What's inside
Ingredients you can pronounce. Benefits you can feel.
Every ingredient in F & F Co. earns its place. Nothing is added for appearance, fragrance, or filler. Here is what we use and why.
The ancestral case for tallow
For most of human history, tallow — rendered animal fat — was the primary ingredient in skin care. It was used by cultures across every continent, not because it was convenient, but because it worked. It is only in the last century that the skincare industry replaced it with petroleum derivatives, synthetic emollients, and laboratory-engineered compounds.
We believe that was a mistake. Tallow is structurally similar to the lipids found in human skin. It absorbs readily, does not clog pores, and delivers a concentrated payload of fat-soluble vitamins that synthetic alternatives simply cannot replicate. That is why it is the foundation of everything we make — with one important distinction: our facial, lip scrub, and eye line uses Piedmontese suet from our own herd, while our body and dog products are made with local grass-fed beef tallow. Same philosophy. Same standard. Different animal, chosen for the right reasons.
Frequently used ingredients
Piedmontese Tallow
Bovine Sebum — facial & lip line
Reserved exclusively for our facial, lip scrub, and eye products. Rendered from the suet of our own Piedmontese herd — a heritage breed prized for its exceptionally lean, nutrient-dense fat. Piedmontese tallow is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and stearic acid. Its lipid profile closely mirrors that of healthy human skin, making it uniquely biocompatible and ideal for the delicate skin of the face and lips.
- Deep moisture without greasiness
- Supports the skin barrier
- Rich in fat-soluble vitamins
- Biocompatible with human skin lipids
Local Grass-Fed Beef Tallow
Bovine Sebum — body & dog line
Our body and dog products are made with tallow rendered from local grass-fed beef — raised without hormones or antibiotics, sourced close to home. Grass-fed tallow carries the same core fatty acid profile and fat-soluble vitamins as Piedmontese, and is held to the same small-batch rendering standard. The same philosophy, a different animal.
- Rich in vitamins A, D, E & K
- Locally sourced, grass-fed
- No hormones or antibiotics
- Same small-batch rendering process
Jojoba Oil
Simmondsia chinensis
Technically a liquid wax rather than an oil, jojoba is the closest plant-derived substance to human sebum. It is non-comedogenic, shelf-stable, and acts as a natural carrier that helps other ingredients penetrate the skin more effectively.
- Balances natural oil production
- Non-comedogenic
- Exceptional shelf stability
- Enhances ingredient absorption
Beeswax
Cera alba
Used in our lip and body formulations to create a protective barrier on the skin's surface. Beeswax locks in moisture without suffocating the skin, and carries natural antibacterial properties. We source only unrefined, naturally filtered beeswax.
- Protective moisture barrier
- Natural antibacterial properties
- Soothes and softens
- Non-occlusive — skin still breathes
Ceramides
Ceramide NP / AP / EOP
Ceramides are lipids that occur naturally in the outermost layer of the skin, where they make up roughly 50% of the skin barrier. Supplementing with ceramides helps restore and reinforce that barrier — reducing moisture loss, calming sensitivity, and improving resilience over time.
- Restores and strengthens the skin barrier
- Reduces transepidermal water loss
- Calms sensitivity and redness
- Skin-identical — recognized by your own cells
Colloidal Oatmeal
Avena sativa
Finely milled oats that have been used for centuries to calm inflamed, irritated, and itchy skin. Colloidal oatmeal forms a protective film on the skin's surface, locks in moisture, and contains avenanthramides — potent anti-inflammatory compounds unique to oats.
- Calms itch and irritation
- Forms a protective moisture barrier
- Rich in anti-inflammatory avenanthramides
- Gentle enough for eczema-prone skin
Blue Tansy
Tanacetum annuum
Distilled from the flowers of Tanacetum annuum, blue tansy gets its striking deep blue color from chamazulene — a compound formed during steam distillation that is one of the most potent natural anti-inflammatories known. It calms reactive skin, reduces redness, and has a gentle, herbaceous scent.
- Powerful natural anti-inflammatory
- Reduces redness and reactivity
- Rich in chamazulene
- Calming for sensitive and acne-prone skin
Shea Butter
Butyrospermum parkii
Unrefined shea butter is one of the most nourishing plant fats available. Rich in oleic and stearic acids, it melts at skin temperature and absorbs readily without leaving a heavy residue. It is deeply moisturising, mildly anti-inflammatory, and has a long history of use for dry, cracked, and sensitive skin.
- Deeply moisturising and emollient
- Rich in oleic and stearic acids
- Mildly anti-inflammatory
- Soothes dry and cracked skin
Mango Butter
Mangifera indica
Pressed from the seed kernel of the mango fruit, mango butter is a rich, stable fat with a silky texture. It is high in stearic and oleic acids, absorbs well without greasiness, and provides a protective layer that helps lock in moisture. Particularly effective in hand and body formulations.
- Silky, non-greasy texture
- High in stearic and oleic acids
- Protective moisture barrier
- Excellent for hands and rough skin
Tapioca Starch
Manihot esculenta
Derived from the cassava root, tapioca starch is used in our formulations to create a smooth, powdery finish that absorbs excess moisture and reduces tackiness. It improves the skin feel of balms and butters without altering their efficacy — a clean, plant-based alternative to synthetic slip agents.
- Creates a smooth, powdery skin feel
- Absorbs excess moisture
- Reduces tackiness in balms
- Plant-derived and non-toxic
Vitamin E
Tocopherol
A fat-soluble antioxidant that protects both the skin and the formulation itself. In the skin, vitamin E neutralises free radicals, supports the healing of minor damage, and reinforces the lipid barrier. In the jar, it acts as a natural preservative that extends the shelf life of our oils and butters.
- Neutralises free radicals
- Supports skin barrier repair
- Natural preservative for oils and butters
- Enhances the stability of the formulation
Meadowfoam Seed Oil
Limnanthes alba
Pressed from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant, this exceptionally stable oil is composed almost entirely of long-chain fatty acids not commonly found in other plant oils. It forms a lightweight, non-greasy barrier on the skin, locks in moisture, and dramatically extends the shelf life of other oils it is blended with.
- Exceptional oxidative stability
- Lightweight, non-greasy barrier
- Locks in moisture effectively
- Extends the life of blended oils
Squalane
Squalane (plant-derived)
A lightweight, odourless emollient derived from plant sources such as sugarcane or olives. Squalane is structurally similar to the skin's own sebum, making it exceptionally well-tolerated and non-comedogenic. It absorbs instantly, locks in moisture, and adds a silky slip to lip and facial formulations without any greasy residue.
- Lightweight and non-comedogenic
- Mirrors the skin's natural sebum
- Locks in moisture without greasiness
- Adds silky slip to lip formulations
Cetyl Alcohol
Cetyl alcohol
Despite its name, cetyl alcohol is not a drying alcohol — it is a fatty alcohol derived from plant sources (typically coconut or palm) that acts as an emollient and texture enhancer. It gives creams and balms a smooth, velvety consistency, helps stabilise emulsions, and leaves skin feeling soft without heaviness.
- Smooth, velvety skin feel
- Emollient — not drying
- Stabilises cream and balm textures
- Plant-derived fatty alcohol
Calendula-Infused Jojoba
Calendula officinalis / Simmondsia chinensis
Dried calendula flowers steeped in jojoba oil to extract their anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing compounds. Calendula is one of the most well-documented botanicals for calming redness, supporting wound healing, and reducing irritation. Infusing it into jojoba — itself a skin-identical liquid wax — creates a gentle, deeply nourishing carrier that delivers both ingredients' benefits in a single step.
- Calms redness and irritation
- Supports skin healing
- Anti-inflammatory
- Gentle enough for sensitive and reactive skin
Rose Oil
Rosa damascena
Steam-distilled from the petals of Damask roses, rose oil is one of the most prized ingredients in fine skincare. It is deeply hydrating, mildly astringent, and rich in geraniol and citronellol — compounds with documented anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Rose oil supports an even skin tone, soothes sensitivity, and imparts a delicate, natural fragrance.
- Deeply hydrating and toning
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
- Supports an even skin tone
- Natural, delicate fragrance
Argan Oil
Argania spinosa
Cold-pressed from the kernels of the Moroccan argan tree, argan oil is exceptionally rich in oleic and linoleic acids, tocopherols (vitamin E), and polyphenols. It absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue, softens and conditions the skin, and provides meaningful antioxidant protection. Its lightweight texture makes it an ideal addition to body formulations where deep nourishment is needed without heaviness.
- Rich in vitamin E and antioxidants
- Deeply nourishing and conditioning
- Absorbs quickly, non-greasy
- Supports skin softness and elasticity
Organic Fine Sugar
Saccharum officinarum
Organic cane sugar is a gentle physical exfoliant that buffs away dead skin cells without the micro-tears caused by harsher scrubbing agents. Its small, rounded granules dissolve as they work, making it suitable for sensitive skin. Sugar also contains naturally occurring glycolic acid, which supports cell turnover and leaves skin noticeably smoother.
- Gentle physical exfoliation
- Dissolves as it works — no harsh residue
- Naturally occurring glycolic acid
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Castor Oil
Ricinus communis
A thick, deeply conditioning oil rich in ricinoleic acid — a rare fatty acid with notable anti-inflammatory and humectant properties. Castor oil draws moisture into the skin, adds slip and glide to scrub formulations, and helps other oils absorb more effectively. Used in small amounts, it contributes to a rich, luxurious texture without heaviness.
- Rich in ricinoleic acid
- Draws moisture into the skin
- Adds slip and glide to scrubs
- Deeply conditioning
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavandula angustifolia
One of the most well-studied essential oils in skincare. Lavender is calming, anti-inflammatory, and mildly antimicrobial. We use it in small, purposeful amounts — enough to deliver its benefits, never enough to overwhelm.
- Calms redness and irritation
- Mildly antimicrobial
- Supports wound healing
- Gentle enough for sensitive skin
Frankincense Essential Oil
Boswellia sacra
Prized for thousands of years for its skin-rejuvenating properties, frankincense supports cellular regeneration and has a toning, firming effect on the skin. It is particularly effective in our face formulation, where it works alongside tallow to address fine lines and uneven texture.
- Supports cellular regeneration
- Toning and firming
- Anti-inflammatory
- Historically used for thousands of years
Cedarwood Oil
Cedrus atlantica
A grounding, woodsy essential oil with well-documented skin benefits. Cedarwood is naturally astringent and helps regulate sebum production, making it particularly useful for combination and oily skin types. It also carries mild antifungal and antibacterial properties.
- Regulates sebum production
- Naturally astringent
- Mild antibacterial and antifungal
- Calming, grounding scent
Sandalwood Oil
Santalum album
One of the most prized botanicals in traditional skincare. Sandalwood is deeply hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and has a long history of use for soothing irritated or sensitive skin. Its natural alpha-santalol content gives it notable antioxidant properties.
- Deeply hydrating and soothing
- Anti-inflammatory
- Rich in antioxidants
- Supports an even skin tone
What we never use
Skin that recognizes what you put on it.
When you feed your skin ingredients it was designed to work with, the results speak for themselves. That is the F & F Co. philosophy — and it starts with the tallow.
