Tallow Sunscreen: A Zinc and Tallow Balm for Outdoor Skin

Fair question. Tallow is a rich moisturizer, and zinc oxide is the mineral that sits on top of your skin. Our Sun Balm puts them together. A 2 oz tin starts at $20, with 10, 20 or 30% non-nano zinc. It's a balm for outdoor skin, not an SPF-rated sunscreen, so it won't stop a burn.

By , founder of Moose's Tallow · Updated November 8, 2026

Man on a sunny mountain trail smoothing Moose's Tallow and Zinc Sun Balm onto his face
What people ask

Does tallow sunscreen actually work?

Tallow on its own isn't sunscreen. Cleveland Clinic says beef tallow isn't known to have any sun protective qualities. The mineral in our Sun Balm is non-nano zinc oxide, at 10, 20 or 30%. It sits on top of your skin in a rich balm. We don't rate it for SPF, so it isn't your only plan for strong sun.

Does beef tallow provide sunscreen?

Beef tallow alone doesn't. Cleveland Clinic says it isn't known to have any sun protective qualities. The Skin Cancer Foundation's Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose adds that oils give zero or very low protection. So we don't sell tallow as sunscreen. We use it as the soft base for zinc oxide, a mineral balm for faces and hands outdoors.

Is beef tallow sunscreen good for you?

Many people like the short ingredient list, and we do too. Sun Balm has tallow, coconut and castor oils, beeswax and non-nano zinc oxide. A few supporting ingredients are listed on the product page. Cleveland Clinic says research on tallow in skin care is thin. So try one small spot first. Our 60-day guarantee covers you.

Which tallow-based sunscreen is the best?

The best one is the one you can read and your skin likes. Check the label for the zinc percentage and a full ingredient list. Sun Balm lists both: 10, 20 or 30% non-nano zinc oxide in tallow and light oils. It isn't SPF-rated, and we say so up front. Try the 10% tin for $20, backed by 60 days.

Why don't dermatologists like beef tallow?

Fair question. The main concern is thin research. Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Angela Wei says there isn't enough to support tallow in skin care yet. So your own skin is the best test. We list every ingredient and how much zinc is in each tin. If it isn't for you, the 60-day guarantee has you covered.

Will tallow make a sunburn worse?

Cleveland Clinic says a thick oil like plain tallow may raise your sensitivity to sunburn. That's one reason we don't call Sun Balm a sunscreen. For long hours in strong sun, add shade, a hat and clothing. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen. Sun Balm is for the everyday in between.

Is a tallow and zinc balm the same as sunscreen?

No. A sunscreen is tested and labeled with an SPF. Sun Balm isn't, so we call it a mineral skin balm. It's made for cheeks, nose and the backs of your hands, where wind and sun wear skin down. It has no water and no chemical fillers. For more, see our tallow versus water-based sunscreen guide.

Will tallow and zinc leave a white cast?

A light mineral finish is normal with real zinc oxide. The 10% is the faintest. The 20% is moderate on the face, and the 30% is the most noticeable. Thin layers blend best. One reviewer says it "mixes in so well and feels great." Warm a pea-sized scoop between your fingertips before you spread it.
The timeline

What to expect

  1. Before you head out
    Warm a pea-sized scoop in your fingers and spread it thin over cheeks, nose and hands. It feels rich, then settles in. Expect a light mineral finish.
  2. Week 1
    You learn how much your skin wants. Wind-worn cheeks and the backs of your hands feel softer. Keep the tin in a bag, out of hot cars.
  3. Week 4
    It becomes the tin you grab before time outside. Most people use a smaller scoop by now. Tell us if another strength suits you better.
From real customers
Review photo from Emilie M.
★★★★★

Loving this sunscreen! Mixes well and doesn’t look white on the skin.

Loving this sunscreen! So many other natural brands that we’ve tried go on so white and just sit on top of the skin but this mixes in so well and feels great! I have been putting it on my 4 and 1 year old boys before playtime outside and they have been in and out of the kiddie pool without it wearing off. No sunburns!
Emilie M.
Review photo from Tanna
★★★★★

We love this sunscreen!

We love this sunscreen! My daughter has extremely sensitive skin and it doesn’t irritate her at all. It glides on easily and I feel like we don’t have to reapply as often. A little goes a long way too, it should last us all summer!
Tanna

Read all the reviews on the product page →

How to wear a zinc and tallow balm

Warm it first. Thin layers blend best and keep the mineral finish light.

  • Start with clean, dry skin on your face and hands.
  • Take a pea-sized scoop and warm it between your fingertips.
  • Smooth it thin over cheeks, nose and the backs of your hands.
  • Blend until the finish looks even. Add a second thin layer, not a thick one.
  • Put on a thin layer again after washing your hands or swimming.
  • For long hours in strong sun, add shade, a hat and an SPF-rated sunscreen.
  • Keep the tin cool. Heat softens the tallow.
  • Try one small spot for a day or two first.

Sun Balm strengths side by side

The tallow base is the same in every tin. Only the zinc oxide changes. For a reference point, one maker's guide puts tallow zinc creams at 5 to 25% by weight. That is WhollyKaw, checked November 8, 2026.

StrengthZinc oxideScentPrice (2 oz)On your skin
Sun Balm 10%10%Light coconut$20Lightest, with a faint mineral finish
Sun Balm 20%20%Light coconut$21Middle strength, moderate finish on the face
Sun Balm 30%30%Unscented$22Thickest layer, most noticeable finish

How do we render tallow?

It starts at a local butcher shop in farm country, where one cow yields about 12 pounds of suet. That suet is the fat around the cow's kidneys, rich in vitamins A, D, E and K. Its fatty acids are ones your skin loves, so we render it slowly, by hand.

  1. Ground beef suet in a box, ready to render into tallow

    Day 1 & 2

    Two renders of tallow over low heat, six hours each

  2. Golden tallow bubbling gently in a stainless pot during the dry render

    Day 3 & 4

    Dry render for eight hours, cool & dry render again for another eight hours

  3. Warm oil poured over dried herbs in a large glass jar for the infusion

    Day 5

    Infuse tallow and oil with organic herbs over low heat for 12-24 hours

  4. Whipped tallow being mixed with beaters in a steel bowl

    Day 6

    Add in beeswax and scent (if applicable), cool, whip and fill by hand

Brian "Moose" Smith with his family and their dogs
A note from the maker

I'd rather tell you what Sun Balm is than oversell it. It's tallow and non-nano zinc oxide in a balm for faces and hands that live outdoors. It isn't an SPF-rated sunscreen, and we don't say it is. We pour it in small batches in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, from ingredients we use on our own family. My wife tests everything first. If it isn't for you, the 60-day guarantee has you covered.

Brian "Moose" Smith, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Read the whole story →

Try it, Risk Free.

Every order carries the 60-day Money Back guarantee.

Add Sun Balm to cart Sun Balm 10% →

Related answers

Sources

  1. Cleveland Clinic: Beef tallow for skin
  2. American Academy of Dermatology: How to select a sunscreen
  3. The Skin Cancer Foundation: Ask the Expert, Is Homemade Sunscreen Safe? (Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose)