Moisturizer is a must have item on a bathroom shelf, but is it the one sitting there worth keeping as part of a regular routine? Many of the moisturizer on the market have great reviews, price tag that leaves you feeling deflated, and a long list of ingredients that is very confusing to understand. A new moisturizer might be used regularly during the first week, but as the weeks go by, it gets pushed further to the back of the shelf. It will sit there until it’s eventually thrown away to make space for newer products.

The dry patches you bought the moisturizer to treat, are still there.

How a Homemade Hobby Found Its Purpose

The growing desire for minimalist skincare comes from a much more personal experience. Simply PNW Co. started as a hobby in 2018, however, in 2022, the founder received a brain tumor diagnosis that prompted her to take a closer look at the ingredients that were going into and onto the body, as well as the products she wanted around her children.

Ingredient choices became more personal, formulations were crafted with a dedicated level of care, and a personal experience grew into a business. Simply PNW Co. was launched in 2025.

Many people can relate to the experience of facing a personal challenge that makes them look more closely at their daily routines. Products suddenly become a much bigger part of the equation in terms of priorities, family and what seems to be right for the home.

The goal is to make personal care easier to understand and maintain. Especially when life is so chaotic and time is always running out.

An Old Ingredient in a Very Different Skincare Market

Beef tallow has been used in traditional soapmaking for generations, and recently it has slowly started making its way into modern skincare products, particularly rich moisturizers. Beef tallow is made from rendered animal fat and contains several fatty acids, such as oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids, which can influence the texture and properties of a skincare formulation. These fatty acids may contribute to the emollient properties of tallow-based products, helping soften the skin and support moisture retention.

Traditional use should not be mistaken for scientific evidence. A 2024 scoping review published in Cureus looked at the research available on the use of tallow in topical skincare. The findings suggest that there may be potential moisturizing benefits, but researchers also noted that studies of finished tallow-based cosmetic products tested on human skin are still limited.

Just because an ingredient is derived from a natural source doesn’t mean it will work on every skin type. If skin is sensitive or prone to breakouts,  it is a good idea to test the product on a small area of skin to observe the reaction, before applying it all over the body.

People are growing more interested in what gives a moisturizer its texture, why certain oils have been included, and whether the product has been designed to address the appearance or feel of dryness or roughness. The relationship with personal care has become much more thoughtful as the focus moves towards choosing products that match personal needs and preferences.

Back to Basics With Tallow and Botanicals

For someone who battles with the discomfort of dry or tight skin, a lightweight lotion may not be enough to keep the skin feeling comfortable throughout the day. A balm would be better suited. It can be applied to areas that need a little extra conditioning.

Miracle in a Jar Tallow Balm combines grass-fed beef tallow with botanical oils, extracts, and other conditioning ingredients. Designed for dry, mature, and moisture-depleted skin, the balm brings together traditional fats and plant-derived ingredients in a rich formulation.

Grass-fed beef tallow provides emollient properties that can help soften the skin and reduce moisture loss. Green tea-infused oils contribute antioxidant compounds, while licorice root-infused oils are included for their potential soothing properties and ability to improve the appearance of uneven skin tone. Tamanu oil and hemp seed oil add fatty acids that help condition the skin, while manuka honey is included for its moisture-attracting properties.

The formula also contains reishi mushroom extract, hibiscus powder, and vitamin E, ingredients that contribute antioxidant compounds. Collagen peptides are included for skin conditioning, while lanolin, beeswax, and carnauba wax help create a protective layer that reduces moisture loss.

The balm may appeal to those who prefer a richer moisturizer for the face, body, or areas prone to persistent dryness. Its combination of fats, oils, and waxes is intended to help retain moisture and leave the skin feeling softer and smoother.

A Bar With Some Character

The Worn Leather & Bourbon Tallow Bar Soap offers an alternative to the floral fragrances commonly found in personal care products. Its scent combines notes intended to evoke aged leather and the smokiness of bourbon, giving the bar a more rugged, woodsy character.

Made using the cold-process method, the soap combines grass-fed beef tallow with olive, castor, and avocado oils. Tallow contributes to the firmness of the bar and the texture of its lather, while the plant oils complement the overall formulation. Finely ground coffee adds a mildly exfoliating texture that can help loosen dead cells from the skin’s surface, and arrowroot powder contributes another textural element.

Cold-process soapmaking allows the oils and fats to react with an alkali to form soap, producing a firm bar with a creamy lather. The coffee particles provide additional texture, although they may feel abrasive on sensitive or easily irritated skin. For those who prefer a more pronounced fragrance and a bar with a little texture, the combination offers a different experience from a conventional, lightly scented cleanser.

Finding Your Own Way With Skincare

Skincare choices extend beyond ingredients to packaging, production methods, and everyday practicality. Simply PNW Co. reflects this through its small-batch products, soap and shampoo bars, and use of paper and glass packaging wherever feasible. Together, these choices reflect an approach to personal care that values thoughtful formulation and simpler routines without losing sight of the practical details that matter in daily life. Tallow balm and traditional soapmaking may not suit every skin type or replace every product in a bathroom cabinet, but they offer an alternative for those interested in familiar ingredients and a more considered approach to what they use.

Instead of buying another moisturizer that begins with good intentions before being pushed to the back of the shelf, the aim is to make choices with greater care. Sometimes, a simpler routine begins with a single product that gets used to the very last bit, rather than another jar waiting to be thrown away.