Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is tallow and why should I use it?

Tallow comes from animal fat or suet is another term, generally cattle or sheep. But goat and pig (lard) are usable wonder products as well. The fat has been rendered down using slow heat bathed methods. The waste oils and solids are separated from the beneficial product by heat. Leaving behind tallow: beautiful usable rich in fatty acids and nutrients beneficial for your skin.

Using tallow for a skin care routine is full of benefits, to name a few: It is less irritating to sensitive skin types being a natural product, ideal for those suffering from eczema and acne. Contains vitamins A, D, K & E important for the skins overall health and ability to heal itself.

2. Do you sell larger sizes in your tallow products?

No, unfortunately we currently do not stock any larger than our 50ml jars.  Tallow based products are preservative free, to ensure your product is being used within a reasonable time frame we only stock what we expect people to use.

3. My skin feels too oily after application of a tallow cream product, why?

Ensure when using tallow products for the first time, to always follow the less is best applications. Only tiny amounts are needed for most skin types. Re application may be needed if your skin has yet to reach skin saturation. Our skin only absorbs what it needs, the oily feeling is excess tallow product.

4. What is skin saturation?

Skin saturation is where a moisturizing cream or serum has reached maximum absorbency and can no longer be absorbed into the skin. By following the less is best application method you are not wasting products.

It is best to start off with a thumb nail size amount of product, to see how far it spreads. You can always add more if need be. Better to use less and add more, than to use lots and leave your skin saturated to quickly before it has had a chance to absorb.

5. I've applied to much product; how do I remove it?

Remove excess tallow-based product by using a clean cloth, cotton is best. Do not wash with plain water. As tallow is of an oil substance, water will make it difficult to remove without soap to help disperse the oil residue.

6. Does tallow leave your skin smelling like tallow?

No, the tallow smell does not remain on your skin, the slight scent you initially smell disappears rather quickly. Tallow does not have an unpleasant smell, it's hard to describe but as an idea grass-fed beef tallow has a "beefy" smell. But when mixed with other ingredients such as coconut oil or essential oils. It takes on their fragrances almost fully. Leaving only the slightest hint of its natural smell. Which fades away almost instantly on the skin.

At this stage only one of our products contain an essential oil, that is the lavender infused Whipped Tallow Night Cream. Lavender infusion alone, doesn't give off the relaxing lavender smell. So, an essential oil is needed to help fragrance the product. We try to avoid using many essential oils and fragrances, as our products are to be safe for the whole family. Some children and adults can react with essential oils and fragrances. Hence why we don't use them in every product. However, new products rolling out will have the option of essential oil free, if able to do so. To maintain the option for those sensitive to essential oils.

7. Can I use the tallow-based products under my liquid foundation makeup?

Yes, the Whipped Tallow Cream makes an excellent under make up moisturizing base. Apply as you would at night, before applying the foundation. I have even used it over the Harsh Rays Day Cream and had similar positive results.

8. Does it run off in the heat, when I'm all sweaty?

Like most creams, as we sweat, our pores release some product that was absorbed. So yes, some product may expel to the surface of your skin when undertaking strenuous activities that cause you to sweat. But it doesn't run.

9. Can I wear the Harsh Rays Day Cream while swimming?

Absolutely! The cream does not wash off easily in water, given it is an oil substance base. If you feel oily upon leaving the water, pat your skin dry with a dry towel and re-apply if need be.

10. Is the Harsh Rays Day Cream safe for babies and kids to wear in the sun, is it a sunscreen?

As with all skin products, caution must be used when applying on children and babies under 6 months of age. If you choose to apply it, ensure you patch test first and stop use immediately if there is any irritation. Washing the affected area with water and soap to remove any residue. Pat dry with a clean cloth.

Our product does incorporate high UV protection ingredients, such as the zinc oxide-which is the base ingredient in all commercial sunscreens. The choice however is yours, if you wish to use it as a sunscreen. Unfortunately, at this present time we cannot confirm its SPF rating.

11. My soap has disintegrated whilst using it, why?

Tallow based soaps are very easily destroyed if kept damp. Ensure that they do not sit in any water for long periods of time. Allow them to dry out between use. A self-draining soap rack or one of our exfoliating soap pockets are ideal.

12. How do I store my tallow products? 

Out of direct sunlight, away from heat sources and under 30 °c. If they are kept in hot and humid environments such as a bathroom they will spoil rather quickly. The kitchen bench or bedside table where they receive good air flow is ideal. Our products are preservative free, a little extra care is needed to ensure they are kept in optimal condition. Ideally tallow products can last 6 months without spoil. As long as they are stored correctly.

13. Can I use comfrey on an infected wound?

NO! Comfrey's suggested ability to heal the skin quickly can trap the infection under the skin. Comfrey is best used to help promote healthy skin growth on skin injuries already cleared of infection e.g. scars, scabbed cuts, abrasions, burns, sunburns and bites.

14. What ingredients are in the products?

We use a small variety of ingredients, all natural and toxin free. Tallow, being our main ingredient of most products. We also use; camellia oil, coconut oil, beeswax, various herbs and flowers: comfrey, calendula, rosemary, neem and lavender, non-nano zinc oxide and ferric oxide as a natural tinting agent. Our soaps contain sodium hydroxide, herb infused tallow and water.

15. Are your products locally sourced?

Yes! We source our products from local and Australian owned businesses. I do not import any active ingredients. Our tallows come from active paddock to plate businesses in and around Townsville, branching as far west to charters towers. So, we know first-hand the ethical practices behind the raising of the cattle that produce this wonderous product. Some of these families are up to fourth generation farmers! 

Our herbs and flowers come from suppliers and hobbyists who grow their plants organically natural and toxin free.

We only purchase our ingredients from Australian owned and operated suppliers.

16. My Harsh Rays Day Cream was left in a warm position and has now started to liquify! What do I do?

Immediately, bring the cream into somewhere cooler to start its solidification process. Unfortunately depending on the state of liquification; the non-nano zinc oxide may have started to settle on the bottom of the jar. The easiest way to ensure it remains mixed evenly throughout the cream, is to mix with a spoon over the course of its solidification process. if the tubed version, continuously shake till solidification process is complete.

Ensure that the cream is not exposed to sun or hot environments to prevent this occurring again. Throughout its batching process, we maintain continual monitoring of this process to ensure even distribution. If you fail to stir through its re-solidification process, all its UV blocking non-nano zinc oxide will be left on the bottom of the tin.

17. Why would I like the tinted version?

The products are the same in every way except for the tinting agent. It comes down to preference, the non-nano zinc oxide leaves a white look to the skin before its fully absorbed. The tinted version gives it a creamy/brown color which may be ideal for those who have darker skin types. Or those who don't like to have pale residue on their skin in the timeframe for absorption.

18. I see other sellers use Olive Oil in their products, why don't you?

Olive oil has a shorter shelf life than camellia oil. Also, it goes rancid especially in warm conditions. Not ideal for Qld living. Olive oil also leaves an off-putting smell in products, that need to be masked with Essential oils and fragrances. 

Camellia oil is suggested to have its own natural UV protection, is a smoother, thinner oil which makes it non-comedogenic (doesn't clog pores). Is amazing for the skin with its vitamins and minerals being double the amount than what olive oil has. Which makes it a great companion oil for our products!

19. Why do the soaps vary in color and designs when I order? For example, calendula now has flowers seated on top?

As our business grows, so does our visual aesthetics for our products. Each time we batch soap; we ensure to make it better than the last batch. All our ingredients remain the same. Soap color variations can change due to the different herbs we source. The calendula flowers we locally sourced for batch A will be different to batch D for example. Some darkening in areas of the soap is evidence of the herbal infusion taking place within batching. Since we don't change our soap appearance with any synthetic or unethically sourced mica powders. Our pure tallow colors can vary from these infusions. But rest assured they are still the same beneficial products each time.

20. Why do the creams vary in color's, my whipped tallow last time was crisp white now this one is more cream?

Our beef suet which we use to render our tallow comes from a grass accredited farming production. Thier cattle feed predominantly on grass. In different periods of grass growth, e.g. dry and wet the grasses carotenoids levels can differ.

Beta-carotene is responsible for yellowing of the fat. Higher grass intake equals more yellow finish to the fats before they are rendered.

21. My balms have appeared to have sweated, what can I do?

Hot and humid environments can cause sweating in balms. The best thing to do is place them in the fridge till they have resolidified and store them in a cooler part of the home. If it continuously happens, they can be stored in the fridge happily.

22. What utensils do you use and are you latex free?

We use predominantly, untreated timber utensils alongside silicone Moulds. We also utilize, stainless steel bowls and glass/plastic jugs/measuring cups.

Following 31.01.2025 we now only use latex free gloves in our processing. But please note unfortunately we cannot confirm if the ingredients we source are from latex free environments.

But at beneficial basics skincare we now aim to avoid latex use in all future product formulation.

23. What is the cloudiness on the bottom of the magnesium oil?

if left unused for a period of time, the magnesium sulphates can settle as a residue on the bottom- shake well before each use.

24. Are your magnesium flakes dead sea salts?

Yes, our Magnesium Chloride is classed as "Dead Sea Salts'' from the supplier we source from.