Every product page in the line says "patch test first." This is what that actually means, and how to do it in a way that tells you something
A patch test is a small trial of a product on a small area of skin before it goes on everywhere. It costs a pea-sized amount and a little patience, and it is the one step that turns "my skin is sensitive" from a worry into information.
Read across the line and the sentence keeps appearing. The tallow lotion page: patch test before widespread use, especially on sensitive, reactive, freshly shaved or compromised skin. The deodorant page: baking soda and essential oils can irritate some skin types, especially after shaving; patch test first and discontinue if persistent burning, rash or irritation develops. The sunscreen page: patch test before first use if you are sensitive to tallow, coconut oil, cocoa butter, castor oil, frankincense, myrrh or other ingredients.
The reason is in the ingredient lists. These are short lists with no synthetic fragrance, which is why many people with sensitive skin get on well with them, but short is not the same as inert. Essential oils, sodium bicarbonate, botanical extracts and, in selected cellulite formulas, DMSO are all things an individual skin can object to. The page's own line is the honest one: skin varies. A patch test is how you find out where yours sits before a whole arm or a whole face finds out for you.
The deodorant page names three things: persistent burning, rash, irritation. The lotion page says simply to discontinue if irritation develops. To those I would add redness that does not fade, itching, and small bumps. Any of those that persist means the product is not for that skin, or not for that area, and the answer is the one the pages give: discontinue. That is not a failure of the product or of your skin; it is the patch test doing its job, at the cost of a fingertip of product instead of a jar.
Two things are not a reason to stop. A mineral sunscreen leaving a visible white layer is the zinc oxide doing what it does, and the page says so. A rich lotion or balm feeling heavy on the test spot for a while is texture, and the lotion page describes the formulas as rich on purpose. Neither is irritation.
| Product | Where to test | The page's own caution |
|---|---|---|
| Tallow lotions and balms | Inner forearm; for face formulas, a spot along the jawline | Patch test before widespread use, especially on sensitive, reactive, freshly shaved or compromised skin; patch test if sensitive to essential oils |
| Tallow deodorant | A small area of the underarm, on a day you have not shaved | Baking soda and essential oils can irritate some skin types, especially after shaving; discontinue if persistent burning, rash or irritation develops |
| Tallow sunscreen SPF 35 | Inner forearm, then a small area of the face if it will be worn there | Patch test before first use if sensitive to tallow, coconut oil, cocoa butter, castor oil, frankincense, myrrh or other ingredients |
| Cellulite Reduction lotion | A small area of the thigh or hip you intend to massage | Selected cellulite formulas may include DMSO, which requires careful label review and patch testing |
The formulas share a base and differ in what is added to it, so it helps to know what to look for on the label you are testing. The lotions use, in selected formulas, frankincense, sandalwood, blue tansy, bergamot, rosewood, ylang ylang, geranium, neroli, coriander, lavender and myrrh. The deodorant uses lemon myrtle, lime, sweet orange and bergamot in Lemon Lime, and lavender and tea tree in Fresh, over a base that includes sodium bicarbonate. The sunscreen uses frankincense and myrrh. The cellulite formulas may include DMSO, which the lotion page singles out for careful label review and patch testing.
If you already know one of those is a problem for you, the test is not a formality; it is the place to find out how your skin answers this particular formula. And if you are acne-prone, the guide on whether tallow clogs pores covers the facial-skin question in full: patch test a small area first and start with a thin layer.
These are cosmetics for cleansing, conditioning and moisturizing. A patch test is for ordinary skin sensitivity. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, are under a dermatologist's care, or have had a serious reaction to a skincare product before, ask your own healthcare provider before testing anything new.
Tallow Lotion Moisturizer is the line's everyday face-and-body formula and the sensible first jar. Patch test it, then build the rest of the routine one product at a time.
Practitioner Eileen Durfee, NBS (Nutritional Balancing Science), NASM-CPT — wellness educator, inventor, author, and formulator of the Creatrix Solutions tallow skincare line.
I put the patch-test line on every page myself, and I mean it as more than a disclaimer. I formulate with grass-fed kidney suet and short ingredient lists precisely because I want these products to suit skin that reacts to everything else, and most of the time they do. But essential oils are real botanicals with real potency, and baking soda is baking soda. The only way to know how a particular skin answers is to ask it, on a small patch, before the whole body is involved.
My own habit with any new batch is the same one in this article: a thin layer on the inside of the forearm, leave it, look at it before the next application. Our Facebook group is free to join if you want to ask about a specific formula.
Yes. The formulas share a tallow base but differ in essential oils, powders and specialty ingredients; the lotion page's own advice is to review each product page because formulas differ. One product at a time, or clearly separated areas.
Start on the inner forearm; if that is quiet, test a small spot along the jawline before using it across the face. Facial skin and forearm skin do not always agree.
Judge it before the next application, not in the first minutes. Persistent burning, rash or irritation is the deodorant page's fail condition, and "discontinue if irritation develops" is the lotion page's. A brief flush that settles is worth a second look on the next application before deciding.
No. The deodorant page says to avoid applying right after shaving if your skin is sensitive, and the lotion page lists freshly shaved skin among the skins that need a patch test most, so a test on it will not tell you what normal wear will be like.
Published September 2026 • Updated September 13, 2026
By Eileen Durfee, NBS, NASM-CPT, inventor, author, and formulator of the Creatrix Solutions tallow skincare line.
More from Eileen Durfee
Eileen's free guides, including the Healthy Home Detox Checklist, on EileenDurfee.com
This article is for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Nuco Enterprise Solutions LLC.
