keep your Summer glow plump & hydrated
explore our tallow body lotions
Tallow made skin care & hair wellness
Ancestral Nourishment for the modern lifestyle to relieve dry, chapped & unbalanced skin & hair. Crafted by an organic cosmetologist.
Welcome to Handbar Co
Where ancient practices meet modern skincare.
Hey there! I'm Kristen, founder and maker
I am a retired organic cosmetologist connecting ancient ingredients like tallow with nature made ingredients and a modern approach.
I live in the high desert of the Montana Rocky Mountains where dryness is a daily problem. Through learning and mastering the ancestral practice of tallow rendering, I have created products that bring life back to your skin and hair .… Read more…
Are you ready to tackle dry skin for good?
Customer Reviews
Lavender Face Balm5.00 out of 5 stars - Kristen CWe are absolutely obsessed with this face balm! Nothing will make your skin look better - I have all my friends and family in Texas and Oklahoma using it now. I saw them over the holidays and they wanted to know what I was doing differently because my skin looked so good. Can't recommend all of the handbar co. products enough!Tallow + Shea Balm5.00 out of 5 stars - Amanda LThis keeps my skin very hydrated, and my 13-year-old loves it too. The customer service is excellent. I received a small sample lip balm, which I also love and will buy with my next order.Traditional Tallow Balm5.00 out of 5 stars - Kerry LThe product was recommended by a friend. It is AMAZING! It deserves 5 stars! It clears both my kids eczema whenever a patch pops up.
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Tallow is any animal fat, but beef is most commonly used in skincare. Beef tallow is a deeply nourishing all natural moisturizer that closely mirrors the composition of your skin's natural oils.
Because its lipid profile is so similar to human sebum, it absorbs easily to hydrate, condition, and protect the skin barrier without leaving a heavy or greasy residue.
It is most always used with a natural light carrier oil like olive squalane, apricot kernel oil, and sunflower oil.
If rendered (cooked and melted right) allow is naturally packed with nutrients, including:
Fat-Soluble Vitamins: Contains vitamins A, D, E, and K, which help brighten skin tone, combat oxidative stress, and support natural collagen production.
Essential Fatty Acids: Rich in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), oleic acid, and palmitic acid to calm irritation, reduce redness, and deeply lock in moisture.
Barrier Repair: Strengthens the skin’s protective layer, making it an excellent choice for soothing dry patches, eczema-prone skin, and harsh weather damage.
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Grass-fed & grass-finished beef are cattle born and fully raised on grasslands their entire life.
Regenerative cattle are cows that live on pastures managed to actively heal and improve the environment. This creates diverse pastures yielding pure, nutrient-dense fat free from synthetic hormones or pesticide residues, maximizing skin compatibility and barrier repair in our products.
We work directly with Bart & Wendy Morris of Oxbow Cattle Company here in Missoula, MT.
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People get great results using beef tallow on acne-prone skin because its fatty acid profile closely mimics human sebum (oil). The biocompatibility helps damaged skin barrier and calms inflammation when acne is caused by over-drying or harsh commercial acne products.
The biocompatibility helps damaged skin barrier and calms inflammation when acne is caused by over-drying or harsh commercial acne products.
Tallow has a low comedogenic rating (typically a 1-2 out of 5) meaning it rarely clogs pores.
It mimics natural skin sebum, so it absorbs efficiently instead of sitting heavily on top of the skin.
Those with acne-prone skin should still perform a small patch test first.
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Yes, high-quality, grass-fed tallow is an exceptional barrier-supporting moisturizer for dry, sensitive, and eczema-prone skin.
It is packed with fat-soluble vitamins that actively support skin repair and resilience.
A baby’s skin barrier is still developing, making it highly sensitive to synthetic fragrances, parabens, and petroleum-based products. Pure tallow provides a breathable, protective shield that is perfect for delicate skin.
Many customers have shared improvements to their skins condition.
Always test on a small area first.
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Tallow Balm is water-free. It is a rich, highly concentrated blend of grass-fed tallow and natural oils that melts into the skin. It provides a heavy, deep hydrating barrier. A tiny amount goes a long way.
Tallow Lotion blends grass-fed tallow with water to create a lighter, pumpable cream. It absorbs much faster. Because it contains water, we use a safe, clean preservative to keep it fresh and shelf-stable.
Which one should I choose?
Choose Tallow Balm if you have extremely dry skin, eczema, rough patches (elbows, feet), or want maximum nighttime moisture or all day hydration.
Choose Tallow Lotion for quick daytime application, easier spreadability all-over body use, or if you prefer a traditional lotion feel.
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Our shampoo bars generally last 4+ months as a daily user on the scalp use. Some customers have gotten up to 8+ months due to washing their hair only a few times a week.
if you use it as a hair and body wash, you will typically get under 4 months of use.
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Apply a small, pea-sized amount to clean skin.
For the best results, put it on dewy skin (like right after a shower or face wash) then towel dry. This will drive the balm or salve deeper into the skin with more product readily absorbing a a faster rate.
A little bit goes a long way because the formulas are very concentrated.
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Yes! We ship coast to coast and to Alaska and Hawaii.
We use UPS ground in all our shipping. Unless it is unavailable or unreasonable, then we us USPS ground.