Beef tallow has become one of the most talked-about things in skincare, with people swapping their creams for rendered animal fat in the name of going back to basics. We are a plant-oil brand, so you might expect us to dismiss it. We would rather be honest. Here is a fair look at tallow versus plant oils, including where tallow genuinely shines and where it can get you into trouble.
What is beef tallow, and why is it everywhere?
Tallow is rendered, purified beef fat, solid at room temperature and spreadable once whipped. It went viral as part of the ancestral, traditional skincare movement, the same wave of interest in simple, single-ingredient products that we have always believed in. Its appeal is real: it is rich in fatty acids that overlap with the ones in your own skin, so it can be genuinely comforting on very dry or compromised skin.
So does tallow actually work?
For the right skin, yes, to a point. Tallow is highly occlusive, meaning it forms a seal on the surface that locks moisture in. For very dry, flaky, winter-worn skin, that can feel wonderful. But honesty matters here: the strong claims, like tallow being a natural retinol alternative, do not hold up. It moisturizes and seals. It does not resurface or renew your skin the way retinol does.
Where tallow can go wrong
This is the part the viral videos skip. Because tallow is so thick and occlusive, it can trap oil, bacteria, and debris against the skin, which is why dermatologists frequently call it a hard pass for oily, combination, and acne-prone faces. It can clog pores and trigger breakouts. There is also the obvious: it is an animal product, it can carry a meaty scent if it is not well rendered, and it is off the table entirely if you are vegan or sensitive to animal proteins.
How do plant oils compare?
Plant oils give you a lot of the same barrier benefits with far less risk of clogging. The lightest of them are actually recommended by dermatologists as the alternative for people drawn to tallow. Squalane closely mimics your skin's own sebum and is featherlight and non-comedogenic. Jojoba is structurally so similar to sebum that your skin treats it like its own, which is exactly why it suits oily and acne-prone skin instead of suffocating it. You get nourishment and barrier support without the heaviness or the breakout risk.
So which should you choose?
Be honest about your skin. If you have very dry, resilient skin and no ethical concerns about animal products, tallow may genuinely suit you. If you have oily, combination, sensitive, or acne-prone skin, or you simply prefer a lightweight, plant-based, vegan option, a single pure oil is the safer and more comfortable choice. There is no universal best, only the best for your skin.
Our whole range is built on that same single-ingredient simplicity that made tallow appealing in the first place, just lighter, plant-based, and traceable. If you want to find the oil that matches your skin, start here, or read more about which oils actually repair your skin barrier. The earth already gave us gentle, effective options. We just left them pure.
