The Health behind the lard

When you think of the perfect skincare product, lard never crosses your mind.  It never did for me until I really started researching homesteading, specifically organic homesteading and holistic approaches to skincare.  Honestly, the thought of rubbing pig fat on your face and body does not sound that appealing until you do some research, once you try it you will never go back.

We raise pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys and crops in forest and pasture while using regenerative farming techniques.  This is the way a farm should operate, we focus on producing healthy, happy animals that are living in the sunshine and eating the forage to create healthy forest, pastures and land.  It was with this thought process of sustainability, homesteading, utilizing every part of an animal so there is no waste that caused me to research how special lard really is.  It is my opinion it is the perfect skincare option and after reading this, you may agree it’s perfect for you too.

The great thing about lard is that you get all of the benefits of expensive creams and beauty care products without the crazy price tag.  With lard, a little goes a long way.  You’re using less and getting more out of it and you’ll actually save money on your skincare regimen once you switch to lard.

Another benefit of lard is that it’s sustainable.  Using our body butter skincare regimen is supporting local resources and small farmers.  Instead of creating more waste, you are choosing to use a product created by a local pig farm that is repurposing it for wellness and beauty products.  As long as pigs are being harvested for their meat on the farm we will continue to have this product readily available in a local setting.  Using what we already have readily available and repurposing it is incredibly empowering.  You’re not only doing your skin and body a favor by nourishing it holistically, your doing your part to help the earth.

Avoiding chemicals should also be a must for you.  Everyone should attempt to cut back on the use of chemicals in their daily life.  Have you ever actually looked at the ingredient list on your beauty product?  I would be willing to bet you can’t pronounce more than four or five of the words, and how many of them do you actually recognize and truly know what it is?  Our skin care products contain six organic ingredients with the addition of whatever organic essential oils are added for scents, that’s it.  SIX.

Now for the really fun stuff... what lard is really doing for my skin. This is where my mind was blown. There are so many benefits. Lard can reduce fine lines and wrinkles, tone and firm skin, even out complexion and skin color, reduce redness, fight inflammation, help treat rosacea, reduce dryness (which makes it great for use in winter!), helps treat eczema, helps reduce appearance of scars, smooths skin texture, softens skin, improves acne, and reduces the size of pores.  Lard can be used on the face and body, it is moisturizing for dry skin patches, isn’t too oily for the T-zone, gives skin a nice glow, helps treat the occasion blemish or acne, reduces blackheads, has anti-aging properties and is a sustainable, affordable option.

So how does all of this work for your skin are?  When it comes to cellular makeup, pig lard is incredibly close to human skin.  Lard has similar pH to that of human skin and it is made up of both saturated and monounsaturated fats.  It also contains collagen and has the ability to moisturize to the subdural cellular levels beneath your skin.  When it comes to skincare, the experts know that oil dissolves oil.  Since lard is so similar to our own skin oils, it is honestly the most perfect product for use as skincare, lotion, cream, lip balm and cleanser that humans have access to. 

Pigs are also extremely efficient at processing sunlight and storing it as Vitamin D in their fat.  When we rub lard on our skin, we are soaking up all of that Vitamin D, which helps to minimize dark spots and lines, reduce acne, promote collagen production and reduce inflammation which is a common factor in skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, eczema and atopic dermatitis.  Lard is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E and Vitamin A.  Because it is so nutrient and vitamin dense it gives our skin that healthy glow all of us are craving.  Pasture raised fat is an excellent source of three different B vitamins, zinc, iron, phosphorus, omega 9 and magnesium.  Pasture raised lard includes other trace elements, ensuring between 10% (pantothenic acid) and 65% (for thiamine - vitamin B1) of daily recommended dose. It is also an excellent source of pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin, biotin, niacin - soluble vitamins necessary for healthy metabolism and these nutrients are absorbed through the skin when you use or products. 

Pasture raised pig fat is an important source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which; has been shown to affect body composition positively in addition to having other health benefits.  Pork lipids are an important source of conjugated linoleic acid, which in light of recent studies can provide protection against some forms of cancer and heart disease because of its antioxidant properties.  The fatty acid composition of pasture raised lard strongly resembles that of human breast milk and helps significantly with the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.

Don’t believe me?  Check the recommendations on this page, see the testimonials by people using it for sunburn, tenia pedia, psoriasis, eczema, cracked feet and knuckles, burns and more.  Better yet, look at my over 40 year old face, the face of someone who has spent years in harsh weather, extremely dirty industrial shops, baking in the sun.  I know I do not look my age and I definitely do not have the wrinkles I used to.  I use my own product and only my own product, I know where it comes from, I know where it’s made, I know what the pig that made this lard ate because I fed it.  And please do not think that all lard lotion is created equal, Vitamin D rich lard comes from pastured hogs that are exposed to sunlight, the infusion of additional nutrients comes from organic feed that is fermented to help our animals have superior gut health, allowing them to absorb the most beneficial probiotics and vitamins that are passed on to you through our body butter.