Common Curiosities
Beef tallow is fat rendered from bovine meat by slowly evaporating it until it's purified.
Yes, beef tallow can be used on the skin! It has been used historically in skincare products for its moisturizing and nourishing properties. Beef tallow contains vitamins like A, D, E, and K, which are beneficial for the skin. It can help to hydrate, repair the skin barrier, and promote healing due to its rich nutrient content.
Beef tallow is often considered non-comedogenic for most people, meaning it generally doesn’t clog pores. However, everyone’s skin is different, so it’s recommended to do a patch test first, or consulting with a certified health care provider, especially for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Beef tallow was never really "hiding" — it's just that over the years, it became less popular in mainstream cooking and skincare due to the rise of vegetable oils and other fats. In the mid-20th century, as vegetable oils like canola, soybean, and corn oil became more commercially promoted, animal fats like beef tallow were often overlooked or replaced because of health concerns related to saturated fats. This led to a decline in its use.
The problem with oils such as canola, soybean, and corn oil is that although they were marketed as being a "healthier" alternative to beef tallow or butter, they actually do more harm than saturated fats both when ingested and put on the skin topically.
However, in recent years, there's been a resurgence of interest in traditional fats like beef tallow, as people have shifted toward more whole-food and ancestral diets. Many people have rediscovered tallow’s benefits for both cooking and skincare, recognizing its high-quality fat profile and nutrient content. It’s also seen a revival among those focused on sustainability, as it's a byproduct of the meat industry that can be used effectively rather than wasted.
So, while beef tallow was never completely gone, it's certainly enjoying a renaissance today, especially as people return to more natural and ancestral approaches to food and self-care!