What Tallow Actually Does (And Doesn't)
5 min read
Beef tallow is having a moment - and for good reason. But the conversation around it tends to go one of two ways: either it's dismissed as putting beef fat on your face, or it's positioned as a miracle cure for everything. We don’t think either. Here's what the science actually supports.
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What Is Tallow?
Tallow is rendered beef fat that has been slowly melted down and carefully strained until it becomes a clean and stable solid. It can be sourced from fat found throughout the cow, but not all tallow is equal, and where it comes from matters.
We only use suet - the hard fat found around the kidneys. Suet is the most nutrient-dense fat on the animal, with the most stable fatty acid profile and the cleanest, least odorous result when rendered. Other fat sources from the cow can vary in quality, scent and nutritional composition. Suet is the gold standard for skincare and the only source we use.
Tallow has been used for centuries in cooking, candle making, and skincare - and it's having a serious comeback in the natural beauty world.
If the idea of putting beef fat on your skin sounds strange, you're not alone. But here's the thing - your skin already produces its own fat. It's called sebum, and it's what keeps your skin soft, protected and balanced. Tallow's composition is remarkably similar to sebum, which is exactly why it feels so compatible on skin. It's not as far from conventional skincare as it sounds.
We source our suet exclusively from Ontario, pasture-raised, grass-fed beef because it produces the cleanest fatty acid profile, the highest concentration of fat-soluble vitamins and the most skin-compatible tallow available.
The Biochemistry - And Why It Matters
Tallow's fatty acid profile closely mirrors human sebum, the skin's own natural oil. It's approximately 40 to 50 percent oleic acid, 25 to 30 percent palmitic acid, and around 20 percent stearic acid. These are the same fatty acids that make up a significant portion of the skin's lipid matrix - the structure that holds the skin barrier together and keeps water in.
This is documentable chemistry, not marketing. And it's the reason tallow feels so compatible on skin, because structurally, it is.
Tallow is also naturally rich in fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Whether these are absorbed through the skin in clinically meaningful amounts isn't fully established - the research simply isn't there yet. What we can say is that their presence alongside such a compatible fatty acid profile makes tallow a uniquely nourishing ingredient. We'd rather be honest about what the science shows than overclaim something we can't back up.
It's Traditional Use
Humans have used animal fats on skin for centuries. That's a long safety record and a compelling argument for compatibility. However, traditional use alone isn't the same as clinical evidence of efficacy - it's plausibility backed by time. We think it's worth mentioning honestly rather than overstating it.
The Honest Gap
Here's what most tallow brands won't say: large scale, peer-reviewed clinical trials comparing tallow-based skincare to conventional moisturizers don't currently exist in meaningful quantity. The biochemical rationale is sound. The safety record is long. The clinical trials simply haven't been done yet.
We believe in this ingredient. We use it on our own families and our customers consistently tell us it's unlike anything they've tried before - softer skin and calmer reactions. Those results mean a lot to us. But we're not going to claim clinical proof that doesn't exist. That's not the kind of brand we want to be.
Where Tallow Shines
As an occlusive and emollient combined, tallow is hard to beat in the natural skincare space. It nourishes, softens and seals in a single ingredient. It's compatible with sensitive skin, gentle enough for little ones and effective enough to replace multiple products for many people.
For Your Body - Keep It Simple
When it comes to your body, tallow shines on its own. Apply our tallow cream to damp skin immediately after a shower or bath - that window while your skin is still slightly wet is all the humectant step you need. The surface moisture does the work and the tallow seals it in, leaving skin soft, nourished and protected without any extra steps.
Using it on your face? Click the button below to learn about the 3 pillar of moisturization to see what your skin may need.
Who It May Not Suit
Oleic-acid (fatty acid) dominant oils and fats (including tallow) can be problematic for some acne-prone skin types. If your skin is prone to clogged pores or breakouts, patch test carefully and introduce slowly. Everyone's skin responds differently and we'd rather you know that upfront.
Why So Smooth?
Conventional moisturizers need water, preservatives and emulsifiers to exist as a formula. Ours doesn't. We blend our tallow with organic cold-pressed jojoba oil so it applies smoothly and absorbs beautifully. What you're applying is pure, concentrated nourishment. Nothing holding it together, nothing making it stable, nothing that isn't directly benefiting your skin.