Hi nerds. Seeking some more info on the power of beef tallow?
We know you’re already hooked with our pretty packaging and sweet origin story, however, we understand that at the end of the day, science matters when it comes to skincare. So let’s dive into some fat facts.
What is beef tallow?
In the world of clean beauty products, more people are going back to basics and rediscovering natural, ancestral ingredients like beef tallow (we love love love to see it). Beef tallow is rendered fat from cattle, traditionally used in cooking. But when it comes to skincare, its nourishing profile is where the real magic happens. Some fry with it, others make candles, but we like to rub it on our faces.
The Science Behind Beef Tallow
The key to understanding why tallow works so well for skincare lies in its make up- no pun intended. Tallow is packed with nutrients, including:
Vitamins A, D, E, and K: These vitamins are essential for skin repair, cellular turnover, and maintaining a healthy glow. Vitamin A, in particular, is known for promoting skin renewal and reducing wrinkles.
Fatty Acids: Tallow contains oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid, all of which are naturally found in our skin's sebum. This makes tallow easily absorbed and highly compatible with the skin’s lipid barrier.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): This fatty acid has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help soothe and heal irritated or inflamed skin.
Fat For Your Skin: The Secret Sauce
The magic of tallow for skincare lies in how it mimics our skin’s natural sebum, the oily substance that keeps our skin hydrated and protected. Unlike many plant-based oils or synthetic moisturizers, tallow provides balanced hydration without disrupting the skin’s natural pH.
Still not convinced? Here are a few more reasons why tallow is so effective:
Bioavailability: Tallow’s composition is so close to human sebum that it is highly bioavailable, meaning the skin recognizes it and absorbs it easily. This allows tallow to penetrate deeply and nourish the skin from within.
Supports the Skin Barrier: Our skin's lipid barrier acts as a protective shield, keeping moisture in and environmental aggressors out. The fatty acids in tallow work to repair and replenish this barrier, leading to healthier, more resilient skin.
Anti-Inflammatory and Healing: Thanks to its CLA content, beef tallow has natural anti-inflammatory effects, making it an excellent choice for conditions like eczema, rosacea, or acne-prone skin. It helps to calm irritation and reduce redness while supporting the skin’s natural healing process.
Why choose tallow over generic skincare brands?
If you’ve ever felt let down by conventional moisturizers or clean beauty products that don’t deliver, you’re not alone. Many skincare products are filled with synthetic ingredients or toxins that can disrupt your skin’s pH and disrupt hormones. Tallow, on the other hand, is known for being safe for both our bodies and our planet. The cherry on top? It’s highly compatible with all skin types, including sensitive or acne-prone skin. Tallow products that are 100% grass-fed are more stable and less prone to oxidation, making it a long-lasting option for skincare.
We believe that shopping small makes a big difference. As a small, female-owned tallow skincare brand in Ontario, Canada, we put love and care into every product we create. Our ingredients are clean, sustainable, and ethically sourced to nourish your skin naturally. When you shop Tallow Twins, you’re not only treating your skin to something special but also supporting a passionate duo that values quality, community and clean beauty. 💛
Sources
Russell, M. F., Sandhu, M., Vail, M., Haran, C., Batool, U., & Leo, J. (2024). Tallow, Rendered Animal Fat, and Its Biocompatibility With Skin: A Scoping Review. Cureus, 16(5). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.60981
Oliveira, A.C., et al. "Oleic acid promotes skin penetration of hydrophobic substances." International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019.
Daley, C. A., et al. "A review of fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in grass-fed and grain-fed beef." Nutrition Journal, 2010.