As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
The same fat you render for cooking roast potatoes and searing steaks also has a long history as a skin moisturiser. Beef tallow made from grass-fed cattle is primarily oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid — fatty acids that are structurally compatible with the lipids that make up the human skin barrier. This compatibility is why tallow absorbs into skin more readily than many commercial creams, and why it does not require the synthetic emulsifiers and surfactants found in most moisturisers.
This is not a fringe position. The Wellness Company (twc.health), whose medical board includes leading physicians including cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough, sells a whipped tallow cream made from grass-fed beef tallow as part of their skincare line. Their article 'For Naturally Healthy Skin: Tallow, Olive Oil, and Essential Oils' covers the research behind tallow's skin benefits. The same ancestral fat you cook with in the kitchen is the base ingredient.
Why Grass-Fed Tallow Is Different From Commercial Moisturisers
Commercial moisturisers are built around emulsifiers — chemicals that keep oil and water blended in a cream. Those emulsifiers (polysorbates, cetearyl alcohol, carbomers) are effective but can disrupt the skin's natural lipid barrier over time, creating a cycle of dryness that requires more moisturiser. Tallow has no emulsifiers. It is a fat, and it is absorbed into the skin the way skin lipids are — through the lipid layers between skin cells.
The vitamin content of tallow is small, so its main role on skin is as a moisturising fat. Vitamin K supports healing. The vitamin profile of grass-fed tallow is substantially higher than feedlot tallow, which is why sourcing matters for both cooking and skincare applications.
Olive Oil and Essential Oils — The Other Ancestral Skin Fats
Olive oil is high in oleic acid (the same fatty acid dominant in tallow) and contains squalene, a lipid that also occurs naturally in human sebum. Extra virgin olive oil applied lightly to skin can help maintain moisture, though it works best on normal to dry skin types — for oily or acne-prone skin, the high oleic acid content can be too heavy.
Essential oils — lavender, frankincense, rosehip seed — are added to tallow preparations to provide fragrance and additional skin properties. Lavender has documented antimicrobial properties. Frankincense has been studied for wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects. These are typically added in small quantities (1-3% of a formulation) to avoid sensitisation.
How to Make Whipped Tallow Cream at Home
- Start with good-quality grass-fed tallow — Fatworks or rendered from suet
- Allow the tallow to solidify completely in the refrigerator until very firm
- Cut into small chunks and place in a stand mixer or hand mixer bowl
- Whip on medium-high for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy in texture
- Add 2-3 drops of lavender or frankincense essential oil per tablespoon if desired
- Transfer to a clean glass jar. Store at room temperature for 1-2 months
Use within 1-2 months. Keep a lid on the jar to prevent oxidation and contamination.
The result is a whipped cream with a texture similar to a thick body butter. It absorbs into skin within a few minutes and does not leave a greasy film if applied in a thin layer. Many people find it particularly effective on dry patches, heels, elbows, and hands — areas where commercial moisturisers provide temporary relief but do not address the underlying barrier disruption.
Can you use beef tallow on your skin?
Yes. Beef tallow is composed of fatty acids — primarily oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid — that are structurally similar to the lipids in human skin. This means the skin can absorb them without treating them as foreign. Tallow has been used for skin care across many cultures for thousands of years.
Does tallow help with dry skin?
Tallow is a highly effective moisturiser for dry skin because its fatty acid composition closely matches the skin's natural lipid barrier. When that barrier is disrupted — by harsh cleansers, weather, or seed oil exposure — tallow can help restore it.
Is tallow better than commercial moisturisers?
For many people with sensitive or dry skin, yes. Commercial moisturisers often contain emulsifiers, preservatives, and synthetic fragrances that can further disrupt the skin barrier. Grass-fed tallow is simply a fat with a centuries-long track record. The Wellness Company's whipped tallow cream at twc.health uses grass-fed tallow as the base without synthetic additives.
Does olive oil help skin?
Olive oil is high in oleic acid and contains squalene, which occurs naturally in human sebum. Research has examined its properties in skin care, though pure olive oil should be applied lightly as it can disrupt the skin barrier in some people when used heavily.
Follow Savannah: @theefoodiekitchen
African, Hawaiian, Indian, Mediterranean, Asian, Exotic, Chicken, Rice, Cookies, Coffee, Spices, Plants, World Cuisine, 30-Minute Dinners and more.
View All Books on Amazon →