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When people first hear the idea of using animal fat on their face or body, there’s often a pause a look of curiosity, hesitation, or even surprise. We get it. In a world where skincare is often marketed through lab-made actives, fruit extracts, and synthetic serums, the thought of returning to something as simple and old as tallow rendered animal fat seems almost rebellious.
But when we ask, “What is tallow?” and take the time to answer honestly, what we discover is not just a forgotten ingredient. We uncover an ancient remedy. A skin-nourishing, deeply compatible, bioavailable fat that our ancestors trusted for generations. One that modern skin is still desperately asking for.
So let’s clear the air. Let’s challenge the biggest misconceptions surrounding the use of animal fats in skincare. Because understanding what tallow is, and why it matters, could change your relationship with your skin forever.
Myth 1: Animal Fats Are Greasy and Clog Pores
This is one of the most common concerns. People hear “fat” and immediately think of something heavy, greasy, and comedogenic. But this couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to properly rendered, high-quality tallow.
Tallow from grass-fed animals, especially when gently rendered and purified, has a unique fatty acid profile that closely resembles the sebum naturally produced by human skin. That means it absorbs beautifully, leaves no greasy residue, and doesn’t clog pores.
What it actually does is strengthen the skin barrier. It helps retain moisture while still allowing the skin to breathe. Instead of sitting on top of the skin, it nourishes deeply from within. For dry, damaged or inflamed skin, this makes all the difference.
Myth 2: Tallow Is Unsanitary or Unsafe
We’ve been conditioned to think of animal products as something that needs to be heavily processed or avoided altogether. But traditional cultures never saw tallow that way. It was revered as a staple in both diet and skincare for its rich nutrient content.
So what is tallow exactly? It’s the purified fat rendered from around the kidneys and loins of grass-fed animals, typically cows. When rendered properly, tallow is clean, shelf-stable, and deeply nourishing. It contains a rich profile of vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and palmitoleic acid, both powerful skin-repairing compounds.
We source our tallow with intention. Every batch is handcrafted in small quantities, using only the highest-quality, grass-fed suet from ethical farms. This isn’t just safe. It’s skincare that’s made with the same care and hygiene standards we’d want for ourselves and our families.
Myth 3: It’s Outdated or Unscientific
Let’s be honest. Modern beauty marketing has done an incredible job of making traditional ingredients look outdated. If it doesn’t come in a glass bottle with a dropper or isn’t made in a lab, it must be less effective right?
Not exactly.
Science is now beginning to catch up with what our ancestors already knew. The skin is an organ. It needs whole, compatible nutrients to thrive, not synthetic imitations.
Tallow works because it’s biologically aligned with the skin’s natural makeup. It’s bioavailable, meaning the skin can absorb and use it with very little resistance. No emulsifiers. No stabilisers. No artificial preservatives needed.
Modern formulations often strip away what the skin really needs in favour of texture or fragrance. Tallow brings it back to the essential nutrients, fats, and vitamins that the skin already knows how to use.
Myth 4: It’s Only for Dry Skin
Tallow is known for being deeply moisturising, but it’s not just for those with dry or flaky skin. Because it’s so similar to our skin’s own oils, it’s suitable for a wide range of skin types including oily and acne-prone.
In fact, people with acne often benefit from using tallow-based balms. That’s because many conventional acne treatments strip the skin of its natural oils, which can trigger it to produce even more oil in response. This creates a vicious cycle of dryness, irritation and breakouts.
Tallow helps break that cycle. It nourishes without clogging. It soothes inflammation. It supports a healthy skin barrier, which is essential for all skin types, not just dry ones.
Myth 5: It Smells Bad or Feels Strange
When people ask “What is tallow?” they often picture a block of meat fat. That’s not what goes into your skincare. Properly rendered suet tallow is odorless or carries only a faint, creamy aroma. We’ve refined our rendering process to ensure a clean, neutral base ready to be used in unscented balms or blended with subtle, natural scents.
The texture? Smooth, buttery, and rich. It melts effortlessly on contact with the skin and absorbs beautifully. Most first-time users are surprised by how luxurious it feels nothing like the heavy or sticky texture they might expect.
This is nature’s original skincare. And when it’s prepared with care, it feels every bit as luxurious as the most high-end creams on the shelf with none of the synthetics.
Why Ancestral Skincare Works Today
Skin doesn’t evolve as fast as marketing trends. What worked 200 years ago when skin was soothed with whole animal fats, herbs, and mineral-rich clays still works today. In fact, it works better than ever, because our skin is now dealing with more stress, pollution, and synthetic interference than ever before.
Tallow supports healing from the inside out. It calms inflammation, repairs the lipid barrier, and nourishes the skin deeply without overwhelming it.
If you’re asking, “What is tallow doing for my skin?” the answer is simple: everything your skin has been asking for hydration, nutrients, protection without the added junk.
Tallow and Sensitive Skin
For those who have spent years battling sensitive skin reacting to every new moisturiser or breaking out after expensive facials, tallow is often the missing piece.
That’s because tallow doesn’t introduce new, foreign substances to the skin. It gives the skin what it already recognises. And because it’s free from preservatives, fragrance, alcohol, and synthetics, there’s less to react to in the first place.
If you have eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, or reactive skin, tallow can provide the nourishment your skin has been craving without triggering a flare-up.
Ethics, Sustainability, and Transparency
We know this question is coming. “Isn’t using animal fat unethical?”
That’s a valid question. We believe in radical transparency and ethical sourcing. Our tallow comes from grass-fed animals raised on regenerative farms in the UK. We believe in using the whole animal, reducing waste, honouring traditional practices, and making sure every part is respected.
By supporting regenerative farming, we’re also investing in soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable land management. This isn’t just about skincare. It’s about creating a better system for the animals, the planet, and our bodies.
So what is tallow in this context? It’s not a waste product. It’s not an afterthought. It’s a powerful, nutrient-rich ingredient that supports full-circle sustainability.
Our Experience, Your Journey
Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed hundreds of skin transformations with tallow-based balms. From irritated baby cheeks to stubborn adult acne. From red, inflamed skin to calm, clear complexions.
But beyond the skin, what we see most is relief. Peace of mind. A return to something simpler, more natural, more effective.
When you try tallow for the first time, you’re not just applying skincare. You’re connecting with a tradition that’s thousands of years old. One that honours the body. One that works with nature not against it.
The question isn’t just what is tallow, it's why have we forgotten it for so long?
In the race for modern convenience, we lost sight of the powerful, bioavailable ingredients that used to be second nature. Tallow is one of those ingredients. It doesn’t need marketing gimmicks. It doesn’t need a long list of claims. It works because it always has.
If you’ve tried it all the expensive serums, the fancy packaging, the ten-step routines and your skin still isn’t where you want it to be, maybe it’s time to return to something old. Something trusted. Something real.
We’re proud to bring tallow back to the centre of the skincare conversation. We’re proud to offer you recipes that your skin will recognise.
