I never planned on making skincare products.It all started with something simple: I was looking for ways to get more magnesium into my body. My husband had been reading about how magnesium deficiency is incredibly common, and how it impacts everything from sleep to muscle function. I thought, “Okay, I can make a lotion. How hard can that be?”
The Rabbit Hole: Discovering Tallow
While researching magnesium lotion recipes, I came across this thing called tallow. I had no idea what it was. But once I started digging, I went down a rabbit hole I didn’t expect — learning that tallow, rendered from grass-fed beef fat, is incredibly nutrient-rich and deeply compatible with human skin. With my extensive high school biology knowledge(ha), it actually made a lot of sense: animal-based ingredients would naturally mirror the structure of our own skin more closely than many plant-based alternatives.So I made my first small batch of magnesium tallow lotion. And I was hooked.I even got my husband using it — especially on his feet at night. For the first time in ages, I felt like I was on the right track. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a beginning.
Realizing What Doesn't Work
Most recipes I found included beeswax as a thickener. But right around this time, I discovered that my sister is allergic to beeswax. So I made a batch just for her — without it.That sparked a bigger realization: what if I was reacting to beeswax too? No matter what soap, lotion, or balm I tried (homemade or not), my skin was still inflamed, peeling, or itching. The only thing I could tolerate was Aquaphor — not exactly luxurious, and definitely not something I wanted to use every time I washed my hands.And handwashing? Forget it. Soap, sanitizer — even the “gentle” ones — all left me with painful breakouts.
From Body Wash Blues to Breakthroughs
My hands weren’t the only issue. I began to wonder if my body wash was making things worse too. I ditched the lovely-smelling Bath & Body Works soaps for Nivea. It was better… but just meh. Then I tried a new body wash promising youthful skin and possibly a genie in a bottle — and I ended up with bumps and sores on my arms and legs.At that point, I was done. I searched online for how to make my own body wash, determined to use tallow as a base. The first batch wasn’t perfect, but for the first time in years, I had soft, calm, happy skin.
The Allergy Test That Changed Everything
Finally, I got an allergy panel done.The result? The biggest culprit behind my seasonal allergies: trees.Yes — the beautiful, peaceful trees I adore were… silently trying to kill me. It finally clicked. I’ve always had an extreme reaction to poison ivy. I’ve always broken out from “natural” soaps and plant-based ingredients. Because guess what? They’re all plants.It suddenly made sense why so many natural products — packed with essential oils, extracts, and botanicals — made my skin worse, not better. And with that realization came another: if everything “natural” on the market is plant-based or full of beeswax… what do you use when those things hurt you?
Enter: Tallow
That’s where tallow became my miracle.It’s not flashy. It’s not trending in the way exotic oils and butter are. But it works. And it’s been quietly used for centuries to nourish, heal, and protect. Tallow doesn’t irritate my skin. It doesn’t rely on allergens or additives. It’s just pure, real, and biologically compatible with what our skin actually needs.
What I Learned
This journey started with frustration. It turned into research. And that research became a deep passion for creating products that are actually gentle — not just labeled that way.I now make tallow-based lotions, balms, and body care under my small brand, Watch Over the Bloom Co. Because like our skin, blooms need protection. They need watching over. And they thrive with what’s simple and real.If you’ve ever felt dismissed, sensitive, or just tired of products that promise the world but deliver a rash — I see you. You’re not alone. And you deserve better.Let your skin bloom.