Why We’re All About Pig Lard!

Liz
2 days ago
2 min read

Pig lard face cream — Pig Lard Face Cream

Let’s talk fat. The good kind. The kind that makes your biscuits flaky, your cast iron sing, and your skin feel like it just went to the spa.

We’re big fans of traditional fats here at the farm—both for cooking and for skincare. And while beef tallow has its place on the pantry shelf and in the apothecary, we’ve got a soft spot (ok, maybe a firm one) for pig lard—especially from our forest-raised pigs.

Here’s why:

🌳 It Starts in the Forest

Forest-raised pigs live how pigs were meant to: foraging, rooting, and romping through trees, eating acorns, wild herbs, roots, and the occasional grub. It’s a natural, low-stress environment that produces healthier animals—and healthier fat.

Compare that to conventional operations where pigs are kept in confined spaces and fed industrial grains and soy. Same species, totally different outcome. Forest-raised pigs = happy pigs = better lard.

🐷 You Are What You Eat (Yes, Even Pig Fat)

Fat is the most honest reflection of an animal’s diet. Pig lard is a monounsaturated-rich fat—meaning it has a healthy fatty acid profile, especially when pigs eat a diverse, natural diet.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Pig lard (from forest-raised pigs) is often higher in oleic acid (the same heart-healthy fat found in olive oil).
It’s lower in saturated fat than beef tallow, and has a slightly lower smoke point—but is still excellent for most cooking, sautéing, and roasting.
It’s more nutrient-dense when pigs eat things they were meant to eat—like roots, nuts, and bugs.

🧴 Your Skin Will Thank You

When rendered carefully and paired with ingredients like beeswax, vitamin E, and botanicals, pig lard becomes a silky, nourishing base for skincare. It absorbs beautifully, mimics our skin’s natural sebum, and has been used for centuries to soothe dry skin, eczema, and even burns.

Compared to tallow, lard has a slightly lighter feel and a more neutral scent—especially important when you’re not trying to smell like a roast!

✨ Beef Tallow vs. Pig Lard: It’s Not a Fight

We’re not here to throw shade at beef tallow. It’s incredible for deep frying and can be wonderfully healing in salves. But pig lard—especially when it’s clean, small-batch, and responsibly raised—deserves a little spotlight of its own.

We love its versatility, its similarity to human genetics, and its connection to heritage farming practices. And as always, we think honoring the whole animal—including the fat—is just good stewardship.

💕 From Our Forest to Your Vanity

We hand-render our pig lard in small batches, sourced straight from our pasture- and forest-raised pigs. We recommend slathering all over your face! Even for acne prone skin, this is the ANSWER! I am the walking case study for this ;)

No fillers. No junk. Just old-fashioned goodness in a modern world.

Want to try it? Pop into the store or check out our online shop—this season’s restock goes fast: LARD from The Honest Carnivore Store