On TikTok everyone is putting beef tallow on their faces

What Are We Willing to Do for Beautiful Skin? The answer is anything. In a patriarchal society, beauty grants power, status, and control. Looking back through history, there seems to be no potion we haven’t smeared or injected in our pursuit of eternal youth and allure. Erzsébet Báthory and Marie Delphine LaLaurie tortured and sacrificed their slaves, convinced that bathing in or applying blood to their faces would restore their fading beauty and freshness. During Queen Elizabeth I of England’s reign, aristocratic women applied powders made of highly toxic metals to their faces to achieve the pale complexion symbolic of elevated status. In the 1800s, arsenic soaps promising to whiten skin and smooth imperfections were all the rage. By the early 1900s in France, one of the most popular beauty brands made products—lipsticks to balms—that contained Thorium and Radium salts. In 2024, little has changed. Kim Kardashian and Bar Refaeli inject their faces with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to erase wrinkles, snail mucin-based moisturizers are widespread, and—sticking with the founder of Skims—salmon sperm facials might soon be mainstream, at least among celebrities. The latest bizarre beauty secret? It comes from trad wives and TikTok: beef tallow for skincare.

What Is Beef Tallow?

Beef tallow is essentially beef fat that has had all non-fat components and moisture removed. It’s made by slowly heating animal fat and straining it to remove impurities. The result is a liquid that solidifies upon cooling into a dense, buttery consistency. It’s commonly used for frying in commercial fast-food chains and for making candles and soaps.

Why Is Beef Tallow Skincare Trending on TikTok?

“My skin loves it and absorbs it instantly. It’s super hydrating and feels a bit greasy, but my skin literally glows in the morning… I find myself using fewer active serums because tallow is so nutrient-dense,” says @hannahbronfman. “After a shower, I take a small amount and spread it all over my face,” claims @santacruzmedicinals. In a viral video with over 7.3 million views, @thrivewithcandice shares how she ditched all other products, no longer uses cleansers, and simply dry-brushes her face, rinses with warm water, and applies beef fat serum for hydration. Meanwhile, creators like @wellhealthylife report using it regularly on their faces, claiming results comparable to fillers. Influencers and TikTok creators step-by-step show how to incorporate beef tallow into a skincare routine, praising its multiple benefits. Simultaneously, Nara Smith and other trad wives demonstrate how they make DIY beef tallow skincare products at home. Many swear by the substance for its vitamin-rich composition, natural emollient properties, and anti-inflammatory effects, calling its results "miraculous," especially for acne-prone skin.

Will Using Beef Tallow on Your Face Make You Smell Like Steak?

Before delving into its purported benefits, advocates for beef tallow skincare assure that once applied, it won’t leave your body smelling like beef. This is good news. They claim the scent is neutral, but in truth, it depends on the product’s formulation. Manufacturers often add essential oils to mask any residual odor. 

What Are the (Purported) Benefits of Applying Beef Tallow to the Skin?

Why the hype around beef tallow as a beauty routine ingredient? Its main appeal lies in its natural composition, which closely mimics the skin’s sebum and is claimed to be ideal for very dry or eczema-prone skin and for treating acne, minor wounds, burns, wrinkles, and more. Here’s a summary of its main (alleged) benefits:

• Moisturizing: Beef tallow is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are gentle emollients that may help soften the skin and nourish and strengthen the skin barrier.
• Anti-inflammatory Action: Its linoleic acid content is said to have anti-inflammatory properties, improving symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, and rashes.
• Anti-Aging: Beef tallow is packed with antioxidants that stimulate collagen production and cell renewal, helping neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress on the skin, thereby slowing the aging process.

Does Beef Tallow Really Work? Experts Weigh In

While social media portrays beef tallow as a miracle product, not everything that glitters is gold. If smearing beef fat on your skin feels unappealing, you might be right. Like many animal-derived or natural fats, beef tallow has some moisturizing benefits. However, as of now, no accepted clinical studies are confirming its efficacy on human skin, despite anecdotal reports of rapid improvements. The effectiveness and safety of beef tallow in skincare require further documented research. Desiree Stordahl, director of applied research and education at Paula’s Choice, explained hat claims suggesting beef tallow is non-comedogenic are untrue. "The saturated emollient components in beef tallow are much more likely to exacerbate breakouts and worsen skin prone to clogging." She also points out that while beef tallow contains antioxidants and omega fatty acids that could have potential benefits, there are far better ways to obtain these ingredients, which have been specifically formulated and tested for skin. Dermatologists emphasize the availability of many non-comedogenic products that hydrate without contributing to acne or clogged pores. Examples include plant-based oils such as jojoba, argan, avocado, grapeseed, and coconut oil. For acne-prone skin, alternatives like ceramides and niacinamide are recommended.

Is Beef Tallow the Same as Retinol?

Although it contains vitamin A and retinol is a common anti-aging ingredient derived from vitamin A, beef tallow is not the same as retinol and cannot deliver comparable benefits. Stordahl notes that even if it could, the way beef tallow is packaged for social media marketing is not suitable for preserving the integrity of vitamin A, which is sensitive to air and light. Another issue is concentration. It’s highly likely that "the amount of vitamin A in a jar of beef tallow sitting on a store shelf would not compare to a properly formulated and packaged retinol product."

Is Using Beef Tallow on Your Skin a Good Idea?

Is it safe to apply beef tallow to your face? The answer is complex. Any product introduced into your skincare routine should meet your personal needs rather than simply following trends on TikTok. Despite numerous positive online reviews praising the benefits of beef tallow for skin health, there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. Experts discourage replacing traditional moisturizers with pure tallow or tallow-based balms, emphasizing that the occlusive nature of this substance can irritate the skin and worsen acne by trapping oils and debris. Other aspects to consider before deciding whether to use beef tallow include its lack of regulation, sourcing, purity, consistency, usage, and product stability. Ideally, tallow should come from high-quality, grass-fed cattle raised in humane conditions to minimize potential risks from additives like steroids or antibiotics, which are common in factory-farmed animals. Ethical concerns should also be considered, such as the implications of raising and slaughtering animals for human consumption and the environmental impact of beef production. The choice is ultimately yours, but it should be made consciously—and ideally after consulting a dermatologist.