Nourished by Nature: Ethical Animal-Based Skincare

Despite the sudden buzz around tallow, this is a true skin superfood that’s stood the test of time. 

Honoring tallow as the ancient remedy it is, we know animal fats have been revered long before the evolution of modern-day skincare. The Romans, Egyptians, and Greeks prized these nutrient-dense oils for practical, medicinal, and even ceremonial purposes.

Animal fats are a better biological match for our skin barrier and contain unique benefits that aren’t as abundant in plants. We create products with pasture-raised, grass-fed, and ethically-sourced animal and botanical ingredients to feed the skin a more nutrient-dense “diet”.

Grass-fed beef tallow is rich in restorative fatty acids and is a form of pure, rendered animal fat similar to our skin’s natural lipid barrier. (Tallow even translates to “sebum” in Latin.) And because of its highly biocompatible nature, using tallow for skin helps repair and regenerate at a cellular level.

At Primally Pure, our respect for animals is not a marketing tactic – it’s a foundational pillar. Our founder, Bethany McDaniel, has first-hand experience processing animals on her family’s regenerative farm, Primal Pastures. As a result, she has a deep respect for the animals, their lives, and the care and intention that goes into sourcing our beef tallow for skin. 

We only source beef tallow from small family farms that ethically raise and process cows with respect for the animal’s life. We’re committed to sourcing animal-based ingredients that honor our ancestors’ nose-to-tail philosophy – we believe it’s essential that no parts are wasted. 

Some of our farm partners even advocate for positive change, leading the movement for rotational and regenerative farming methods. Our partners are dedicated to accountability and traceability to ensure every single batch of tallow meets their rigorous, regenerative standards. 

The beef tallow rendering happens after processing. We only source tallow that is dry rendered through an artisanal process to preserve delicate compounds and deliver more nutrients. The animal’s interior fat tissue (suet) is rendered with a gentle heat that causes the pure oils to melt away from the tissue. Once the remaining tissue is filtered out (along with any impurities), the pure oils solidify and form the animal-based skincare ingredient we know and love: beef tallow.

But we don’t stop with ethical sourcing.

Our tallow is also exclusively sourced from grass-fed and finished cows. This standard ensures the cows’ biologically appropriate diet and lifestyle support the most nutrient-dense beef tallow for skin.

Emu oil comes from the large, flightless bird native to Australia and the Aboriginal culture. This biocompatible oil has been used historically for centuries as a natural remedy for wound healing, muscular pain, and a myriad of inflammatory and sensitive skin issues.

Emu oil’s fat content uniquely resembles the composition of our skin cells, enabling it to be effectively and easily absorbed into the skin. This means nutrient-dense compounds – like essential fatty acids, antioxidants, carotenoids, and omegas – are delivered even more deeply into the skin to provide transformation at a cellular level. 

Simply put, using biocompatible ingredients like emu oil for skin = healthier, vibrant skin. 

Our emu oil is thoughtfully, sustainably, and ethically sourced – with respect to the animal’s life and our irreplaceable environment.

Our farmers are certified by the American Emu Association, which requires ethical and humane farming and processing. The birds are raised on large open pastures without hormones, antibiotics, or steroids. The farmers choose not to interfere with nature – because nature knows best. This perfectly aligns with our values.

We only source our emu oil from certified farms that already ethically process emus. This minimizes waste and honors the animal’s life by giving every part a purpose. Just as our ancestors did, we believe the life of every animal is worthy of respect. 

The newest addition to our lip care lineup, Lanolin, is a waxy, animal-based ingredient sourced from the wool of pasture-raised sheep. It’s naturally secreted by sheep to shield their coat from the elements. Because of its unique properties, our ancestors treasured lanolin for its versatility, practicality, and medicinal benefits.

A deeply nourishing ingredient that also mirrors our skin’s sebum, Lanolin benefits the skin by creating a breathable moisture barrier. Lanolin products can help strengthen the skin’s defenses by reducing water loss and exposure to pathogens, bacteria, and inflammation – all key factors in maintaining resilient and healthy skin.

Wool farming has a dark history, but New Zealand is paving the way with stringent anti-cruelty laws to ensure sheep are never harmed in the shearing process.

Our ethically sourced lanolin comes from the wool of peaceful pasture-raised sheep from New Zealand. Our lanolin skincare only comes from animals raised humanely, freely roaming and grazing on expansive, green pastures. 

When done with respect to the animal, shearing is actually beneficial – it keeps the sheep from overheating during the summer months. After the wool is gently removed, it’s carefully processed through centrifugal separation or by melting away the pure lanolin. The lanolin is then cleansed to remove impurities.

New Zealand’s deep commitment to ethical production and regenerative farming practices ensures our lanolin products only contain the highest-quality, nutrient-dense lanolin for skin. 

Our lanolin products deeply nourish your skin while empowering you with a more mindful and environmentally conscious approach to skincare.