08/31/2026
Let’s talk about why some estheticians say tallow is “bad” for your skin.
In esthetics school, we’re trained to use and recommend professional skincare lines,and many of them are excellent. I carry professional vegan and plant-based products too. But that training can sometimes make us believe professional products are the only good option and that simple, traditional ingredients are somehow inferior.
The reality is more balanced.
Tallow contains fatty acids also found in our skin’s natural oils, including oleic, palmitic and stearic acids. Its lipid profile is closer to human sebum than many individual plant oils, which is why it can feel so compatible with dry, mature or compromised skin. It helps soften the skin, support its protective barrier and slow moisture loss.
Plant oils are wonderful too, but plants naturally have a different lipid composition. That’s why I love combining them: tallow provides rich, skin-compatible fats, while carefully chosen plant oils add their own fatty acids, antioxidants and beneficial compounds.
Can tallow be too heavy for some acne-prone skin? Absolutely. Quality, formulation and skin type always matter. It isn’t a miracle cure, and natural doesn’t automatically mean better.
Professional skincare, plant ingredients and traditional tallow can all have a place. After making soaps and creams for more than 20 years, I’ve learned that what matters most isn’t the category or fancy packaging, it’s the formulation and how your skin responds. 🤍
Lipids: Natural fats that act like the “mortar” holding your skin barrier together. They help keep moisture in and irritants out.
Fatty acids: Building blocks found in lipids. They help soften, nourish and protect the skin.
Sebum: The natural oil produced by your skin to keep it moisturized and protected.
Skin barrier: Your skin’s protective outer layer. A healthy barrier prevents excessive moisture loss and helps defend against irritation.
Emollient: An ingredient that softens and smooths dry or rough skin. Tallow is an emollient.
Antioxidants: Ingredients that help protect skin from damage caused by sunlight, pollution and everyday environmental stress.
Compromised skin: Skin with a weakened barrier that may feel extremely dry, tight, itchy, sensitive or irritated.
Skin-compatible: An ingredient with qualities similar to substances naturally found in or used by our skin. It doesn’t mean it will suit absolutely everyone.
— Lake Huron Tallow
