In a world where skin care products continue to evolve and diversify, it’s essential to explore unconventional and age-old ingredients that promise to rejuvenate and soothe the skin. One such ingredient that has been making waves in the realm of skin care is tallow. While the idea of applying animal fat to your skin might raise eyebrows, tallow skin care enthusiasts swear by its remarkable benefits. Let’s delve into the origins, properties, and potential advantages of tallow-based skin care, shedding light on whether it’s a hidden gem in the pursuit of healthier, more radiant skin.
What Is Tallow?
You might be curious about what tallow is. It is essentially the rendered fat obtained from ruminant animals. Ruminant animals include hoofed herbivores such as cattle, sheep, goats, bison, elk, and deer, which possess a four-chambered stomach. In essence, when we utilize tallow, we are crafting a moisturizer derived from animals. Surprised? This is exactly what our great-grandparents and ancestors were doing. Humans are also animals, and animal fats require no conversion to meld seamlessly with our own skin. Tallow possesses a unique quality – it effortlessly integrates and deeply saturates the outermost layer of our skin, leaving a remarkably effective, thin silky residue that helps prevent moisture loss. In addition, tallow possesses a remarkably soothing and healing effect. The strong smell of tallow is strange at first yet proves to be an acquired taste rather quickly as the benefits are positively compelling.
Does Tallow Skin Care Soothe Skin?
Tallow is rich in an array of natural, fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as fat-soluble activators exclusively found in animal fats. These components play a supportive role in promoting the overall health of our skin. Tallow naturally contains significant amounts of both linoleic and oleic essential fatty acids. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), is known for its anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and palmitoleic acid, which boasts natural antimicrobial attributes. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid that is known for its ability to penetrate into the skin’s surface where these dense lipids prevent water loss.
Many doctors will not comment on the effectiveness of tallow because of the lack of scientific evidence. Will a pharmaceutical company sponsor these expensive tests on anything so simple, affordable, and widely available? Of course not.
Our bodies depend on dietary fats to effectively absorb crucial vitamins such as A, D, and E, which are vital for various bodily functions, from supporting cognitive processes to bolstering immunity and providing essential antioxidants. Hence, ensuring a generous supply of these nutrients is paramount for our well-being. Tallow, often considered a potent superfood, was once a common kitchen staple. However, it has gradually been replaced by seed oils due to their cost-effective production methods. What’s disconcerting is that these seed oils were originally deemed waste by major companies but are now marketed to consumers as cooking oils, with little consideration for their long-term effects on health.
Why Don’t Other Skin Care Companies Use Tallow?
The “nutrition authorities” have long been conveying the message that fat, especially saturated fat, is detrimental to our health. This notion has permeated not only the food and agriculture sectors but has also influenced the skin care industry. Instead of prioritizing traditional, whole ingredients for nourishing our skin and body, many companies tend to focus on heavily processed plant-based components and petroleum-derived products while overlooking the tried-and-true tallow.
The production of high-quality, grass-fed tallow is limited, primarily due to the inability of industrial farming to meet the requirements for this premium ingredient. This scarcity renders it unattractive for large skin care companies to incorporate into their products. Furthermore, there exists a significant degree of variation from batch to batch, necessitating the expertise of skilled artisans in certified kitchens and laboratories to consistently produce it in the traditional manner. This, obviously, does not align with the principles and profit goals of mass production.
Discover Nomad⎜Tallow Skin Repair Butter
Nomad Skin Repair Butter achieves a luxurious, satin-smooth consistency through the skillful combination of Bison Tallow, a touch of Organic Jojoba, and a delightful infusion of Organic Bulgarian Rose and Frankincense Essential Oils.
This whipped butter will smell very much like tallow yet the gentle Rose and Frankincense essences smooths the overall smell in a sumptuous way without negating the intensely hydrating effect the way most essential oils often can.
Nomad also comes in plain for even the most of hyper-sensitive skin, newborns, and post-procedure healing.
Furthermore, like all of my creations, Nomad is naturally devoid of gluten, wheat, soy, nuts, peanuts, dairy, eggs, and shellfish, ensuring a product suitable for a variety of dietary needs.
Final Thoughts On Tallow Skin Care
Many things that are strange are also beautiful. Tallow is a time-tested primally sophisticated addition for all skin. It also serves troubled skin exceptionally well in regards to sun-damaged, acne-ridden, dry, sensitive, inflamed, and eczema skin. Try it before you knock it. As we continue to explore the possibilities in the realm of skin care, it becomes evident that both new and ancient gems can be used side by side to weave the ultimate skincare.

About the author
I took many wrong turns when I started learning about skin at 19. The more I spent on skincare, equipment, and training, the further I felt from actually helping skin. I was frustrated with only being able to offer temporary and superficial solutions at best. What emerged from the disappointment and turmoil, I now call, The Regenerative Skin Process. Skin Harmonics is a dedicated medical fusion holistic skincare clinic that provides a root cause approach delivering lifetime skin health through medical grade skin care products, new learning, and Deep Pore Cleansing Facials.