Why Are Influencers Putting Beef Tallow On Their Face? Yes, Animal Fat

Ah, influencers — they do the darnedest things, don’t they? Like setting up a camera to record themselves pretending to wake up, breaking into choreographed dances in public, and putting… animal fat on their faces?

Now, when it comes to new skincare trends, we’ve pretty much seen it all. We’ve seen beauty routines on flights, elaborate face yoga practices, and even celebrity-approved salmon sperm facials. And now, introducing beef tallow. That’s right, influencers are now putting beef tallow — AKA beef fat — on their faces for moisturizing purposes.

Why TF Are People Putting Beef Tallow On Their Faces?

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Carmen Castilla explains that beef tallow has a waxy texture, making it a strong occlusive, which locks in moisture and keeps the skin hydrated.

“Beef tallow has a fatty acid composition that is similar to the fatty acids essential to maintaining the skin barrier,” she tells Betches. “The idea is that fatty acids in the beef tallow can help repair the skin barrier.”

Although this whole idea of putting beef tallow on your face is trendy right now, this isn’t a new concept at all. In fact, people have been using tallow as skincare for centuries, as far back as the ancient Romans and Egyptians who were using it as moisturizer and also a key ingredient in soap. And because “natural skincare” is on the rise again, beef tallow has made its way back into the public eye.

Does Putting Beef Tallow On Your Face Work?

So does it actually work? In short, the answer is that we don’t know — but there are a bunch of reasons that just make it a not-so-great choice for skincare, despite its “moisturizing abilities.”

“The problem is that there are no established safety standards for food-standard beef tallow,” Dr. Castilla says. “These products can easily be contaminated with bacteria or unsafe other ingredients.”

Okay, say that contamination isn’t the issue here, you’re still putting animal fat on your face. And if you’re acne-prone, this will probably just end in breakouts. Plus, it just doesn’t smell great. Imagine you’re making out with your crush and all they’re wondering is “why does their face smell like animal fat?”

Not to mention, if you’re vegan or worried about animal farming, beef tallow (in case you didn’t put two and two together) comes from cows, which isn’t a great move for the whole animal-and-environmentally friendly thing.

“Overall, there are just more cosmetically elegant ways to moisturize your skin,” Dr. Castilla says. I mean, think about how many products are out there. If you’re really concerned about chemicals and want to go a natural route, she recommends using pure argan oil as a facial moisturizer.

Beef Tallow Alternatives

While, yes, the skincare market is oversaturated these days and it seems like everything comes with harmful chemicals, not every chemical is bad for your face. Things are developed scientifically for the benefit of your skin. And if you’ve ever used a natural deodorant, you know that not all natural products are winners.

“I would recommend conventional moisturizers with ingredients proven to support the skin barrier and hydrate the skin, such as ceramides, fatty acids, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin,” Dr. Castilla says. She personally recommends Avene Cicalfate moisturizer or Elta MD recovery night mask.

But I get if you see a TikTok trend and you feel like it’s an itch you need to scratch. So if you absolutely need to try the beef tallow trend out for yourself, Dr. Castilla recommends using a skincare product that’s formulated with tallow rather than just grabbing some you found on a grocery shelf (that’s clearly meant for cooking).

“The skincare version is likely to have undergone safety and efficacy testing ensuring its quality,” she says.