The Good, the Bad and The Ugly of Using Tallow on Your Skin

Alright folks, let's be real.

We're talking about using cow fat for skincare - which we once thought was as nasty as rubbing beef stew on your bum 🤮, but then we got educated.

So naturally, the concept comes with some good, bad and ugly sides to the story.

Before we get into the meat of it (pun totally intended 😏), here's a quick snap shot, but trust, there's MUCH more to the story, found below. 

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The Good

Tallow (specifically grass-fed tallow) just happens to be the best thing to use on human skin because:

• of it's similarity to sebum (because it's compatible, it can soak deeper into the skin's layers)
• it has high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
• it's the highest source of a VERY essential fatty acid called CLA (more on this below)
• it's great for every skin type: dry, oily, combination, mature, sensitive, super-duper sensitive, and even baby butts.

The Bad

Tallow is thick, so if you use too much, your arms are going to slide on every surface you lean on like you dipped your forearms in butter.

Tallow is also temperature sensitive, so if you leave it outside in an Arizona summer, you can bet your bum, it's going to be rancid when you grab for it.

The Ugly

The cow has to die before the tallow can be extracted...worry not...the cow doesn't die FOR its tallow, the cow dies for its MEAT.

Then, resourceful folks (like us), prevent the tallow from being tossed, by rendering it and using it in tallow skincare. 

So now that you know, let's get this out of the way...if you are vegan, tallow is clearly not your jam.

Feel free to leave now. We take zero offense.

😉

If you're still with me, not offended or grossed out, and ready to try beef tallow on your skin, here's a 15% coupon for your first order from us: TALLOW15 

...p.s... you can even use this coupon on our ALREADY DISCOUNTED Tallow Skincare Bundle to save over $25! 😲

Tallow For Skin...Let's Get Into It

When it comes to natural skin care products, there are a lot of ingredients that come to mind like beeswax, aloe vera, and shea butter.

But what typically doesn't come to mind is cow fat aka tallow.

So let's learn a bit about it...

What is Tallow?

Tallow is the purified, rendered fat that comes from the cattle's suet (the name for the nutrient-rich, hard fat that surrounds the animal's kidneys).

It is NOT the liquid fat you pour off the pan after browning ground beef - that is muscle fat, not the same thing.

*Quick note here: ALL TALLOW IS NOT EQUAL.

Tallow that comes from grass-fed cows is FAR different than tallow that comes from factory-farmed, steroid-injected cows that are disrespectedly (yeah...I make up words) raised without grass, sunshine or love. (...more on this subject later...)

How is Tallow Rendered?

Tallow (or more accurately...the suet) is simmered in a pot for many, many hours until it turns to liquid (now it's technically tallow).

It's then progressively filtered to remove impurities like little floaty-majobbers and bits of meat.

*See the process in the photo below. That's me, Brittany, giving you a cheers...hi! 👋🏼 

How is Tallow Used?

Tallow has a wide range of uses due to its high smoke point (making it excellent for cooking), long-shelf life, and its valuable skin nourishing properties, which is why it's making a HUGE comeback.

Tallow has been used in a variety of applications since...like forever...and is still used (albeit they don't advertise this) in so many products:

Lip sticks, candles, soaps, lotions, as biofuel, as cooking oil, in the textile industry, as animal feed, as flux for soldering, as a lubricant for casting, in print making, aviation fuel, dog food, and so many more things. 

It's also, come to find out, a prized household staple in the Philippines for preventing scar tissue from forming on a fresh wound! 🤯 Crazy right?!?!

Good, Bad & Ugly Deep Dive

Now that you've been 'briefed on the pros and cons of using tallow on your skin, it's time to get into the meat of it all (pun totally intended) 😜...

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THE GOOD of Tallow

There are a host of benefits of using GRASS-FED tallow on your skin. So, here's the "good" of it all...

#1 Tallow Hydrates Skin Better Than ANY Other Ingredient

Because of the chemical composition of tallow, it is arguably the single most compatible ingredient we could rub on our skin and have it actually absorb.

Why?

Because tallow and sebum (the oil found naturally in human skin) share a very similar fatty acid structure.

Most notably, both are made up of around 55% saturated fats, making tallow extremely biocompatible with our skin.

It's believed that this similarity is what allows tallow to soak deep into the layers of the skin, bringing nourishment where other ingredients cannot.

Tallow also does this without leaving a greasy film like avocado or palm kernel oil tend to do, as their chemical make-up is far less compatible with our skin.

Basically, we're more like heifers than we'd like to admit. 😂🐄

#2 Tallow is Loaded with Skin-Loving Nutrients

Tallow contains high levels of vitamins A, D, E, K and B12, as well as antioxidants and essential fatty acids (like CLA) not commonly found in modern day skincare (uh duh...most modern skincare doesn't even contain REAL ingredients).

Benefits of these vitamins:

Vitamin A: Accelerates wound healing (think quick repair of cuts and blemishes), supports the production of fresh new cells, and can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin.

Vitamin D: Offers strong anti-inflammatory properties, promotes cell turnover, and helps prevent aging damage to the skin.

Vitamin E: A vital fat-soluble antioxidant that protects skin from UV damage and soothes irritation.

Vitamin B12: Essential for skin health, it promotes cell regeneration, reduces inflammation, and can help prevent hyperpigmentation, keeping skin bright and even-toned.

CLA – 🌟The Star of the Show: Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is an essential fatty acid that plays a crucial role in maintaining skin hydration by allowing moisture to move freely in and out of our cells. Without enough CLA, skin struggles to stay hydrated, regardless of how much water you drink or lotion you apply.

Benefits of CLA for the Skin

Maintains Skin Hydration: Helps regulate moisture balance in skin cells.

Improves Skin Elasticity: Supports skin structure, reducing signs of aging.

Anti-Inflammatory: Reduces inflammation, soothing conditions like acne and eczema.

Promotes a Healthy Skin Barrier: Strengthens the protective barrier to lock in moisture and guard against environmental damage.

Encourages Cell Regeneration: Aids in the renewal of skin cells for a smoother, more radiant complexion.

These powerful benefits make CLA a superstar ingredient for nourishing and glowing skin.

However, it's important to note that only grass-fed tallow contains high levels of CLA due to the natural grass diet and sunlight the cattle receive.

Factory-farmed, corn-fed cattle have minimal CLA, making grass-fed tallow a superior source of this skin-loving nutrient.

This is why tallow not only moisturizes but also deeply nourishes your skin with essential fatty acids.

#3 Tallow is Gentle Enough for All Skin Types

Tallow is thick enough to handle calloused, rough skin patches, gentle enough for baby's butts, and light enough to absorb into any skin type.

It's non-irritating, 100% natural, and very soothing.

It's ranked a 2 on the comedogenic scale (a fancy term for saying that it doesn't clog the pores) and absorbs super fast.

Whether you have extremely dry, overly sensitive, super oily or combination skin, tallow can do it all!

...I'm feeling like an infomercial sales lady now 😂...but wait there's more...

It can be used to soothe irritated skin, hydrate extremely dry skin, and even help balance oil production in oily or acne prone skin.

So basically, it's awesome.

(Shameless plug here → Our Transform Tallow Moisturizer is consistently ranked #1 among other tallow brands for its creamy, luxurious texture!)

THE BAD OF TALLOW

Alright, alright, we've made it through all the goods of tallow. Now onto the bads.

While there are some cons to using tallow on your skin, the good news is that with careful use, these “bad” factors can be easily avoided. 

#1 Tallow is Thick

Tallow is a fat, so of course, it’s a thick ingredient much like shea butter or cocoa butter.

If you apply too much to your skin in one area, it’ll take hours to absorb and leave you feeling as greasy as a fried chicken!

To avoid this, only scoop out a pea-sized amount, warm it in between your palms, then apply along your skin.

A pea-sized amount of tallow moisturizer is all you need to cover your entire arm and effectively hydrate your skin!

#2 Tallow is Temperature Sensitive

As a solid ingredient that can turn liquid in the heat, if tallow melts, it can separate into fats and liquid.

Once cooled, it can then have a grainy, unpleasant texture.

To avoid this, keep all tallow-based products out of the heat.

Do not store tallow products in your car in the summer, for example, and keep them stored out of direct sunlight.

Refrigeration is NOT needed, however, because tallow is shelf-stable.

#3 Tallow Expires

All natural ingredients expire. Tallow is one of the longer-lasting, natural ingredients with a substantial shelf-life.

Without the use of any preservatives, if properly purified (like ours is), tallow can easily last up to one year at room temperature, and 5 years or more if frozen.

THE UGLY OF TALLOW

There's no getting around it.

The "ugly" is that the cattle must be butchered to harvest its organ fats. 

Keep in mind the cattle are NOT being butchered FOR their tallow, but for their MEAT.

Therefore, if meat eaters exist, cattle will be processed.

And they have, for thousands and thousands of years. 

In fact, most of our ancestors processed their own family cows, and used every last bit of that cow from nose-to-tail, including the fat, bones, hide, etc. 

We Understand, Yes, There are Non-Animal Options

This is true.

And we respect if you choose non-animal options.

We understand that in today's modern world, we have tons of options. 

We can choose modern, synthetic, natural, plant-based, tallow-based, or a blend.

As a brand and a family, we simply chose to keep it as close to nature, 100% pure and natural as possible. 

We also like the traditional craftsmanship of rendering fat ourselves like our great-great grandparents used to. There's a very raw, old, and empowering energy in doing-for-self that we absolutely love.

The Argument: Factory-Farming vs. Regenerative Farming

One common concern when it comes to using tallow on your skin is the fear that it supports the horrid conditions of factory-farming CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations).

This belief is valid—those mega-farms are indeed inhumane, environmentally destructive, and should never be supported.

This is why, when purchasing tallow, it’s crucial to avoid any product sourced from these large-scale operations that contribute to the degradation of our planet.

However, as I've said before, not all tallow is created equal.

Supporting tallow skincare companies that source from regenerative farms is the complete opposite of supporting factory farming.

Regenerative farming focuses on restoring soil health, promoting biodiversity, and raising animals in harmony with nature.

Grass-fed cattle, central to these practices, help rejuvenate the land, sequester carbon, and revive traditional farming methods that respect the natural balance.

So, by choosing tallow from regenerative sources, you’re not only nurturing your skin but also supporting a system that nurtures the Earth.

(p.s. we only source tallow from 3 small, family, Midwest farms that practice regenerative farming...just so you know.)

Wrapping It All Up: Why Tallow is Worth It

In the world of skincare, tallow may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it certainly packs a powerful punch.

Yes, there are some downsides, like its thick texture and sensitivity to temperature, but when you consider the benefits—deep hydration, nutrient-rich composition, and compatibility with all skin types—it becomes clear why tallow has stood the test of time.

By opting for tallow sourced from regenerative farms, you're making a choice that supports ethical, sustainable practices that benefit both your skin and the planet.

At the end of the day, using tallow on your skin is more than just a skincare choice—it's a statement about what you value.

So, if you're ready to experience all the goodness tallow has to offer, while also making a positive impact, it might just be time to give this age-old remedy a try.

Nefertem Tallow Skincare

Nefertem offers the highest quality, purest tallow skincare products on the market...there, I said it!

We triple-filter and cure our grass-fed tallow, then combine it with organic, unrefined plant oils, pure essential oils, soothing herbs, and 100% good vibes.

Every skincare product is handmade in small batches right here in Park Forest, Illinois, USA, by a family committed to keeping the lost art of tallow skincare alive.

• No parabens, preservatives or junk
• No artificial fragrances, colors or flavors.
• Packaged in glass and recycled cardboard - NOT plastic
• Tallow comes from cows not treated with steroids, hormones, or antibiotics.

If you’re ready to ramp up your skincare routine, and enjoy glowing, radiant, natural skin, try Nefertem Tallow Skincare today!