a black glass jar on display.

Step 6

Transfer into a lidded glass jar to prevent water dissolving or diluting the sugar scrub. Store in the shower for easy access.

Tallow sugar scrubs are excellent to use at least once a week to keep skin hydrated and smooth. Applying the scrub in the shower will ensure your skin is properly hydrated and will allow any excess tallow oil to wash off before drying or dressing.

Tried making your own tallow sugar scrub? Share your experience below! What tips, scents, or tweaks have worked best for your skin? Let’s swap ideas!

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