What Is Tallow Soap and Should You Use It on Your Face?
When it comes to beauty trends today, it’s quite common for “new” fads to arise with different names. But, in reality, we’ve used these trending products or rituals for years. The hush cut of today is the shag of yesterday. “Cookie butter bronde” is the new dirty blonde. One of the latest reemerging concepts is that of beef tallow soap.
Spate’s 2024 Holiday and Gifting Trends report revealed that searches for the term are predicted to grow 17.7 percent through the end of 2024. We’ve seen the popularity of beef tallow in skin care for some time now, but what exactly is tallow soap? And have we actually been using it without knowing all along? Ahead, experts debunk all things tallow soap.
Featured Experts
Amy Peterson is a medical esthetician and founder of Skincare by Amy Peterson
Victoria Fu is a cosmetic chemist and co-founder of Chemist Confessions
Ginger King is a cosmetic chemist and product developer
What is tallow soap?
“Tallow soap is a natural soap made from rendered animal fat,” medical esthetician and eponymous skin-care brand founder Amy Peterson says. “It is most commonly made from beef or mutton. It is rich in vitamins A, D, E and K and has a high concentration of fatty acids, which helps to deeply nourish and moisturize the skin. Tallow soap is particularly beneficial for dry or sensitive skin types. It can help restore the skin’s natural oils while gently cleansing, so many people with conditions like eczema or psoriasis find tallow soap soothing due to its mild, non-irritating properties.”
Victoria Fu, cosmetic chemist and co-founder of Chemist Confessions, states, “Tallow soap is essentially traditional bar soap made from beef tallow via saponification.” Cosmetic chemist and product developer Ginger King echoes Fu’s description. “Tallow soap is just the original formation of soap made of beef fat and sodium hydroxide.”
What is tallow soap used for?
If tallow soap is essentially just regular bar soap, what does its rich formulation make it good for? “Tallow soap is commonly used for cleansing and moisturizing the skin,” says Peterson. “It is a great option for those with dry or sensitive skin types and is also beneficial for those with conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Additionally, the gentle formula makes it a good choice for those looking for a natural and nourishing soap alternative.” Fu agrees, noting that the soap can be used on the face, hands or body.
What skin types should avoid tallow soap?
As with any skin-care ingredients, it’s important to understand what kinds of consumers should not use this trending soap. “Generally, tallow soap is safe for most skin types because it has gentle, nourishing properties and is rich in vitamins,” Peterson says. “However, those with very oily or acne-prone skin may want to avoid it because the rich fatty acids in tallow can potentially clog pores and contribute to breakouts. I always recommend patch testing any new product to see how your skin responds before full use.”
Fu also advises caution when trying out tallow soap. “Keep in mind that despite the buzz around beef tallow, this is still traditional bar soap, which means the pH will be much higher. We recommend that those with very dry or compromised skin avoid using cleansers with high pHs.”