About Our Ingredients

🌿 Our Ingredients

At Cow Fat Cosmetics we believe that what you put on your skin should be as pure and purposeful as what you put in your body. That's why we use only intentional, natural, and skin-loving ingredients—every one chosen for its safety, effectiveness, and simplicity.

Our formulas are handcrafted in small batches and designed to be heat-stable, kid-safe, and deeply nourishing, even in harsh climates.

🧴 100% Grass-Fed & Finished Tallow

Our star ingredient! Tallow from grass-fed cows is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as essential fatty acids that closely mirror your skin’s own structure. It absorbs beautifully, supports skin barrier health, and is incredibly soothing—especially for dry, sensitive, or irritated skin.

💛 Jojoba Oil

Technically a wax ester, jojoba oil is non-comedogenic, lightweight, and perfect for all skin types. It helps balance oil production, adds softness, and enhances glide without making the balm feel greasy.

🧊 Cetyl Alcohol (Fatty Alcohol)

Don’t let the word “alcohol” scare you—this is a non-drying, plant-derived fatty alcohol. It gives our balms that silky, smooth texture and helps them hold their shape even in warm temperatures.

✨ Stearic Acid

Stearic acid is a gentle, naturally occurring fatty acid found in tallow. It gives our products a creamy consistency and helps lock in moisture for lasting hydration.

🕯️ Candelilla Wax

A vegan-friendly wax from the candelilla plant, this ingredient adds firmness and heat resistance to our balms. It helps the balm glide smoothly and stay solid—even in your car cup holder in the summer (though we don't recommend it)!

🌿 Pure Essential Oils

We use only 100% pure essential oils—never synthetic fragrances—in our bug repellents and scented balms. Our blends include time-tested natural deterrents like:

  • Citronella – known for keeping mosquitoes at bay

  • Lemongrass – fresh, citrusy, and effective

For our scented balms, we offer gentle essential oil or skin-safe fragrance oil options like vanilla resin or warm honey, always used in safe concentrations.

☀️ Non-Nano Zinc Oxide

We use non-nano, uncoated zinc oxide as the active ingredient in our natural sunscreen formulas. This mineral sits on top of the skin to provide broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays—without being absorbed into the bloodstream. We use 10% concentration in our products, making our sunscreen approximately 15-20 SPF (not lab tested).

Because we use non-nano particles, they’re too large to penetrate the skin, making them a safe, effective, and reef-friendly alternative to chemical sunscreens. Zinc oxide also has natural soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, making it ideal for sensitive skin, babies, and everyday use.

🧼 No Junk. Ever.

We never use:

  • Water or fillers

  • Preservatives or emulsifiers

  • Phthalates, parabens, or artificial dyes

  • Drying alcohols or synthetic waxes

Just clean, functional ingredients that work with your skin—not against it.

🛡️ Heat-Stable by Design

Whether you’re throwing it in your purse, glove box, or taking it to the beach, our balms are built to hold up in the heat (up to approximately 115 degrees F). Our carefully balanced ratios of tallow, waxes, and fatty acids ensure your balm stays solid and effective even in hot climates.

Have questions about any ingredient? Email us at: moo@cowfatcosmetics.com