Social media is abuzz with talk of beef tallow. Beauty influencers swear that smearing beef tallow on the skin is the secret to achieving that healthy, dewy glow.
Is it? To find out, JDNPPA reached out to two savvy dermatologists to get the real skinny on beef tallow’s beauty benefits.
Beef tallow is created by slowly cooking parts of a cow over low heat until the fat separates the meat from liquid and connective tissue, resulting in solidified fat.
“Fats have long been used in skincare for their hydrating and emollient benefits,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology And Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “Beef tallow contains the same types of fats that are found naturally in our outer skin layer. By applying it to the skin, it provides emollient benefits to help soften rough cells on the skin‘s surface and offer hydration benefits.”
Some TikTokers claim that beef tallow can help clear up blemishes. but It’s not an appropriate acne remedy, he says. “Given the high levels of oleic acid in beef tallow, I do not recommend it as an acne treatment. Oleic acid is a fatty acid known to block the pores.”
His verdict? “Besides the greasy feel of beef tallow, there likely is a little downside to using it on the skin, although there certainly are more cosmetically, elegant well-formulated moisturizers to get the job done.”
Karan Lal, DO, a Dermatologist in Scottsdale, AZ, sees it a bit differently. “Tallow is rich in triglycerides, specifically oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linoleic acid. It also contains essential vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, K, E, and B12,” he says. “Any fat or oil will help moisturize the skin because oils and fatty acids act as emollients.”
There is no scientific evidence to support beef tallow as a moisturizer, he says. “Beef tallow’s high oleic acid content can disrupt the skin barrier, causing irritation. It also has a higher pH, and we often need slightly acidic products on the skin to maintain the acid mantle. It’s also comedogenic and can clog your pores.”
His verdict? “As a dermatologist, I would not recommend beef tallow moisturizer. If you want to use a natural oil for moisturizer, opt for sunflower seed oil, grapeseed oil, or coconut oil.”
