Eczema. Just the word can send a wave of stress through any parent’s heart.
If you’ve ever watched your baby squirm, scratch, or cry from dry, red, inflamed skin, you’re far from alone. In Australia, 1 in 5 infants experience eczema within their first year. And while the default path often leads to steroid creams or petroleum-based formulas, more and more parents are choosing to go back to nature — seeking out ancestral, gentle, and truly effective alternatives.
So, what if your baby’s skin didn’t need to be “managed” with chemicals… but supported with nourishment?
Here are the 5 ingredients at the heart of our Babe Tallow Balm — each one chosen not just for tradition, but for proven, science-backed results.
1. Grass-Fed Tallow
Long before modern creams and synthetic lotions, there was tallow — a sacred, time-tested skincare staple passed down through generations.
Our ancestors didn’t need complicated ingredient lists or lab-made moisturisers. They knew that animal-based fats, when sourced ethically and prepared properly, could nourish and protect the skin in ways nothing else could. And they were right.
Grass-fed tallow is one of the most bioavailable and skin-compatible ingredients nature has to offer. Why? Because it closely mirrors the structure of our skin’s own sebum, allowing for seamless absorption and deep cellular repair.
Tallow is naturally rich in:
- Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E & K – essential for skin renewal, healing, and elasticity
- Stearic and palmitic acids – help strengthen the skin’s barrier and retain moisture
- Oleic acid – deeply hydrating and soothing for inflamed or itchy skin
- Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) – a potent anti-inflammatory shown to reduce eczema symptoms
🧬 According to a review published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, topical lipids that mimic the skin’s natural composition (like tallow) are more effective in repairing the stratum corneum — the outermost protective layer of the skin.
Unlike seed oils that can oxidise or synthetic emollients that simply sit on the surface, tallow melts into the skin, delivering its benefits to the deepest layers, without clogging pores or disrupting the skin’s microbiome.
And when that tallow comes from grass-fed cows, it contains higher levels of omega-3s, CLA, and antioxidant compounds, making it even more healing, more nourishing, and more aligned with our skin’s natural rhythm.
💬 “I’ll be honest. I hesitated at the idea of tallow at first. But one use, and I was converted. My baby’s dry, red patches were nearly gone the next morning. I now understand why this ingredient has been used for centuries.” – Melanie
At Nudea, we believe in honouring traditional wisdom, and grass-fed tallow is at the heart of that. It’s the reason our Babe Tallow Balm feels more like skin food than just skincare.
It’s simple. It’s real. It works.
2. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
From ancient Mediterranean rituals to modern baby care, extra virgin olive oil has stood the test of time as one of nature’s most trusted remedies for delicate skin.
Used by cultures for thousands of years — from Egyptian queens to Greek healers — this golden oil has always been more than a kitchen staple. It's a sacred symbol of nourishment, healing, and life. And today, in our ancestral skincare philosophy, we return to this tradition with purpose.
Our cold-pressed, organic olive oil is rich in:
- Squalene – a skin-identical lipid that supports elasticity and locks in moisture
- Polyphenols – potent antioxidants that protect from oxidative stress and inflammation
- Vitamin E – a natural shield that assists in healing and cell regeneration
🧬 A clinical study published in Pediatric Dermatology (2016) found that regular use of extra virgin olive oil on infants improved both skin hydration and the barrier function, two key aspects in managing eczema-prone skin.
What makes it so special for baby eczema? Unlike synthetic moisturisers or seed oils that can sit heavily on the skin, extra virgin olive oil is gentle, breathable, and deeply compatible with the skin’s own structure. It doesn’t just coat the surface, it soaks into the deeper layers, bringing with it anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants that soothe, soften, and protect.
💬 “One night of using babe balm and my daughter’s eczema patch on her arm was almost gone. It felt like a miracle. I love that it’s natural and actually works.” – Susan
3. Calendula Flower
If there’s one flower that’s earned its place in every herbalist’s toolkit — generation after generation — it’s calendula.
Known as the “healing flower,” Calendula officinalis has been used since ancient times to treat wounds, rashes, and skin irritation. From Roman battlefields to medieval monastic gardens, calendula has been revered for its gentle, anti-inflammatory power. In our ancestral skincare philosophy, it represents the meeting point between botanical wisdom and functional healing, especially when it comes to calming eczema-prone skin.
The petals of this golden-orange blossom are rich in:
- Flavonoids & triterpenoids – plant compounds known to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress
- Saponins & polysaccharides – which support tissue repair and soothe irritation
- Natural antimicrobial agents – to help prevent secondary infection in broken or scratched skin
🧬 In a 2018 study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, calendula extract was found to significantly reduce skin inflammation, support collagen production, and promote faster wound healing — making it a potent natural ally for eczema and dermatitis.
But calendula isn’t just effective — it’s also remarkably gentle, which is why it’s often used in formulations for newborns, postpartum healing, and even pets. It’s the kind of ingredient that whispers, not shouts. It doesn’t overwhelm the skin — it supports it.
In our Babe Tallow, we use whole calendula flowers — not just extracts — and slowly infuse them into cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil over several weeks. This traditional, low-heat infusion method allows the plant’s healing constituents to migrate naturally into the oil, creating a soft, golden elixir that’s as calming as it is effective.
💬 “We’ve used calendula creams before, but never like this. The way it’s infused in the balm feels so much richer — my baby’s redness started fading after two uses.” – Claire
Calendula doesn’t just treat symptoms, it supports the skin’s return to balance. And in the world of baby eczema, that gentle restoration is everything.
4. Hemp Seed Oil
In the world of natural skincare, few ingredients are as underrated yet powerful as cold-pressed hemp seed oil. Derived from the seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant (don’t worry — it’s completely non-psychoactive and 100% safe for babies), hemp seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids, particularly omega-6 (linoleic acid) and omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid), in the ideal 3:1 ratio that our skin craves for optimal health.
What does that mean for your baby’s irritated skin?
- Reinforces the skin barrier, reducing moisture loss and sensitivity
- Soothes inflammation, helping calm redness, flakiness and itching
- Restores lipid balance, crucial for skin prone to dryness or eczema
- Supports ceramide production, which strengthens the skin’s outer layer
🧬 In a 2005 clinical study published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment, participants with atopic dermatitis who used hemp seed oil daily experienced significant improvements in skin dryness, itchiness, and overall skin integrity.
In essence, hemp seed oil acts as a plant-based shield. Unlike some heavier oils that can trap heat or block pores, hemp absorbs quickly, hydrating without suffocating, making it ideal for the delicate skin of infants.
What we especially love about hemp? It’s ancestral yet forward-thinking. While modern science now confirms its efficacy, hemp has been used for generations in traditional medicine systems to soothe inflammation and support tissue repair.
💬 “I was nervous to try anything new on my baby’s skin after so many reactions — but babe balm is a game changer. Her skin is smooth again and no more flare-ups!” – Elise
5. Lavender Flower
While eczema is often visible on the skin, it also affects sleep, comfort, and mood for babies and parents alike. That’s why we include real lavender flowers, gently infused into oil to offer skin-soothing benefits without overpowering fragrance.
Lavender is known for:
- Linalool & linalyl acetate – calm redness and irritation
- Mild analgesic properties – reduce itch-related discomfort
- Calming aromatic compounds – help babies sleep more peacefully
🧬 A 2020 study in BMC Dermatology found that lavender-based creams helped reduce eczema severity and improve sleep patterns in children with atopic skin.
Instead of synthetic lavender oils, we use whole, dried lavender blossoms — slowly infused for weeks. The result? A balm that supports both the skin and the nervous system in the most gentle way possible.
💬 “I’d tried everything. Prescription creams, supermarket brands… nothing helped. Then a friend recommended Babe Tallow Balm. Within a week, my baby’s skin had transformed.” – Jess
Final Thoughts
Eczema care doesn’t have to mean harsh chemicals or steroid creams.
It can start with five real ingredients, drawn from tradition and backed by science, just like the ones in our Babe Tallow Balm:
- Grass-Fed Tallow
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Calendula Flower
- Hemp Seed Oil
- Lavender Flower
That’s it. No water, no fillers, no synthetics. Just a slow-made, skin-loving balm created with intention.
If you're ready to see the difference that ancestral wisdom and pure ingredients can make…
👉 Shop Babe Tallow Balm — 100% natural. 100% baby-safe. 100% made with love in Australia.