Why beef fat is trending as the latest facial moisturizer

A new beauty trend is gaining traction on social media platforms: using beef tallow, a rendered fat traditionally discarded by butchers, as a facial moisturizer. The movement has sparked debate between enthusiastic consumers and medical professionals who question its safety and efficacy.

The trend has transformed from social media buzz into a profitable business venture, with companies and farmers capitalizing on the increasing demand for tallow-based skincare products. Five Marys Ranch in Siskiyou County, California, reported selling $42,000 worth of tallow products in a single night after launching their line, demonstrating the market’s enthusiasm for these unconventional cosmetics.

Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have become central hubs for promoting tallow-based skincare. Content creators share testimonials and tutorials, reaching audiences seeking natural alternatives to commercial beauty products. Some users, like Sascha Green from Hillsdale, Indiana, have taken the DIY approach, documenting their process of rendering fat from store-bought meat into homemade skincare products.

Green, 28, describes tallow as a versatile solution for various skin concerns, from bug bites to burns. She creates her own tallow-based products using fat sourced from Costco. “I made my own to start, just by getting meat from Costco and stripping the fat off the meat and rendering it, Green said. In a video documenting the process, she repeatedly cooks the fat with water and salt, removing impurities until it forms a white, waxy substance that she then combines with essential oils.

The movement has attracted consumers like Rachel Ogden, 48, from Tennessee, who reports positive results after experiencing adverse reactions to commercial beauty products. “Within a minute of applying tallow, her skin goes from dry to almost greasy to fully nourished,” Ogden said.

However, dermatologists express concerns about this trending ingredient. Dr. Zakia Rahman, clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine, explicitly discourages its use. “I give it a thumbs down from the scientific and dermatologic perspective,” Rahman said. “It could potentially cause acne flares or cause irritation.”

Dr. Mary L. Stevenson, dermatologic surgeon and associate professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Health, echoes these concerns. She notes the lack of scientific data supporting tallow’s efficacy and advises against facial application, citing the risk of acne breakouts. “There is little data for it, and there are so many alternative options,” she wrote in an email. “I do not recommend it to patients.”

The scientific basis for these concerns lies in tallow’s composition. According to Dr. Rahman, effective face creams should contain more linoleic acid than oleic acid. Beef tallow contains 47% oleic acid and only 3% linoleic acid, an imbalance that could potentially compromise its effectiveness as a skincare product.

Tallow is also used in cooking. Robert F. Kennedy, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, is an avid promoter of cooking tallow. In many podcasts, he advocated using tallow for cooking purposes. Kennedy also sold hats saying, “MAKE FRYING OIL TALLOW AGAIN.”

However, cooking tallow is slightly different from skincare tallow. Cooking tallow can mean a wide range of rendered fats, while skincare tallow is usually rendered beef suet or fat from around the cow’s kidney.

Despite medical professionals’ warnings, entrepreneurs continue to develop tallow-based product lines. Mary Heffernan, 46, owner of Five Marys Ranch, has transformed what was once considered waste material into a profitable venture. Her ranch processes suet, fat from around cow kidneys, into facial creams that sell for $16 per jar. The operation maintains steady sales of 2,000 jars during slower months. 

“Thanks to TikTok and social media for really promoting tallow as trendy,” she said. “When we released it on our website, we sold $42,000 in tallow overnight. Sold out.” 

The trend has attracted urban professionals like Morgan Helm, 24, a Manhattan finance worker who exclusively uses tallow for moisturizing after discovering it through a podcast in January. “Smelling a little beefy,” she said, “might just be the cost of having a glowing face.”

The surge in tallow-based skincare products reflects a broader consumer movement toward natural and DIY beauty solutions. Social media platforms have accelerated this trend, creating a marketplace where traditional waste products can be repurposed into premium skincare items, despite lacking scientific validation for their effectiveness.

The growing popularity of tallow-based skincare products demonstrates social media’s power to influence consumer behavior and transform traditional waste materials into sought-after beauty ingredients. While users report positive results, dermatologists advocate for scientifically validated products with proven safety profiles.