Whip it Good! Silky, Skin Hydrating Whipped Tallow and Cooking Tallow in Stock

Is it me or is it colder and dryer so far this winter? So many of us struggle with keeping our skin hydrated and moisturized and when the weather turns chilly, keeping our skin healthy can be tough (pun intended). Tallow is making its rounds on the internet and social media as a potential skin care remedy, but can it actually help? Let’s find out.

What is Tallow?

Tallow is an animal product, made from ruminant animals, like cows or buffalo, by removing, simmering and clarifying the fatty tissue that surrounds the organs of the animal into a white-ish substance that is solid at room temperature. It’s often used in cooking and biofuel and has recently come to light as a potential skin care product.

Tallow is different from lard because lard is typically made from pigs and has a softer, lighter taste, which is why it is called for more in baking versus cooking recipes.

Is Tallow Good for My Skin?

Like all things, that depends! Many point to the retinal qualities, high fat content, and omega fatty acids of tallow as a reason why it is good for your skin. There is a lot of debate about tallow in the dermatology field with great questions asked by reputable doctors that need to be answered. That said, the tallow research that has been done is showing some promise for skin care, there just needs a lot more research done to validate all the claims.

Here are a few things to consider:

According to the Mayo Clinic, using tallow for skincare has many benefits because it includes conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA:

“Since the composition of beef tallow is similar to natural oils produced by skin, it can be used as a moisturizer and is gentle on sensitive skin. CLA has anti-inflammatory benefits that help lock in moisture and reduce oxidation, which, along with the fat-soluble vitamins in beef tallow, may improve skin’s elasticity and overall healthy appearance when applied topically.”

In May of this year, researchers published a review of 19 studies out of 147 tallow skin care studies. While more research is needed on issues such as common side effects, the authors compiled the data and found promising results that tallow may provide some relief for people who suffer with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Specifically, the research pointed to a study conducted in 2020 that noted:

“…a mixture containing beef tallow among other fats, has potential as a therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis, potentially serving as a replacement for corticosteroids or as an adjunct treatment. [This mixture] improves symptoms, suppresses dermal lesions, reduces inflammatory cells, lowers IgE levels, regulates T cell response, and enhances skin barrier function.”

Lady May Tallow

At Wholly Holistic we carry both silky smooth, skin hydrating whipped tallow and the denser, thicker cooking tallow from Lady May Tallow. Located in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, the company specializes in working with sustainable farms in the South to create tallow products both for your skin and for your cooking needs.

The whipped tallow we currently carry (and will likely expand on!) come in three options: unscented, lavender and vanilla. All three provide immediate relief to cracked, dry skin by adding a layer of protection to your dermis. You can use it anywhere on your body, including your face. And no – it does not smell like beef!

Lady May Tallow’s cooking tallow is made with as little processing as possible to bring scratch cooking back to your kitchen. Tallow can be used as a grease for frying meats, veggies and eggs – pretty much anything!

Stop in Today!

At Wholly Holistic, we can not only provide you with tallow, we can work with you to meet your health goals. Stop in, call or message us today to ask all your questions and to schedule a health coaching appointment with one of our certified practitioners.

See you at the shop!