Who needs vaccines or Vanicream when raw milk and beef tallow are on the scene? That’s the sentiment echoing through TikTok, or what some are calling TallowTok, where enthusiasts are declaring beef tallow (the rendered fat from cows) a miracle moisturizer. As of March 2025, the hashtag has amassed over 68.5 million posts. Brands are jumping on the trend, while influencers showcase dramatic before-and-after results, render tallow from suet, or apply beef lard on their skin, mistakenly believing it’s the same as tallow (it isn’t).
The pushback against commercialized beauty products echoes concerns surrounding ultra-processed foods. Many who shun seed oils in their diets are now gravitating towards beef-fat balms for their skin—it’s no coincidence that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is marketing “Making Frying Oil Tallow Again” merchandise. Yet, in the haste to banish toxins and challenge big corporations, you may have overlooked potential hazards. I purchased some online and applied it to my skin to explore the truth.
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A Brief History of Tallow
Using cow fat as a facial treatment isn’t as bizarre as it might seem. For centuries, animal fats—such as beef tallow, lard, and lanolin—have been essential in skincare. The Babylonians utilized ash and rendered fats to create soap. Through the ages, tallow played a role in candle production and medicinal uses. Nineteenth-century ointments utilized them to tackle various issues, from burns and dry skin to wounds and ingrown toenails. Traditional soap consisted of a blend of tallow and coconut oil, while early lip balms combined animal fat with beeswax. Some tattoo artists still recommend beef tallow soaps to help preserve ink.
By the 1990s, innovations in cosmetic science favored plant-derived and synthetic options, offering improved stability and consistency. Safety worries regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) also led companies to distance themselves from animal-sourced ingredients. Although byproducts like collagen, hyaluronic acid, and keratin evolved with contemporary skincare, tallow largely fell by the wayside.
But now, beef tallow is making a comeback.
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This resurgence is part of a broader cultural fascination with ancestral lifestyles. This same motivation underlies the growing popularity of the carnivore diet, bone broth, and unpasteurized dairy. According to Grand View Research, the U.S. tallow market generated $627.9 million in 2023 and is projected to exceed $1 billion by 2030. At its core, it reflects a rejection of modernity—the belief that industrial progress has tainted nature and that the past held more genuine solutions. In contrast, the beauty industry, with its preservatives, emulsifiers, and lab-created formulations, is often seen as the antagonist. Beef tallow, on the other hand, is presented as a return to the unblemished.
Packed with triglycerides, beef tallow also contains vital vitamins A, D, K, E, and B12. Some research suggests that tallow can enhance fatty acid levels in the skin, making it an effective moisturizer. However, comparative studies indicate that alternatives such as pumpkin seed oil and linoleic acid provide better hydration. While some may promote its “natural” advantages, that term is more of a marketing strategy than a proven fact.
