Seasonal Skincare

Tallow Balm in Summer: How to Use It When It's Hot, Humid and Sunny

Lighter Textures, Smaller Amounts and Proper Sun Protection for an Australian Summer

6 min read

Yes, tallow balm still belongs in your routine when the weather warms up. You just use it a little differently. As spring turns into an Australian summer, a lot of people put their rich balms away and reach for something lighter. It makes sense. Heavy textures can feel like too much when it's 32 degrees and sticky outside.

But summer is hard on skin in its own way. Air conditioning dries it out, the sun and salt water leave it feeling tight, and long days outdoors wear down its natural barrier. A good tallow balm can help with all of that, as long as you choose the right texture, use less and pair it with proper sun protection.

Here's how to keep tallow balm working for you from October through to autumn.

Why Tallow Balm Still Works in Warm Weather

Tallow's fatty acids are close to the oils your skin already makes, which is why it melts in rather than sitting on top. That doesn't change when the temperature climbs.

What does change is what your skin is up against:

• Air conditioning. Cooled indoor air is dry air. Office workers often find their skin feels tighter in January than in July.
• Sun, wind and salt. A beach day or an afternoon in the garden leaves skin feeling parched, even if it looks fine.
• Constant washing. More showers, more swims and more sweat mean your skin's natural oils get stripped more often.

Because our balms contain no water, a small amount goes a long way. In summer that matters: you want enough to replace what the day has taken, not a thick layer that sits there in the heat.

Choose the Right Texture for Summer

For most people, a whipped balm is the easiest summer switch. Whipping adds air, so it feels lighter, spreads further and absorbs faster.

You don't have to pick one. Plenty of customers use a whipped balm in the morning and a richer balm at night.

How to Apply Tallow Balm in the Heat

The biggest summer mistake is using the same amount you used in winter. Halve it and see how your skin feels.

1. Start with less. A rice-grain amount is often enough for the whole face in summer. You can always add more.
2. Warm it first. Rub it between your fingertips until it turns to oil, then press it in rather than rubbing.
3. Apply to slightly damp skin. Straight after cleansing, while skin is still a little damp, helps it spread thinly.
4. Give it a few minutes. Let it settle before sunscreen or makeup goes on top.
5. Save richer layers for night. Evenings are cooler, you're not sweating and the balm has hours to work.

If your skin still feels slick, our guide on how to make tallow balm less greasy has more tweaks.

Tallow Balm Is Not Sunscreen

Tallow balm doesn't protect you from UV. You may have seen claims online that tallow has a "natural SPF", but plain tallow has no tested or reliable SPF rating, and it should never replace sunscreen.

In Australia, the guidance is clear. Cancer Council Australia recommends:

• Using sunscreen every day the UV Index is forecast to reach 3 or above, which across most of the country means most of the year
• Choosing a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, with SPF 50 or 50+ recommended
• Applying it 20 minutes before heading outside and reapplying at least every two hours, plus after swimming, sweating or towel drying
• Combining sunscreen with protective clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, shade and sunglasses

“The balm looks after your skin. The sunscreen does the protecting.”

After a Day Outdoors

Evening is when tallow balm really earns its place in summer. After the beach, a game of cricket or a day in the garden, skin often feels tight and dry.

• Rinse off salt, chlorine and sunscreen with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water.
• Pat dry, then apply a thin layer of balm while skin is still slightly damp.
• Pay attention to the spots that dry out fastest: backs of hands, elbows, heels and lips.
• Keep a Tallow Lip Balm in your beach bag for lips, but use an SPF lip product during the day.

If you do get sunburnt, cool the skin first and follow medical advice. Blistering, a large area of burn, fever or feeling unwell all mean it's time to see a doctor. Balm is for everyday dryness, not a treatment for burns.

Humid Coast or Dry Inland? Adjust for Where You Live

An Australian summer looks very different in Cairns than it does in Adelaide, so adjust your routine to your climate.

Humid areas (Queensland, northern NSW, the Top End). The air already holds plenty of moisture, so your skin needs less help. Stick to a whipped balm, use a small amount, and consider using it only at night if daytime feels too warm.

Dry heat (inland areas, South Australia, much of WA). Low humidity pulls moisture from your skin. A richer balm like the Original or Honey Tallow Balm can work day and night here, still kept thin under sunscreen.

Mostly indoors with air conditioning. Treat your skin as if you live somewhere dry, even if it's humid outside.

Keep Your Jar Cool

Tallow balm is a natural fat, so it softens in the heat. On a hot day it can go soft or even liquid, especially whipped balms, which can lose some of their airy texture.

• Store your jar somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight, like a bathroom cupboard or bedside drawer.
• Never leave it in the car, on a sunny windowsill or in a beach bag in the sun.
• If it melts, it's still fine to use. Pop it in the fridge to firm up again. The texture may change slightly, but the balm itself hasn't gone off.
• Always use clean, dry fingers so you don't introduce water into the jar.

For more on shelf life, see How Long Does Tallow Balm Last?

Frequently Asked Questions

The Summer Routine, Simplified

You don't need to give up tallow balm when the weather heats up. Switch to a lighter texture during the day, use less, always finish with sunscreen, and let a richer balm do the heavy lifting at night.

Sources: Cancer Council Australia, How to protect your skin from the sun; Cancer Council Australia, About SPF50+ sunscreen.