Once a staple in your grandparent’s or great-grandparent’s savory roasts, buttery-flaky pastries, and for greasing pans, beef tallow is making an unexpected return to households, marketed as a wellness superstar.
What is Beef Tallow?
Tallow is a whiteish substance that is solid at room temperature. It’s made by removing, simmering, and clarifying the fatty tissue that surrounds the organs of ruminant animals. Ruminant animals chew their cud and include cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and deer. Beef tallow is commonly made from cows and is sometimes called “beef drippings.”
Beef tallow is typically used for cooking at high temperatures, such as deep frying and roasting. Tallow also has many non-food uses and can be an ingredient in candles, soaps, and topical skincare; it can even be used to season cast-iron pans.
Tallow shares many similarities with lard. However, lard is sourced from pigs and has a softer texture and milder flavor, which makes it a preferred choice for baked goods.
The Nutritional Profile of Beef Tallow
Fat Composition
What sets beef tallow apart from other cooking fats-and has it currently trending in the wellness community-is its unique fat profile. Like other solid cooking fats such as butter and coconut oil, beef tallow is made up primarily of saturated fat. Liquid fats such as olive oil, peanut oil, and canola oil are primarily unsaturated fats.
While saturated fats have been demonized in the past, eating certain kinds or small amounts might not be as harmful as previously thought. In tallow, some of the saturated fat is a specific type known as stearic acid. Stearic acid appears to not raise cholesterol in the same way as other saturated fats.
Tallow also contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are considered healthier. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is one polyunsaturated omega-6 fat found in animal fats and linked to potential health benefits such as preventing plaque buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis). However, more research is needed about the effects of conjugated linoleic acid.
Vitamins and Nutrients
In addition to fat, beef tallow contains fat-soluble vitamins that are vital for various bodily functions, including immune support, bone health, cellular function, and skin health. Animal varieties that are 100% grass-fed will provide a more nutrient-dense profile.
Uses of Beef Tallow
Culinary Uses
Beef tallow is commonly used for cooking at high temperatures, such as deep frying and roasting. Its high smoke point makes it ideal for these methods.
Non-Food Uses
Tallow also has many non-food uses and can be an ingredient in candles, soaps, and topical skincare. It can even be used to season cast-iron pans.
Beef Tallow in Skincare
Similarity to Natural Skin Oils
Since the composition of beef tallow is similar to the natural oils produced by the skin (sebum), it can be used as a moisturizer and is often gentle on sensitive skin. CLA has anti-inflammatory benefits that help lock in moisture and reduce oxidation, which, along with the fat-soluble vitamins in beef tallow, may improve the skin's elasticity and overall healthy appearance when applied topically.
The unique lipid profile of beef tallow helps improve skin texture, elasticity, and softness, making it ideal for dry, aging, or damaged skin. Tallow has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can be helpful for conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.
Potential Benefits for the Skin
- Moisturization: Rich in fatty acids like stearic acid and oleic acid, tallow provides moisturizing and hydrating properties.
- Nutrient Delivery: Contains fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) that penetrate the skin to hydrate and nourish from within.
- Skin Barrier Support: The lipids in tallow form a breathable barrier that seals in moisture while allowing the skin to function normally.
- Mimics Sebum: Tallow closely mimics human sebum, making it easily absorbed and less likely to clog pores.
- Anti-inflammatory Properties: Can be helpful for conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.
Considerations and Potential Risks
Dermatology resident Angela Wei, MD, explains why dermatologists have beef with this new trend and why other moisturizers are the better solution.
Currently, there isn’t enough research to support the use of beef tallow in skincare. “Beef tallow contains fatty acids, such as stearic acid and oleic acid, that can provide moisturizing and hydrating properties to the skin, but the studies on this are limited,” says Dr. Wei. Beef tallow also contains small amounts of fat-soluble vitamins, specifically Vitamin A, D, E, and K, as well as B12. “However, there’s not enough research on how well these are absorbed into the skin or if they provide meaningful skin care benefits,” she adds.
Those who’ve promoted it on social media seem to like it as a moisturizer because of its oil-like consistency. As with coconut oil, it may prevent water loss and soften dry skin. But pure beef tallow and unregulated beef tallow products most likely don’t have enough vitamin A to have any of the same benefits you’ll find with retinol and other vitamin A derivatives.
Research has even shown that most of the claims made on social media about the benefits of beef tallow were made with the purpose of achieving some financial gain. “Beef tallow doesn’t have a standard formulation, and it’s not developed in a controlled way,” explains Dr. Wei. “As a result, it is hard to know what each product truly contains, and how many nutrients are actually going into the skin to create the effects they claim.”
Potential Side Effects:
- Clogged Pores: Its thick, viscous consistency could prevent natural oils from surfacing easily, leading to an increase in breakouts. While beef tallow is often considered non-comedogenic, some individuals, especially those with very oily or acne-prone skin, may experience clogged pores or breakouts.
- Irritation: Heavy products like beef tallow have a tendency to lock in heat and worsen conditions related to sensitive skin, like rosacea. Many beef tallow products also contain fragrances to counter its often unpleasant scent, and these added fragrances or other ingredients could also be irritating.
- Allergic Reactions: Using a new product like beef tallow may cause allergic skin reactions, even if you’re not allergic to beef itself.
- Sunburn: Beef tallow isn’t known to have any sun-protective qualities. As it’s a thick oil, it may actually cause increased sensitivity to sunburn. Beef tallow does not contain any sun protection factor (SPF).
- Interactions: Tallow may lead to an unknown negative interaction, potentially worsening any skin conditions you may have. Tallow may interact with active skincare ingredients, like retinoids, AHAs/BHAs, or prescription treatments.
- Scent: Pure tallow has a mild, meaty scent, which some users find unappealing.
- Quality Variability: Poorly rendered or low-quality tallow (from grain-fed, non-organic sources) may contain residues like hormones, antibiotics, or bacteria.
Do dermatologists recommend using beef tallow? “There’s no evidence that shows beef tallow has any additional benefits for your skin beyond being a natural moisturizer,” reiterates Dr. Wei. “There are other moisturizers out there with more consistent formulations that are better and safer for use on the skin.”
Beef tallow is an unregulated product that has not been approved by the FDA. There are currently no best practices for sourcing beef tallow for use on human skin, which also means there’s no way of confirming its safety.
Beef Tallow Skincare
Choosing and Using Beef Tallow for Skincare
Sourcing High-Quality Tallow
Look for 100 percent grass-fed, organic, and purified tallow, ideally without added preservatives or artificial fragrances. When sourced from grass-fed beef, tallow is a byproduct of the meat industry that would otherwise go to waste.
Application Methods
Apply a small amount of beef tallow to clean, damp skin, preferably after bathing, to lock in moisture. A pea-sized amount is usually enough.
Use beef tallow as a spot treatment for dry patches, eczema patches, dry elbows, cracked heels, or minor wounds. It helps soothe and accelerate healing.
Tallow’s emollient texture can break down makeup and impurities while nourishing the skin barrier.
Thanks to its vitamin-rich profile, beef tallow works well as an overnight skin renewal treatment. Use a thin layer at night for intensive skin repair.
Alternatives to Beef Tallow
Alternatives include shea butter, jojoba oil, squalane, aloe vera gel, and glycerin-based moisturizers, each offering hydration with its own skin benefits and potentially lighter textures. Olive oil remains a best choice based on long-term research into the Mediterranean diet. For skin, if applying a beef by-product to your face seems unappealing, petroleum jelly is suggested by some practitioners as a highly safety-tested product for protecting the skin barrier.
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