My face has been through it. Acne that laughed in the face of prescriptions. Perioral dermatitis that made me look like I had a permanent allergic reaction; skin so dry and dehydrated that even slugging with Vaseline felt like tossing a Dixie cup of water onto a house fire.
I had tried everything. Fancy serums, terrifying exfoliants, a 12-step Korean routine that cost me a small fortune. And then, in an act of desperation (and, okay, deep TikTok brainwashing), I rubbed beef fat all over my face — reader, I have never looked back.
To confirm my hunch about this stuff, I spoke to Dr. Reshmi Kapoor, a board-certified dermatologist and owner and founder of Brooklyn Dermatology in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, who dives into the FAQs of beef tallow as skincare.
- Best for Acne: Harvest & Herd: Citrus & Honey Tallow Balm
- Best for Anti-Aging: Primally Pure Everything Balm
- Best Beef Tallow for Eczema: Vintage Tradition Unscented Tallow Balm
- Best for Body: Primally Pure Almond + Vanilla Body Butter
What is beef tallow?
Beef tallow — yes, the stuff your ancestors fried stuff in — turned out to be the skin savior I never saw coming. It’s packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K, mimics the natural oils in human skin, and is basically the anti-inflammatory, barrier-repairing miracle Big Skincare doesn’t want you to know about.
“Beef tallow is composed of fatty acids, like linoleic acid, which is an emollient and can help lock moisture into the skin,” explained Dr. Kapoor. “It also contains fat-soluble vitamin A, which can help with skin cell turnover and vitamin E, which functions as an antioxidant.”
When I personally used it (after plenty of research as to which brands I should experiment with), within one week, my perioral dermatitis vanished from view and the texture smoothed out by 20%. By week two, my acne calmed, and my formerly sandpaper-textured skin felt soft. And because I’m now evangelical about smearing rendered animal fat on my face, I have tested many versions of beef tallow skincare.
Below, I present the absolute best of the best — whether you need something for acne, eczema, aging, or just an unscented miracle to slather from head to toe.
Where to buy beef tallow skin products?
Best for Acne: Harvest & Herd: Citrus & Honey Tallow Balm
Pros:
- Hydrating, not greasy
- Smells like citrus and honey
- Soothes breakouts
- Clean, natural ingredients
Cons:
- Jar packaging (finger-dipping required)
- Not vegan
The Harvest & Herd Citrus & Honey Tallow Balm is a powerhouse for acne-prone skin, blending grass-fed tallow with raw honey and citrus essential oils to create a deeply nourishing, antibacterial salve. Packed with natural healing properties, this balm hydrates without clogging pores, soothes inflammation, and supports skin barrier repair. The tallow mimics skin’s natural oils, making it a perfect match for those battling breakouts without wanting to drown their face in synthetic gunk. Its thick, buttery texture melts into the skin, leaving behind a subtle, fresh scent — like a farmer’s market, but make it skincare.
Listen, I was skeptical about smearing beef fat on my already temperamental face, but this balm? Black magic. It’s like my skin got a personal apology note from the universe. The citrus makes it smell like I’m rubbing a gourmet pastry on (which, frankly, I deserve), and the honey keeps things just sticky enough to feel like it’s doing something. Within a week, my breakouts looked less like a rebellion and more like a mild disagreement. Not a miracle, but definitely a new religion.
Best for Anti-Aging: Primally Pure Everything Balm
Pros:
- Deeply hydrates and softens skin
- Packed with anti-aging nutrients (tallow, jojoba, and calendula)
- Multipurpose – works for face, hands, and body
- Smells subtly luxurious
Cons:
- Can feel heavy on oily skin (use sparingly)
The Everything Balm is an anti-aging powerhouse packed with organic, nutrient-rich ingredients that nourish, repair, and rejuvenate the skin. Infused with grass-fed tallow, organic jojoba oil, and calendula, it provides deep hydration while supporting collagen production and reducing fine lines. The addition of soothing essential oils gives it a subtle, natural scent, making it a luxurious multitasker for face, hands, and dry patches. Perfect for those who want a minimalist skincare routine with maximum results, this balm melts into the skin, leaving it soft, supple, and glowing.
Look, I didn’t want to love this — I already have enough skincare addictions — but here we are. This balm is like a sleep-deprived miracle worker, turning my tired, borderline-crispy skin into something suspiciously fresh. It smells like an expensive spa, but not in an obnoxious way, and I swear my fine lines look less etched in regret. It’s thick but melts in, and yes, I’ve used it on my face, elbows, and the weird dry spot on my knee. Would I sell my soul for it? No. But I’d definitely Venmo Primally Pure directly for every fine line it erases. Needless to say, this is a great beef tallow for your face and entire body.
Best for Eczema: Vintage Tradition Unscented Tallow Balm
Pros:
- Deeply hydrates and soothes eczema
- Minimal ingredients, no additives
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Absorbs well without greasiness
Cons:
- Hard texture, needs warming before application
A cult favorite among eczema sufferers, this balm is made from 100% grass-fed tallow and olive oil with just a touch of essential oils for a mild scent. It’s ultra-rich, deeply reparative, and provides lasting hydration without irritating sensitive, compromised skin. It’s free from any synthetic additives or preservatives.
If you have eczema, you know that most lotions feel like setting your skin on fire for fun. This? This is a soothing hug. My dry skin patches drank it up instantly, my skin stayed moisturized all day, and it didn’t cause any itchiness or irritation. It does leave a bit of a dewy sheen, but if that’s the price of finally having non-scaly limbs, I’ll gladly pay it.
Best for Body: Primally Pure Almond + Vanilla Body Butter
Pros:
- Deep, long-lasting hydration
- Smells like almond-vanilla heaven
- Large jar suitable for body coverage
- Clean, nourishing ingredients
Cons:
- Thick texture — takes a minute to absorb
The Primally Pure Almond + Vanilla Body Butter is the ultimate indulgence for head-to-toe hydration. Made with grass-fed tallow, organic shea butter, and nourishing plant oils, this rich and creamy formula deeply moisturizes without feeling greasy. The warm, subtly sweet almond and vanilla scent makes every application feel like a luxurious treat, while its blend of skin-loving ingredients helps repair dryness, boost elasticity, and leave your skin glowing. A beef tallow for face and body, this butter is a minimalist’s dream — one jar, endless hydration.
This stuff smells like a dessert (in the best way). It’s thick, like really thick — none of that runny lotion nonsense — but somehow sinks in like it belongs there. My legs? Silky. My hands? Smooth. I slathered this on post-shower and suddenly felt like a woman who drinks herbal tea and knows how to rest. If you want hydration that actually sticks around and makes you smell vaguely edible, this is the one.
Other beef tallow brands on our radar
Evil Goods! Beef Tallow
Pros:
- Non-irritating formula
- Good for the whole body
Cons:
- No customer reviews — yet
Evil Goods makes beef tallow skincare for people who want their moisturizer to be as raw and unfiltered as their opinions. Sourced from grass-fed cows raised on regenerative farms, the brand’s whipped tallow balm is infused with essential oils like myrrh and frankincense — not for trend, but for tradition.
It smells like old-world apothecary meets forest floor and melts into the skin with a slick, decadent glide. Evil Goods isn’t trying to be cute about it either: the jar looks like something a witch might keep on her shelf, and frankly, that’s the energy it brings to your barrier repair.
Terra Lotus Organic Grass-Fed Beef Tallow Balm with Raw Honey
Pros:
- Calming ingredients
- Fragrance-free
- 4.4 rating on Amazon
Cons:
- Some may find this balm on the greasier side
Terra Lotus approaches tallow like a luxury oil — minimal, meditative, and deeply nourishing. Their facial tallow is rendered in small batches from grass-fed, biodynamic beef fat and paired only with a handful of botanical extracts like calendula and chamomile. No fillers, no fragrance, just a velvety, omega-rich balm designed to soothe barrier-impaired or eczema-prone skin. The brand is hyper-focused on purity and transparency, and their commitment to regenerative agriculture means your skin isn’t the only thing healing.
Holy Cow Whipped Tallow Balm with Organic Jojoba Oil
Pros:
- Available in Orange Vanilla, Lavender Vanilla, Vanilla Bean, and Unscented
- 7,000 jars bought this month
Cons:
- Jar is on the smaller side
Holy Cow is cheeky in name but serious in formulation. Their face tallow is whipped to a buttercream texture and made from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef suet from Midwest ranches. Enriched with olive squalane and a kiss of beeswax, it offers a breathable occlusive layer that feels like a divine intervention for dry, chapped, or over-exfoliated skin. With playful branding and deeply traditional sourcing, Holy Cow manages to be both irreverent and reverent at once.
How I tested
I didn’t just dab a little tallow on and call it a day — I put these balms, butters, and creams through the wringer. Here’s how I tested each product to see if beef fat could actually earn a spot in my routine:
- Duration: I tested each product for six weeks, giving my skin time to adjust and react.
- Application areas: I used tallow on both face and body, paying close attention to hydration levels, texture, and any signs of irritation.
- Environmental conditions: I tested in different settings:
- Cold, dry winter air (NYC wind tunnel streets, thanks)
- Post-shower on damp skin to see if it locked in moisture
- Under makeup to check if it played well with foundation
- Before bed to see if I woke up looking hydrated or like an oil slick
- Absorption & texture: I tracked how quickly each product melted into my skin, if it felt greasy, and whether it left any residue.
- Breakout risk: As someone prone to surprise breakouts, I watched closely to see if tallow clogged pores or caused irritation.
- Scent factor: Some tallow-based products claim to be odorless when they smell like a literal farm — so I took notes on what was pleasantly subtle versus barnyard chic.
- Healing properties: Since tallow is supposed to be great for repairing dry patches, fine lines, and irritation, I monitored any improvements in skin texture, flakiness, and redness over time.
I went in skeptical because, let’s be real, beef fat in skincare sounds like a prank. But after six weeks? Let’s just say that some of these products might have earned a permanent spot on my shelf.
FAQs
Does beef tallow actually help skin?
Beef tallow, rendered from cow fat, has gained attention in skincare due to its rich composition of fatty acids, such as oleic, palmitic, stearic, and linoleic acids, which can form a protective barrier, sealing in moisture and supporting the skin barrier. Additionally, tallow contains vitamins A, D, E, and K, nutrients beneficial for skin health.
A 2024 medical review highlighted tallow’s hydrating and moisturizing properties, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis, dry skin, and wounds. However, the same review emphasized significant research gaps regarding its efficacy and safety in human skincare, indicating the need for more comprehensive studies.
Dr. Kapoor does share some concerns, though, because “although its composition theoretically makes sense to help with skin barrier repair, the reality is that beef tallow is not FDA-approved and therefore it is unregulated,” which means that it “has no standardization. I would be concerned about contamination and exposure to diseases from the cows it is sourced from.” For this reason, it is of the utmost importance to do your due diligence on sourcing the product. Don’t be afraid to contact the brands and makers themselves and request information.
Will tallow clog my pores?
Beef tallow’s potential to clog pores, or its comedogenicity, is a subject of ongoing discussion. sensitive skin. For some, it’s an acne-prone person’s saving grace; for others, it simply doesn’t do the job.
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