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Is beef tallow good for your skin?
No human trials compare tallow with regular moisturizers; claims rest on anecdotes and ingredient theory.
What you hear: “Beef tallow is the best natural moisturizer and works better than modern skincare products.”
What the studies found
A 2024 scoping review found only 19 relevant studies on tallow and skin, mostly lab and animal work, and noted that most published evidence lacks human subjects. A 2025 analysis of tallow skincare posts on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok found claims about acne, eczema and psoriasis rarely cited evidence, many posters had a financial interest, and the authors concluded the evidence is insufficient. Tallow is a fat that can sit on the skin like other rich moisturizers, but we found no trial comparing it with standard products. Dermatologists' general advice for dry skin is a fragrance-free cream or ointment with proven ingredients such as petrolatum, glycerin, dimethicone, shea butter or lanolin.
Take care: Side effects of putting tallow on human skin haven't been well studied; homemade or unrefined products may be less consistent, so patch-test first and stop if you get spots or irritation.
What you could do
If you like tallow balm, patch-test it; for eczema or very dry skin, a proven fragrance-free cream or ointment is the safer bet.
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Not medical advice. General information from published studies, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Talk with your doctor before starting a supplement or changing a medicine, especially if you are pregnant, take other medicines or have a health condition.
How we judged it
Not proven: Not enough good human evidence yet, either way. We judge the claim as it is usually said online, not the habit itself. Trials assign people at random, so they can show cause; observed studies follow people and show a link, not proof. Last checked: October 2026.
The studies, in their own words
- Russell et al. Cureus 2024
Our search on PubMed and EMBASE resulted in a total of 147 studies being screened with 19 fitting our specific criteria.
- Russell et al. Cureus 2024 (full text)
The results of our searches in PubMed and EMBASE showed that most published evidence of using tallow on the skin are lacking human subjects.
- Almatroud et al. J Cosmet Dermatol 2025
Claims of efficacy for acne, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis were prevalent but largely lacked cited evidence.
- Almatroud et al. J Cosmet Dermatol 2025
Despite growing anecdotal claims that beef tallow benefits skincare and dermatologic conditions, evidence remains insufficient to support these claims.
- American Academy of Dermatology, tips to relieve dry skin
Look for a cream or ointment that contains one or more of the following ingredients: Jojoba oil Dimethicone Glycerin Hyaluronic acid Lactic acid Lanolin Mineral oil Petrolatum Shea butter
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