At Barefoot Skincare, our mission has always been simple: create products that truly nourish, protect, and restore your skin using natural, nutrient-dense ingredients. One of the keys to our formulations is the unique synergy between animal fats and plant oils. Today, we’re diving deep into why our favourite oils — including tallow, ghee, emu, and selected plant oils — are so beneficial for the skin.
🐄 Animal Fats: Tallow, Ghee, and Emu Oil
Tallow, ghee, and emu oil are rich in fatty acids that closely mimic the lipids naturally found in your skin. This makes them ideal for:
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Barrier repair & hydration: Palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids restore your skin’s natural barrier, locking in moisture.
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Soothing & nourishing: These fats are gentle, compatible with sensitive skin, and ideal for daily hydration.
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Enhancing nutrient absorption: When blended with plant oils, they help your skin absorb antioxidants and other actives more effectively.
In our Milk & Honey Tallow Balm, for example, we blend pasture-raised tallow with ghee to combine skin-identical fatty acids with nourishing, antioxidant-rich compounds from milk and honey.
🌱 Plant Oils: More Than Just Moisture
While animal fats supply skin-identical lipids, plant oils bring unique nutrients that nourish and protect your skin:
| Oil | Key Nutrients | Skin Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Kakadu Plum Oil | Polyphenols, Vitamin E, oleic & linoleic acids | Antioxidant defence, brightens skin, reduces inflammation |
| Olive Oil | Squalene, polyphenols, Vitamin E | Deep hydration, protects against free radicals, soothes irritation |
| Macadamia Oil | Palmitoleic acid (Omega-7), phytosterols | Supports healing, barrier repair, balances dry or ageing skin |
| Castor Oil | Ricinoleic acid, Vitamin E, phytosterols | Anti-inflammatory, purifies skin, deeply softens |
| MCT Oil | Caprylic & capric acids | Lightweight hydration, antimicrobial support |
| Jojoba Oil | Wax esters, Vitamin E, trace minerals | Balances sebum, enhances absorption of other oils |
| Sea Buckthorn Pulp CO₂ Oil | Omega-7, carotenoids, Vitamin E, phytosterols | Regeneration, antioxidant protection, improves skin tone and vibrancy |
🌟 Vitamin E: The Unsung Hero
You might have heard a lot about Vitamin C in skincare, especially in oils like Kakadu plum or sea buckthorn. Here’s the thing: Vitamin C is water-soluble and rarely stable in pure oils, meaning most cold-pressed oils contain little to none.
What these oils do contain abundantly is Vitamin E — a powerful, fat-soluble antioxidant. Vitamin E:
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Protects your skin from oxidative stress and UV damage
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Supports barrier repair and elasticity
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Extends the shelf life and stability of oils in your skincare
So, when you see claims about “Vitamin C-rich oils,” the benefits you’re actually feeling often come from Vitamin E, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds, not Vitamin C itself.
🥇 Sea Buckthorn Pulp Oil: A Nutrient Powerhouse
Sea buckthorn pulp oil is one of the most nutrient-dense oils we use. Here’s a snapshot of what it contains:
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Fatty acids: Palmitoleic (Omega-7), palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and alpha-linolenic acids
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Carotenoids: β-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein
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Vitamin E: Tocopherols and tocotrienols (~100–160 mg/100 g)
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Phytosterols: Sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol
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Other bioactives: Polyphenols, triterpenes
Together, these nutrients regenerate skin, improve barrier function, protect against free radicals, and add natural radiance. When blended with tallow, ghee, or emu oil, the effect is amplified: your skin receives both skin-identical fats and powerful plant antioxidants.
🔄 Why Blending Oils Works
At Barefoot Skincare, we’ve carefully selected and blended these oils to create synergistic formulations:
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Animal fats provide hydration and restore the skin’s natural barrier.
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Plant oils deliver antioxidants, carotenoids, unique fatty acids, and phytosterols.
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Together, they enhance absorption, reduce inflammation, support regeneration, and protect against environmental stress.
This combination is why our balms, serums, and lotions feel so nourishing and effective — it’s nature’s chemistry, not synthetic shortcuts.
💚 Bottom Line
Every ingredient we use in Barefoot Skincare is chosen for a reason. By combining tallow, ghee, emu oil, and nutrient-rich plant oils, we create skincare that’s hydrating, regenerative, and protective — naturally.
Next time you use our Milk & Honey Tallow Balm or our Vitamin Sea Serum, know that your skin is getting:
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Skin-identical fatty acids
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Antioxidant protection from Vitamin E and carotenoids
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Anti-inflammatory and regenerative support from rare Omega-7 fatty acids
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Barrier repair, hydration, and glow from plant and animal synergy
It’s simple science, with beautiful results.