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Apr 21, 2022Liked by Really Tan Man

I’m so excited for my Tallow Balm to arrive. I formulate my own personal hygiene/skin care, using saturated plant fats & butter, which my skin loves. I was never able to use petroleum based products as they cause dermatitis. While awaiting my overseas shipment from VanMan, I’ve been experimenting with local beef tallow. It’s not fully refined (I couldn’t find any that met my standards) so it does have a mild beefy odour, but that’s not too bad.

However, the skin on my face, which is ultra sensitive, isn’t loving it. Body loves it. But I have super tiny pores on my face - invisible to the naked eye - & it seems to be causing either mild acne &/or dermatitis & exacerbating my rosacea (which is mostly cured but still flares up when exposed to irritants). Weirdly, it absorbs wonderfully on my body but doesn’t on my face, which I attribute to my smaller pores, but still - there ARE other fats which absorb well on my face. I have dry skin, which seems to be genetic. My theory is that this particular tallow was contaminated somehow during rendering & packaging, though it came in a glass jar. But if it has petroleum products or perhaps pesticide residue that would explain my reaction. Still doesn’t explain the lack of absorption though & the fact that in addition to irritating my skin, it looks & feels even drier than usual (than if I hadn’t used any moisturiser), but only in my face! Elsewhere is supple. Have you ever heard of anyone having similar issues? If so, do you have any suggestions?

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I’ve heard of a similar issue but it was due to the essential oils in the tallow product. Other than that I have not. What oils work well on your face?

Ray peat has an article about rosacea I would recommend

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It’s not the essential oils; I don’t have any sensitivities to those & I’ve used them all in many different products. I acquired some local deer tallow & that doesn’t irritate my facial skin but it still doesn’t absorb or actually moisturise.

Most plant oils work well on my face except olive & grapeseed. The best are amaranth, rosehip, marula, moringa, avocado, coconut, shea, & cocoa. My skin LOVES aloe & aloe based creams with the above oils that are well emulsified are what work best. Oh and beeswax & reishi are miraculous!

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Coconut oil does seem to have high variance. Makes some people break out yet others love it

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Do you suggest not using any skin care products that include jojoba oil?

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Correct I wouldn’t put anything other than coconut oil, shea butter, tallow, honey, or olive oil on my skin

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Feb 23, 2023·edited Feb 23, 2023Liked by Really Tan Man

I find jojoba oil very mediocre. It doesn’t have any bad effects that I can see or feel, but it’s not very moisturising.

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