If you’re thinking about the leftover grease from a pan of ground beef—that’s not tallow. Tallow specifically refers to purified, rendered suet which is the nutrient-rich fat surrounding a cow’s kidneys. Properly rendered tallow is clean, shelf-stable, and virtually scent-free—no beefy smell.

Blalock originally came across information suggesting the use of beef tallow when searching for a solution to her daughter’s severe eczema. She had tried products with coconut oil and sunflower oil, both meant to moisturize the skin and reduce inflammation. 

“None of those helped,” Blalock says. “Sometimes they made things worse.” 

The Whipped Tallow Lotion was the first product Blalock made for her daughter—“the healing increased significantly when we used it,” she says—and the one that convinced her to jumpstart a business. 

In 2021, after making a batch of the lotion for her daughter, she gave away extra jars to friends for Christmas. The reception was immediate; the recipients raved about improvements in their skin and asked for more.

And so began the early stages of Blalock’s business, Naturally Connected Life.

The Whipped Tallow Lotion remains the fan favorite at Naturally Connected Life.

Blalock went on to create other products, often prompted by friends or family dealing with specific skin issues, and now offers a full lineup of skincare products—from face and body lotions to healing balms, eye cream and beard oil—most of which contain grass-fed beef tallow.

Tallow-based skincare products have become popularized as a top wellness trend in recent years, fueled in part by consumers’ growing desire for naturally derived products. But long before tallow became “trendy,” it was used to heal skin, cook with, and to make candles and soap. 

Today, it’s experiencing a resurgence and there’s growing interest in its use.

It would be great to see additional formal research into the benefits of tallow-based skincare, but early findings already show promise: tallow contains essential vitamins like A, D, K, and E that support healthy skin. 

Because it shares the same fatty acid profile as our skin, it absorbs easily, locks in moisture, and helps keep skin hydrated.

A 2024 study published by the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine Research found that “tallow was found to offer hydrating and moisturizing properties” and that “tallow may be beneficial in helping with skin conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis, dry skin, and wounds.”

While the science is still catching up, the testimonials are plentiful. Customers rave about softer skin and quick relief from dryness and say they’ve found a lotion they actually want to use every day. Blalock says “I don’t claim that this is going to work for everyone, but if it does, you’ll usually notice within the first two weeks.”

The tallow-based products at Naturally Connected Life have healing properties that can help the skin during cold winter months.

Among the products offered at Naturally Connected Life, the clear fan favorite is still the Whipped Tallow Lotion—a head-to-toe moisturizer whose light, silky consistency is the secret to its popularity. One customer even described it as “hydrating your skin with a fluffy cloud!”

But for Blalock, choosing tallow is not about skin benefits alone. It’s also about honoring ingredients that are closer to nature and more deeply connected to the way humans have nourished themselves for generations. 

“The thing I came here to this earth to do is to connect people to their community, to their resources, and to their food,” she explains.

Choosing tallow reflects that mission—and it’s even woven into the name of her brand, Naturally Connected Life.

Blalock sources tallow exclusively from grass-fed cattle, sometimes via online companies (always in the U.S.), and other times from regional farms and homesteaders. Besides tallow, Blalock thoughtfully chooses natural, clean ingredients—organic and locally sourced whenever possible. 

Her love of minimalism shows up not only in her branding but also in her ingredients lists. Raised by a father who was a chemical engineer, and with a degree in science education herself, Blalock feels comfortable navigating the research around products that can enhance the health and appearance of skin. 

“I’ve always been a crunchy gal, and so I try to find natural solutions,” she says. “I travel in health circles and I over-research everything.”

Blalock and her family. She sells her products online and at various tailgate markets around WNC.

Bringing back the art of using tallow is her way of honoring the whole animal, supporting local farms, and making use of a resource that might otherwise be wasted. In that sense, every jar of lotion carries more than just nourishment for the skin—it’s a link back to the land, to community farmers, and to food traditions that once shaped daily life.

Today, you can find her with her family at local farmers’ markets most weekends, or shop her products on her website and in select local stores. She continues to release new creations, always with the goal of better serving her growing community of loyal customers.