Tallow: The Benefits, The Myths, And Why It Is Still Misunderstood

THE BENEFITS OF TALLOW IN NATURAL SKIN CARE

Tallow has spiked in popularity in the last five years, especially in natural skin care, and for very good reason.

Tallow contains Vitamins A, D, E, K, B12, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), all vital nutrients for our skin. Using this long-overlooked fat in skin care puts all that goodness back into your skin that diet and environment might not replenish. It is a powerful skin restoring ally, deeply nourishing, barrier supporting, and rooted in the wisdom of how our bodies are meant to be cared for.

Rendered 100% grass-fed and finished tallow

This is why tallow skin care continues to stand out as one of the most nutrient dense, bioavailable options for supporting healthy skin.

When tallow is sourced the way nature intended - humanely raised, beyond organic, 100% grass-fed and finished - it’s the lock and key fit to our own cells. Humans have raised cattle for thousands of years, and this relationship is reflected in how our bodies respond to tallow. This is why the only kind of tallow we source from our partner farms is 100% grass-fed and finished. We revere the farms that are farming the right way to nurture and support the earth.

I have never believed that there is one product that will work for everyone, as we all have different constitutions, but I do believe tallow has benefitted more people (when sourced and made correctly) than it hasn’t.

Tallow has been used for generations because its fatty acid profile closely mirrors our skin’s natural oils, making it deeply nourishing and supportive of the skin barrier. While it may not be the right fit for every skin type, many people with dry or compromised skin see significant improvement when switching to simple, bioavailable ingredients.

As modern skin care evolved, many traditional ingredients were set aside in favor of faster, more scalable alternatives.

But today, we’re seeing a return to simpler, more time-tested approaches, ones that prioritize quality, nourishment, and long-term skin health.

Pure tallow is blended with skin-loving oils and infused herbs formulated for every skin type and ailment.

If you are looking to begin your journey into tallow skin care, looking for a tallow skin care product line with clean, sustainably sourced ingredients, or simply wanting to return to a more nourishing, time-tested approach to caring for your skin, we invite you to explore our Tallow Balm Collection and find what feels right for you.

COMMON MYTHS ABOUT TALLOW FOR SKIN

With this in mind, I’d like to dispel some common myths about tallow for skincare that I’ve heard over the years.

Myth: Tallow clogs pores and causes acne.

Fact: Tallow is actually low on the comedogenic scale and is rich in skin-compatible fatty acids.  Many people with dry or barrier-damaged skin find it improves their skin because it supports moisture balance rather than disrupting it.

Warm, freshly rendered tallow is a beautiful, rich gold color.

Myth: Tallow is dirty or unsafe for skin.

Fact:  Properly rendered, high-quality tallow is clean, safe, and shelf-stable, when sourced well and purified correctly, it’s actually less prone to oxidation than many plant oils, making it a reliable option for skincare. 

Myth: Tallow isn’t scientifically beneficial; it’s just an old-fashioned trend.

Fact: Corporate America and the pharmaceutical industry worked really hard to distance us from “old-fashioned” traditions. As the world became globalized, there was a push to make everything faster through manufacturing, which didn’t translate to better products, it translated to cheaper ingredients and more fillers used. As a society, we got away from handmade products that were quality made. It has been so important to our company to honor the old ways, growing plants for our products, rendering each batch of tallow by hand, making all our products in small batches. So, in reality, while its traditional, that doesn’t mean it’s ineffective. Modern skincare science actually supports the importance of these types of nourishing, bioavailable ingredients.

COMING HOME TO YOUR SKIN

After creating my own skincare products for 14 years and working with tallow as a medium for skincare ingredients for about a decade, I can’t begin to explain what a difference tallow and incorporating medicinal plants into these products has made in my own skin. I went from angry, inflamed, itching and burning skin, to clear, calm, and supported skin. These pictures show my skin’s evolution, and while it is still painful to look back on my skin like this (I can still feel it burn and itch through the picture), it is so important to share so others know they aren’t alone. 

This is the heart of why we believe in tallow skin care. I feel so fortunate to do this kind of work. Helping others feel good in their skin after what I endured has real meaning to me. It’s not simply about aesthetics either, it’s about being pain free, self-confident, and living the best life possible. When you’re healthy, it radiates out. May we all feel abundance and joy, live healthfully, and love our skin.