The Beef Tallow Skincare Trend: What Your Esthetician Wants You to Know
Hey beautiful humans!
If you've been on TikTok lately, you've probably noticed people applying beef fat to their faces. Yes, you read that right – actual cow fat. And they're calling it the next big skincare miracle.
As your friendly neighborhood esthetician, I need to discuss this trend with you. What I'm observing in my treatment room doesn't align with what you're seeing on social media.
Why Everyone's Going Crazy for Beef Tallow
I understand the appeal. In a world filled with skincare ingredients that sound like they belong in a chemistry lab, beef tallow feels refreshingly simple. It's just beef fat, right? Plus, there's something romantic about using what our great-great-grandmothers applied on their skin.
The wellness world is currently focused on "ancestral" practices. The concept suggests that if our ancestors engaged in them, they must have been beneficial for us. Adding in the sustainability aspect—using the whole animal instead of wasting parts—makes beef tallow sound quite impressive.
But here's the thing: just because something is old doesn't mean it's better. There's a good reason we stopped using animal fat on our faces.
The Issue with Applying Cow Fat to Your Face
Let me explain what happens to your skin when you use beef tallow. Trust me, it's not pretty. Your skin has an incredible protective barrier called the stratum corneum. Think of it like a brick wall—the bricks are dead skin cells, and the mortar that holds them together is a special mix of fats your skin produces naturally. When this barrier gets damaged, you experience dry, irritated skin. The fix isn't to just apply more fat on top (which is what beef tallow does). The real solution is to repair that barrier with the right ingredients in the right amounts. Beef tallow is rich in something called stearic acid. At first, it makes your skin feel incredibly soft and moisturized. But after a few weeks, it disrupts your skin's natural balance, leaving you drier than before. So, you end up using more beef tallow, which exacerbates the situation, and you're caught in a cycle where your skin becomes dependent on it.
What I'm Seeing in My Treatment Room
Okay, this is where I need to be really honest with you. Clients who have been using beef tallow for a few weeks or months develop a smell. During facial steaming, their skin emits a distinct, musky animal scent—it smells like rancid fat.
Beyond the odor, these clients also experience:
More clogged pores than usual.
Tight, dry, flaky skin.
Redness and irritation.
The same issues they were trying to fix have actually worsened. This reminds me of the coconut oil craze from a few years back—the same promises, the same disappointing results.
The Acne Myth That Needs to Go Away
Some people on social media claim that beef tallow is good for acne. Let me be crystal clear: this is absolutely not true. Beef tallow clogs pores. Period. If you have acne-prone skin, this is literally the last thing you want to put on your face. There is zero scientific evidence supporting beef tallow for acne, and plenty of evidence showing it makes things worse.
What Science Actually Says (Spoiler: It's Not Good)
Here's something that might shock you – there are virtually no scientific studies establishing that beef tallow works as a skincare ingredient. The few studies that exist on stearic acid (the main component in beef tallow) actually demonstrate that it disrupts your skin barrier when used in high amounts. In contrast, decades of research have confirmed that ingredients like ceramides can repair and maintain healthy skin. We understand exactly how they work and why they're effective.
What to Use Instead
If you love the idea of simple, effective skincare, I'm totally with you. But instead of beef tallow, look for products with:
Ceramides (about 50% of what your skin barrier needs)
Cholesterol (25%)
The right balance of fatty acids
Omega fatty acids
These ingredients actually work WITH your skin to repair damage, not just cover it up temporarily.
The Bottom Line
I know it's tempting to try every new trend, especially when influencers rave about it. But your skin deserves better than something that will likely disappear in six months, leaving you with clogged pores and a damaged barrier. If you're currently using beef tallow and noticing any of these issues, don't panic. Your skin can bounce back. Just work with a qualified esthetician to find products that truly support your skin's health. Remember: when it comes to skincare, simple doesn't always mean better. Sometimes, the "boring" science-backed ingredients are exactly what your skin needs to thrive.
Want to learn more about this topic? Tune in to our full podcast episode "The Great Beef Tallow Debate: Ancient Remedy or Modern Fad?" where cosmetic chemist Rebecca Gadberry and I explore why this trend may be more harmful than helpful. Listen to the entire discussion in our podcast episode "The Great Beef Tallow Debate: Ancient Remedy or Modern Fad?" for more insights from cosmetic chemist Rebecca Gadberry and extra tips on selecting the right moisturizer for your skin type.
To read more from Trina Reneá, join her on Substack.
Stay glowing! ✨
Trina Renea