Search

Skincare Benefits of Beef Tallow

This post contains affiliate links which means I could make a small commission.

These days we have so many skincare options and brands to choose from. The many choices can sometimes be overwhelming and lead to going down endless rabbit holes trying to find the best skincare products that will solve all of your skin issues. There are also many sources of influence that may lean you toward one product or skincare line or another. One thing that should be considered and highly valued is the toxin load of your skincare. Our skin is our largest organ and what we put on it matters immensely. Another consideration is choosing skincare that is effective while also keeping your skincare routine as simple as possible. We live in a busy world where sometimes it’s hard to sort through what information matters and what isn’t so important. Hopefully this article can get you started in the right direction with a natural, wholesome skincare routine while also keeping it simple and reducing some of that decision fatigue.

What is Beef Tallow?

To put it plainly, beef tallow is fat that is rendered from cows. You may be  thinking “That’s gross! Why would I apply animal fat to my skin?” Well, there are many reasons why! It has long been known that beef tallow is an incredible skincare ingredient, but it has recently begun to gain popularity again. Beef tallow contains vitamins such as oleic acid and conjugated linoleic acid that are compatible with our skin and help nourish and revitalize. 1 In addition, beef tallow has been used for thousands of years to make soaps and many different types of moisturizers due to its many benefits. Apart from its nutritive effects, it is a completely non-toxic, naturally sourced ingredient, so you can feel at ease applying it to your skin day in and day out. It’s important to consider the toxin load when choosing skincare products. Even if a product has a relatively “low” toxin load, if you are applying it to your skin every single day, you could be compounding the effects of the small amount of toxins that are present. It’s best to choose skincare that is as natural as possible while also containing minimal ingredients. Typically, a minimal ingredient list indicates there are little to no fillers and harmful additives present in your products.

How Do I Use Beef Tallow?

There are many recipes online that detail how to make your own soaps, lotions, balms, etc. using beef tallow. Personally, I am a busy mother and homemaking, so in order to save time, I prefer to purchase from a skincare brand I trust. You can follow the link to my favorite brand here. This link will bring you to the Toups & Co Organics website. They have so many incredible products to choose from (tallow and non-tallow based). Beef tallow based products are typically formulated as balms because they can be used as a moisturizer or as a sort of healing salve. Also, beef tallow is a solid product so it would be difficult to present it in a liquid form such as a face wash or an oil form. The beef tallow you will see on the Toups & Co Organics website are in a balm form. There are even different scents to choose from. My personal favorites are the sweet girl and frankincense scents.

Why Use Beef Tallow?

As mentioned above, beef tallow contains a plethora of vitamins and minerals to deeply nourish and moisturize your skin while minimizing fine lines and wrinkles. Another benefit of beef tallow is the reversal of sun damage for those of us who were late getting onto the sunscreen-wearing bandwagon that is so popular today and for good reason. Apart from this, it can also be used to ease the symptoms of certain dry skin conditions such as eczema. 1 I’ve personally used beef tallow balms on my eczema when it flares up and it provides almost immediate relief from the itching and irritation. I’ve also used a balm curated for a baby’s sensitive skin (from Toups & Co Organics) on my own baby during eczema flare-ups. Ultimately, eczema must be treated using a holistic approach, but relief during the healing process can be very helpful. For many, beef tallow balm is just as effective or more effective than colloidal oatmeal to relieve the itching and inflammation from conditions like eczema.

How Do I Add Beef Tallow To My Skincare Routine?

Beef tallow is one of the best moisturizers out there, so it is likely you will want to incorporate it into the moisturizing step of your skincare routine. It is best to keep your skincare routine free of unwanted toxins and fillers while also keeping it simple for the sake of putting less ingredients on your face, but also of course for the sake of time. My skin has never been more clear and glowing since incorporating beef tallow-based products into my skincare routine. I also feel a great sense of peace knowing that I am not causing damage to my skin and body by ensuring my skincare is non-toxic. I also personally use the beef tallow-based products through pregnancy and feel comfortable doing so. In order to evaluate if a skincare product is low-toxin I will either visit the environmental working group (EWG) skin deep web page and search the product or I’ll search each ingredient and its toxin level using their database. This has been so helpful in identifying which products are completely safe to use and which products should be used minimally or not at all.

There are so many benefits to beef tallow, especially in skin care, and it truly is a powerhouse ingredient. It certainly may seem like a strange concept to use a tallow-based product on your skin, but once you try it you will never go back and your skin will thank you!

Works Cited:

1. Levy, Jillian. “Can You Eat Tallow? 5 Reasons to Use This Form of Fat.” Dr. Axe, 26 June 2020, draxe.com/nutrition/tallow/.