People put Beef tallow on their skin?! We put the skin product to the test.

Social media is a place where trends move quickly, and I tend not to notice them. This one, however, caught the attention of my algorithm. Over the past few months, I have been continuously served with a flurry of beef tallow skincare products – specifically one from NX1 project (what used to be Notox Skincare), which was founded by Adam Ashe, a Scottish international rugby player and co-founder of ProSport. 

Afterwards, I was bombarded with adverts for similar products, and it appeared that beef tallow skincare products had gone viral on TikTok. My feed was swarming with Sunbird Collective & Ela Skincare – to Ancestral Cosmetics and Summer Solace Tallow. 

There were all kinds of claims being made: it was sold to heal dry skin, reduce scar appearance, cure acne, reduce redness, had anti-ageing properties and cleared up eczema and psoriasis. It wasn’t just influencers singing the beef tallow tunes; it was seemingly ordinary people whose “lives had changed” after using it.

The claims were unbelievable – literally – so we’ve gone away to do some research. 

What is Beef Tallow – and is it really good for skin? (Who should use it, and who shouldn’t)

The short answer that it depends entirely on your skin type.

Beef tallow is derived from the fat surrounding a cow’s internal organs, which is naturally nutrient-rich. Biologically, its lipid profile is marketed as being “remarkably similar to human sebum” (the oil your skin naturally produces)- therefore, tallow can act as an intense emollient and occlusive barrier. We discuss whether these claims are backed up later in the article. 

It is said to be packed with skin-nourishing nutrients:

1. Vitamins (A, D, E, and K): Antioxidants that support skin barrier repair.

2. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): Anti-inflammatory and soothing.

3. Palmitoleic Acid: A building block for healthy skin oils, which decline as we age.

For people who suffer from chronically dry, flaky, ageing, or compromised skin, beef tallow is reported – and heavily marketed – to provide intense relief by sealing in moisture. BUT! because it creates a heavy seal, it can easily trap dirt and dead skin cells on acne-prone skin. 

Dermatologists actually warn against using beef tallow if you have sensitive skin, acne, eczema, or psoriasis. 

Why Don’t Dermatologists Like Beef Tallow? (Is it backed up by scientific evidence?)

A cross-sectional study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology analysed 200 social media posts (across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube) promoting beef tallow for skincare to understand what kinds of claims were being made. 

The vast majority of social media posts that made claims for acne, eczema, and psoriasis lacked any cited scientific backing- which, honestly, is unsurprising. The existing medical evidence supports individual components of tallow – like its contents of fatty acids and vitamins – but not tallow as a skincare product. It’s a worry that it has been marketed this hard. 

Most posts were published by people or bloggers who had zero healthcare or medical expertise. Over half – 55% – of the analysed posts demonstrated financial bias or a conflict of interest. That means affiliate links, brand ownership, or sponsorships with beauty/skincare brands. 

It also found that Dermatologists were the least likely to promote tallow (7%) or display financial bias, whereas non-medical speakers and non-dermatologist creators pushed it relentlessly. 

Did they talk about the risks? Did any post mention that animal fats carry a higher risk of microbial contamination or rancidity – therefore the chance of serious infection?mNo, the risks of using beef tallow as skincare were rarely disclosed in any of the surveyed social media content, and almost no posts recommended that viewers should consult a health professional before trying it. 

In summary, there is yet to be enough evidence to support any of the marketing claims, and there is a clear financial incentive that is pushing this skincare trend. 

What do real users say? 

Public opinion on beef tallow remains intensely divided. You have your evangelists and your haters – it appears that there are very few people on the fence. There is a whole Reddit thread of users who share their experience with using Beef tallow for their skin, and you can learn a lot from it.

On first impressions, it may appear that perspective on Instagram is weighted in one direction. The influencers reviewing multiple different beef tallow brands are largely positive; users with severe dryness say that tallow is great for calming redness and scaling. It’s hard to know which influencers are paid to promote the product, and which ones aren’t.

This is a great example of the type of content on Youtube.

However, if you look closer, there are just as many users – like this post here– warning against using beef tallow, particularly for eczema or any other skin conditions.  

Over on Reddit, users are much more cautious. Generally, Reddit needs a high bar to be impressed. Numerous posts document wrecked skin barriers, sudden oil overproduction, and breakouts resulting from TikTok tallow trends (this post is a big one).

It appears that the general consensus is that if you choose to try tallow, steer clear of versions containing added essential oils, use a tiny amount as a night balm, and always wash your face with a proper cleanser in the morning. If you want an occlusive barrier seal without the risk of clogged pores, standard petroleum jelly (Vaseline/Aquaphor) does the same job – but better. 

Final Thoughts 

All in all, it does not seem that Beef tallow has enough scientific backing to support many of the claims being made; most are anecdotal and probably incentivised by financial gain. We’re confident that there are some fantastic products out there, and thousands of happy customers, but we’re not entirely convinced. Even though this post was about whether or not the claims are true, it was weapons-grade tactics that gave me the most cause for suspicion. 

What really made my heckles go up was the marketing tactics used by some of these companies: they used celebrity endorsements, multiple posts and adverts selling social proof (photos of products sold), a “Them vs us” narratives ( eg. “they told us we can’t say x, or “it’s natural products vs synthetic big pharma”), and remarkable product benefit claims. These techniques move the consumer’s decision-making process from rational (asking “Is there scientific proof?”) to emotional identification. These are sophisticated – if not manipulative – marketing strategies. 

Why does a skincare brand need to deploy such aggressive marketing?

It appreas here is a big gap between how effective the marketing is and how good beef tallow is for your skin. Give it time, and the trend will disappear in the wash.