For pregnant and breastfeeding women in Australia: a clear guide to tallow skincare through pregnancy. What's in the formulas, what to look out for, and which DAEAR formulation is the simplest.
Pregnancy Changes Your Skin — and Your Skincare Rules
Pregnancy reshapes the skin in ways nobody really prepares you for. Some women bloom into the glow they were promised. Some get congested for the first time since high school. Some develop pigment patches. Some become so dry their skin feels like paper. Plenty experience all of the above across nine months.
What stays consistent is this: what you put on your skin while pregnant is worth more thought than usual. Skin is more reactive, and the list of ingredients commonly advised against is longer than most women realise.
Before we go any further: if you're pregnant, breastfeeding or using something on a baby, check with your health practitioner first. Nothing on this page is a substitute for that conversation.
Why Women Reach for Tallow Skincare in Pregnancy
Tallow skincare has three qualities that make it appealing at this stage:
- The ingredient list is short. Anhydrous tallow balms have a handful of recognisable components — tallow, carrier oils, beeswax. Fewer ingredients means fewer things to look up.
- No preservatives. Because anhydrous formulas contain no water, no preservative system is required.
- No retinoids, no acids, no actives. Tallow balm is a moisturiser — it nourishes, softens and supports the skin's moisture barrier. It does not behave like a retinol or an AHA, both of which are typically set aside during pregnancy.
The Simplest DAEAR Formulation: Scent-Free Tallow Balm
The formulation with the shortest ingredient list 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 the matching options. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding or using any of these on a baby, check with your health practitioner first.
Ingredients Commonly Set Aside in Pregnancy
Health practitioners in Australia commonly advise against:
- Retinoids — including retinol, tretinoin, tazarotene and adapalene
- Salicylic acid in high concentrations — BHA toners over 2%
- Hydroquinone — used in some pigmentation products
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
- Some essential oils — rosemary, sage, fennel, parsley seed and others are commonly advised against
This is general information, not advice about your situation. Always check with your obstetrician or health practitioner.
What to Look For
- Short, recognisable ingredient lists
- No essential oils, or a clear statement of which ones are used
- No retinoids or strong acids
- No "fragrance" or "parfum" as a catch-all
- Brands that disclose every ingredient
A Simple DAEAR Routine
Morning
- Cleanse with the Honey Oil Cleanser (mild, sucragel-based)
- Press two or three drops of Dew Drops Barrier Oil into damp skin (essential-oil-free; jojoba, calendula and emu oil base)
- Apply the Scent-Free Tallow Balm
- Apply a mineral SPF over the top (we suggest a separate zinc-oxide-based SPF)
Night
Same as the morning, minus the SPF. Skin does most of its renewal overnight, so the evening application is the one worth being consistent about.
What About Breastfeeding?
The same formulations are the ones women tend to reach for while breastfeeding, and the Scent-Free Tallow Balm remains the simplest of them.
If you use a tallow balm on your chest or breastfeeding area, the Scent-Free version is the only one we'd suggest, since essential oils can transfer to the baby. Apply only to clean, intact skin, and wipe gently before feeding if any product remains. Check with your health practitioner first.
Skin After the Birth
After birth the skin shifts again — hormones settle, sleep collapses, and hydration goes out the window. A simple tallow routine can carry straight through. Many women find their skin wants more nourishment in the first six months postpartum than it did during pregnancy.
The Scent-Free formulation is the straightforward choice while you're breastfeeding; you can reintroduce other DAEAR formulations gradually afterwards if you'd like to.
FAQs
What about the Earth Tallow Balm?
The Earth balm contains essential oils — frankincense, cedarwood and ho leaf. The Scent-Free version is the simpler formulation, with no essential oils at all. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your health practitioner about which suits you.
What's in Dew Drops Barrier Oil?
Dew Drops contains no essential oils. The base is jojoba, calendula and emu oil, with a double infusion of frankincense resin and goji berry — resin and fruit infusions rather than essential oils. As with anything else, check with your health practitioner if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
What about stretch marks?
The Glow Tallow Body Butter applied daily to the belly, hips and thighs keeps skin feeling soft and comfortable through the stretch. It won't prevent stretch marks — nothing reliably does — but skin that feels supple is a great deal more comfortable than skin that feels tight.
Can I use it on my scalp?
A thin amount of the Scent-Free balm can be used on dry patches on the scalp. It has nothing to do with hair itself.
Where to Start
The simplest starting point:
- DAEAR Scent-Free Tallow Balm on its own
- Or the Scent-Free Balm plus the 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 information only and is not advice about any health matter. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding or using a product on a baby, check with your health practitioner first.