Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Chavez.
Hi Monica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started after having my son around 2.5 years ago. I was learning about more natural and non-toxic swaps and especially wanted high quality creams for my baby’s sensitive areas. I had tried shea butter and cacao butter but found them too greasy, just sitting on top of the skin. I had started cooking with tallow and naturally it would get on my hands sometimes. I noticed it absorbed so well and it left my hands glowing! I started reading more about it, especially about its long history in skincare. During my research, I found that it contains vitamins A,D,E,K & B12 along with being very high in saturated fats which are deeply healing and nourishing to our skin. The makeup of tallow is very similar to our skin making it absorb beautifully. It is also shelf stable, needing no preservatives and is edible, of course, making it completely non-toxic.
I started experimenting with simple whipped body butters and balms, gifting them to friends and family. I truly wanted to stay home with my son so when my family gave me the idea to sell tallow products, I didn’t hesitate!
I had started with a few body butters and healing baby balms, a couple lip balms, and tallow candles. I have and still do use 100% Grass-Fed Pasture-Raised Beef Tallow but the specific type has changed as I continued to learn more about it. At the beginning of my journey (2.5 years ago) I used trim fat which is sourced throughout the whole body of the cow. It was also wet rendered, which meant water and salt was added to help purify and remove the strong odor the trim fat produced. I now use specifically Suet Tallow (or leaf fat) which is sourced from the fat surrounding the kidneys. It is firmer, a lot less stinkier, and higher in vitamins and saturated fat. It’s less stinky because it contains less blood vessels and meaty parts. It is also dry rendered, meaning it is melted down low and slow without the addition of water or salt. Adding water and salt negatively affects the composition and introduces moisture leading to potential mold.
I have added a few products since I’ve started like Tallow & Magnesium Deodorant, Tallow Soap, Tallow Sugar Scrub, and more! I go to markets on the weekends in Miami and have opened up a website, shipping throughout the whole United States! During the week I spend time with my son, whether we’re at the beach, playing at the park or restocking my products at home!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road! It’s a challenge being a single mom, raising a high-energy boy and starting a business from the ground up. I’ve had many all-nighters, whether it be from restocking, cleaning jars, or fighting with my printer while making labels.
I’ve had to learn how to balance my business and all the work that comes with it while spending mindful time with my son who I’m homeschooling.
There have been struggles formulating new recipes, especially my deodorant, which took a total of 9 months to create. I call it my second baby. It took over 10 trail and errors, with each trial going through tests on my test subjects (brave friends and family). It was such an amazing feeling once I finally had a well working formula!
It has also been a struggle finding farmers markets that are organized, well known and the right customer base for my company. I recently found amazing markets that are thankfully very consistent and are built by amazing communities.
Some other struggles worth mentioning is saving up enough money to upgrade my car so that my market setup would fit (and I wouldn’t have to use my dad’s work truck!), learning how to make waterproof and oil-proof product labels, and creating a website by myself.
As you know, we’re big fans of Udder Glow. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Udder Glow is a tallow based skincare company where I personally make all the products myself in small batches. I use 100% Grass-fed Beef Suet Tallow sourced from regenerative farms. It’s important to use high quality tallow because all toxins are stored in the fat of the animal. Low quality tallow can potentially clog pores, lead to breakouts or rashes and have a strong odor.
Suet, or leaf fat, is fat from around the kidneys. It’s more stable, higher in vitamins and saturated fat and a lot less stinky. The smell varies between neutral to buttery. The suet I use has been dry rendered, meaning it’s melted down at low heat for many hours without the addition of water or salt. This process keeps its nutrients intact and prevents mold.
Here are some extra things that set me apart from others:
-My prices are fair. Some of my competitors sell their products for double the price than I do and some don’t even use suet. Non-toxic skincare should be affordable!
-I use herbal infusions in most of my products instead of essential oils. I make these by submerging organic and sustainably sourced herbs in oils for over 3 months and double straining them before they’re ready to use. This way the benefits of the herbs are slowly extracted from the whole plant all while being safe and gentle enough for sensitive skin.
-All the oils I use are organic, cold-pressed, unrefined and hexane-free. I also ensure no oils are sourced from China.
-I use local beeswax and raw honey from a one-man show here in Miami. His name is Miguel Bode!
-I package everything in glass or paper tube containers. No plastic is touching the sacred tallow!
-I sanitize everything (jars, utensils and bowls for restocking) with hypochlorous acid. A non-toxic solution used for many purposes, even for wounds on the skin!
-I offer custom body butters. I’ve made products for people with certain allergies or sensitivities as well as creating custom herbal infusions for them based on their needs.
My bestsellers (what I’m known for) include my Lavender and Frankincense Whipped Body Butters and my two lip balms: Tallow & Honey Lip Balm and Hibiscus Tinted Lip Balm. I use lavender infused flowers as well as a few drops of organic essential oil to create a natural and calming scent, perfect for bedtime or winding down. For my frankincense body butter, I use organic frankincense resin (no essential oils are added to this one) which is the hardened sap of Boswellia trees to create an infusion rich in boswellic acid. Boswellic acid helps calm inflammation, support skin repair and slow visible aging. My tallow & honey lip balm is perfect for cold weather, dry chapped lips, cuticles and even your pets’ paws. I use hibiscus and beet root powder to tint my hibiscus tinted lip balm. It gives you a natural rosy glow for your lips and cheeks.
I’m most proud about the affordability, the quality, and that I make everything myself! I pour my love into everything I make and am truly grateful for my customers who have turned friends.
How do you define success?
I define success as improving people’s lives and contributing value to my community. It’s about helping where you can, acting with intention, and doing good without being driven by money. Real success feels like peace, happiness, and knowing your work comes from a genuine place.
Contact Info:
- Website: udderglow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/udderglow
