10/28/2025
My Body Butter-What’s in it and why you need it.
Tallow- A rendered fat from ruminant animals. It has been used for centuries in cooking but also skin and hair care. It is a stable fat that rarely becomes rancid and does not produce free radical (think damage to skin and body) with normal use. Tallow has a fatty acid composition similar to that of human skin and when it comes from grass fed animals, it is high in vitamins A, D, E, and K. Tallow also has built in anti-microbial properties with its fatty acid palmitoleic acid and anti-cancer properties from its high percentage of conjugated linoleum acid. Because it’s rich and moisturizing, you would think it might clog pores or make you greasy but it actually helps balance out the skin and can improve the appearance of many skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, and of course wrinkle reduction and prevention with its natural ability to fight free radicals and prevent UV damage.
Lard-Very similar to the benefits of Tallow but it's exceptionally high in Vitamin D and is second only to cod liver oil and who likes cod liver oil. Surprisingly, many Americans are severely deficient in vitamin D even in AZ! We have been misled to believe the sun is bad…the sun is good but burning your skin is bad. Vitamin D produced in the skin from the sun is critical for many biological processes in the body. It is technically a hormone in addition to protecting your skin from too much sun exposure. So what could be better than applying moisturizer than not only has natural vitamins and antioxidants but also acts as a natural sun protectant with natural vitamin D.
Raw Honey-Raw unpasteurized honey in natural form, is produced by enzyme activity, plant matter, and live bacteria coming together to create a powerful ingredient with hundreds of practical uses. The unique process that creates honey makes it especially valuable for cosmetic uses such as clearing acne, healing scars, and evening out skin tone. Raw honey is packed with components beneficial for your skin, especially if you have acne or autoimmune skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Even Candida overgrowth may be controlled by applying honey to your skin. Honey speeds up your skin cells’ healing processes. Raw honey is also a natural exfoliator, which means applying it to your face takes off dry, dull skin and reveals new skin cells underneath.
Cinnamon-Applying cinnamon to your skin may provide some benefits. In a 2012 study, Ceylon cinnamon extract was shown to support collagen synthesis. Collagen is the main structural protein in your skin that deteriorates with aging, leading to increased skin sagging and wrinkles. Research suggests cinnamon’s high cinnamaldehyde content may be responsible for its collagen-promoting effects, while its antioxidant properties may protect the skin from collagen-degrading free radicals. Other studies have shown that cinnamon extract may promote skin wound healing thanks to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Cinnamon may also inhibit tyrosinase activity, which is what leads to brown spots in food products. Some people believe that this effect may also apply to brown pigments in the skin and use cinnamon to treat hyperpigmentation.
Castor oil- Castor oil is a vegetable oil derived from the seeds of the castor oil plant Ricinus communis. Castor oil contains antioxidants that fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals are responsible for accelerating the aging process, causing wrinkles to appear sooner. Castor oil also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce swelling and puffiness as well as the size of inflamed pimples or eye bags. Castor oil has antibacterial properties. Bacteria on your face can clog pores and lead to acne. Castor oil is full of healthy fatty acids. Fatty acids are essential to maintaining good skin health.
Olive oil- Olive oil, which is made by pressing olives and extracting their oil, comes in many different forms and has many uses which include benefits to the skin. According to the International Olive Council, olive oil has many vitamins including A, D, K, and E. Olive oil contains high amounts of an antioxidant called squalene which helps prevent and maybe reverse damage from excessive UV exposure. Olive oil also has antibacterial properties so if you prone to acne, using soap made with olive oil can help. Olive oil is also known to moisturize and hydrate your skin.
Takasao N, Tsuji-Naito K, Ishikura S, Tamura A, Akagawa M. Cinnamon extract promotes type I collagen biosynthesis via activation of IGF-I signaling in human dermal fibroblasts. J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Feb 8;60(5):1193-200. doi: 10.1021/jf2043357. Epub 2012 Jan 27. PMID: 22233457.
Burlando B, et al. (2013). Honey in dermatology and skin care: A review. DOI:
10.1111/jocd.12058
Angelo G. (2012). Essential fatty acids and skin health.
lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/essential-fatty-acids
Budiyanto, A., Ahmen, N. U., Wu, A., Bito, T., Nikaido, O., Osawa, T., … Ichihashi, M. (2000). Protective effect of topically applied olive oil against photocarcinogenesis following UVB exposure of mice. Carcinogenesis, 21(11), 2085-2090
carcin.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/11/2085.full
Body Butter-What’s in it and why you need it.
Reactive oxygen species have been shown to play a role in ultraviolet light (UV)-induced skin carcinogenesis. Vitamin E and green tea polyphenols reduce ex
