Beef Tallow: the latest wellness craze or just another social media fad?
Pranjal Chandra | Mar 17, 2025, 22:45 IST
( Image credit : TIL Creatives )
Beef tallow is gaining popularity on social media as a healthier alternative for cooking and skincare. While influencers and wellness advocates praise its natural benefits, nutrition experts and dermatologists remain skeptical about its overall health and beauty advantages.
In the ever-evolving world of health and beauty trends, beef tallow has emerged as the latest ingredient making waves across social media. Touted as a natural alternative for both cooking and skincare, influencers and wellness advocates have embraced the rendered fat as a miracle product. From frying french fries to moisturizing skin, beef tallow’s popularity has skyrocketed. But is it truly a superfood and skincare savior, or just another fleeting online trend?
Social media has a knack for reviving old-world practices and rebranding them as cutting-edge health solutions. Beef tallow, once a common cooking fat before the rise of vegetable oils, has now found a new audience. Influencers claim it offers superior health benefits compared to so-called "toxic" seed oils, while beauty bloggers praise it for its moisturizing properties.
Even Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has joined the conversation, publicly endorsing beef tallow as a healthier alternative to vegetable oils. In a viral interview at a Steak ’n Shake, he commended the chain for switching to beef tallow for frying, stating that ultraprocessed foods and seed oils are responsible for a decline in American health.
Many wellness advocates argue that beef tallow is a cleaner, more "ancestral" fat compared to seed oils, which are often linked to industrial food processing. The belief that seed oils are inherently harmful has gained traction on platforms like TikTok, where viral videos encourage people to replace canola and safflower oil with animal-based fats.
However, nutrition experts remain skeptical. Dr. Lisa Young, a nutritionist and adjunct professor at NYU, clarifies that the health risks of processed foods stem largely from excess sugar and salt, not necessarily seed oils. "People are blaming the seed oils when that’s not what’s toxic. It’s the sugar and salt in the junk food that they’re using," she explains.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, director of Tufts University’s Food is Medicine Institute, takes a balanced view: "Beef tallow deserves neither a health halo nor devil’s horns." While he acknowledges that beef tallow is likely better than consuming large amounts of ultraprocessed foods, he emphasizes that plant-based oils such as olive oil, canola oil, and soybean oil are still healthier options.
Beyond the kitchen, beef tallow has also made its way into beauty routines. TikTok is flooded with videos of users applying it to their faces, claiming it hydrates skin and helps combat acne. Many promote homemade versions, while others purchase pre-made tallow-based skincare products.
The logic behind this trend stems from tallow’s composition, which closely resembles human skin lipids. Some claim this makes it a superior moisturizer, locking in hydration without clogging pores.
But dermatologists aren’t convinced. Dr. Sophie Greenberg of Tribeca Skin Center in New York City compares tallow to other occlusive agents like Vaseline or coconut oil. "It will be greasy on your skin, but it will lock in whatever else is underneath," she says. For those with extremely dry skin, it could be beneficial. However, she warns that it could lead to breakouts, particularly for those prone to acne.
Dr. Connie Yang, a dermatologist at P Frank MD in New York City, urges caution, reminding consumers that "natural" doesn’t always mean safe. "Things like poison ivy are natural—does not mean it’s good for your skin," she quips.
Beef tallow’s resurgence highlights the power of social media in shaping wellness trends. While its historical use in cooking and skincare isn’t new, its sudden popularity raises questions about how much of the hype is based on science versus influencer-driven marketing.
For those intrigued by tallow’s potential benefits, experts advise moderation. In cooking, occasional use may not be harmful, but replacing all fats with beef tallow isn’t recommended. In skincare, it may work for some, but not all skin types will respond well.
Ultimately, like many viral wellness trends, beef tallow is neither a miracle cure nor a health hazard—it’s just another option in an ever-expanding landscape of health and beauty fads. Whether it becomes a lasting staple or fades into the background like other short-lived trends remains to be seen.
The rise of beef tallow in wellness circles
Even Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has joined the conversation, publicly endorsing beef tallow as a healthier alternative to vegetable oils. In a viral interview at a Steak ’n Shake, he commended the chain for switching to beef tallow for frying, stating that ultraprocessed foods and seed oils are responsible for a decline in American health.
Cooking with tallow : a healthier alternative?
However, nutrition experts remain skeptical. Dr. Lisa Young, a nutritionist and adjunct professor at NYU, clarifies that the health risks of processed foods stem largely from excess sugar and salt, not necessarily seed oils. "People are blaming the seed oils when that’s not what’s toxic. It’s the sugar and salt in the junk food that they’re using," she explains.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, director of Tufts University’s Food is Medicine Institute, takes a balanced view: "Beef tallow deserves neither a health halo nor devil’s horns." While he acknowledges that beef tallow is likely better than consuming large amounts of ultraprocessed foods, he emphasizes that plant-based oils such as olive oil, canola oil, and soybean oil are still healthier options.
Is beef tallow the secret to glowing skin?
The logic behind this trend stems from tallow’s composition, which closely resembles human skin lipids. Some claim this makes it a superior moisturizer, locking in hydration without clogging pores.
But dermatologists aren’t convinced. Dr. Sophie Greenberg of Tribeca Skin Center in New York City compares tallow to other occlusive agents like Vaseline or coconut oil. "It will be greasy on your skin, but it will lock in whatever else is underneath," she says. For those with extremely dry skin, it could be beneficial. However, she warns that it could lead to breakouts, particularly for those prone to acne.
Dr. Connie Yang, a dermatologist at P Frank MD in New York City, urges caution, reminding consumers that "natural" doesn’t always mean safe. "Things like poison ivy are natural—does not mean it’s good for your skin," she quips.
A trend worth trying?
For those intrigued by tallow’s potential benefits, experts advise moderation. In cooking, occasional use may not be harmful, but replacing all fats with beef tallow isn’t recommended. In skincare, it may work for some, but not all skin types will respond well.
Ultimately, like many viral wellness trends, beef tallow is neither a miracle cure nor a health hazard—it’s just another option in an ever-expanding landscape of health and beauty fads. Whether it becomes a lasting staple or fades into the background like other short-lived trends remains to be seen.