About us
Harwood Farms is a small, family-run outfit in the South West of Western Australia. We specialise in making natural skincare the way it was done long before shortcuts and chemicals took over.
We produce small-batch tallow soaps and tallow balms using grass-fed and finished beef tallow sourced from local paddocks. The tallow is slow-rendered and purified over a full week, then blended by hand with organic oils and native botanicals drawn from the Australian landscape.
We don’t rush the process. Every product is made in small batches, with simple ingredients, time-tested methods, and respect for the land it comes from.
This is practical skincare that is built for real people, real weather, and real work.
Frequently asked questions
What is tallow?
Tallow is a traditional, nutrient-rich fat rendered from beef suet, the hard fat found around the kidneys of cattle. For centuries, it was used for cooking, soap-making, skincare, and medicine long before modern synthetic products existed.
In skincare, properly rendered tallow closely resembles the natural oils found in human skin, making it highly compatible, deeply nourishing, and easily absorbed. It’s naturally rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, and supports the skin barrier without the need for synthetic additives.
Will tallow clog my pores?
No - Tallow is incredibly similar to your skin's natural oils (sebum), so it absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue. It's non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores - in fact, it helps balacne oil production for a clearer, healthier skin.
Why use tallow soap?
Most liquid soaps and body washes are not true soaps at all. They are detergent-based cleansers made with synthetic surfactants, preservatives, thickeners, and fragrances designed for shelf life, foam, and low cost. While they feel convenient, these formulas often strip the skin’s natural oils, disrupt the skin barrier, and rely on added moisturisers to compensate for what the cleanser removes.
Traditional bar soap is made by saponifying fats or oils with lye — a simple chemical process that creates real soap and naturally occurring glycerin. This glycerin is a humectant that helps draw moisture to the skin, making bar soap inherently more skin-supportive than most liquid cleansers.
Tallow soap goes a step further. Made from rendered beef fat, tallow produces a bar that closely matches the skin’s natural lipid structure. It creates a dense, creamy lather that cleans effectively without the tight, dry feeling common with modern cleansers, making it one of the best choices of soap for dry, irritated, flaky or eczema prone skin. Its rich fatty aids and vitamins (like A, D, E, and K) help restore moisture, calm redness, reduce inflammation, and protect the skin.
Is tallow soap and tallow balm suitable for acne-prone skin?
Yes. Tallow is non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) and its composition closely mimics human skin oils, making it gentle and ideal for sensitive or acne-prone skin. It has anti inflammatory properties that can help to soothe irritation and restore balance.
Always patch test first, as individual results vary, but it is suitable for all skin types - incliding the most sensitive.
Do you use any preservatives in your products?
No. We don’t use preservatives or synthetic ingredients in our products.
Our soaps and balms are made using traditional methods with 100% natural ingredients. Bar soap doesn’t require preservatives, and our tallow balms are anhydrous (water-free), which makes them naturally shelf-stable without the need for additives or chemicals.
Does tallow balm smell?
High-quality, properly rendered tallow balm (especially from grass-fed suet/kidney fat) is often virtually odorless or has only a very mild, buttery scent.
How long will it take to receive my order?
We will work quickly to ship your order as soon as possible. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with further information. Delivery times vary depending on your location.