For many, the words “beef tallow” call to mind rich, fried foods — after all, the rendered beef fat was once responsible for the golden outer coating of McDonald’s French fries before the chain switched to vegetable oil. But the top posts for the term “beef tallow” on TikTok have nothing to do with the fat’s culinary uses — it’s actually emerged as a trendy skincare ingredient.
Social media aside, my friend Sylvie recently sang to its praises after I commented how great her skin looked and she lauded PapaBear Naturals Premium Tallow Balm. Priced at $29 a pop, the brand’s website reads, “Our blend of organic grass-fed beef tallow, cold-pressed olive oil, local honey, and beeswax is a natural powerhouse, perfect for everyday use. It provides deep hydration, soothes inflammation, and forms a protective barrier, making it effective for acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, and sunburns. God’s remedy. No chemicals or fillers.”
Hesitant to purchase because the fatty consistency, odor and overall look of tallow is giving Crisco (ew), I ordered a container because I’ll try just about anything once. Anyhoo, it’s been a month since using it nightly and this is not an ad — I absolutely love it. Beef Tallow is super hydrating and the only pitfall is the weird scent so perhaps try a scented iteration.
While I’m not a doctor, most of my research points toward tallow being a hard pass for dermatologists. Apparently, there is still little clinical or scientific evidence that beef tallow is actually beneficial for use on skin or in skin care. In fact, some professionals find it highly comedogenic and pore-clogging.
But the latter is not the case for me — it leaves my mug extremely moisturized, supple and glowy so it’s remaining a fixture in my nighttime routine.
