Is Beef Tallow Good for Your Skin? I Couldn’t Resist Trying It for Myself

I was scrolling through TikTok a few weeks ago while I brushed my teeth and it changed my whole perspective on skin care. My feed is typically full of cute animal videos and wedding inspiration, but that night, I saw a quick clip about beef tallow. People were apparently using it as a beauty tool, which blew my mind. I had to give it a try. Once you learn if beef tallow is good for your skin, you might feel the same way.

What Is Beef Tallow?

Beef tallow is the fatty tissue that covers the outside of organs in animals that chew cud. I know — my nose wrinkled when I found that out too. Stay with me here. Manufacturers remove this tissue and simmer it to clarify the fat. When it cools, the tallow turns into a solid white substance. You can typically find it in the freezer section of a grocery store, but it’s available through online retailers as well.

Why Is It Trending?

Nara Smith posted a TikTok video where her husband helped her make homemade moisturizer with beef tallow and essential oils. She’s been a longtime public figure advocating for tallow’s moisturizing properties. Nara Smith has eczema and swears by her all-natural lotion recipe. The concoction went viral when people realized what she was using as her primary ingredient and it stayed viral as she continued to promote it.

Is Beef Tallow Good for Your Skin?

I love trying a viral internet trend, but I was not about to put beef drippings on my face without some kind of scientific backing. It turns out that the substance contains multiple natural acids, which increase plasma fatty acid concentration in our skin cells. We need that to lock in moisture and overcome symptoms like itchy patches or flakiness.

You don’t even need to get into the weeds of peer-reviewed research to get a medical perspective. Dr. Hannah Kopelman, who earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree and completed two clinical fellowships in dermatology, has been posting about beef tallow on her social media platforms.

“While it may seem unconventional, beef tallow can be safe for certain individuals, provided it’s sourced and rendered properly,” Dr. Kopelman says. “High-quality, grass-fed beef tallow contains fatty acids like stearic acid and oleic acid, which are naturally found in our skin’s lipid barrier. This makes it potentially nourishing and protective, especially for people with dry or compromised skin.”

Beef Tallow Skin Benefits and Risks

Making beef tallow moisturizer isn’t only something people are doing to get millions of TikTok views. The ingredient also has numerous potential skin benefits.

“The benefits of beef tallow stem from its ability to mimic the natural oils in our skin,” Dr. Kopelman explains. “It’s rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, which support skin health. For some, it can provide intense hydration and help repair the skin barrier. Anecdotally, it’s been praised for soothing conditions like eczema and psoriasis, but it’s important to note that these claims aren’t backed by robust clinical research.”

It’s always important to remember that applying things to your skin can also come with risks. Beef tallow is no different. The natural source of fats may be an organic substance, but that doesn’t mean it can’t affect your health.

“Beef tallow is occlusive, meaning it forms a barrier on the skin. While this can help with hydration, it may also trap dirt and bacteria, leading to clogged pores or breakouts—particularly for acne-prone or oily skin types,” Dr. Kopelman says. “Additionally, if the tallow isn’t properly purified or sourced from a reputable provider, it could carry contaminants that irritate the skin.”

If you’re interested in adding this ingredient to your skin care routine, research the company you decide to buy it from. They may have an upfront manufacturing process explained on their website, which takes the mystery out of choosing a brand. I only had to spend a few minutes looking into different manufacturers to find one with organic manufacturing standards and no artificial ingredients.

How I Used My Beef Tallow

Once you’ve determined if beef tallow is good for your skin, you might feel as curious as I was about trying it. I ordered a product that satisfied my all-natural standards, waited for it to arrive and started using it with some simple steps to improve my skin health.

Step One: I Applied It At Night

$39.99 from Amazon

I ended up buying Amallow’s Whipped Tallow Cream. I appreciated the whipped consistency, my favorite vanilla lavender scent and its production by a family-owned business. When it arrived, I waited until I got ready for bed before opening it.

A small amount of tallow on my fingertip covered my entire face. I massaged it into the typically drier spots around my chin and nose. The product absorbed quickly and didn’t leave an oily sheen behind.

I was a bit skeptical that I’d end up smelling like cooked ground beef after using beef tallow, but the organic essential oils proved my fears wrong. I fell asleep smelling like I stepped out of a spa.

Step Two: I Washed My Face Each Morning

$9.79 from Amazon

Remember, beef tallow is occlusive. No matter what brand you go with, it’s going to clog your pores more than a moisturizer designed with an ingredient like hyaluronic acid or ceramides. When I woke up, I washed my face with Clean & Clear’s Deep Action Exfoliator. I knew it would unclog my pores without drying my skin. Starting the day with softer skin and clean pores gave me a confidence boost I didn’t even know I needed.

Step Three: I Used It Every Other Evening

$16.09 from Amazon

My skin is slightly acne-prone, so I decided to use beef tallow every other night. I didn’t want to clog my pores every day and potentially cause breakouts. I also know it’s not a great idea to use an exfoliation product daily. The harsher ingredients strip dead skin cells away, which can be great. Unfortunately, it’s not helpful if you’re exfoliating so often that there aren’t any dead skin cells or oil build up.

Varying my beef tallow usage to every other day reduces how often I need to cleanse my pores. If I ever notice that my face feels uncomfortably dry after exfoliating, I switch my Clean & Clear with Neutrogena’s Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser. The product cleans pores without stripping the skin’s barrier. Pay close attention to your skin’s reaction to your beef tallow routine to adjust it as needed.

Consider Beef Tallow When Your Skin Needs a Change

Is beef tallow good for your skin? Dermatologists and researchers generally agree that it can be helpful if you struggle with dry patches. I gave it a try and found that it worked for me, so consider trying a personalized routine for yourself. When you find the right balance between moisturizing, exfoliating and cleansing, your face might feel softer and more hydrated than ever before.