Balm Production
Our pigs are an old breed from before soybean subsidies, when the primary purpose of pigs was lard production. We've been using it in baking, frying, and most effectively in ice cream—it's fantastic.
A friend in the medical profession mentioned it makes excellent skincare. He noted that Mexican communities use it topically, and even elderly users maintain thick, highly elastic skin that resists cracking. This is likely because (particularly Mangalitsa) lard has a fatty acid profile nearly identical to human sebum—particularly high in oleic acid (C18:1) at ~60% and palmitic acid (C16:0) at ~25%—making it readily absorbed and incorporated into the skin barrier.
This contrasts sharply with modern skincare, which uses cheap vegetable oils despite serious drawbacks. Seed oils like soybean, corn, and sunflower contain 50-75% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), primarily linoleic acid, making them highly prone to oxidation. When these oils oxidize on the skin, they generate reactive aldehydes that damage proteins and DNA, accelerating aging. Their omega-6 dominance (often 50-80% with virtually no omega-3) promotes inflammatory compounds when absorbed. Ironically, while acne patients naturally have lower linoleic acid in their sebum, adding more topically can worsen breakouts by disrupting the natural lipid ratios. Industrial extraction also leaves trace hexane solvents, trans fats, and oxidized lipids even in cosmetic-grade products. Once opened, high-PUFA oils degrade within weeks, becoming pro-oxidant. Animal fats like lard—at 40-50% saturated, 40-50% monounsaturated, and <10% polyunsaturated—are vastly more stable and biocompatible.
So we decided to make us some skin balm, and Mercy (Scout) took the lead on it. First step: rendering the lard. We used a crock pot for about 12 or 24 hours.
We infused the lard with sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), which contains camphor, borneol, and various terpenes with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. It smells pleasant and repels insects. We also added yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Both are abundant here. Some might say sagebrush is TOO ABUNDANT.
The herbs were dried and then infused at a low temperature for a long time into the lard.
We mixed the infused lard with beeswax to create a firm balm with good shelf stability. Beeswax provides additional emollient properties and forms a semi-occlusive protective layer that reduces transepidermal water loss without completely blocking the skin. We tested various ratios and settled on 3:1 lard to beeswax.
Then we filtered the mixture and filled some little tins.
It hardened and turned out really nice.
My skin has noticeably improved. Not yet to Mexican-grandmother level, but getting there. It works well on blisters, dry skin, and minor abrasions. Very useful on our recent Bomber Mountain hike. Worst case, it should be edible.
