For pregnant and breastfeeding women in Australia: a clear guide to tallow skincare during pregnancy. What to use, what to avoid, and which DAEAR formulation we recommend.
Pregnancy Changes Your Skin — and Your Skincare Rules
Pregnancy reshapes the skin in ways no one really prepares you for. Some women bloom into the glow they've been promised. Some break out for the first time since high school. Some develop pigment patches. Some become so dry their skin feels like paper. Some experience all of the above across nine months.
What stays consistent is this: everything you put on your skin while pregnant matters more than it usually does. The skin is more reactive, the bloodstream is shared, and the list of ingredients that are best avoided is longer than most women realise.
Why Tallow Skincare Works Well in Pregnancy
Tallow skincare has three qualities that make it well-suited to pregnancy:
- The ingredient list is short. Anhydrous tallow balms have a small number of recognisable components — tallow, carrier oils, beeswax. Fewer ingredients means fewer things to worry about.
- No preservatives. Because anhydrous formulas contain no water, no preservative system is needed. Many synthetic preservatives are on the "avoid in pregnancy" lists.
- No retinoids, no acids, no actives. Tallow is a barrier-supporting moisturiser — it doesn't behave like a retinol or AHA, both of which are typically avoided in pregnancy.
The DAEAR Formulation for Pregnancy: Scent-Free Tallow Balm
For pregnancy and breastfeeding, the formulation we recommend is the Scent-Free Tallow Balm. It contains:
- Australian grass-fed tallow
- Jojoba seed oil
- Sacha inchi seed oil
- Beeswax
That is the complete ingredient list. No essential oils. No fragrance. No preservatives. No retinoids. No acids.
For the body, the Glow Tallow Body Butter and the Herbal Tallow Soap are also safe options.
What to Avoid in Pregnancy Skincare
Most healthcare providers and obstetricians in Australia advise avoiding:
- Retinoids — including retinol, tretinoin, tazarotene, adapalene
- Salicylic acid in high concentrations — BHA toners over 2%
- Hydroquinone — used in some pigmentation treatments
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
- Some essential oils — rosemary, sage, fennel, parsley seed and others are commonly advised against
This is general guidance. Always check with your obstetrician or healthcare provider for individualised advice.
What to Look for In Pregnancy-Safe Skincare
- Short, recognisable ingredient lists
- No essential oils, or specifically pregnancy-tested essential oils
- No retinoids or strong acids
- No "fragrance" or "parfum" as a catch-all
- Brands that disclose every ingredient
The Pregnancy-Safe DAEAR Routine
Morning
- Cleanse with the Honey Oil Cleanser (mild, sucragel-based)
- Press 2–3 drops of Dew Drops Barrier Oil into damp skin (essential-oil-free; jojoba, calendula, emu oil base)
- Apply the Scent-Free Tallow Balm
- Apply a pregnancy-safe mineral SPF over the top (we recommend a separate zinc-oxide-based SPF)
Night
Same as morning, minus the SPF. The night-time application is where most of the barrier repair happens.
What About Breastfeeding?
The same formulations are appropriate during breastfeeding. The Scent-Free Tallow Balm is the formulation we recommend.
If you use tallow balm on your chest or breastfeeding area, the Scent-Free version is the only one we'd suggest — essential oils can be transferred to the baby. Apply only to clean, undamaged skin, and wipe gently before feeding if any product remains.
Postpartum Skin Recovery
After birth, the skin goes through another shift — hormones plateau, sleep collapses, hydration disappears. The tallow ritual can continue to support the barrier through the recovery period. Many women find their skin needs more nourishment in the first six months postpartum than during pregnancy.
Continue with the Scent-Free formulation until you have stopped breastfeeding, then reintroduce other DAEAR formulations gradually if you wish.
FAQs
Is the Earth or Lavender Tallow Balm safe in pregnancy?
Both contain essential oils — the Earth has frankincense, cedarwood and ho leaf; the Lavender has true lavender. While many of these are considered low-risk in pregnancy, we recommend the Scent-Free version as the simpler, safer choice. Always confirm with your healthcare provider.
Can I use Dew Drops Barrier Oil while pregnant?
Yes — Dew Drops is essential oil free. The base is jojoba, calendula, emu oil and a double infusion of frankincense resin and goji berry (resin and fruit infusions, not essential oils).
What about stretch marks?
The Glow Tallow Body Butter applied daily to the belly, hips and thighs supports the skin through the stretch period. It doesn't prevent stretch marks (nothing reliably does), but it keeps the skin softer and more pliable.
Is tallow good for postpartum hair loss?
Not directly for hair, no — but a thin amount of Scent-Free balm on dry scalp patches is safe.
Where to Start
For pregnancy and breastfeeding, the simplest starting point is:
- DAEAR Scent-Free Tallow Balm on its own
- Or the Scent-Free Balm + Honey Oil Cleanser
For more reading: Pregnancy Skin Changes: An Australian Woman's Guide and Why Natural Skincare Matters During Pregnancy.
This article is general guidance, not medical advice. Always consult your obstetrician or healthcare provider for individualised advice during pregnancy.