Why I Started Making Soap and Why I Chose Tallow and Lard

I did not get into soap making just because it looked interesting. I started because my son and I both have very sensitive skin.

For years, store-bought soaps caused irritation. Laundry detergents were a problem. Even deodorant has been a struggle, especially for Devin. If we do not use the right kind, his underarms can become red and irritated. It has taken a lot of trial and error to figure out what works for us.

At some point, I realized I needed to understand what was actually in the products we were using. That is when I started researching cold process soap.

I came across a soap maker on YouTube named Katie from Royalty Soaps. She offers free beginner videos that teach you how to make your first batch of soap. That is how I learned to make my own. 

What started as a way to solve a problem in our own home slowly turned into something more. The more I learned about traditional soap making and ingredients, the more I appreciated how simple real soap can be.

As I researched different oils and fats, I was drawn to tallow and lard. Both have been used in soap making for many years. They are traditional ingredients that have stood the test of time.

One of the reasons I chose them is because their fatty acid profiles are close to our own natural skin oils. That mattered to me. I wanted a bar that felt balanced, not harsh or overly stripping.

In my experience, tallow and lard create a firm, long-lasting bar with a creamy lather. They are simple, reliable, and effective. That is exactly what I was looking for.

I am not interested in making exaggerated claims about what soap can do. Soap cleans your skin. A well-formulated bar can feel gentle and balanced. That is its job.

For me, choosing tallow and lard was about going back to traditional ingredients and making something honest for my own home. Big Creek Suds grew from that place.