Like a lot of people, we spent years cycling through moisturisers that promised everything and deliver nothing. Creams that felt great for an hour, then left our skin drier than before. Products with ingredient lists we couldn’t pronounce - let alone trust. Then we discovered tallow.
The Discovery
It sounds counterintuitive - beef fat on your face? But the science is compelling. Grass-fed tallow has a fatty acid profile that closely mirrors human skin oils. It doesn’t just sit on the surface. It absorbs. It nourishes. It heals.
We started making balm at home. Friends tried it. Then their friends tried it. The feedback was always the same: “This actually works.”
That’s when Talova was born.
The Standard
From the beginning, we knew we weren’t going to cut corners. If we were asking people to trust us with their skin, we had to earn that trust.
Every jar of Talova is manufactured in New Zealand in dedicated ISO-certified cosmetic facility here on the South Island. Not a random kitchen or shed. Not a side project. A purpose-built skincare lab held to international manufacturing standards.
We source 100% grass-fed New Zealand cosmetic-grade beef tallow - a premium pure form of tallow specifically made to meet skincare standards. It costs significantly more than the food-grade tallow used by many other brands, but the difference in purity, texture, and performance is something you can feel the moment you open the jar. There’s no beef smell. No greasiness. Just clean, luxurious skincare.
Our cows graze on open NZ pastures, free from hormones and unnecessary antibiotics.
The Formula
We deliberately kept the formula simple. Every ingredient is chosen for a reason:
Cosmetic-grade grass-fed beef tallow for deep, bio-compatible moisture. Cocoa butter for richness and protection. Jojoba oil to balance and soften. Kawakawa - a native New Zealand plant used in traditional Māori rongoā (medicine) - for its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties. And carefully selected scents to make each variant a pleasure to use.
No water. No parabens. No petroleum. Nothing your skin doesn’t need.
The Name
Talova is a name we created from 'tallow' - the foundation of our formula. It felt right from the moment we said it. Simple, natural, and unmistakably ours.
Where We’re Going
We’re based right here on the South Island of New Zealand. We’re small, intentional, and not in any rush to be everything to everyone. Our focus is simple: make the best tallow balm available, be honest about what’s in it, and let the results speak for themselves.