About Queen of the Hill | The Original NZ Tallow Skincare Brand

Our Philosophy

We believe in small-batch, animal-based skincare made with reverence for the land, the animal, and the rhythm of nature. No fancy claims. No fillers. Just pure, nourishing simplicity — wild luxury at its truest.

Our balms are born from the philosophy that less is enough when every ingredient has meaning. Each formula begins with grass-fed New Zealand tallow, nothing unnecessary is added, and nothing essential is taken away.

Queen of the Hill is a return to origin – because real skin deserves real ingredients.

Where it all began.

Queen of the Hill began in November 2018, born from a quiet revelation on our farm in the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand. We raise our own grass-fed cattle and live closely attuned to the land, guided by the belief that what nourishes us from within should also sustain us from without.

After processing one of our beef to feed and sustain our family for the next 6 months, I found myself drawn to the nose-to-tail philosophy — a way of honouring the life that feeds us by using every part with intention. One evening, while rendering golden suet fat into tallow for cooking, I noticed how soft and supple my hands became. Even my husband, a tradesman, was surprised by the transformation. Out of curiosity, I applied a small amount to my face, and by morning my skin was luminous, calm, and deeply nourished.

That simple moment revealed what modern skincare had forgotten: the wisdom of natural animal based ingredients — rich, stable, and biologically in harmony with our own skin. I was captivated. Tallow, once dismissed as a by-product, revealed itself as a sacred material, one that carries the vitality of the animal, the purity of grass and soil, and the quiet intelligence of nature itself.

From this discovery, Queen of the Hill was created — a collection of small-batch, animal-based skincare rooted in New Zealand’s pastoral beauty. What began as a personal ritual in my farmhouse kitchen has grown into a refined range of balms crafted with intention: minimalist in formulation, maximal in nourishment, and deeply respectful of the land that provides.

– Hayley x

Our values

Sustainable by Nature

Our tallow comes directly from the animals we raise on our land, ensuring no part is wasted and every life is honoured.
No Petroleum or Plant Oils

We choose traditional, bio-compatible fats that mirror the skin’s own structure — never synthetic fillers or industrial seed oils.
From the Land, Not a Lab

We don’t outsource or mass-produce; every balm is crafted close to the source, where purity and respect for nature guide every step.
Minimal & Intentional

Every ingredient has purpose; nothing is added for scent, trend, or excess. No artificial fragrance oils or endocrine-disrupting additives here.