Both products have benefits, but there is a noticeable difference between the two that might make you sway one way or the other when choosing your moisturizer this winter and beyond. 

 is famous for its whipped consistency and perfect for an all over body butter. It can hit all those dry areas and spreads easily and evenly for a deeply moisturizing effect on the skin. One of the noticeable differences between the two is that Fat Marshmallow is made without essential oils, its light vanilla sweet scent coming from a marshmallow root and vanilla bean infusion, so if you are sensitive to essential oils this rich and smooth butter may be a better choice for an all over moisturizer. Made up of tallow, beeswax, marshmallow root, vanilla bean and arrowroot, this is a simple and sensitive formula that is safe even for pets, as well as cuts and scrapes! 

Another key difference between the two products is that the Fat Marshmallow, being a heavier consistency, has a longer absorption time into the skin.  This may leave a more noticeable “greasier” feel on the skin, but the moisture feels longer lasting and more protective. Tallow tends to sit on the skin and act as a barrier before it absorbs, but once it does it leaves your skin feeling incredibly soft and hydrated.

Now, what the heck is Lard? Lard is close enough in lipid structure and pH to human sebum, which is what makes it such a compatible moisturizer. This is why this pig fat based moisturizer absorbs so easily and lightly into the skin, leaving no noticeable feel beyond the moisture it provides.

If you do any type of work that involves a lot of hand washing, you know how important it is to have a deeply repairing moisturizer at your fingertips. Lard is perfect for uber dry hands if you’re wanting something that’s fast absorbing that doesn’t leave a greasy residue.

The quicker absorbency and balm over butter consistency of this moisturizer may make it a better choice for those dry hands in the chilly winter months or after too many hand washes during cold and flu season.

Vellum Street Co’s newest product line is filled with delightful lard concoctions which feature a mix of wintery and bright essential oils such as tea tree, wintergreen, lime, and coriander. If essential oils are something you are sensitive to, this may be a balm better left for hands, feet, and any other dry areas, although it is safe and sensitive enough for your face per Vellum Street Co! 

TL: DR: Each product has its own health benefits, and it really boils down to your skin’s individual needs and what you’re looking for out of a moisturizer. If you’re looking for something non greasy and faster drying with a lighter feel on the skin: grab yourself a tub of lard. If you’re wanting protective masking moisture that leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated, the whipped body butter that smells like a can of frosting (in the best way) might be for you. 

Founded in 2015 by Melissa Lynn Torre, a chef interested in both nutrition and food sustainability, it wasn't long before Vellum Street soap maker/mayhem slayer Melissa Lynn Torre started paying attention to not only what she put IN her body, but also ON it. After battling an auto-immune disease for decades, and finding no relief via traditional channels, Melissa began to realize so many commercially available soaps & skin care products today are formulated with ingredients you would never eat, so why slather them on your skin, which, like your digestive system, absorbs everything you put on it?!

After a growing interest & extensive research, Melissa discovered a slew of ingredients, many of which were leftover/excess ingredients in her cafe Cookie Confidential's own kitchen, that held numerous benefits for the skin, most notably, tallow. Not long after, Melissa stepped away from the world of pastry and private cheffing, and into the world of upcycled skincare. Creating products that are comprised of nothing that doesn't directly benefit skin health, along with being able to put to good use many food "scraps" that were once headed for the trash bin in many commercial kitchens, led Melissa to an exciting new venture that combined her love of food & creating in the kitchen with her desire to improve nutrition and food sustainability for both her and those around her struggling with similar issues.