My move to the South after Covid has certainly brought its share of wind, rain, humidity, and storms—but it has also opened the door to experiences I never expected, and for that I'm grateful.
Living here has introduced me to local ranchers and farmers who are passionate about raising pasture-fed animals, eggs, and growing beautiful produce without relying on pesticides. Shopping at my local farmers market has become one of my favorite parts of the week.
One unexpected discovery has been tallow.
The vendor across from my booth sells beautifully rendered beef tallow, and after trying it myself, I was amazed at how nourishing it felt on my skin. Around the same time, my little 10-pound rescue, Wendy, was having a miserable summer. The fleas have been relentless this year, and because she's allergic to their bites, she scratched herself raw, chewed the hair from her tail, and developed little cuts and sores.
I made a simple tallow salve for her, and it became part of her daily care. Seeing how well it worked inspired me to add it to my Saturday farmer's market table alongside my Hemp Paw Balm and other natural dog care products.
Of course, after seeing what it did for Wendy—and for my own skin—I couldn't stop there.
I created a rich, whipped tallow cream for people under my new skincare line, Body Essentia. My first cream, Skin Rescue, quickly became a favorite, and when a customer asked if I could make something gentle for his baby, I created Tallow Baby. Hearing that it worked so well for his little one has been rewarding.
The response has been wonderful. Customers have already returned for more, and these products have only been available for a couple of months.
What I love most about tallow is how deeply it nourishes without feeling heavy. It leaves my skin soft, comfortable, and healthy-looking in a way I haven't experienced with expensive department store creams or the luxury brands I used to buy.
Sometimes the best discoveries come from the simplest ingredients—and from the people you meet at your local farmers market. ❤️
