Jojoba Oil vs. Tallow: How They Compare

Empty Jar Guarantee — Use the whole jar. If it doesn’t help, we’ll refund you. · Handmade in the USA

Jojoba oil and tallow both show up in simple skincare, but they couldn’t be much more different. One is a clear liquid pressed from seeds. The other is a firm fat from cattle. Here’s a fair look at each. We also compare coconut oil vs. tallow.

Where jojoba comes from

Jojoba (pronounced ho-HO-ba) is a hardy shrub native to the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Its name reached English through Spanish, from an Indigenous name for the plant.

• The shrub produces small seeds rich in a liquid wax
• About half of each seed’s weight can be this wax
• Today it’s grown in several countries for its oil

Why jojoba oil is really a liquid wax

Most plant oils, like olive oil, are made of triglycerides. Jojoba is different. It’s made almost entirely of wax esters: long-chain fatty acids joined to long-chain fatty alcohols. That makes it a liquid wax, and it’s the only plant known to store this kind of wax in its seeds.

Lanolin is another wax, though a very different one. We compare it in lanolin vs. tallow: wool wax and beef fat compared.

Where tallow comes from

Tallow is rendered beef fat. Raw fat is slowly melted, strained, and left to set. It’s a true fat, made mostly of oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids.

Texture and scent

• Jojoba stays liquid at room temperature and spreads easily
• It has very little scent, and refined jojoba can be nearly colorless
• Tallow is firm in the jar and softens with the warmth of your skin
• Well-rendered tallow has a mild, faint scent

How each is typically used

• Jojoba: facial oils, hair care, lotions, and as a carrier for essential oils
• Tallow: balms, soap, cooking, and, historically, candles

Who might prefer which

• If you avoid animal ingredients, jojoba is a plant-based choice
• If you like a light, liquid feel, jojoba may suit you
• If you want a richer balm where a little goes a long way, tallow may suit you
• Whichever you choose, patch test it first

For another plant-and-tallow comparison, see shea butter vs. tallow.

Where Reyic fits

Most Reyic balms are grass-fed tallow and olive oil, handmade in the USA. Some jars add named essential oils, and Au Naturel is unscented. Trouble Spots also contains jojoba, blended with tallow, shea butter, olive oil, and beeswax.

FAQ

Is jojoba oil really an oil?

It’s called an oil and looks like one, but chemically it’s a liquid wax. It’s made mostly of wax esters rather than triglycerides.

Can jojoba and tallow be used together?

Yes. Some balms combine them, including Reyic’s Trouble Spots. Others, like most Reyic jars, pair tallow with olive oil.

Where should I start with Reyic?

Start with Au Naturel, the unscented jar, or compare every balm in the grass-fed tallow balm collection.

Curious how tallow works day to day? Read tallow balm on dry, cracked hands, or try Au Naturel.