How long does tallow balm last? Per jar and once opened

Tallow balm looks small in the jar, so it's fair to wonder how long it'll actually last. The answer depends on two things: how much you use each day, and how long a jar keeps once it's open. Here's both.

How long does a jar of tallow balm last?

A 60ml jar of The Original lasts about 6 weeks, used morning and night on your face. Because tallow balm is a balm, not a watery lotion, you only need a small amount each time: a pea-sized amount or less for your face.

How long yours lasts depends on where you use it:

• Face only, once a day: longer than 6 weeks.
• Face, morning and night: about 6 weeks.
• Face plus hands, elbows and heels: less, because those spots take more.
• Shared with someone else: roughly half, obviously.

What does that work out at per day?

Used morning and night, a single jar works out at about 60p a day. In a 3 Pack it's about 40p a day, and in a 5 Pack about 31p a day.

How long does tallow balm keep once it's open?

Use it within 12 months of opening. There's no water in it, so there's nothing for bugs to grow in, but like any natural fat it can turn eventually.

Does tallow balm go off?

Eventually, yes. Fats can turn over time, especially if they're kept somewhere warm. Signs it's past its best:

• it smells sharp, sour or stale, like old cooking fat
• the colour has changed noticeably
• the texture has gone grainy or odd

If any of those happen, bin it.

How to make your tallow balm last longer

• Lid on, every time.
• Somewhere cool and dry, away from direct sunlight and heat. Your bathroom windowsill in full July sun isn't the VIP spot.
• Clean fingers only. Or use a small spatula.
• Use less. Most people start with too much. Here's how much you actually need.

Will it melt?

It can soften when it gets warm, like most balms made with fats and waxes. That doesn't mean anything's wrong with it. Just keep it somewhere cooler and it'll firm back up.

The short version

About 6 weeks per jar used morning and night, and use it within 12 months of opening. Keep the lid on and keep it cool. Want to stock up? The 3 Pack and 5 Pack work out cheaper per day, with free UK delivery on 3 jars or more.