Tallow (Rendered Animal Fat)

INCI: Tallow

What is it?

A solid fat rendered from animal fat, trending in "natural" skincare as a moisturizer -- the evidence behind this trend is genuinely thin.

What does it do?

According to PubMed, a 2024 scoping review searching EMBASE and PubMed for tallow's effects on skin found significant research gaps: of 147 screened studies only 19 met inclusion criteria, and the reviewers concluded that while tallow is well-studied as an animal-feed, cooking and soap ingredient, there is comparatively little controlled research on its use directly on human skin, including on its side effects -- an honest "more research is needed" finding rather than a validated cosmetic benefit.

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Sources

Tallow, Rendered Animal Fat, and Its Biocompatibility With Skin: A Scoping Review

Important disclaimer

This page provides general skincare information and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Ingredient interactions and evidence summaries reflect published, cited sources — not a personal assessment of your skin. For medical skin conditions, rashes, pregnancy/lactation questions or persistent concerns, please consult a licensed dermatologist or HPCSA-registered practitioner.