The Truth About Tallow: Is Beef Tallow Worth the Skincare Hype?

Beef tallow has recently gained popularity as a natural solution for various skin concerns. Despite anecdotal support, scientific research on its effects - particularly on the skin microbiome - remains limited.

What We Know:

• Historically used in cooking, soap and as a biofuel, tallow is a rendered form of suet, which is the hard fatty tissue surrounding the organs of ruminant animals like cattle and sheep. Therefore, it is essentially a byproduct of the meat industry (Russell et al., 2024).

• Tallow is solid at room temperature and composed mainly of triglycerides, including oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and linoleic acid, along with essential fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Its high triglyceride content makes it an effective natural moisturising agent, often marketed as a more biocompatible alternative to petroleum-based skincare products (Russell et al., 2024).

• Tallow’s composition closely mirrors that of human skin, which may explain its reported benefits for skin health. The application of physiological lipids, like those found in tallow, supports the skin’s barrier function, suggesting its use as a promising natural moisturiser with biocompatible, skin-friendly properties (Russell et al., 2024).

Industry Impact and Potential:

• Mutton tallow combined with walnut oil in an enzymatically interesterified fat blend has shown promising moisturising and stability properties, indicating potential therapeutic benefits for conditions like atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis. Furthermore, tallow has been  (Kowalska et al., 2017).

• Omega-3 beef tallow, sourced from omega-3-fed cows, is part of a therapeutic blend that has demonstrated potential for treating AD by reducing inflammation, enhancing skin barrier proteins and normalising immune responses in affected skin (Lee et al., 2020).

• Some research on tallow’s use as a delivery vehicle for drugs and in vaccines exists, but studies on isolated tallow in skincare are limited. Due to the lack of regulation, consumers should be cautious about product sourcing and quality. As an animal-derived ingredient, tallow may face challenges in a market favouring plant-based and vegan products, while its lack of reef-safety and environmental impact may deter eco-conscious consumers (Russell et al., 2024).

• Furthermore, research on tallow's side effects, including potential skin or eye irritation, is inconclusive, highlighting the need for further studies across different skin types (Russell et al., 2024).

Our Solution:

Sequential’s personalised skincare approach leverages the power of microbiome-driven products through our comprehensive Microbiome Product Testing Solution. This all-inclusive service combines independent testing with expert-led formulation, empowering businesses to create innovative, customised skincare solutions that are tailored to the unique needs of individual microbiomes.

References:

Kowalska, M., Mendrycka, M., Zbikowska, A. & Kowalska, D. (2017) ASSESSMENT OF A STABLE COSMETIC PREPARATION BASED ON ENZYMATIC INTERESTERIFIED FAT, PROPOSED IN THE PREVENTION OF ATOPIC DERMATITIS. Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica. 74 (2), 465–476.

Lee, Y.-S., Yang, W.-K., Jo, E.-H., Shin, S.H., Lee, Y.-C., Park, M.-C. & Kim, S.-H. (2020) NCM 1921, a Mixture of Several Ingredients, Including Fatty Acids and Choline, Attenuates Atopic Dermatitis in 1-Chloro-2,4-Dinitrobenzene-Treated NC/Nga Mice. Nutrients. 12 (1), 165. doi:10.3390/nu12010165.

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), e60981. doi:10.7759/cureus.60981.