What do old McDonald’s french fries and my skincare routine have in common? They both have tallow! While I might not eat or suggest fast food fries, tallow is a time-tested remedy that’s great for healthier skin. Here’s how you can use tallow for your skin and why it’s beneficial.
Tallow has been making a comeback these past few years, but it’s far from new. People in the 1800s and earlier used it in salves for various skin problems. For centuries, cultures have cooked with animal fats, including tallow. Typically, when folks mention tallow, they mean beef tallow, although it can also come from mutton (sheep) or deer fat. Until 1990, McDonald’s used beef tallow for their fries, just like other fast food spots. These days, it has been swapped out for so-called “heart-healthy” vegetable oils, which aren’t always as healthy as they claim.
Despite some skepticism from dermatologists and health agencies, tallow is still popular in places like Germany, where deer tallow is used in lotions for sore muscles. While you might not find tallow in every grocery store, many people are keeping the tradition of making tallow alive at home.
Animal fats are not only nutritious to eat but are also good for skincare. Our skin produces sebum to stay moisturized and fight off harmful microbes. Tallow, being an animal fat, is quite similar to human sebum—in fact, the Latin word for sebum translates to tallow.
Tallow provides an emollient barrier that benefits all skin types without clogging pores. It’s helpful for acne, oily skin, and breakouts. It is gentle enough for babies and effective for rashes. Those with eczema, psoriasis, sensitive skin, or dry skin often see great results using tallow. I love how smooth tallow makes my skin feel, and it has worked wonders on my son’s eczema scars.
Beef tallow consists of 50% saturated fat, 42% monounsaturated fat, and 4% polyunsaturated fat. It’s packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are great for skin health. These vitamins offer several skin benefits. There’s also conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in grass-fed tallow and meat, which is great for health and has some skin benefits. CLA has anti-inflammatory properties that support the immune system, and there’s evidence suggesting it helps with rheumatoid arthritis when combined with vitamin E.
Research indicates CLA may have cancer-fighting properties and could protect against heart disease. A study from 2006 found that beef tallow enhanced CLA’s ability to combat breast cancer cells in mice, helping to prevent the spread of tumors. While this is based on animal research, the findings are promising.
Tallow isn’t just from beef—mutton tallow has a slightly different fatty acid profile and feel on the skin. It contains more vitamin E, less palmitic acid, and more oleic and stearic acid than beef tallow. Both are beneficial for the skin.
Though it might be harder to find, grass-fed mutton tallow is worth seeking out for skincare. You can find already-rendered grass-fed lamb and beef tallow. They also offer lamb and beef suet if you’re interested in making the tallow yourself.
How does tallow compare to other oils and butter like coconut oil, olive oil, and shea butter? Each has its unique fatty acid profile and strengths. For example, GLA helps with psoriasis, and linoleic acid maintains the skin barrier. Being animal-based, tallow works differently than plant-based oils. It absorbs nicely into the skin without leaving a greasy feel if used sparingly. Some oils, like coconut oil, take a while to absorb and can leave a greasy residue. Others, like castor oil, can feel thick and sticky.
Should you save drippings from dinner to apply on your skin? Not quite. Tallow specifically comes from suet, the fat surrounding the animal’s organs. Some say kidney suet is the best, also known as leaf fat. To render tallow, you melt down the suet and strain out the impurities. Some people refine it multiple times for purity. Properly rendered tallow can last about a year at room temperature if stored correctly. If not, it can go rancid quickly. Poorly rendered tallow shouldn’t have an unpleasant smell; if it smells off, it hasn’t been cleaned enough. It’s fine for cooking but not ideal for skincare.
Grass-fed and pasture-raised animals are a healthier choice, even when it comes to tallow. If you’re making or buying tallow, ensure it’s of high quality from grass-fed sources. Grass-fed beef contains more anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed, with higher CLA and vitamins. This is also true for sheep, making grass-fed mutton tallow beneficial too.
Tallow balm is an excellent moisturizer. Because tallow is hard, it’s often mixed with other oils and butter. Some beef tallow skincare products include essential oils, while others are unscented. Tallow can also be an ingredient in lip balm, hand cream, and soap. Since tallow is dense and very moisturizing, a little goes a long way. Using too much can leave your skin greasy until it’s fully absorbed. Tallow’s similarity to sebum allows it to penetrate deeply for nourishment.
It’s possible, though rare, to have an allergy to tallow if you’re allergic to beef. Some people suffer from alpha-gal syndrome, making them allergic to red meat and related products. It’s unclear if tallow would trigger a reaction.
There’s also a theoretical risk of BSE (mad cow disease) from contaminated cattle products. The FDA allows tallow in skincare if it’s pure with no more than 0.15% insoluble impurities. They frown upon raw grass-fed milk but approve artificial food dyes that are banned in parts of Europe.
The mainstream beauty industry sometimes expresses concerns over tallow due to a lack of extensive testing in skincare. Nevertheless, tallow has been safely used in various applications for centuries.
Initially skeptical about using tallow for skincare, I now enjoy its effects. It’s especially useful for those allergic to coconut oil or with sensitive skin. Homemade tallow lotion bars have helped my son’s eczema scars and minor skin irritations.
If making your own isn’t for you, there are great options available like the Toups & Co. range, which includes tallow balm, lip balm, and a nourishing stick. Have you tried using tallow before? Feel free to share your experiences!
