What is beef tallow? Simply put, it's rendered beef fat, a natural, nutrient-dense oil from the fatty tissue of cows. Also called cow fat or rendered animal fat, we’ve been using tallow for centuries on everything from seasoning cast iron pans to frying, and, yes, in traditional skincare too.
Beef tallow was once a staple in both kitchens and apothecaries. Before mass-produced lotions dominated the marketplace, tallow was valued for its texture, preservative-free formula, ability to heal dry skin, and long shelf life. Our grandmothers understood its power. It wouldn't degrade at high heat, and it worked miracles on severely dry skin and hands. Today, it's experiencing a well-overdue comeback!
Let's take a moment and understand the benefits of beef tallow, how it compares to other saturated fats, and how you can incorporate it into your skincare routine without clogging your pores or breaking out.
Why Beef Tallow is Good for Skin
The best way to address this is through science-backed evidence. While long-term research into beef tallow's skin products is limited, current studies and user testimonies provide a significant amount of evidence. A study by Russell et al. (2024), a team of doctors from the Department of Dermatology, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, notes that beef tallow is biologically compatible with human skin.
Russell et al. (2024) explain that tallow contains the same kind of fatty acids, like oleic acid and stearic acid, that your skin produces naturally. It's packed with fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, and even conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.
Beef Tallow Benefits for Skin: What Exactly Does Tallow Do For Skin?
1. Beef Tallow Deeply Moisturizes and Protects Your Skin Barrier
Beef tallow contains over 50% saturated lipids like stearic acid and palmitic acid, both important in forming the skin barrier (Russel et al., 2024). These lipids are significant components of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the epidermis). They lower transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and keep the skin cells hydrated at a cellular level.
Unlike most moisturizing creams, which rely on seed oils or petroleum-based emollients, beef tallow is compatible with the natural composition of skin. Note that:
- Stearic acid strengthens the lipid barrier to retain moisture
- Oleic acid softens and penetrates deeply without leaving a waxy feel
- Research indicates that fats such as tallow enhance skin elasticity and limit TEWL by as much as 30% in dry conditions
- Tallow's saturated lipids heal very dry skin and weather-damaged skin
2. Beef Tallow Promotes Skin Cell Health
Every cell in your skin is surrounded by a lipid membrane. With the right fats, those membranes remain stable, and your skin remains smooth, supple, and healthy. Beef tallow contains a goldmine of fat-soluble vitamins that add to skin nutrition. You’ll find:
- Vitamin A: Essential for keratinocyte function and turnover; it softens, improves texture, and creates luminous skin
- Vitamin E: A powerful antioxidant that protects cell membranes from oxidative stress and improves the skin's resilience
- Palmitic Acid: Very important in cellular repair processes
3. Beef Tallow Contains Anti-Inflammatory and Healing Properties
Inflammation is the basis for nearly all skin conditions, from eczema to rosacea and acne. Beef tallow includes conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which has both immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory actions (Russell et al., 2024). It helps the skin by:
- Reducing Inflammation: CLA has been shown in clinical trials to suppress markers of inflammation, including prostaglandin E2, a substance that causes redness and swelling
- Moisturizing: Tallow saturated fatty acids are moisturizers, soothing inflamed skin and preventing further disruption of the barrier
- Reducing Flareups: Tallow decreases the incidence and severity of eczema flares, based on small case series and anecdotal evidence
4. Beef Tallow Is Antioxidant-Rich and It Prevents Premature Aging
Oxidative damage caused by exposure to UV and pollution breaks down collagen and accelerates aging. Beef tallow contains natural antioxidants that guard against such free radicals. The various vitamins in tallow slow down aging in the following ways:
- Vitamin A: It stimulates collagen synthesis and refines the texture of the skin
- Vitamin E: It shields skin cells from oxidative breakdown
- Vitamin K2: It assists in maintaining suppleness by regulating calcium deposition in skin tissue
Antioxidant molecules present in beef tallow may assist in reducing symptoms of aging like fine lines, sagging, and uneven skin tone. This combination makes tallow one of the only whole-food skincare creams that includes science-backed nutrients for true skin change, not just surface moisturizing.
Is Beef Tallow Safe for All Skin Types?
In general, yes. Using beef tallow is safe and intensely nourishing. Russell et al. (2024) explain that the fatty acid structure of rendered beef fat is practically the same as that of human sebum (your own natural oil).
As such, tallow is safe for normal skin, dry skin, and even sensitive skin. It prevents barrier damage from over-exfoliation. Also, because it's so similar to human sebum, tallow is generally tolerable even to those who struggle with reactions to normal products.
If your skin is oily or acne-prone, it's better to use it with a bit more caution. Beef tallow contains a moderate amount of oleic acid, which can be comedogenic in some individuals, especially if you use it in excess or on humid days.
Here's what you should know about beef tallow and skin:
- It's a healthier alternative to toxic moisturizers that contain parabens, phthalates, and fragrance
- It may clog pores in individuals with acne-prone skin, depending on personal sensitivity to oleic acid
- Always patch test, allergic reactions to tallow are rare but possible
- For most skin types, tallow is a clean, bioavailable source of skin health nutrients. However, if you’re acne-prone, listen to your skin and introduce tallow slowly
Comparing Beef Tallow to Other Natural Fats for Skincare
Beef Tallow vs Coconut Oil
- Both contain a lot of saturated fat, but coconut oil is notorious for clogging pores
- Coconut oil contains more saturated fats (around 86-92%) than beef tallow (50-57%)
- Coconut oil's comedogenic rating of 4 indicates a high chance of inducing acne, in comparison to tallow's rating of 1-2
- Tallow's fatty acid composition is closer to human sebum, unlike coconut oil
- Tallow is less likely to irritate or acne-ize, especially if applied lightly
Beef Tallow vs Shea Butter
Shea butter has very high linoleic acid content and may be beneficial for acne or oily skin types. However, beef tallow takes the win when it comes to vitamins and penetration. Note:
- Tallow contains more vitamin A and vitamin K, both of which are involved in anti-aging and healing
- Shea butter remains heavier on the skin and may not be absorbed as easily
- Tallow offers faster absorption with a less greasy sensation
Beef Tallow vs Jojoba Oil & Olive Oil
- Olive oil and jojoba oil are both wonderful moisturizers, but they function differently
- Jojoba oil mimics human sebum but lacks the vitamins that tallow possesses
- Olive oil has higher levels of the less stable and more oxidizable polyunsaturated fats
- Tallow preserves long-term barrier function with better oxidative stability even at high heat
Compared to other saturated fats and unsaturated oils, beef tallow offers the most well-balanced nutrient profile for consumers who prefer natural remedies without seed oils or artificial chemicals.
How to Use Beef Tallow in Your Skincare Routine
Incorporating beef tallow into your routine is quite easy. You can use it on its own or as an ingredient in natural remedies blended with other active skincare products. Either way, it has serious skin health benefits. Here's how to utilize beef tallow on skin:
- Apply it Directly: Use pure, whipped tallow on clean skin at night as a moisturizing balm
- Spot Treatment: Apply a small amount to dry spots or flaky spots
- Lip Treatment: Use a generous amount of this tallow organic lip balm on cracked lips
- Mix with Actives: Blend with hyaluronic acid serum, manuka honey, or vitamin C creams to improve antioxidant and hydration benefits
- Layer with Facial Oils: Use before applying jojoba oil or olive oil for an occlusive boost (ideal for winter seasons)
- Repair Balm: Use after shaving, sun exposure, or after damage to the skin barrier for quick repair
Tallow absorbs fast and softens skin. Unlike conventional skincare products that promise everything but deliver nothing, this stuff works.
Where to Buy Beef Tallow
If you're serious about getting your own beef tallow, don't run out and pick up some shelf-rendered beef fat. Most commercial tallow is meant for deep frying or conditioning cast-iron skillets; it's not for applying to your face. You need skincare-grade, clean, grass-fed tallow without toxins.
This is What to Look For:
- Tallow From Grass-Fed Cows: It's more nutrient-dense and higher in CLA and fat-soluble vitamins
- No Seed Oils: If you see soybean, grapeseed, or "plant oils," leave it behind
- Cold-Processed: It doesn't destroy nutrients through heat
- Organic Ingredients: If it's on your skin, it should be food-grade
Our Top Choice: Whipped Tallow Honey Balm by Evil Goods
Purchased by 350,000+ customers, Youthful Glow Tallow Balm gives amazing, visible results, all without synthetics.
Why We Love It:
- Grass-fed, grass-finished beef tallow
- Enriched with Manuka honey, olive oil, and vitamins A, D, E, and K
- Slows aging appearance, restores elasticity, and deeply moisturizes
- This balm softens and heals, it provides skin care so good, it's evil
- Safely used on sensitive skin, super dry skin, acne skin, and eczema skin
- Non-comedogenic, it won’t cause breakouts
- Multipurpose balm for face, body, and lips
- Real ingredients, real results
Shop Evil Good's Whipped Beef Tallow Honey Cream now.
Considerations and Potential Drawbacks
While beef tallow for skin care is teeming with potential benefits, it isn't without some caution. Having some idea of the potential risks and shortcomings means you're using it with a brain, not blindly. Consider the following:
- Topical vs Dietary Use: Just because it's great on your skin doesn't mean you should be spooning it and using it in your baked goods. Consuming huge quantities of saturated fat can raise bad cholesterol, as well as increase plaque buildup and heart disease risk.
- Shelf Stability: If you don't store it properly, tallow will oxidize. Always use clean hands, store away from high temperatures, and chill if you have to.
- Not Vegan: Beef tallow is derived from animal fat and is not for plant-based users.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do Dermatologists Think of Beef Tallow?
Some board-certified dermatologists recommend tallow because it's similar to human sebum, but others prefer to see more research before recommending it.
What are the Advantages of Beef Tallow for Skin?
Beef tallow deeply moisturizes the skin, repairs the skin barrier, and adds fat-soluble vitamins, which most moisturizers can't.
What are the Disadvantages of Beef Tallow for Skin?
Beef tallow can be comedogenic in certain acne-prone skin types and has limited clinical studies.
Is Beef Tallow Better than Retinol?
They are different. Retinol is a laboratory-made derivative of vitamin A, whereas tallow exists in its natural state.
Is Beef Tallow Healthy for Skin?
As opposed to products that dry out your skin and require constant reapplication, beef tallow ensures long-term moisture, healing, and skin cellular function.
Is Beef Tallow Good for Eczema?
Yes. Beef tallow's soothing properties and anti-inflammatory fats calm irritated eczema skin.
How Long Does Beef Tallow Take to Work on Eczema?
Most users report improvement within 3–7 days of consistent use.
How Often Should I Apply Beef Tallow on My Skin?
Once a day for most, though severely dry or damaged skin might enjoy 2x daily application.
Do I Need to Store Beef Tallow in the Fridge?
Only if the product itself is pure and doesn't contain any stabilizers. You don’t need to refrigerate our Whipped Tallow Honey Balm.
Is Beef Tallow Better than Coconut Oil for Skin?
Yes. Tallow is less likely to clog pores, more similar to human sebum, and contains greater vitamin A and K content.
Final Thoughts on Beef Tallow Benefits
Beef tallow for skin is rich in natural oils, packed with vitamins, and biologically aligned with your skin’s own lipid structure. The health benefits are self-explanatory: tighter skin barrier, improved hydration, smoother texture, and fewer breakouts.
So, is beef tallow the miracle product for skin? It depends on your definition of miracle. If by that you mean unadulterated, effective, nutrient-dense, and real, then hell yes. Our Whipped Beef Tallow Honey Balm gives you zero toxins, zero bullsh*t, just body-safe, skin-loving nutrition.
Reference
Russell, M. F., Sandhu, M., Vail, M., Haran, C., Batool, U., & Leo, J. (2024). Tallow, rendered animal fat, and its biocompatibility with skin: A Scoping Review. Curēus, 16(5), e59141.
Dr. Elena Dinkollari
MD, Dermatologist & Endocrinology Assistant
Doctor Approved
