Veronica Malachowski Renders True Image Tallow Skincare From Local Bison Suet Into Clean, Moral Balm

Veronica Malachowski joins Conrad Fargo to unpack the philosophy behind True Image Tallow Skincare; a Fargo-area skincare brand built around locally sourced bison tallow and a “keep it simple” ingredient mindset. Veronica walks through what tallow actually is, why leaf fat (kidney suet) matters for skincare, and how she dry-renders bison suet at low temperature to avoid water-related spoilage and keep scent minimal. She compares the recent “tallow comeback” in both food and skincare, explains why bison differs from beef, and describes her small-batch process from receiving frozen suet in large chunks, to meticulous trimming, slow rendering, straining, vacuum sealing, and freezing stock for future production.The conversation also digs into her background as a dental hygienist (graduated 2000) and how studying fluoride originally kicked off a long, crunchy, question-everything path toward cleaner inputs, gardening, canning, and local food preservation. Veronica shares how she connected with community through Hildebrandt Farm (a fourth-generation, regenerative local farm with a West Fargo brick-and-mortar seasonal market), and how that network helped her build momentum as she moved from family-and-friends testing to full-time business ownership.You’ll hear specifics on where her products are carried, including Modish Boutique in West Fargo (off Veterans), Herbs and Spices on Robert Street in downtown Fargo, Hildebrandt Farm, Petals and Stems in Carrington, and wellness centers in “Mina.” Veronica also describes going storefront-to-storefront to wholesale her line, balancing production time with the hustle of partnerships and social media. She outlines her seven-product lineup, including seasonal blends (spring, summer, autumn, winter) with botanical profiles aimed at specific skin goals, plus tattoo aftercare, baby cream, and an unscented option kept to just bison tallow with organic extra virgin olive oil or organic jojoba oil. The episode wraps with a practical discussion of sensitivities like lanolin allergies, an honest take on Vaseline, and her outro music pick: “Glorious” by Mïm.