Organic soaps from grass-fed tallow
Cart 0

5 Reasons Tallow Is Better Than Shea Butter

Becky De Graaf

Grass Fed Cow
Once at a festival, I had a lady ask me if I had any soaps with shea butter in it. Proudly, no, I don't. However, she told me she "don't use any soaps without shea butter." In that instant, I didn't know how to tell her that she didn't know what she was missing.
Below is a chart comparing the fatty acid make-up of tallow and shea butter:
Tallow Shea Butter
Lauric Acid 2 0
Myristic Acid 6 0
Palmitic Acid 28 5
Stearic Acid 22 40
Ricinoleic Acid 0 0
Oleic Acid 36 48
Linoleic Acid 3 6
Linolenic Acid 1 0
From the above chart, you can see that in fatty acid composition shea butter and tallow are nearly identical.  They both contain high levels of palmitic and stearic acid making it a good solid bar; although, tallow is more diversified.  They also both contain high levels of oleic acid making a nice moisturizing bar. 
Shea butter, like peanut butter, comes from the roasted nut being crushed to a paste. The paste is boiled in water to allow the sediment to settle to the bottom while the oil is ladled off the top.  After it's allowed to cool, it becomes hard and it's ready to sell. However, shea butter contains many unsaponifiables (particles that cannot turn into soap). These unsaponifiable particles, which tallow does not contain, play a critical role in the formulation and function of soap.

Shea Butter Does Not Lather

While tallow at least contains a tiny bit of lauric and myristic acid, shea butter contains none.  Lauric and myristic acid are the fatty acids that contribute to lather.  On it's own, a 100% shea butter soap will not lather. 

What's more, the unsaponifiables that I mentioned above, also inhibit lather. When soap molecules are breaking free from the mother ship, they are actually attaching themselves to the unsaponifiable particles (let's call it debris) from the soap as well instead of creating bubbles and removing other dirt from our bodies.

Shea Butter Is Comedogenic

What is "comedogenic"? I'm glad you asked. A comedone is the scientific term for a black head, so a comedongenic oil means that it clogs pores and creates black heads.

As you can guess, being nearly identical to our human oils, tallow does not clog pores.  It's why we create our facial soaps with 100% tallow plus extra for nourishing tender skin.

Remember those unsaponifiables in shea butter? They stick around and plug up all those pores.  With an SPF of 6, it's great for rubbing on the body, but it wears heavy and greasy especially on the face.

Shea Butter Is Only For "Label-Appeal"

That's right, label appeal. All those unsaponifiables in shea butter make for a pretty terrible bar of soap. I'll let you in on a little trade secret in the soap making world.  The most common percentage of shea butter to use is 5%.  Yes, a measly 5%.  If there are no other hard oils in a recipe, such as palm oil, then the percentage may go as high as 10%. After that, the quality of soap deteriorates with a non-lathering bar of soap. The point is, when someone looks specifically for a shea butter soap, they will be disappointed to find that they really aren't getting any.

Shea Butter Is Expensive

OK, maybe this should or shouldn't be section all of it's own. Not only is shea butter a fairly expensive fat from being shipped overseas from Africa, it's also fairly expensive to buy a bar of soap that only contains 5% of it! Going back to label appeal, somehow this fat managed to be perceived as a luxury oils despite the fact that it doesn't lather, it inhibits lather, and it clogs pores. Yet, if someone slaps shea butter on the labels, they can somehow charge way more for it.

Shea Nuts Are Harvested For Shea Butter

I may not have met a lot of people in my life, but I don't know many people that butcher an animal just for it's fat. I know more people that mainly butcher an animal for it's meat. The leather, fat, and sinew (to make string) are all beneficial by-products which make use of the entire animal. 

Because cattle are hard to come by in Africa, African women have made great use of the materials they have on hand -- that is, shea nuts. However, if countries that do not produce the shea tree, then import gallons of shea butter, where does that leave tallow? Holistically, how does the whole animal get used and not go to waste if we're substituting it with an inferior oil?

We source organic oils to limit and eliminate our impact on the environment.  Why would we then import tonnes of shea butter which not only put our own farmers out of business, but also leaves the tallow to waste?

Thanks for reading!

Becky's Tallow Treasures

Related Posts

The Wonders Of Colloidal Oatmeal & Kaolin Clay
The Wonders Of Colloidal Oatmeal & Kaolin Clay
Build Your Own Triple-Scented Bath Soap Perhaps you've already discovered the wide range of ready-made organic bath soap
Read More
Activated Charcoal: Uses, Benefits & Fun Facts
Activated Charcoal: Uses, Benefits & Fun Facts
Maybe you've already heard of activated charcoal and its use as a powerful natural remedy within the realm of alternativ
Read More
Is Your Detergent Leaving Poop On Your Panties?
Is Your Detergent Leaving Poop On Your Panties?
Really? ... Wow! This question -- "Is my laundry detergent leaving poop on my panties?" -- is probably one that you don'
Read More


Older Post Newer Post


  • Hailey Bradwell on

    RECOVER YOUR LOST CRYPTO ASSETS & IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT SCORE WITH ASORE HACK INTELLIGENCE. NO UPFRONT PAYMENT REQUIRED.

    Asore Corp. is a team of Cyber Intelligence, Crypto Investigation, Asset Tracing and ethical hacking experts. Working together to form a private cyber and crypto intelligence group focused on providing results.
    Using the latest Cyber Tools, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), Human Intelligence (HUMINT), and cutting edge technology, we provide actionable intelligence to our clients.

    WHY CHOOSE US?
    – Expert Cyber Investigation Services —Our cyber investigators operate professionally and anonymously to crack all firewalls known to man.
    – Cryptocurrency And Digital Asset Tracking — We are able to track the movement of different crypto currencies and assets. If the asset has been moved, we are able to follow it.
    – Strategic Intelligence For Asset Recovery — The first step to recovery is locating recoverable assets. Our experienced team will be able to walk you through the process.

    Schedule a mail session with our team of professionals today via – asorehackcorp (@) gmail (.) com to get started immediately.

    BEWARE of FABRICATED reviews and testimonies endorsing tricksters, do not get scammed twice.

    Disclaimer: Asore Corp. is not a law enforcement agency and not a law firm. Like all legitimate private investigators, we can guarantee specific results. We apply our expertise and resources to every case professionally and ethically.8

  • Dr Greg on

    JOIN THE ILLUMINATI666 BROTHERHOOD?!!!
    contact us on +2349017887682 or illumnatib53@gmail.com
    Are you a business man, or woman,are you a pastor
    or an artist,, do you want to be famous or you want
    to be rich or powerful, it is better you become a
    member of Illuminati and make your dream come
    true . this is the chance for you now to become a
    member of the temple KINGDOM and get what you
    seek from us.if you are ready to become a member
    of Illuminati and realize your dream then-: whatsapp
    us or email
    illumnatib53@gmail.com
    fill in the following as well-:
    NAME………………..
    NEXT OF KIN……………….
    ADDRESS……………..
    MARITAL STATUS………….
    COUNTRY………
    STATE………………
    OCCUPATION…………….
    MOBILE LINE…………
    A NEW MEMBER WILL GIVEN THE SUM OF
    120MILLION DOLLARS, A CAR AND A HOUSE IN ANY
    PART OF THE WORLD. NOTE: WE ARE NOT FORCING
    ANYBODY FOR THIS. IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED
    PLEASE DON’T APPLY

  • Loysa Rovic on

    How To Recovery Lost or Stolen Cryptocurrency Visit TREK Tech Corp

    The rise of digital currencies has reshaped global finance, offering new opportunities alongside new risks. Lost access, unauthorized transfers, and deceptive platforms continue to affect thousands of individuals and organizations, leaving many uncertain about where to turn.

    TREK Tech Corp has become the trusted leader in digital asset recovery, known for its lawful, transparent, and results driven approach. With thousands of successful cases worldwide, TREK Tech Corp provides clients with more than recovery it offers justice, integrity, and peace of mind. Lawful Precision, Real Results

    Unlike unverified operators that exploit victims with false promises, TREK Tech Corp is defined by legitimacy. The firm’s “no upfront fee” policy ensures clients only pay after a successful outcome, protecting them from secondary losses. Each case is evaluated carefully, with realistic expectations and tailored strategies.

    TREK Tech Corp combines advanced blockchain forensics with proprietary tools like Cross-Chain Mapping Blockchain (CCMB) to trace assets across multiple blockchains, mixers, and offshore exchanges. This technology, paired with human expertise, makes it possible to solve complex cases often considered irretrievable. Backed by Law and Global Collaboration

    What sets TREK Tech Corp apart is its active partnership with global authorities. By working with organizations such as the FBI, Interpol, and national cybersecurity agencies, TREK Tech Corp ensures that recoveries are lawful, enforceable, and credible. Comprehensive Services

    TREK Tech Corp provides solutions for a wide range of challenges, including:
    Digital asset recovery across major blockchains
    Wallet access restoration (Ledger, Trezor, MetaMask, Trust Wallet)
    Investment and platform-related losses
    NFT restoration and exchange account support
    Contact TREK Tech Corp

    If you’ve experienced digital asset loss, time is critical. TREK Tech Corp is ready to help you act quickly and effectively.

    Email: trektechcorp1@gmail.com
    Email: trektechcorp@consultant.com

    Website: (https://trektechcorp.net)

    With TREK Tech Corp, recovery is built on lawful precision, proven results, and unwavering integrity.

  • justine luscacio on

    I hope this review gets to as many as possible because I am sure it will save many. On March 15, I received a message on Telegram inviting me to join a Cryptocurrency investment group. At first, I thought it was a harmless invitation. I joined and began to see how a specific crypto and forex trader was helping many people and even gifting out Bitcoin to his loyal followers. I was thrilled; many people in the group were reporting their daily successes and how they were earning a substantial amount. I was jealous; I saw people making a lot of money, but not me. I became furious and decided to contact the group’s admin, not realizing I had fallen for their trap. That Telegram channel was a hoax, controlled by an organized team of scammers. Within 3 months of being on that platform, I had given out a whopping 11 Bitcoin in total. I was lost when I was logged out of the investment website and blocked from accessing their Telegram channel. I tried all the means I could think of at that moment, all to no avail. It went from days to weeks, and I still couldn’t get back my lost Bitcoin.  I was on Medium when I came across a review about digital assets recovery companies. There were quite a few of them, but DuneNectarOnlineExpert caught my attention. I copied their email ( Support @ Dunenectaronlineexpert . Com ), filed a report, and my task was attended to with utmost urgency. After back and forth with this team of cybersecurity experts, DuneNectarOnlineExpert successfully traced the Bitcoin to the scammers’ wallet, and it was successfully reclaimed. The team of DuneNectarOnlineExpert was incredibly helpful in recovering my lost Bitcoin. Telegram: T.me/Dunenectarwebexpert
    WhatApp: +(1252-271-8900) 

  • Simon Martin on

    BITCOIN SCAM RECOVERY SERVICES – ALPHA RECOVERY EXPERTS

    I’d like to testify about Alpha Recovery Experts, a recovery service that assists fraud victims in recovering their lost Crypto. I had a difficult time after being a victim of a cryptocurrency fraud. I invested in a Ponzi investment scheme earlier this month. I put $378,000 into the company with the hope of making a lot of money from the trade. My account was frozen as soon as I invested with the company, and I no longer had access to my assets. I got a feeling something wasn’t right and had to get assistance right away. After a long hunt for a reliable Crypto recovery team to assist me in recovering my lost crypto. I discovered Alpha Recovery Experts and promptly filed my complaint on their website. Alpha Recovery Experts were able to recover all of my lost Crypto, which astounded me.
    Simply file your complaint through their website ( alpharecoveryexperts. c om ) and have all your lost funds recovered back from these online fraudsters.

    Email Add; (Help@ alpharecoveryexperts. com)



Leave a comment