Homemade, holistic, historic

SAUK CENTRE — After a lifetime of skin-related problems, Linda Lieser took matters into her own hands. Having suffered from severe burn scars as well as significant acne, Lieser said she tried a plethora of skin care products and treatments with the hopes of relief but had no luck.

“I was exhausted by temporary … solutions that treated symptoms but never addressed the root cause,” Lieser said. “That frustration led me down a different path: natural medicine and a holistic approach to life and health.”

Lieser began researching natural remedies and found beef tallow.

“(The tallow) has been used for centuries, thousands of years, by ancient civilizations,” Lieser said. “If people before us cared for themselves this way, I wondered, why couldn’t we? I wanted to honor that age-old wisdom.”

Tallow is rendered from the suet, or fat, of cattle. Lieser said tallow contains fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K as well as essential fatty acids. The tallow fatty acid profile is similar to skin’s natural sebum, making it biocompatible with humans, she said.

“This means it is easily absorbed and less likely to cause irritation or clog pores compared to many synthetic moisturizers,” Lieser said. “Its composition supports the skin’s innate ability to maintain hydration, leading to softer, more supple skin.”

Lieser said tallow also includes healthy fats. It is primarily composed of both monounsaturated fats and saturated fats such as oleic acid, stearic acid and palmitic acid. She said these fats are essential for maintaining lipids in the skin barrier, helping to prevent moisture loss and enhance resilience against environmental conditions.

As Lieser learned the ins and outs of tallow, she became inspired to try the product. She began making tallow products and using them.

“When I was 3 years old, I was burned across my scalp, the left side of my face and down my shoulder,” Lieser said. “The scar on my face is more than 40 years old; nothing will erase it. But when I use my own products consistently, the texture softens. The scar will always be there, but it has never felt like this before.”

Lieser said she had a simple idea to make tallow as Christmas gifts for friends and family. Since then, her simple idea has turned into The Tallow Company LLC,
Lieser’s own business of making and selling tallow products.

“I began giving the products away,” Lieser said. “Before I knew it, I was registering with the state and federal government and launching a small business.”

Lieser makes tallow using locally sourced beef suet, including from her son’s beef herd raised on their family farm. She processes the suet by melting it down using low-temperature cooking.

The tallow is then strained and cooled until it is pure; Lieser said this part of the process can take more than a week.

Once the tallow is purified, Lieser infuses it with hand-selected botanicals. This part of the process can take at least another week and up to several months, Lieser said. She uses various botanicals to create scents such as vanilla bean, rosemary mint, holiday blend, northwoods, spring dandy and lavender lovers.

“Beef tallow alone is admired for its ability to deeply nourish and protect the skin,” Lieser said. “We take it further by pairing it with berries, fruits, herbs and resins. Each formulation is thoughtfully crafted to support specific skin needs from deep hydration to restorative care.”

Lieser said she uses natural aromas for these ingredients instead of perfumes or essential oils. She said this allows each product to carry its own gentle, distinctive scent.

Lieser said her most disappointing moments are when products do not turn out as she planned. She said it is not only an expensive loss, but she puts a lot of time, care and heart into each creation.

“Over the summer I worked on a new scent that was perfect in texture and performance,” Lieser said. “But the smell just was not right. If I would not buy it myself, I will not offer it to anyone else.”

Once the tallow has been infused, it is mixed with jojoba oil to enhance texture and benefits.

“Timing and temperature are critical,” Lieser said. “This step determines the final consistency. It is a meticulous process that requires patience, care and time.”

Even though her original intention was simply to gift the products to friends and family, Lieser is now selling her tallow products at local stores such as the Melrose Meat Shoppe in Melrose, Royal Te Ranch in Alexandria and St. Michael Health in Sauk Centre.

“What I love most about creating my tallow skincare is the feedback,” Lieser said. “Seeing real results and hearing how it has helped and, in some cases, truly transformed someone’s skin.”

Even though Lieser began using tallow to benefit her own skin, she found a product she can now comfortably and confidently provide for others.

“I will never claim these products are a cure-all,” Lieser said. “They will not work for everyone. But if they can ease even one person’s burden, then they are worth making.”