There was a time when fat wasn’t feared, it was revered. A time when our grandmothers cooked with lard, slathered tallow on dry hands in the winter, bathed in the sun, and saw no need for a ten-step skincare routine filled with synthetics. They trusted the land, respected the seasons, and understood the inherent value of animal fats in their food and on their skin.
Well, at Tallow Twins, we’re circling back to that wisdom.
In a culture that has spent decades demonizing fat, both in our diets and on our bodies, something quietly revolutionary is happening: people are remembering. They’re remembering that our ancestors thrived on nutrient-dense animal fats, that fat is essential for hormone health, skin repair, brain function, and energy. And they’re realizing that maybe, Grandma had it right all along.
The Fall and Rise of Fat
Let’s rewind a few decades. The mid-20th century ushered in the low-fat craze. Fueled by questionable science and corporate interests, fat became the villain of modern health. Butter was replaced with margarine. Lard with vegetable oil. Skim milk became the norm. In the beauty world, tallow was phased out in favour of petroleum-based products and water-heavy creams. "Diet" snack foods became the craze; offering half the fat, yet double the harmful ingredients (seed oils, etc).
But here’s the thing: none of it made us healthier. Obesity, heart disease, and skin disorders continued to rise. And as we steered away from the nourishing fats that sustained generations before us, our collective wellness took a hit.
The wellness industry is now uncovering a wave of science-backed research is validating what many traditional cultures always knew: healthy fats are not only good for us; they’re vital.
Fat Is Foundational
Your skin is your body’s largest organ. It protects you from environmental damage, regulates temperature, and plays a key role in immune function. And it’s composed, in part, of lipids- fats.
When we nourish our skin with animal-based fats like tallow, we’re feeding it something deeply compatible with its natural structure. Unlike synthetic creams or plant oils that often sit on the surface, tallow is bioavailable, meaning it can penetrate deeply and integrate with your skin’s own sebum.
This isn’t just wellness folklore. Studies show that fats play a critical role in skin barrier function, moisture retention, and cellular repair. Grass-fed tallow, rich in fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, offers a nutrient profile that supports collagen production and elasticity.
In short: your grandma’s hands stayed soft for a reason.
A Closer Look: Why Tallow?
Beef tallow (rendered fat from cattle) has been used for centuries in skincare. It's anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and loaded with CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a fatty acid known to support skin healing and reduce redness.
Tallow is:
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Rich in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)
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High in oleic acid – supports skin permeability
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Balanced with palmitic and stearic acid – improves skin texture
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Non-comedogenic – won’t clog pores
While modern beauty brands market hyaluronic acid and retinol as revolutionary, tallow quietly does the heavy lifting: restoring moisture, soothing eczema, calming inflammation, and balancing skin microbiota. And it does so without the long list of preservatives and lab-grown compounds.
Healthy Fats & Hormones: The Inside-Out Connection
Here’s what your grandma might not have known in words, but deeply understood through intuition: fat fuels your hormones. Cholesterol, a substance abundant in animal fat, is the building block for estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol.
In women especially, a diet too low in fat can lead to hormone imbalance, irregular periods, and even fertility issues. Saturated fats help regulate blood sugar, support the nervous system, and promote optimal thyroid function.
That glossy hair, glowing skin, and balanced mood? Fat is behind it all.
Fun Fact: Cleopatra Bathed in Fat
While we often associate Cleopatra with milk baths, historical records suggest she also used animal fat-based balms on her skin. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all embraced fats from animals for skin healing, wound repair, and cosmetic uses.
This isn’t a new trend; it’s a timeless (and iconic) one.
From Kitchen to Vanity: A Lost Art
The idea that you could eat something and also apply it to your skin used to be normal. Now, it’s revolutionary. But the truth is, your kitchen might hold more effective beauty tools than your bathroom.
In the past, leftover tallow from cooking wasn’t wasted—it was infused with herbs and used to soothe cuts, scrapes, and dry skin. These multi-functional rituals reflected a time of simplicity, sustainability, and resourcefulness.
We’re seeing a resurgence of this mindset, and it’s beautiful. More people are questioning ingredients, looking beyond branding, and embracing skincare that honours the whole body and the earth.
The Tallow Twins Philosophy: Beauty Should Be Ancestral
At Tallow Twins, we’re inspired by the wisdom that came before us. We believe that beauty isn’t something to chase—it’s something to return to. Our balms, ointments, and skincare rituals are a celebration of the nourishing power of fat.
We source our tallow from grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle and pair it with thoughtfully chosen botanicals and essential oils. Every batch is made with the same care our grandmothers would have taken in their kitchens.
This is skincare that feeds your skin.
Modern Wellness, Rooted in the Past
The beauty industry is finally catching on to what traditional cultures have always known: the most effective solutions often come from nature, not the lab. As we continue to unlearn the fear of fat, we create space for a fuller, richer, more grounded approach to wellness.
So the next time you open a jar of tallow balm, think of your ancestors (or Cleopatra). Think of her garden, her apron, her hands in dough, her care, her strength. And remember: she was right, and she was hot.
Fat isn’t something to fear. It’s something to honour.
Shop all of our tallow-based skincare here.