Wax, Tees & Tallow, Oh My! Inside My Handmade Hustle

Well, happy Friday! I'm fashionably late, but hey, what's new? Punctuality and I have a complicated relationship. So here I am, writing my blog. I've been busier than a squirrel in a nut factory (lol) , restocking, creating new products, and juggling a thousand things at once to fill those shelves, expand my empire, and conquer the marketing world. Seriously, I'm a one-woman circus, and it's a lot. My brain's doing cartwheels 24/7. Hence, here I am at 11:30 on a Friday night, trying to squeeze out the last drops of blog brilliance.

I had plans to write a blog about my fabulous new tallow products, spilling all the juicy behind-the-scenes secrets. But unless you run a small business, you might not get the chaos behind the curtain. I sure didn't until I dove headfirst into this adventure. The deeper you go, the more you realize what you're missing, what you need to know, and what you have to do. I'm a videographer, photographer, marketer, production guru, designer, and magician trying to make customers happy. But sometimes, things go haywire—labels that looked great on the screen turn into a Picasso painting in reality.

Some might say, "How hard can it be to design a label?" Well, try making a bunch for different-sized things—some circular, some square, some rectangular. It's like a geometry class gone rogue! And don't get me started on packaging and shipping. I'm grateful, I love it, but wow, I had no idea what I signed up for. It's a never-ending learning curve, and I'm on board for the ride. But enough about my circus; let's dive into the good stuff!

Hey, who here has heard of tallow? And who’s noticed all the buzz about it lately? Naturally, I had to join in and make my own version, crafted and formulated. I feel like I’m a chemist now, but after diving deep into tallow, its nutrients, and vitamins, I realized there's a lot people might not know. I sure didn’t until I did tons of research. For those who’ve bought from me or seen my stuff, you know I’ve made whipped soaps, body butters, lotions, bath bombs—you name it, I’ve probably tried it and now carry it in my shop. I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered them all, but I’m always learning new techniques to get better. We all are, right? After researching and thinking about all the cash I’ve dropped on skincare lotions and such, it’s crazy how many chemicals are in them. I’m not necessarily anti-chemicals, but I would prefer things to be chemical-free and good for my skin. Sure, I love my Dior serums and creams, even if the prices aren't my favorite. But if you’ve ever checked out the labels on your skincare products, even something basic like Jergens lotion—which I love, don’t get me wrong—they’re not as great for you as you’d think. So after all my research and tweaking formulas, I’ve made something super beneficial for everyone. It helps with dry skin, eczema, acne-prone skin, and even oily skin. Sounds odd, but using oil on oily skin actually works. Trust me, or don’t, and just give it a shot.

Tallow is a super nourishing fat that's great for your skin and natural lifestyle. It’s similar to the oils your skin naturally produces, so it’s super moisturizing, absorbs easily, and helps fix and protect your skin’s barrier. Loaded with vitamins A, D, E, and K, it boosts skin repair, elasticity, and gives you that healthy glow. Unlike many synthetic products, tallow is all-natural, usually doesn’t clog pores, and doesn’t have any irritants or preservatives. Plus, if you get it from grass-fed animals, it’s a sustainable, and a zero-waste choice.

Skincare Benefits ( pulled these facts from my research)

Deeply Nourishing & Moisturizing Tallow is rich in fatty acids (like oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids) that closely resemble the natural oils in our skin, making it highly compatible and absorbable.

Supports Skin Barrier Function It helps protect and repair the skin’s barrier, reducing dryness, inflammation, and irritation.

Rich in Vitamins Naturally contains fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K—great for promoting skin regeneration and elasticity.

Non-Comedogenic Contrary to what you might expect, tallow doesn’t clog pores for most skin types, making it good for acne-prone skin when properly rendered and formulated.

No synthetic additives—just pure, traditional fat that’s been used for centuries in skincare.

Oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, moisturizes the skin, penetrates easily, and nourishes dry or mature skin. It supports the skin barrier, maintains hydration, and prevents water loss. Palmitic acid, a common saturated fatty acid, plays a vital role in skin health and cellular function. Stearic acid, another saturated fatty acid, gives skincare products their creamy texture and rich, conditioning feel. It softens and smooths the skin by sealing in moisture, strengthens and protects the outer layer, and improves the shelf life and texture of natural skincare products.

After a lot of trial and error and tons of batches of rendered tallow, I think I've finally got it down. I render each batch at least five times. Some might say that's overdoing it, but I think it's up to the maker. I do at least three wet renders and two dry ones because you don't want any moisture messing with the shelf life. I make sure my tallow is completely moisture-free before whipping it or turning it into the sticks I'm releasing for Father's Day as a beard balm. I'm super excited about it! Most creams last about six months, even though tallow is super moisturizing. You'll probably use up a jar in that time, so even if there was a tiny bit of moisture left, it'd be fine. But I don't want to risk it, and I don't want you to worry about it either. So, I go the extra mile to make sure it's perfect and the best product for you.

This last batch was kind of like a sixth render because I infused it with grade A vanilla bean for almost 12 hours, making my whole house smell amazing. I tested the product thoroughly before listing it. I left it out in the heat, at room temperature, and even did bacterial testing to ensure no bacteria could grow in it. As a one-woman show handling everything from testing to packing, it takes a bit longer than buying from a big store. But I know exactly where my ingredients come from. My all-natural grass-fed tallow includes organic, cold-pressed jojoba oil packed with nutrients. No chemicals or artificial stuff—everything is organic and good for you, and I’m really proud of that.

I’m excited to keep learning and creating new scents. Like I mentioned, I’m making tallow beard balm sticks. Ladies, if your husband has a beard, you know how it can get dry and prickly. This tallow beard balm stick with tea tree essential oils and organic jojoba oil is great for the face, hair, and you won’t get pricked! I’m also planning a lemon lavender-infused tallow soap and coffee-infused soap and tallow because coffee is fantastic for your skin. Not only is it great to drink, but it also benefits your skin. The caffeine can boost blood flow, reduce puffiness, improve skin tone, and temporarily firm the skin, making it a popular ingredient in under-eye or body-firming balms.

I'm still figuring out a formula for a body butter that's as hydrating and awesome for your skin as my tallow products, but vegan-friendly. I want to be upfront and considerate for my vegan customers, so I'm working on a recipe that matches the nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins you get with tallow. Right now, though, the body butter I have isn't ideal for shipping in the summer. Local folks, I can still deliver to you, no problem, but mailing it might not work with the heat coming up.

I do have an emulsified recipe made with all plant-based oils, butters, and an emulsifying wax (no actual wax in it). But again, with summer approaching, I'm unsure about mailing it. I'm tweaking the recipe by removing non-vegan ingredients and still working on making it perfect. I got these cool ice pack-like things to help keep stuff from melting when it gets super hot. I tested the temperatures in my mailbox and on my porch, and they got pretty warm. I don’t want you to get a product that’s not what you expected. But I think I've got it, and with using the cold packs to ship, it will be perfect.

I don’t want to be stuck only selling certain products in cooler months, so I'm brainstorming ways to keep my formulas and ship them in summer. My brain's always buzzing with ideas because I want to make this business amazing. I want all my customers to be happy and love what they get. I learn something new every day, even if it makes me scratch my head. Stick with me through the good, bad, crazy, and stressful times—we'll get through it.

I hope you enjoy my products and give them a try. I might be biased, but I think they're pretty great. From shirts, candles, soaps, tallow, wax melts, bath bombs, shower steamers, bath salts—oh, the list goes on. I even have paw pad moisturizer for pets with pet safe antibacterial essential oils. I'm working hard to create so many things for everyone and keep learning. My dream is for my products to be everywhere, in every state, even other countries. I want them to make your home feel cozy and your skin feel soft and hydrated. That's my goal, my dream, and I'm working round the clock to make it happen. Enjoy the ride; it's gonna be exciting and stressful. Well, it already is!

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend! Mine's gonna be pretty packed with restocking, making new stuff, and finishing up my garden. I've cleaned up the area, and all my plants are in their starter pots. They're getting big, so it's time to move them to their permanent spots. I've got four tomatoes and some peppers already growing. I need to get them out of the pots and into the ground, so I'll have to find time for that. Plus, I need to whip up all the goodies for my business so you all can enjoy them. Oh, and here's a little sneak peek: I'm working on an aloe-infused hydrating moisturizer. It's super hot where I live, and whether you get sunburned or your skin just gets dry, aloe is perfect for that extra moisture and soothing touch. Aloe has tons of natural healing benefits and won't clog your pores, but it will rejuvenate your skin, especially in the hot summer months. Even in winter, it's great, but since we're heading into summer, aloe is everyone's favorite. So, imagine having a soap or lotion with aloe infused, so sticks around. It's gonna be awesome!

Make sure to sign up for email updates on my website or hop into my Facebook VIP group to keep up with all the cool stuff, sneak peeks, and random discount codes. I'll drop the links below!

www.wickandwonder.org

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/193SPnwX1C/

Xoxo,

Heather