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Everything I Stopped Using on My Skin (And What Happened)

Why This Journey Started

This all started in late 2020.

And no—this isn’t one of those stories where I blame everything on COVID.

But that year changed everything for me.

Everyone around me was getting sick. And then my mom was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

It rocked my world.

When someone close to you is diagnosed with cancer, something shifts. You start looking at everything differently—what you eat, what you cook with, what you put on your body, who you surround yourself with, how you spend your time.

Nothing feels small anymore.

And unfortunately… that was just the beginning.

Not long after, my dad was also diagnosed with cancer. And in the middle of all of it, I had a freak dog-walking accident that left me with nerve damage in my neck—something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. It affected me from my head to my toes.

It felt like, in the blink of an eye, my entire life flipped upside down.

And it wasn’t just me.

It felt like everyone around me was dealing with something.

That’s when I started asking the bigger question:

How is everyone so sick?

I Started Looking at Everything Differently

I did what most people do at first—I started switching to “clean” products.

Food. Cookware. Household items.

But the area I became the most passionate about was skincare.

Because I saw firsthand what skin health actually looks like when your body is going through something serious.

My Mom’s Skin Changed Everything for Me

When my mom, Mimi, was going through radiation treatment, we saw firsthand how difficult the effects could be on her skin. During that time, we began using tallow as part of her skincare routine, and we were amazed by how her skin seemed to respond. We noticed improvements in the dryness and discomfort she was experiencing, and that experience ultimately became part of the inspiration behind TAGG ORGANICS.

While everyone's skin responds differently, and tallow isn't a medical treatment for radiation-related skin injuries, our family's experience sparked a passion for creating simple, thoughtfully made skincare products.

That’s When I Found Tallow

Around the same time, I had started experimenting with tallow-based skincare for myself.

And I was shocked.

Something so simple… worked better than anything I had ever used.

It wasn’t filled with fillers.
It didn’t just sit on top of the skin.
It actually supported it.

And it was pure enough that you could literally eat it.

So I started making my own tallow-based creams for my mom while she was going through radiation.

And what happened next changed everything.

Her skin started to heal.

Not just temporarily soothe—but actually heal.

It helped repair the burns and even prevented new ones from forming.

That’s when I knew:

This wasn’t just about switching products.

This was about rethinking everything.

And that’s how TAGG Organics was born.

Everything I Stopped Using on My Skin

At the same time I was helping my mom, I was also simplifying my own routine.

I didn’t add more.

I started removing things.

I Stopped Using Proactiv’s 3-Step System

For years, I thought I couldn’t live without it.

But it kept my skin in a cycle—harsh, time-consuming, and never actually improving anything long-term.

When I stopped:

My skin calmed down
My routine simplified
I stopped constantly chasing breakouts

I Stopped Using Traditional Moisturizers

This was the biggest turning point.

I used to deal with constant red bumps on my thighs that I thought were ingrown hairs.

They weren’t.

It was folliculitis.

That was an aha moment for me.

I realized I wasn’t just “dealing with skin issues”—I was creating them.

When I stopped using conventional moisturizers and switched to tallow-based products, my skin finally started to normalize.

I Stopped Using Synthetic Ingredients

Once I started reading labels, I couldn’t ignore it.

Most products weren’t helping my skin—they were just masking problems.

So I cut them out.

And my skin stopped overreacting.

Learning to Read Skincare Labels

One of the biggest changes I made was learning to look beyond the claims on the front of a package and actually understand the ingredient list. That doesn't mean every synthetic ingredient is harmful, but it helped me make more intentional choices about what I wanted in my skincare routine.

If you're interested in doing the same, I put together a guide on How to Read Skincare Labels that breaks down what to look for and how to make sense of common skincare ingredients.

I Stopped Using Synthetic Fragrance

Fragrance is one of the biggest hidden irritants.

Removing it led to:

Less redness
Less sensitivity
Fewer flare-ups

I Stopped Using Harsh Soaps

That tight, squeaky-clean feeling?

That’s not clean—that’s damage.

Once I stopped stripping my skin, it stopped constantly trying to recover.

I Stopped Using Shaving Cream

Less irritation.
Fewer bumps.
Smoother skin.

Simple as that.

I Stopped Relying on Lip Products Like Aquaphor

I used to think I couldn’t live without it.

But the second I stopped using it, my lips would get chapped.

That told me everything.

A lot of products are designed to keep you dependent.

They don’t fix the issue—they just manage it enough that you keep reaching for them.

What I Use Instead

I didn’t replace everything with more products.

I replaced them with better ones.

Simple, nutrient-dense, tallow-based skincare that actually supports the skin barrier instead of disrupting it.

If you’re looking for a place to start, this is the exact formula I use daily:

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jar labeled 'Lavender & Chamomile' by Tuga Organics on a wooden board with flowers.

That’s it.

The Skincare Routine I Choose Today

These days, I prefer keeping my skincare routine simple. That's one of the reasons we created our Whipped Tallow Cream at TAGG ORGANICS. Made in small batches with organic grass-fed tallow and thoughtfully selected ingredients, it's our approach to everyday moisturizing without unnecessary complexity.

If you're curious about making the switch to a simpler skincare routine, you can explore our Whipped Tallow Cream Collection and find an option that works for you.