Tallow Balm Under Makeup: How to Use It Without the Slide

Can you wear tallow balm under makeup? Yes, and plenty of people do. But it is also where a lot of first impressions of tallow go wrong. Someone scoops a generous fingerful, smooths it on, goes straight in with foundation, and twenty minutes later their makeup has slid around and they decide tallow is too greasy for daytime.

Almost every time, the balm was fine. The amount and the timing were off. This guide covers how much to use on a makeup day, how to tell when your skin is ready, which kinds of makeup sit best on top, what to do midday, and how to get it all off at night.

Written by Jackie, co founder of Wild Gold Tallow. After 15 years of dry, sensitive skin and petroleum creams that never lasted, she helped create this balm and now uses it on her own face every day.

Why tallow balm under makeup can work so well

Makeup sits best on skin that is comfortable. When skin is tight and dry, foundation tends to cling to flaky spots and settle into lines. A good moisturizer step underneath gives it a smoother surface to sit on.

Tallow is rendered fat that is a lot like the oil your own skin makes, so a thin layer tends to sink in rather than sitting on top like a film. Ours is whipped with emu oil, which makes it lighter on the skin than plain tallow. Used in the right amount, the balm is mostly absorbed in about a minute and leaves skin feeling soft instead of slick.

The catch is that phrase, the right amount. Under makeup, that amount is smaller than most people expect.

How much tallow balm to use under makeup

An amount about the size of a grain of rice is plenty for the whole face, and on a makeup day that is the amount to stick to. You can always add a touch more to dry spots, but you cannot take it back once your foundation is on.

Here is how we suggest applying it:

• Warm it first. Rub the balm between your fingertips for a few seconds until it turns from whipped to melted. Cold balm drags and goes on unevenly.
• Press, then smooth. Press it onto your cheeks, forehead and chin, then smooth outward. Pressing spreads a thin layer without piling it up.
• Go lighter where you get shiny. If your nose or forehead gets oily by lunchtime, use whatever is left on your fingers there instead of fresh balm.
• Save extra for dry spots. Around the mouth, the sides of the nose and any flaky patches can take a touch more.
• Try slightly damp skin. A balm spreads further on skin that is a little damp from washing, so you need less of it. If you notice a slight grainy feel from the colostrum, damp skin helps that melt in too.

If you have ever thought tallow felt greasy, this step is usually why. When someone tells us our balm feels greasy, too much balm is almost always the reason.

How long to wait before putting makeup on over tallow balm

Our balm is mostly absorbed in about 60 seconds when you use the right amount. But skin, weather and dose all vary, so we would rather give you a test than a stopwatch.

Lightly touch the back of a finger to your cheek. If it feels tacky or your finger comes away shiny, give it another minute or two. When your skin feels soft and smooth but not slippery, you are ready for makeup.

Brushing your teeth or doing your hair in between is an easy way to build in that wait without thinking about it.

Which makeup works best over tallow balm

Different formulas react differently to a balm underneath. A few honest notes:

Liquid and cream foundation

These generally sit well over a thin, absorbed layer, especially if your skin runs dry. Apply with a damp sponge or your fingers and press it in rather than rubbing, so you do not move the balm around underneath.

Mineral and powder foundation

Powders can grab onto any spot where balm is still sitting on the surface, which shows up as patchy color. If you wear powder, use the smallest amount of balm you can, wait a little longer than usual, and blot gently with a tissue first if anything still feels slick.

Tinted moisturizer or just concealer

On lighter makeup days, a thin layer of balm and a dab of concealer where you need it is about as simple as it gets.

Wearing sunscreen too? Your moisturizer step comes before it. We walk through the full order of layers in our guide to tallow balm skincare routine order, so we will not repeat it here.

Tallow balm under makeup for dry skin days

Dry skin is where a balm underneath really earns its spot. Foundation over tight, dry skin often looks fine at 8am and cakey by noon. A little balm first can help skin feel comfortable for longer, so makeup has something better to sit on.

"I've tried so many other brands and this is the first brand that isn't greasy! I love how my face looks and feels."

That is Rhonda, one of our customers, and the not greasy part is exactly what matters on a makeup day. If your skin is very dry, you can also use a slightly heavier layer at night and a lighter one in the morning. Morning is about comfort under everything else. Night is when the balm can just do its thing.

Midday touch ups with tallow balm

You do not need to reapply balm over makeup during the day, and we would not suggest rubbing it over foundation. If a dry patch shows up anyway, warm the tiniest amount on a ring finger and press it onto that one spot. It can soften flakiness without lifting what is underneath.

If you get shiny instead, blot with a tissue. Adding more of anything to shiny skin usually makes it worse.

Can tallow balm remove makeup?

It can help, and here is the honest version. Oil dissolves oil, so massaging a little balm over makeup at night does loosen it. Afterwards, wipe it away with a warm, damp washcloth.

What our balm will not do is rinse off cleanly with water alone. Dedicated cleansing balms contain an emulsifier that turns the oil milky so it washes away in the sink. Ours is three ingredients with no emulsifier, so you need the cloth, and some people like to follow with their usual gentle cleanser.

Keep it out of your eyes. For heavy eye makeup, use a remover made for the job.

One more honest note. Using a $45 jar of first colostrum balm only as makeup remover is an expensive habit. Most people get more value from cleansing with something simple and saving the balm for afterwards, when your skin actually gets to keep it.

Why I keep my own face routine this short

We made this balm for ourselves long before it had a name, on our farm outside Asheville, North Carolina. I spent around 15 years using the petroleum creams a dermatologist recommended, and the relief never lasted. My skin always felt like it needed the next layer.

These days I put it on my face every day. The balm is three ingredients: first colostrum, 100% grass fed suet tallow and USA emu oil. If you want to read more about using it on your face in general, start with our guide to tallow for face.

If you are trying it for the first time under makeup, the unscented jar is the easiest place to start, since there is no scent competing with your foundation or perfume. You can find our Colostrum Tallow Balm on its product page, or browse the whole unscented tallow skincare collection. And if you are worried about breakouts, we answered that honestly in does tallow clog pores.

Tallow balm under makeup FAQ

Can you use tallow balm under makeup every day?

Yes. Many people use a thin layer of tallow balm under makeup every morning. Use about a grain of rice worth for the whole face, warm it on your fingertips, and let it absorb before applying foundation.

How long should I wait after tallow balm before applying makeup?

With the right amount, our balm is mostly absorbed in about 60 seconds. Rather than timing it, touch your cheek with the back of a finger. If it feels tacky or looks shiny, wait another minute or two.

Why does my foundation slide over tallow balm?

Usually because there is too much balm, or the makeup went on before it absorbed. Use less, wait until skin no longer feels tacky, and press foundation on instead of rubbing it in.

Is tallow balm good under powder foundation?

It can be, but powder is the least forgiving. Use the smallest amount of balm you can, give it extra time to absorb, and blot gently with a tissue before applying powder.

Can tallow balm be used to remove makeup?

It can loosen makeup when massaged in, then wiped off with a warm, damp cloth. Our balm has no emulsifier, so it will not rinse away with water alone like a cleansing balm. Keep it out of your eyes.

The bottom line on tallow balm under makeup

Tallow balm under makeup works best when you use less than you think, warm it first, and wait until your skin feels soft rather than slick. Get those three right and most of the greasy complaints disappear. Skip it as your main makeup remover, keep it for your skin instead, and patch test anything new (our balm contains colostrum, which is dairy derived).

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.