My One-Step Skincare ‘Routine”: The One Product That Has Actually Given Me Results

July 10th, 2026

Written By: Clarice Hielema

I don’t know if using one product can even be considered a routine, maybe more like a step, but nonetheless, this is the story of my skincare journey and how I went from using any and every product out there with no success, to using one. Yep, just one. As a disclaimer, this product may not work for everyone or meet your specific skincare needs. But perhaps you’re in the same boat I was in, and it will be the miracle product you’ve been waiting for. Let’s dive in!

My skin has been through quite the journey over the course of my life, mainly the last decade that is. Like most teenagers, I battled raging hormones and dealt with acne. At times I would feel so self-conscious and distressed over the state of my skin. Every time I would look in the mirror, I was judging and picking myself apart. It was during this time that I turned to many different skincare products on the market that promised me results. I shopped the aisles of Walmart, Target, TjMaxx, and online sites scanning for products that were affordable and specifically said “for acne and dry skin”. I added many steps to my routine with things like cleanser, moisturizer, toners, different oils, pimple creams, sunscreens, etc. I tried it all. I lathered my face in these products made up of chemicals foreign to my skin and saw no results. In fact, my skin only got worse. It certainly did me no favors that I also was a major skin picker. I couldn’t stand leaving any pimples or blackheads alone, and this led to me having very irritated skin, some scarring, and you guessed it, more pimples.

The ingredients in CeraVe moisturizer. I mean this can't be natural and good for our skin and health, right?

Of all the brands out there, the main skincare products I purchased and used were from CeraVe. And of course I dabbled in products from other brands that I found lining the shelves or scrolling online. Basically I bought and tried anything that claimed it would solve my skin problems and be the key that I was missing. Now I’m not saying that no one can get results from these types of products, but I personally didn’t experience any positive outcomes from using them. I would double cleanse every morning and night, tone my face, rub tons of moisturizer and serums on; I honestly looked like a glazed doughnut going to bed each night. And somehow I woke up with super dry skin, more pimples, and deep cysts on the horizon. I didn’t know where to turn next and felt defeated, wishing I could overcome my acne once and for all. 

One day in the fall of 2023, I was researching on the internet more natural and nontoxic skincare options. By the grace of God, I came across a product that has since changed my life and my skin. That product, my friend, is called tallow. Honestly, it’s not really even a product, more like a God given skincare superhero straight from heaven, or at least straight from the fat of a cow. At first I was skeptical (you might be too). I mean, rubbing beef fat on my face? You gotta be joking! But I read some testimonies online and I was convinced like I never had been before. I ordered it immediately. My tallow arrived in a little glass jar, was made up of just 3 ingredients that I could pronounce, smelled delicious, and it made my skin feel luxurious and hydrated. I quit all my other products cold turkey, and I think I threw them all away within a week. From then on, it was just me and my tallow. And guess what happened? I saw real results! 

My skin today as I write this post. Not perfect, but my younger self would be thrilled!

It was the simple and real ingredients, along with the incredible testimonies I read that convinced me to purchase and begin using tallow on my own skin, but I have since learned about the health benefits and why it works so well. If you want some compelling facts behind using beef tallow, here they are. First things first, beef tallow is pure, rendered fat from a cow. The fat is melted down several times and the impurities are separated and removed. You’re left with liquid gold that solidifies at room temp, is exceptionally shelf stable,  and can be used in cooking or skincare. Beef tallow is actually very similar in its lipid profile to that of human sebum, so our skin recognizes and readily absorbs it. A lot of products in the store just stay sitting on your skin and aren’t really penetrating your skin barrier. I can attest that the first time I used tallow, it felt different than any other moisturizer I had tried before, and I instantly felt it melt into my skin. It’s like my skin took a big gulp of it and thanked me. Tallow is also rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, and since they are naturally occurring, they easily assimilate into your body. Tallow deeply moisturizes, locks in the hydration, gives you a certain youthful glow, and soothes acne and redness. It’s a gamechanger!

My homemade tallow that lasted me and my family a year!

Today, my skincare “routine” is so simple that it would make my teenage self shocked and concerned, and probably make some people question if I’m even taking care of my skin. But honestly, I think simple and minimal is what our skin really needs to thrive and breathe. Less is more in most cases, and it’s taken me a long time to realize this. But these days, if I can’t pronounce and understand what the ingredients are in my products as well as the food I’m consuming, I try to stay away from it. I believe that our skin, body, and health thrive and function best when we utilize nature and get back to our roots. Our ancestors weren’t lathering chemicals all over their face and body to have nice and healthy skin. Today, I make my own tallow moisturizer that can be used anywhere on the body, and I even use it on my babies. I use grass-fed beef tallow that I render till it’s pure (no beef smell, I promise) combined with organic jojoba oil, vanilla, and vitamin E oil. It’s creamy, luxurious, and smells of light vanilla. My skin is healthier and more radiant than it’s ever been and all I use on my skin is water and tallow. That’s it, friend! No more 10 step skincare routine that takes up all my time, just straight simplicity. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have perfect model skin that looks airbrushed and perfectly glowy, but that’s not really my goal. The most important thing is that my skin feels healthy and nourished, and I’m not wasting time and money on products that aren’t natural and don’t yield results. I don’t know what my skincare will look like once I get into my thirties and beyond, but right now tallow alone is what makes up my “routine”, and it has been working wonders. I hope you’ll give tallow a try if you’re looking to simplify your skincare, save money, switch to nontoxic products, or heal your skin. I’m not sponsored, just passionate. Take care, friend!