Beef Tallow Skin Care Has Taken Over Wellness-Tok—But Does It Work?

Like most skin care products, the benefits of beef tallow depends on your skin type. According to Dr. Green, tallow is thought to be compatible with human skin because of its compositional similarity to sebum, the natural oils produced by human skin. Tallow is packed with omega-3 fatty acids capable of nourishing and strengthening the skin barrier as well as conjugated linoleic acid, the anti-inflammatory properties of which should improve the symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, and rashes. Plus, tallow is rich in fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, which can absorb easily into the skin to stimulate collagen production and skin cell renewal. These vitamins also deliver antioxidants to shield the skin from free radical damage and prevent signs of aging. Dr. Green says tallow, thick yet noncomedogenic, is ideally suited to dry and aging skin but gentle enough for sensitive skin. Those with oily skin may find it too cloying unless applied sparingly. 

Is beef tallow the same as retinol? 

Beef tallow is not the same as retinol. Social media has made claims that tallow is a line-smoothing, bioretinol substitute. (Retinol is a common antiaging ingredient derived from vitamin A.) While tallow “has oils that are compatible with human skin and it contains vitamin A,” Dr. Turegano explains, “that doesn’t make it equivalent to a retinoid.” She also pushed back on some of the claims around tallow's suitability for inflammatory conditions like eczema and psoriasis. 

“There are certain FDA-approved over-the-counter ingredients that can have claims for conditions like eczema and psoriasis, and tallow unfortunately is not one of them,” Dr. Turegano clarifies. “Having said that, moisturizing and soothing the skin barrier can help conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and other rashes, so the moisturizing benefits of tallow can theoretically help with these skin conditions.”

Still, Dr. Turegano says experimenting with tallow or tallow-based formulas “would generally be a risky endeavor.” “If you are very eager to try it, then I would look at the sourcing and purity of the tallow used before taking the risk,” she concludes.