Emilie Toups talks tallow skincare controversies with Dr. Will Cole. Does beef tallow clog pores? Does it smell bad? Learn the truth from experts on The Art of Being Well.

No one ever expected tallow balm to become the hottest skincare trend of the year. But consumers are finally putting down their toxin-filled moisturizers for a natural and nourishing alternative … and we couldn’t be happier to cheer you on.

With great power comes great responsibility, though. There are more tallow skincare brands on the market than ever, and so much variation in tallow quality. Dermatologists are weighing in, too, and some say tallow clogs pores.

Let’s unpack the tallow controversies. Does beef tallow clog pores? Can you get the same results from any tallow brand? And most importantly, will you smell like beef?

 

 

 

What Is Beef Tallow Skincare?

If you’re Googling “tallow skincare controversies,” you probably have some idea of what tallow is. But just in case you don’t, tallow is made from rendered beef fat. Throughout most of history, it was a prized fat used for cooking, skincare, candle making, and more.

 

Is Tallow Good for Skin?

Yes. The reason we use tallow for skincare is the high nutrient content. Tallow is well-known for its anti-inflammatory benefits, which primarily come from conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a powerful fatty acid. It’s also packed full of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and natural minerals. The real thing that makes tallow skincare stand out, though, is its composition. It’s nearly bioidentical to human sebum, which means it provides the exact nutrients our skin needs for optimal health.

 

Does Beef Tallow Clog Pores?

Although some sources disagree, tallow balm is considered noncomedogenic. If it’s clogging your pores, there’s likely more to the story. You may be applying too much tallow to your face, or you might have picked a low-quality brand. Since tallow is an animal-based product, the quality of your balm is directly impacted by the cows’ diet and the tallow processing methods used.

 

Should You Use Essential Oils in Tallow Balm?

Absolutely. The nutrients found in quality essential oils should enhance the results of your tallow balm. For example, we add frankincense to our tallow face balm for the anti-aging benefits and to resolve acne. We also love chamomile as a calming herb for our Baby Balm (it’s great for diaper rash).

Essential oil safety is the most important thing to consider here. These herbs are highly concentrated, which means they have plenty of restorative potential. At the same time, there’s a fine balance. We use the Tisserand Institute’s guidelines for proper dilution, and source quality oils that are safe for kids and pregnant or breastfeeding mamas.

 

Whipped Tallow vs. Traditional Balm

When you’re shopping for tallow balms, you might notice they come in different forms.

• Whipped tallow balm is an airy product that’s lightweight and easy to apply.

• Traditional tallow balm has a hard and dense consistency.

Both tallow balms should have the same skin-positive results; the main difference is how they feel when you use them. Whipped tallow balm has a more luxurious feel, and it’s a preferred lotion and face product. Traditional tallow balm is better for cracked heels and dry elbows.

 

When to Use Tallow Skincare

Tallow balm is a multifunctional product. While it’s most well-known as a face moisturizer, it can be used for almost any mild skin irritation.

• Acne. The anti-inflammatory compounds in tallow balm help calm acne while minerals work to rebuild the skin barrier.

• Eczema. Tallow skincare is naturally calming to the skin. Many customers report that it works better than drugstore methods for eczema.

• Redness. Use tallow as your daily moisturizer if you struggle with redness and irritation.

• Anti-Aging. The natural vitamin A in tallow balm isn’t a replacement for your retinol alternative, but it can help smooth wrinkles.

• Sensitive Skin. Each compound in tallow works to soothe and rebuild sensitive skin. Tallow moisturizers are particularly helpful during menopause, when skin becomes more sensitive.

• Cuts, Scrapes, and Sunburns. Apply your tallow balm to cuts, scrapes, sunburns, and bruises to promote quicker healing.

• Chafing. You can use tallow balm as a chafing preventative and to soothe chafed skin from hiking, walking, biking, and other activities.

• Cracked Nipples. If you’re a breastfeeding mama, you know that finding the perfect remedy for cracked nipples is a must. Tallow is soothing and helps rebuild disrupted skin.

• Dry Skin. Consider tallow skincare your multifunctional remedy to dry skin. You can use it on your lips, face, hands, heels, and any dry spots.

• Cracked Heels. After a shower, apply tallow balm to cracked heels for instant relief. Wear socks or wrap your feet to allow the nutrients to soak in and soften the skin.

• Razor Burn. Tallow's skin regenerative properties make it a great natural remedy for razor burn. Just apply it directly to the rash or use it after shaving to prevent bumps.

 

What Makes a Quality Tallow Balm?

Buying tallow balm is like choosing any other animal-based product. The quality and production are so important. Since fat acts as a storage system in animals, whatever they eat affects the product you bring home.

• Dry-Rendered. Since tallow is naturally a hard fat, it needs to be melted down and clarified before it can be used as a skincare product. This process is called rendering, and you can either do it dry or with added water and salt. We recommend dry-rendered tallow, since it’s more stable and less likely to mold. You also get more control over how quickly the tallow melts.

• Low Temperatures. It’s essential to render tallow for skincare, but it shouldn’t be boiled to a pulp. High temperatures can remove the beneficial components of tallow balm, leading to a lower-quality product. Make sure your tallow skincare brand takes special care during the rendering process to heat only as much as necessary.

• Grass-Fed and Grass-Finished. Fat is a storage system for cows, so their diet directly impacts the quality of your skincare product. Grass-fed and grass-finished tallow has shown to have higher nutrient properties than tallow from grain-fed cows.

• Local Ingredients. Since tallow has become such a popular skincare product, some brands are shipping their tallow from other countries. We recommend sourcing tallow from local brands, since there’s more quality control.

• No Toxic Additives. Tallow balm isn’t automatically clean skincare. Check the ingredient label for toxic additives, especially fillers.

• Made from Suet. With beef, you can harvest tallow from the kidneys (called suet) or from the hide (called subcutaneous). The fat in the kidney area is of much higher quality.

 

Tallow Troubleshooting: What to Do If Your Tallow Balm Doesn’t Work

 

I’m worried that tallow is clogging my pores

The most common cause of this is using too much product. You should use a pea-sized amount of tallow and let it fully soak into your skin. There shouldn’t be any residue on your face after application.

The second common cause of this is a low-quality tallow product. Check with your tallow skincare brand about sourcing, and double-check the ingredient label. Tallow balms from drugstores or large brands may be sourced from overseas, and often contain fewer nutrients and more pore-clogging compounds.

 

I’m not getting the results I want from a tallow balm

It’s important to give tallow balm enough time to work. We recommend 3–6 weeks of regular application. If you’re still not getting results, check the rest of your skincare routine and make sure it’s fairly toxin-free. You should also double-check that your tallow brand is making a quality balm from grass-finished cows.

 

I’m worried tallow skincare is wasteful

Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Until recently, tallow was considered a waste product during beef production. When Toups first started, we had to convince local farmers to give us their tallow instead of throwing it out. Using tallow skincare from the right brands is incredibly sustainable.

 

Does tallow skincare smell bad?

Properly rendered tallow shouldn’t have any off-putting smell. It should hardly have any scent at all. Some brands (like Toups) use essential oils for added scent and skin-supportive benefits, but they’re not meant to mask anything. If you have a smelly tallow balm, then you have a poorly rendered tallow balm.

 

Listen Now: Emilie Talks Tallow Controversies with Dr. Will Cole

Want more of the tea on tallow balm? Emilie Toups talks tallow controversies with Dr. Will Cole. Listen to our podcast episode on The Art of Being Well to get up to date on all things clean beauty trends, essential oils, and skincare dos and don’ts.