The Truth Behind the TikTok Beef Tallow Skincare Trend
Videos of skincare aficionados smearing beef tallow all over their faces seem to have taken over TikTok, along with praise for the product:
“I will never stop using beef tallow on my skin.”
“All the cool kids are doing it.”
“Beef tallow skincare is superior.”
This latest skincare trend touts beef tallow as a “natural” moisturizer and treatment for various ailments, including acne, scars, eczema, wrinkles, wounds, and burns.
So, of course, we had to put on our detective hats and investigate whether this trend has substance or is just a greasy gimmick. Keep reading to learn what we found out.
What is Beef Tallow?
Beef tallow is beef fat that has been melted to reduce impurities and achieve a shelf-stable state. When it’s cooled to room temperature, it returns to solid form.
People have been rendering fat from animals for centuries to cook, make candles, and yes, to care for their skin, using tallow in balms and soaps. Qualified beef tallow, for example, can be formulated as a lotion bar to relieve psoriasis and dermatitis, and improve aging skin.
The Benefits of Beef Tallow for Skincare
We mentioned the beef tallow skincare trend has caught people’s attention because it claims to address various skin ailments. Here, we take a closer look at what research has to say.
Beef Tallow for Skin Hydration
One potential benefit of using beef tallow on your skin is improved hydration and moisture retention. Beef tallow has a high concentration of a type of saturated fatty acid, called palmitic acid, that benefits the skin, one study suggests.
Palmitic acid boosts skin hydration and locks in moisture because it has occlusive (forms a protective film) and emollient (soothes or softens) properties.
Beef Tallow to Reduce Inflammation and Redness
Beef tallow is rich in linoleic acid, a potent compound renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties capable of nourishing and strengthening the skin barrier as well as improving the symptoms of psoriasis, and rashes.
Beef Tallow for Skin Protection
Environmental stressors can affect the health of your skin, and free radicals can damage skin cells over time. You may be able to safeguard your skin with beef tallow, thanks to its high concentration of antioxidants. These include tocopherols and tocotrienols, which can help protect your skin from oxidative stress in aging human skin.
Is Beef Tallow the Same as Retinol or Botox?
You may have heard beef tallow works as a Botox or a retinol. Science says beef tallow is not the same as these substances.
The drug in Botox injections is made from the same toxin that causes a type of food poisoning called botulism. That toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which is commonly found on plants, in soil, water, and animals’ intestinal tracts.
Beef tallow comes from cattle, so theoretically, it can possibly carry the bacterium. But that doesn’t mean it’s made in a way that’s safe for your skin to absorb, or is formulated better than well-studied and regulated products.
Beef tallow doesn’t contain retinol, either, nor does it contain vitamin A, the precursor to retinol, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Is Beef Tallow Safe to Use on Skin?
Based on the regulations outlined in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), beef tallow is indeed approved for skincare use. Section 700.27 specifies that tallow derived from cattle can be utilized in cosmetic products if it meets certain criteria. These criteria include ensuring that the tallow contains no more than 0.15 percent insoluble impurities and is sourced from tissues that are not considered prohibited cattle materials. Moreover, tallow derivatives and gelatin derived from cattle are also deemed acceptable under these regulations. Therefore, cosmetic products containing beef tallow are compliant with FDA standards, providing assurance of safety for skincare use.
In the realm of skincare debates, the question of whether beef tallow can clog pores and cause acne sparks contrasting opinions. While some experts according to CNBC (2023) caution that tallow may contain pore-blocking oils that could lead to skin irritation and acne, others argue that it doesn’t inherently clog pores. Without clear scientific evidence, the ongoing discussion highlights the uncertainty surrounding tallow’s potential impact on skin health.
The Last Word on the Beef Tallow Skincare Trend
Despite the numerous online endorsements and claims about the advantages of beef tallow for skin health, conclusive scientific evidence supporting its efficacy remains scarce. While various online sources presented in this article show some benefits such as hydration, barrier protection, and anti-inflammatory properties, the absence of peer-reviewed studies specifically exploring the impact of beef tallow on skincare leads to careful consideration. It’s advisable to conduct thorough research and ensure that any tallow used is sourced from high-quality, grass-fed cattle raised in humane conditions to minimize potential risks associated with additives like steroids or antibiotics commonly found in factory-farmed counterparts.
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