About Us

The Story

One day while flipping through a magazine, one of PD’s co-founders (Matt) stumbled across a column on DIY body cream made from tallow. Totally obsessed with all things at the intersection of Paleo, ancestral health, and reclaiming old craftways, the story sparked his curiosity. He was familiar with the use of fat as skincare in theory, but this article included the history, chemistry, and a recipe, making the process seem fun and doable. Matt decided to give it a try.

Then he needed to find the fat. Since he gets most of his food from farmers he knows personally, Matt asked his beef guy if he had any tallow. The beef guy normally just threw it away, but that day he did happen to have some on hand. He said he’d happily sell Matt 10 or 100 pounds for the same price. Matt took the 100 pounds and started developing his recipe.

Primal Derma Hand
Primal Derma Body

After the first batch, Matt discovered that the article’s recipe was clunky and the proportions were way off. The original recipe ended up way too soft and with a low yield. But he kept experimenting, doing five- or ten-pound batches at a time, until he developed his own recipe that had a much smoother consistency. He played around with different fragrances (eventually working with a professional scent mixer who who crafted a scent to balance out the natural smell of tallow), gave a bunch away, and people loved it. The response was so positive that after hearing “you should totally sell this” over and over, he knew he was on to something and decided to go for it.

Although Matt was an executive at the Food Network for five years, he’d never launched a product-based business. The development of Primal Derma has been entirely bootstrapping trial-and-error. But it is also deeply rewarding. With one product Primal Derma nourishes and supports so many different communities.

Today, Primal Derma is hand crafted in Harlem by Matt, with a deep commitment to sustainability, health, and ancestral traditions.

The Maker

Matt Stillman

Matt Stillman has made a long career out of using his inherently inquisitive and exploratory nature to find creative, sustainable solutions to complex problems. He has worked for years in diverse arenas to create and discover deeper connections with both the people he interacts with and the community in which he resides.

As a former Food Network executive, Matt brought such groundbreaking shows as Iron Chef and Good Eats (and many others) to American audiences.

In 2006 Matt conceived of and wrote a treatment for “The End of Poverty?” – a feature length film about the origins of poverty and why it persists in a world with so much wealth. The film premiered at Cannes in 2008 and was selected as a Critics Choice of the Festival. Matt was honored to speak at the UN four times about the film. His experience making the film crystallized his understanding of global issues, commerce, waste, sustainability.

Matt has been inspired and influenced by the Paleo and Primal philosophy and diet since 2004, and began doing Crossfit in 2008. Fascinated by ancestral health, reclaiming old food and health pathways, Matt has a deep relationship with the small scale farmers from which he gets most of his food.

Matt’s favorite way to Derma: “I use it on my face, lips, and torn-up CrossFit hands. I also use it as massage oil — so it goes anywhere!”

You can reach him at m@primalderma.com

Derma Love

How do you Derma?

Primal Derma can be used for all sorts of skin issues.

From healing to moisturizing, to soothing itchiness, PD faithfuls have gotten quite inventive in how they use it.

So we asked them…

“As a dermatologist I get more samples of cream than I have skin to apply them to. I have to say it was cosmetically elegant and kept my hand soft after several washings. I could feel how something derived from an animal felt more bio identical on the skin. Vegetarians and vegans may not go for it. Beef eaters, however, who want to feel silky (for those of the feminine), yet Paleo (think cave man cream for the more macho), Primal Derma is a unique and innovative skin care option.”

Dr. Dina Strachan, Harlem, NY

“My husband loves Primal Derma. He recently noticed a dry skin rash on his forehead, under his eyes and behind his ears, possibly the result of a long, cold and windy ski season, but really we are not sure what it is from. All the creams he was using to repair it were burning the affected areas. In 2 applications of Primal Derma it is already significantly better! He also loves the gentle citrus smell. The product really attacks dry skin. I used it as well… same result. Love the product and will be purchasing more for sure!”

Heather, East Hampton, NY

“I had 2 blisters tear open during my chest to bar pull ups right after receiving my Primal Derma.

I let the torn skin harden up for about a day and then started applying PD to the area at night. I feel like within one day (24 hour period/2 applications) I saw results.

My blisters were healing faster and not dry or cracking, which is rare with the extremely cold temps we have been having lately.”

Jenna Homburg

“Two thumbs up! I LOVE the scent.

Since my hands get really dry in the winter (to the point of getting cracked and bleeding), I’ve tried my fair share of moisturizers, and it’s clear that a lot of of them simply don’t work. I look for two things—natural (sans chemicals and toxins) and effective (I need the moisture to absorb and heal my skin). Primal Derma checks both boxes, and smells amazing. That might be my favorite thing. It’s a nice consistency, not too greasy. And very effective.”

Michelle Urbick

“I’ve been moisturizing the dry, irritated spot on my scalp with coconut oil and I’ve tried cortisone too. I’m not diligent with doing it daily but it’s never improved and it is a chronic issue. I’m not diligent with using Primal Derma on it every day either yet the inflamed, irritated spot feels like it is almost gone. I like that it isn’t full of chemicals and artificial preservatives.”

Faith Presley

“My feet and hands became softer with using Primal Derma.

I like that Primal Derma is all natural, and I specifically like the quality of the tallow being from grass-fed cows.

The creamy feel makes this like a balm and I loved the way it felt on my skin.”

Jessica Darling

“I’ve only had mine a few days and already my feet are in a much better state. I’ve never seen that much change so quickly with normal lotion (and don’t get me wrong, I love the lotion I use for my hands and face). Elbows are also now soft. Wow!

And I really like the mild herbal scent – I HATE fake smells or strong smells, and am pretty sensitive in that department – I was really impressed with how pleasant and non-intrusive the scent was.”

Molly Morrissey

“It smoothed out the unsexy gritty skin on my elbows, knees and heels.

The lemongrass scent is divine and the thickness of it makes it feel a bit more luxurious than thinner lotions.”

Maisie Smith

“Used Primal Derma on some tears I got from pull ups- about a day after I got them. Some of the fastest healing tears I have had.

When you get a rip it can have a huge effect on you for a good couple of days.

Right after it sucks, and then even once it heals it continues to crack and that is almost even worse! I did not get any cracking!”

Emily Yates

“It totally helped with the chapped lips I get in the Northeastern winter, and then it transferred really well to life in the tropics.

I even use a little on my finger as non-black mascara and it works so so well!”

Abigail Rose Clarke

“Lovely. The kids’ itchy spots went away pretty quickly. My daughter has always had eczema (flares up horribly in the winter) and so far it’s kept it under control better than anything else has.”

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