Tallow Skincare for Winter: A Canadian Guide

If you live in Alberta, you don't need anyone to tell you what winter can do to your skin.

Cold wind outside, dry heat inside, washing your hands a dozen times a day, by the middle of winter, hands can feel rough, legs get dry and skin that was perfectly happy in July suddenly needs a little more attention.

We live here too. Till & Tallow was born in rural Alberta, and our products are made here, so Canadian winter skincare is something we know firsthand.

Why winter is so hard on our skin

Alberta winters are dry. Really dry.

We go from freezing temperatures and wind outside to heated homes, shops, barns and vehicles. That constant change can leave skin feeling tight, dry and uncomfortable.

It's also the time of year when many of us start taking hotter showers and baths which feel wonderful when it's -25°C outside but aren't always so wonderful for dry skin.

This is when we tend to put away the lighter products and reach for something richer.

Why we love tallow in winter

Long before tallow became a skincare trend, it was something people used because it was simple, useful and readily available.

That's part of what attracted us to it in the first place.

We use grass-fed beef tallow as the base of many Till & Tallow products. It's rich and emollient, and it leaves a protective layer on the skin rather than disappearing immediately.

For dry winter skin, that's exactly what we want.

And you don't need much. If you're new to tallow, start small. A little goes a surprisingly long way.

Body butter or balm?

We get asked this one a lot.

Our whipped tallow body butters are what we reach for when larger areas of skin are feeling dry; arms, legs, hands or anywhere that needs some extra moisture.

Balms are a little different. They're great for those hardworking spots that seem to take the worst of winter: hands, knuckles, elbows and other stubborn dry areas.

There isn't really a right or wrong choice. Sometimes it's simply about which texture you prefer and where you're using it.

A simple trick we use

One of the easiest things you can do is apply your tallow after a shower or bath while your skin is still slightly damp.

Tallow itself doesn't add water to the skin, so putting it on slightly damp skin helps seal in some of the moisture that's already there.

You don't need to slather it on. Start with a small amount, warm it between your hands and work it into your skin. Add more if you need it.

And then there are our hands...

If you work outside, garden, farm, work with animals, wash dishes, work in health care or simply wash your hands constantly, you probably know this story already.

Winter hands can get rough in a hurry.

We've found the best balm is often the one that's actually within reach. Keep one by the sink, beside your bed, in your bag or wherever you're most likely to remember to use it.

Small amounts regularly can make a big difference in how your skin feels.

Winter skincare doesn't have to be complicated

We're not big believers in needing a shelf full of products.

Be gentle with your skin. Don't make every shower scorching hot. Use a mild cleanser. Add moisture back when your skin needs it. And when winter arrives, don't be afraid to switch to something a little richer.

For us, tallow just makes sense.

It's simple. It's traditional. And after living through more Alberta winters than we care to count, we've learned to appreciate simple things that work well.

Stay warm out there.

Till & Tallow
Handcrafted in Alberta