The History of Tallow Skincare: The Ancient Secret to Naturally Radiant, Healthy Skin
- Katie Gustafson
- Sep 28, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 27
There's no doubt that tallow-based skincare is trending, but that doesn't mean it is a modern fad. In fact, did you know that tallow is one of the most time-tested natural ingredients in skincare history? It was used by early cultures including the Babylonians and Egyptians. Greeks and Romans also incorporated animal fats into traditional balms, salves, and beauty routines. Later cultures adapted tallow's versatile texture in their own skincare practices. The history of tallow in skincare is pretty incredible, and its use declined only in more recent decades.
Get ready guys. For this blog, I am about to release my inner skincare nerd upon you all in a fascinating journey that explores the history of tallow in skincare: from ancient times, to its retirement in the last century, to its present revival!
From the Beginning--The History of Tallow in Skincare
Ancient Egypt: Beauty and self-care rituals held important, even spiritual, significance in ancient Egypt. Rendered animal fats were used in traditional skin balms, perfumes, and cosmetics, and some historians have speculated that they may have been part of elite beauty routines.
Babylonian and Mesopotamian Skincare: Ancient Babylonians also used animal fats such as tallow in traditional salves and ointments. Its thick texture created a lasting layer that helped soften skin in dry conditions.
It is hard to know exactly how those early uses began, but people clearly recognized that rendered fats had a practical texture for protecting and moisturizing skin in demanding environments.
Roman Empire: Is the Roman Empire your "Roman Empire"? Well, the Romans used tallow in their daily skincare routines, too. Like the Egyptians, they applied it for moisture. There is even evidence that they used it in their famous bathhouses to soften and protect the skin after cleansing (before scraping it off with a strigil). They would have had soap made of tallow as well, but at this point in history, this would have been used more for cleaning clothes and other cloth.
Medieval Europe: Whereas people in hot climates used rich fats to help protect skin from dry sun and wind, people in Medieval Europe used tallow preparations to soften skin chapped by cold weather. Tallow also appeared in balms, pomades, salves, and soap.
Colonial America: Early settlers and pioneers in the New World used tallow in plenty of homemade skincare products, including simple (or maybe even scented) tallow soaps and balms for moisturizing and protecting the skin from the elements. The native peoples of America, and later colonists, also used tallow to make pemmican, a nutrient-rich snack that could be made to last all winter.
Regency/Victorian Era: Tallow was still popular in 1800s cosmetics and skincare. It would have been used with floral oils and essences to create luxurious lotions and creams to moisturize and smell nice at one's social events. Lavender or rose would have been popular scents of the time (still two of my favorite scents today, which is why I make my Honey Lavender Bee Balm!)
So What Happened to Tallow Skincare? The Decline of Natural Skincare
The use of tallow in skin and beauty products remained fairly consistent from ancient times into the early 1900s. It was a time-tested ingredient with many practical personal-care applications for thousands of years. (Thousands!)
So what happened to tallow skincare? Why did it become less popular in recent decades?
Tallow skincare obviously went away somewhere, at some point, or we couldn't be experiencing it as a resurgence, right?
As with many things in our culture, we can point to changes immediately following WWII.
During and after the War, there was an increasing emphasis on newer products that could be manufactured in mass and placed on a shelf for indefinite periods of time.
Let's be honest, we were beginning to be impressed by our own innovations. We had survived a possibility of the end-times, largely due to our own brilliant innovations! We were pretty proud of our own ability to adapt to change. Perhaps, as a result (one which had many positive AND negative repercussions), everything old was out. All things new were in!
Tallow-based skincare began to be seen as "old-fashioned" and took a backseat to trendy, synthetic ingredients that could made in a lab. The young families of the 50s and 60s were all about the latest innovations-- Tupperware! Trips to the moon! Food that lasted indefinitely on the shelf! Poly...everything! Marketing!
Tallow? Too old school! Pond Cold Cream (main ingredient: mineral oil)? Hip and new!
As the world rushed to embrace the new and innovative, tallow started to fade into the background..."
The Fat Phobic 80s, 90s, and Early 2000s (Even Skincare Can't Be Fat!)
This likely progressed in the 80s and 90s, when they started telling us that all things naturally "fatty" were bad for us. Fat was out, and this applied to every aspect of 80s, 90s, and early 2000s culture. (If you grew up in any of these decades, like I did, you remember how intense this was!)
Among other things, this is why is why we collectively stopped consuming and using natural fats like butter, tallow and nuts and opted for things like margarine, vegetable oil, and lowfat Snackwells cakes. (I still remember the way I ate 3 of these at a time as a 9 year old because they were "low fat.")
Tallow also became less common in food and personal care as vegetable oils and newer industrial ingredients gained popularity. Those shifts reflected changing manufacturing, pricing, and consumer preferences.
And it wasn't just our food—this aversion to fats crept into our beauty routines too. Tallow hadn't been the most popular product for a couple of decades already, but being made of fat probably didn't do it many favors during Millennial-childhood era.
The Great Tallow Comeback in Natural Skincare (and Beyond)
“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.” — Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park.
We're finding Ian Malcolm's words of wisdom to be true for many things in this digital age, but nutrition (including skincare) definitely goes on that list!
More recently, interest in traditional ingredients has returned as many consumers look for shorter ingredient lists and small-batch products.
That renewed interest does not make every natural ingredient automatically better, but it has encouraged people to look more closely at sourcing, texture, formulation, and how products feel on their skin.
When it comes to beauty and skincare, ingredient choice is personal. Choose products based on the texture, aroma, ingredient list, and experience that fit your preferences.
So, as fun and good as it is to invent new things, many are now turning back to historically proven methods when it comes to how we take care of ourselves. Natural skincare is experiencing a major comeback. And when it comes to natural skincare, few ingredients rank this list with all As like grass-fed tallow does.
As people return to more natural skincare and time-tested methods, tallow is becoming increasingly popular again! (And let's be honest, when you look at it historically, it wasn't off the A-list very long).
Skincare Benefits of Tallow, According to Science:
Our ancestors somehow discovered that rendered beef fat created a useful moisturizer with a rich texture that left skin looking soft and glowing. They valued tallow skincare enough that it remained a familiar ingredient for thousands of years. And while I'm not sure how much they understood about why tallow worked so well on the skin--just that it worked!
Today, as we look at tallow as a modern, natural skincare favorite, we have more knowledge about why it is such an effective and nourishing moisturizer. Here are a few of the skincare benefits of tallow that we have a better understanding of, today:
Loaded with Skin-Loving Fatty Acids: Tallow is full of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that keeps your skin hydrated and soft. Plus, its makeup is super similar to the oils your skin naturally produces. This is what allows tallow balms to soak in without feeling greasy.
Full of Vitamins: Tallow naturally contains fat-soluble vitamins, though amounts vary by source and processing. Its cosmetic value is best understood through its rich, moisture-sealing texture rather than by comparing it to prescription retinoids.
Antioxidants Galore: Speaking of free radicals, tallow comes with its own set of antioxidants that help protect your skin.
Naturally Soothing: Tallow's rich texture helps dry-feeling skin feel soft and comfortable. It also gives balms a smooth glide that many people enjoy for massage.
Helps Skin Look Smooth: By helping reduce moisture loss, a well-formulated tallow balm can leave dry skin looking smoother and feeling more supple.
Locks in Moisture: Tallow is an excellent natural barrier that helps seal in moisture, protecting your skin from the elements and keeping it soft and smooth. The honey that add to my whipped tallow balm line adds additional humectant properties, helping to lock in that moisture and act like a natural Band-aid.
Moisturizes Dry Areas: Tallow balm can be applied sparingly to dry-feeling hands, elbows, knees, heels, or cuticles for concentrated moisture care.
Getting Started with Natural, Tallow-Based Skincare
Tallow is a beauty ingredient that has been used for thousands of years, so I am happy to see it making a comeback. Its long history and rich texture explain why many people still value it as a simple moisturizer for soft, comfortable-looking skin.
From ancient Egypt to today’s skincare routines, it’s clear that tallow stands the test of time.
As a maker of self-care goods, I have always loved the idea of using natural, historically proven ingredients in my products. In fact, my love of lavender oil is what started Bloom! I don't just love the time-tested nature of these ingredients, but also their historical significance. Tallow, for example, is a skincare ingredient which has played a role in the stories of our ancestors around the world, proven to be safe and effective throughout many different kinds of lives and journeys. As you can probably tell from this article, I think that is fascinating! There is something incredible about the ability of an ingredient or product to link us together throughout time.
If you're wanting to get your hands on some tallow-based skincare at this point, I feel like I should insert my shameless plug here! It really is shameless; I make good products. They are natural, they work, and they have a very competitively low-price point when it comes to tallow balms!
Bloom's Tallow Line for Skincare
At Bloom, we craft three unique types of whipped tallow balms, each made with carefully selected ingredients such as grass-fed tallow, organic sunflower oil, honey, and essential oils. These balms are designed for rich everyday moisture, nighttime skincare, and massage.
If you're not sure which balm is best for your skin, don't worry! Below, we’ve highlighted the unique benefits of each balm to help you make the perfect choice for your skincare needs. For a deeper dive, check out our blog post: Choosing the Right Whipped Tallow Balm.
Ready to explore? Learn more about Blue Balm, Bee Balm, and Beauty Balm below, and discover which one fits your routine.
Beauty Balm pairs our whipped tallow base with frankincense essential oil for a warm botanical aroma. Use it as a rich nighttime moisturizer or a smooth massage balm. Patch-test before first use.
Blue Balm gets its distinctive color and soft botanical aroma from blue tansy essential oil. It is a rich moisturizer for dry-feeling skin. If you are pregnant, nursing, or sensitive to essential oils, consult your healthcare provider before use.
I love the lavender scent of this balm, and it is my favorite for nighttime skincare or as a moisture mask. This product has more honey than the others. Patch-test before first use, especially if you have sensitive skin or ingredient allergies.
I hope you enjoyed this little historical exploration into the world of tallow and skincare! I think it is fascinating to see how trends and culture influence one another, and how some ingredients continue to pass the tests of time. Do you have any thoughts or questions about the history of tallow in skincare? Comment below!
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