Tallow Skincare Science: What the Research Says (and why it feels so dang good)

This page is our “show me the receipts” tallow guide. Not vibes. Not trends. Actual research you can click, read, and quote back at your friends when they say “wait… tallow?” 😄

Primary source: Tallow, Rendered Animal Fat, and Its Biocompatibility With Skin: A Scoping Review (Cureus, 2024). It’s open access and easy to read.

PMC full text: PMC11193910
DOI (publisher): 10.7759/cureus.60981
PubMed record: PMID: 38910727

Want the “start here” path? Shop Tallow → Shop by Routine → Tallow Skincare FAQ Hub

Quick Take: What the Review Concluded

The review’s second objective was to analyze benefits of tallow on skin, and it states (exact wording):

“Tallow was found to offer hydrating and moisturizing properties.”

Russell et al., 2024 (PMC11193910)

And on composition/skin-barrier relevance, the conclusion includes this (exact wording):

“Topically, it is of notable significance that tallow may increase fatty acid concentration in the skin.”

Russell et al., 2024 (PMC11193910)

What’s in Tallow (Fatty Acids + Vitamins)

If you’ve ever used tallow and thought, “my skin likes this,” the paper points to a likely reason: the fatty acid profile.

“Tallow is rich in triglycerides, specifically oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linoleic acid…”

Russell et al., 2024 (PMC11193910)

It also calls out vitamin content (exact wording):

“Tallow also contains essential vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, K, E, and B12.”

Russell et al., 2024 (PMC11193910)

Every Positive & Benefit Reported in the Study

Here’s the full “benefit stack” the scoping review reports across its included studies (written for humans, but tied to the study’s wording and summaries):

  • Hydrating + moisturizing properties (explicitly stated in the conclusions). (source)
  • Potential to increase fatty acid concentration in the skin (the review calls this “of notable significance” topically). (source)
  • Anti-microbial / cleansing angle in soap context: the review reports the wound-healing soap study found tallow “play a part in increasing hydration and moisture in the skin, along with having anti-microbial properties.” (source)
  • Less drying cleansing experience in that same wound-healing soap context (exact wording is in the next section). (source)
  • Non-irritating signals in animal safety notes: the review describes studies where topically applied tallow on intact/abraded rabbit skin for 24 hours did not cause irritation; and in guinea pigs it did not cause hypersensitivity, with no associated genotoxicity or carcinogenicity reported in that summarized toxicology context. (source)
  • Moisturizing test results in included formulation studies (the review summarizes sensory/moisturizing evaluation work on tallow-based cosmetic emulsions). (source)

Worth knowing: the review also says other compounds (like pumpkin seed oil and linoleic acid) offered superior hydrating/moisturizing benefits in some comparative studies — but it still states tallow offers hydrating/moisturizing properties. (source)

Conditions + Wound-Related Notes (Exact Wording)

This is the line everyone quotes — here it is, straight from the paper (exact wording):

“Research indicated that tallow may be beneficial in helping with skin conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis, dry skin, and wounds.”

Russell et al., 2024 (PMC11193910)

Now for the wound-healing soap section — the review summarizes a study comparing tallow-based herbal soap to non-tallow soap, and states (exact wording):

“The tallow-based soap was found to be efficacious as a disinfectant.”

Russell et al., 2024 (PMC11193910)

“It also did not cause the typical amount of dryness experienced with soaps and surfactants.”

Russell et al., 2024 (PMC11193910)

How to Use Tallow (Simple Routines That Stick)

Rule #1: pick the texture you’ll actually use. Consistency beats complexity every time.

  • Whipped tallow: cloud-soft, spreads easily, great “daily driver” feel. (Start with: Whipped Tallow FAQ)
  • Tallow lotion: lighter feel (especially if you’re lotion-trained). (Start with: Tallow Lotion FAQ)
  • Tallow balm: thicker, targeted comfort (hands, elbows, patches). (Start with: Tallow Balm FAQ)
  • Tallow soap: bar cleansing — and the study’s soap section is why so many people say it feels less stripping. (Start with: Tallow Soap FAQ)

A simple “start here” routine

  • After shower: apply a small amount while skin is slightly damp.
  • Target spots: hands/elbows/knees get a second pass.
  • Don’t overdo it: start tiny — you can always add more.

Want it curated? Shop by Routine makes it easy.

Fast Paths: Shop + Routine + FAQ Hubs (Internal Links)

Use these like a map (because “browsing skincare” should not feel like taking the SAT):

Tallow Skincare Science FAQs

What does the 2024 tallow scoping review conclude about benefits?

The review states: “Tallow was found to offer hydrating and moisturizing properties.” It also notes: “Topically, it is of notable significance that tallow may increase fatty acid concentration in the skin.” (Source: PMC11193910)

What skin conditions does the paper mention (exact wording)?

The paper states: “Research indicated that tallow may be beneficial in helping with skin conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis, dry skin, and wounds.” (Source: PMC11193910)

What does the study report about tallow soap and dryness?

In a wound-healing herbal soap comparison (tallow-based vs non-tallow), the review reports: “The tallow-based soap was found to be efficacious as a disinfectant.” and “It also did not cause the typical amount of dryness experienced with soaps and surfactants.” (Source: PMC11193910)

Why do people say tallow feels “compatible” with skin?

The paper explains tallow’s fatty acid profile and notes: “Tallow is rich in triglycerides, specifically oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linoleic acid…” and “Tallow also contains essential vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, K, E, and B12.” (Source: PMC11193910)

Where should I start on your site if I want to buy something?

Start with Shop Tallow (main hub). If you want a curated approach, Shop by Routine. If you want to research first, use the Tallow Skincare FAQ hub and the format FAQs (Whipped, Lotion, Balm, Soap).

Next: Shop Tallow · Shop by Routine · Tallow Skincare FAQ Hub