Beef Tallow and Your Skin

The first social media claim about cooking with beef tallow was easy to assess, but the use of beef tallow for skincare was something I’d never considered until I was asked about it several times. I used a scientific AI site and asked if beef tallow was beneficial for the skin. The answer was yes, but something seemed off: there were no scientific references in the answer. The information was taken from three websites that sell beef tallow for skincare—not exactly unbiased sources.

The Claims

I checked out the supporting research for the claims that beef tallow will moisturize your skin, convey vitamins and minerals into the skin, and may even help eczema and other skin conditions. I clicked on every link that said it supported the claim. It took me to another post on the website that talked about the claim, made more claims, but contained no scientific references to support the claim.

The science doesn’t have to be perfect. It can even be based on animal studies, but for me there must be some science to support the claims a company makes. But they had nothing. Nada.

The Science

Fortunately, a review study was published this year that examined, among other things, the potential benefits and adverse events associated with the use of beef tallow. You can read the paper yourself but I’ll save you the time: there’s no research on humans, and very limited research on animals, to support the use of beef tallow for skincare.

My Opinion

Fats and oils are the foundation of most skincare products such as moisturizers. It would not be surprising that people had better skin after regular use, especially if they hadn’t been moisturizing. Maybe there’s something magical about beef tallow, but no company has spent the money proving it yet.

When coconut oil first became popular, I was told that various cultures massage coconut oil onto babies and children from head to toe. They massage it into their skin on a regular basis. Not only is it a moisturizer, the massage also helps increase blood flow to the skin, which can also force toxins out. That may be what is happening with beef tallow.

The Bottom Line

I think beef tallow for skincare must be considered another internet fad until the research catches up to the claims. The three companies that offer it are making money by charging $30 to $36 for two ounces of the stuff. From grass fed beef or not, that’s a steep price. You can buy a good quality moisturizer for less, and it won’t leave you smelling like a butcher shop—but only dogs will know for sure.

It would be nice if the companies spent some of that income to prove that it does what it claims it can do, but until then, it’s a hard pass for me. Based on the limited animal research, it doesn’t appear to be harmful. Your body. Your choice.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: Cureus. 2024 May 24;16(5):e60981.