Tallow Truths and Trends: Why Grandma Was Right (and Science Agrees) About Using Beef Fat on Your Face

If rubbing beef fat on your face sounds wild, you’re probably overdue for a skincare intervention.

While beauty aisles today are bursting with lotions that sound like science experiments, folks are circling back to a time when skincare didn’t come in a pump bottle—it came from a pan. And believe it or not, your great-grandma wasn’t just making it up as she went along.

Tallow, rendered from beef fat, is no longer just a buzzword whispered in crunchy skincare circles. It’s having a full-on revival—and for good reason.

At Nefertem Naturals, we’ve been shouting its praises since 2012, long before it was trending. This blog breaks down the why, the wow, and the wisdom behind this humble, powerful ingredient.

The Ancient Origins of Tallow Skincare

Long before serums promised to reverse time and creams came with ingredient lists that read like a chemistry final, people reached for what they had: animal fat, most notably tallow.

From ancient Egypt to Rome to Indigenous North American cultures, rendered fat was the base for healing balms, protective salves, and cleansing soaps.

In ancient Egypt, fats were combined with aromatic herbs and used for skin treatments, ceremonial applications, and even anti-aging care [1].

Roman bathhouses often used oils and animal fats to hydrate and protect the skin after scrubbing with abrasive tools.

Indigenous communities in North America used rendered animal fats mixed with medicinal plants to soothe wounds and protect against harsh climates.

The Science of Sebum: Why Tallow Makes Sense

The Latin word for tallow is sebum. Yes, the very same word used to describe the natural oil your skin produces. That’s because tallow closely mirrors human sebum in its fatty acid profile. It’s like skincare déjà vu—only this time, it’s on purpose.

Scientific analysis shows that both tallow and sebum are rich in triglycerides and fatty acids such as oleic, palmitic, and stearic acid [2]. These components are key in maintaining the skin’s natural barrier and hydration levels.

Tallow also brings with it fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, all of which play essential roles in skin regeneration, elasticity, and protection [3]. And unlike many plant oils or synthetic compounds, it doesn’t just sit on the surface—it absorbs beautifully, without clogging pores.

The Shift Away from Tallow – And the Consequences

Up until the 1970s, tallow was as common in households as a cast iron skillet. People used it for skincare, cooking, lubricants, and even candle-making.

But when saturated fats were labeled public enemy number one, tallow got the boot in favor of vegetable oils and synthetic emulsifiers.

Unfortunately, many of the replacements introduced into modern skincare weren’t exactly upgrades.

Common ingredients like parabens and phthalates have been linked to hormone disruption and skin irritation [4][5].

Synthetic fragrances, too, have been shown to trigger allergic reactions and even reproductive harm in some studies [6].

The Comeback Kid: Tallow Skincare in the Modern Era

Fast forward to today, and tallow is no longer the oddball ingredient. Thanks to social media and ingredient-savvy consumers, it’s gone from taboo to trendy—and for good reason.

People are waking up to the reality that maybe grandma wasn’t off her rocker when she used what was on hand and what actually worked.

The #tallowskincare tag has racked up millions of views, proving that curiosity is alive and well. Of course, with any trend comes skepticism—but here’s the difference: tallow isn’t new.

It’s just been waiting patiently while the world caught up.

Nefertem’s Role in Reviving the Tallow Tradition

While the internet just recently discovered tallow, we’ve been at it since 2012—back when saying “beef fat moisturizer” earned you more than a few side-eyes.

At Nefertem, we’ve always believed in clean, pure ingredients rooted in traditional wisdom. We hand-chop and render our grass-fed, grass-finished beef tallow the old-fashioned way. Then we triple purify it, cure it slowly, and handcraft each product in small batches.

We work with three Midwest family farms that use regenerative farming practices and never use steroids, growth hormones, or antibiotics. For us, it’s not just about skincare—it’s about honoring the land, the animals, and the people we serve.

What the Research Actually Says About Tallow’s Benefits

• Anti-inflammatory: Saturated fatty acids in tallow reduce inflammatory skin conditions [7].
• Barrier-repairing: Triglyceride-rich fats improve skin moisture retention [8].
• Antimicrobial: Tallow contains palmitoleic acid which helps fight acne-causing bacteria [9].
• Stable: Tallow resists oxidation and rancidity better than many plant oils [10].

The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful

Some folks hesitate because it’s animal-based. Others worry about sourcing. And yes, some people think it sounds weird at first.

But when people dig into the good, the bad, and the ugly, they usually find that the “bad” and “ugly” don’t hold a candle to the deep nourishment, clean ingredients, and visible results.

It’s not a miracle cure—but it’s a darn good moisturizer. And when made ethically and used intentionally, it just makes sense.

Closing Thoughts – Bringing It Back to Common Sense

At the end of the day, using tallow for skincare isn’t about being trendy—it’s about being smart, resourceful, and connected to something real. It’s about reaching back for the wisdom of generations before us and moving forward with purpose.

And if your great-grandma is still around, go ahead and ask her what she used for skincare. Chances are, she’ll say, “Oh honey, we used tallow for everything.”

Sources

1. Touwaide, A. (2010). Medical Traditions in Ancient Egypt. ScienceDirect.
2. Stewart, M. E., & Downing, D. T. (1991). Skin surface lipids in seborrheic dermatitis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
3. Zouboulis, C. C. (2009). Vitamin A and skin disorders. Dermato-Endocrinology.
4. Darbre, P. D., & Harvey, P. W. (2008). Paraben esters: review of recent studies of endocrine toxicity. Journal of Applied Toxicology.
5. Swan, S. H. (2008). Environmental phthalate exposure in relation to reproductive outcomes. Environmental Health Perspectives.
6. Dodson, R. E., et al. (2012). Endocrine Disruptors and Women's Health. Environmental Health Perspectives.
7. Draelos, Z. D. (2019). Use of fatty acids in skin barrier repair. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology.
8. Elias, P. M. (2005). Stratum corneum defensive functions: an integrated view. Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
9. Kocsis, A. K., et al. (2005). Palmitoleic acid is a potent bactericidal agent. Journal of Lipid Research.
10. Shahidi, F., & Zhong, Y. (2005). Lipid oxidation and improving the oxidative stability. Food Science and Nutrition.