Frequently Asked Questions

What is tallow?

Tallow is rendered suet from the fat surrounding the kidneys of the cow. This fat was once used by our ancestors for natural skin care and wound healing. Tallow is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (non-pore clogging) and full of natural, bio-available vitamins.

The fatty acid profile of organic, grass-fed, grass-finished, pasture-raised tallow closely matches our own skin's sebum oil and makes it an excellent, highly bio-available ingredient for skin care. Grass-fed tallow is higher in healthy saturated fat and omega-3's than tallow from conventionally raised cattle. It is nourishing and nutrient-dense with fat-soluble vitamins including A, D, E, K2, B12 and choline.

The tallow we use in our face and body balms is grass-fed, grass-finished, pasture-raised beef tallow from Midwest farmers practicing regenerative and sustainable farming. By way of sourcing premium tallow, we promote healing farming practices in which each animal is enjoying a beautiful life and our earth is able to flourish free from chemicals and pesticides.

What is emu oil?

Emu oil is an oil derived from the body fat of emu birds.

A few properties and benefits of emu oil:

  • Hypoallergenic
  • Non-comedogenic
  • Deeply penetrating moisturizer
  • Natural anti-inflammatory
  • Efficient carrier oil that combines with and delivers accompanying ingredients into the sub-dermal layer of the skin
  • High in Omegas 3, 6, & 9
  • Excellent for helping relieve skin dryness, irritation, and redness

Emu oil also has a positive effect on collagen production. It may help reduce the signs of aging, hyperpigmentation and the appearance of scars. Our emu oil is sourced from pasture-raised, non-gmo, unvaccinated emus living a good life on a chemical and pesticide-free farm in Michigan.

What makes our products "clean" and "premium"?

We source only the highest, premium quality, sustainable, close to nature ingredients; and we choose organic whenever possible.

Our tallow is grass-fed, grass-finished, pasture-raised, non-gmo beef tallow from cows living a good life on farms using regenerative and sustainable farming practices.

Emu oil is sourced from pastured, non-gmo emus raised on a farm in our home state. We visited the emu farm and spoke with the owners firsthand to better understand their practices and quality of care for the emus.

We purchase premium essential oils from a well-trusted and well-respected company. In fact, we've been using this brand and many of the oils in our homes and DIY skincare formulations for years.

Carrier nut oils are cold-pressed and unrefined, meaning they were pressed without heat or chemical substances like hexane. Processing nut oils in this way allows the oil to retain the healing properties, without any harmful additives or ingredients.

We use our balms daily ourselves. Clean ingredients are a non-negotiable part of our own health and well-being. Think of your skin as a large mouth - in fact, it is your largest organ. Anything you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream. What you put on and in your body on a daily basis absolutely matters and contributes to your overall state of being.

Feed Your Skin | Clean Ingredients

Are Good & Simple balms safe to use during pregnancy and/or while nursing?

Disclaimer: If you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition, we will always defer to consulting your healthcare professional of choice if you have any concerns. Good & Simple balms are for external use only.

We personally know women that have used our balms during pregnancy and received great results. The following blog post may be of interest as itchy belly skin during pregnancy is listed as one of the ways our customers have reported using G&S balms.

"What Is A Balm & Why I Need To Try One"

When we select ingredients, the intent is always to stay as “clean” and close to nature as possible. The essential oils we use are considered safe for pregnancy, nursing and children. We formulate our balms with a very gentle dilution of essential oils. We cover this a bit more in our blog post titled, "Never Any Ingredients: The Complete List".

We also offer Bare Face & Body Balm as an excellent option as it contains only five ingredients (now just four ingredients as of July 2024 with the removal of illipe nut butter) and NO essential oils.

Where can I find more information about the ingredients?

To find more information about each ingredient, please visit our Ingredients page.

What is the shelf-life of a balm?

12 months

Do the balms contain essential oils?

Hint, Soothe and Glow (along with seasonally offered items) balms contain a very gentle dilution rate of essential oils. All essential oils are included on the label.

Bare balm does not contain any essential oils. We left this balm intentionally bare for anyone that may be sensitive to scented products or would prefer to make their own unique blend with a scent of their choosing.

All of the essential oils selected are deemed "safe" for pregnancy, nursing moms, and kids. However, you know your body best and using your own discretion is most important. Patch tests are recommended.

What is the texture and consistency of the balms?

All of our balms have a smooth, velvety texture and are easy to apply. The consistency may vary depending on your climate. For example, a warmer climate may result in a softer and more pliable balm. A cooler climate may keep the balm a bit more firm but is quickly warmed up by rubbing it between your hands first, and then applying.

If you encounter any "beads" or "grains" in your balm, know this is normal. Tallow is composed mostly of saturated fat and as the tallow cools or "sets" (liquid to solid), the saturated fat may cool faster than the surrounding fatty acids. This may result in small "beads" in your balm. If this occurs, as you apply the balm to your skin or heat the balm in your hands before applying, the "beads" will quickly melt and incorporate into a soft, velvety texture.

**Limited Offering Whipped Balm
BLUE TANSY Whipped Face & Body Balm is a seasonal balm that has a light, airy, cloud-like texture. It is so soft and light and feels amazing on the skin!

Why did we start Good & Simple?

As certified holistic nutritionists and health & wellness coaches, we know that what we put in and on our bodies matters. Individually, we both encountered health challenges that made us look outside mainstream advice and take a deeper dive. From reading labels to making our own DIY skin and body care options, we continued down the path of learning more about how simple skin care and good health can be, using fresh ingredients to support our bodies' innate wisdom for optimal health and homeostasis.

We operate our business from a place of service and proudly create and share premium products with other conscious consumers.

For more information, please see our About page.

Where are you located?

We live in the beautiful state of Michigan. We personally handcraft and hand-pour all of our micro-batch balms.

Disclaimer: The statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.

Other inquiries? Let's talk.

Find us on social media or send us an email at info@gogoodandsimple.com.