The Magic of Tallow

Beef tallow has recently been going viral for its “magical” effects on the skin, but why? What makes tallow so great? Could it be that it’s not all that people say it is? These questions were the first in my mind when I considered creating products with it, and I have come to discover how incredible tallow really is.

In our day, it is really easy to watch what we are eating yet completely disregard what we are putting on our skin. While we should watch what we put in our body, we must also pay close attention to what we put on our skin, the largest organ of our body.

To know whether beef tallow is good for our skin, we need to first know what is our skin needs. Our skin interacts with everything that comes in contact with it, including clothes, makeup, dirt, food, and skincare. So, it is imperative that we protect our skins barrier with the ingredients we apply.

Our skin is protected by a two-part barrier. The layer just underneath the surface of your skin is a layer composed of sebum, which is the natural oil produced by the human body, and sweat. This layer cushions the second layer, which is the layer of cells acting as a wall of bricks to protect against harmful substances, known as the epidermis. This barrier guards against all of the things we do not want in our body through our skin, and so we would do well to protect it.

Sebum is a crucial component, composed primarily of triglycerides, fatty acids, and compounds unique to sebum. This means that the oil produced by our body to protect our skin is composed primarily of fats. However, when we use commercial soaps and face washes, these contain harsh chemicals (such as sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), and alcohol) that strip the natural oils from our skin, leaving bare spots where sebum does not protect the epidermis. As a solution, many will look at the dry skin caused by commercial soaps and treat it with a commercial lotion to try to treat it. However, this is even worse, as many lotions contain hormone disrupters (such as parabens, phthalates, and petrolatum, which is derived from petroleum, the same material used to produce gasoline).

These facts can seem overwhelming, but don’t worry. God has provided us with many amazing solutions that support our bodies the way that He designed them to. That’s where beef tallow comes in.

Beef tallow is a natural oil derived from melted fat trimmings from a cow, known for its moisturizing and healing benefits. The reason beef tallow is so healing is because its composition closely resembles the composition of sebum. Rather than mimicking the feeling of moisturization, tallow actually does moisturize our skin with the same properties that are already there. Beef tallow is composed of over 50% triglycerides and a mix of fatty acids. Though beef tallow does not contain the components unique to sebum, it does contain oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid, all of which are major players in sebum.

Now that we know why beef tallow is better, why do I use 100% grass-fed? What’s the difference? The majority of cows in commercial farming are raised in a feed lot, meaning they have a very strict area of movement, and that they are raised only eating grain that has been mass produced. On the contrary, grass-fed cows are cows that have been raised on pastures, foraging freely. Their diet consists primarily of grass, hay, and other things they can find while foraging, with grain being a dietary supplement. Additionally, 100% grass-fed cows have been exclusively on pastures, without grain as a supplement. The difference this makes is primarily in the vitamins A, E, and other antioxidants. Vitamin A helps to build cells, restoring the epidermis, and vitamin E helps to protect those cells from damage. Grass-fed cows consume a much wider variety of foods than grain-fed cows do, meaning that they get a wider variety of nutrients. Through consuming grass-fed tallow, whether through food or through skincare, we consume those nutrients.

So, beef tallow really is that incredible! It is a beautiful testament to God’s providence in nature! That is why I created our Beef Tallow Cream, made with 3-4 ingredients! It includes 100% Grass-fed Beef Tallow, Organic Jojoba Oil, Arrowroot Powder, and Essential Oils (optional). The Beef Tallow is our base, while Jojoba Oil is used as a carrier oil and Arrowroot Powder is used to absorb the excess oils. With this combination, the Beef Tallow Cream is perfect for every skin type, and can be used for multiple purposes. My favorite way to use it is to apply to my face, and then to pat my face with a warm, damp washcloth to leave a refreshed, moisturized feel! Stop by on our Shop Page to get your own Beef Tallow Cream!