Is beef tallow something you associate more with the kitchen or the bathroom cabinet?
Hannah English is a skincare author and digital creator who reviews products and documents her own routines on social media from Naarm/Melbourne.
She says she now "fairly regularly" gets questions from her followers about using beef tallow or beef tallow-based products as skincare, and it also pops up on her own feeds.
Hannah says she's nervous about some of the content she's seen promoting beef tallow, because of other ideas endorsed alongside it.
"I got a video of someone saying that 'skin care is fake … don't use sunscreen and all I use is a bit of beef tallow now and then and my skin's never been better'."
Beef tallow is made using cattle fat and is a by-product of meat processing. Tallow can be used as a cooking oil but is also being used in biofuel and animal feed as well as cosmetics and skincare.
Does beef tallow have skincare benefits?
Michael Freeman is a dermatologist working on the Gold Coast / Yugambeh language region.
Dr Freeman says because beef tallow is a "biological compound" with "lots of fatty acids" it's relatively compatible with our skin.
Beef tallow also contains stearic acid and oleic acid which "have got skin softening, hydration [and] repair characteristics". This means it could be suitable for skin experiencing eczema or psoriasis, he says.
It also contains Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K, which he says are all used in skin products.
Dr Freeman says the animal's diet will have an impact on tallow's characteristics.
Mei-Heng Tan, a dermatologist on Gadigal Land in Sydney, says these fatty acids and vitamins "are beneficial for maintaining healthy skin, promoting healing, and improving skin elasticity".
It's a "natural emollient, meaning it helps to lock in moisture", and can be "especially helpful for dry and cracked skin".
When and how to use beef tallow?
Beef tallow is best suited to dry, sensitive skin or skin prone to eczema or psoriasis, according to Dr Freeman.
But he warns that "you wouldn't want to use beef tallow as a raw product".
It doesn't take much, however, to make it into a usable skincare product. This allows some producers to avoid fragrances, preservatives and stabilisers in some formulations, which can be helpful for people who are sensitive to any of those.
Dr Tan adds that raw beef tallow, rendered at home, "can have impurities or contaminants that may cause irritation or infection".
Additionally, raw tallow can "be greasy or difficult to apply evenly" and becomes solid at room temperature.
If stored improperly, it can also go rancid.
"Commercial skincare products with tallow are generally tested for safety and stability, ensuring that the product will remain effective and free from bacterial contamination for the intended shelf life."
Formulated skincare products are also likely to include other beneficial ingredients, Dr Tan says.
What are the disadvantages of beef tallow?
Dr Tan says there are "several potential disadvantages" that come with using beef tallow as skincare.
Beef tallow has comedogenic — or pore-clogging — potential.
"For individuals with oily or acne-prone skin, it may clog pores, leading to breakouts or blackheads … and it may exacerbate conditions like acne or rosacea."
It can also have a lingering scent that "might not be appealing for everyone", Dr Tan warns.
Some people may have an allergy or sensitivity to beef tallow, and "it's always a good idea to do a patch test before applying tallow-based products on larger areas of the skin".
Dr Tan also says beef tallow won't align with everyone's values as it is animal-derived.
Alternatives to beef tallow
If you're searching for a rich moisturiser, Dr Freeman says it does tend to come down to personal preferences.
You could consider a moisturiser containing ceramides, which tallow does not have and, "which are in fact the very thing that a lot of people with dry skin miss out on".
Glycerin is also "a very helpful ingredient", he adds.
Hannah says when she wants a rich product that has a "trapping moisture into the skin effect" she opts for a simple petroleum jelly product.
"It's also really, really affordable," she says.
Dr Tan also recommends petroleum jelly as a "moisturiser for dry cracked skin and lip care", but "if you prefer plant-based alternatives, options like shea butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil are excellent choices".
"For a lighter, more non-comedogenic option, consider oils like grapeseed or argan oil."
Be aware that all these ingredients have their own unique disadvantages and benefits and finding what works best for you and your skin is key.
