Derm Weighs In on the Viral Beef Tallow Skincare Trend 🐄🧴 Beef tallow may indeed moisturize your skin, much like other oils. However, it's not the magical ingredient some claim it to be. Here's what you should consider: The safety and efficacy of tallow for skincare will require further clinical research. Tallow is not approved by the FDA for use in skincare due to the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. So, if you encounter tallow in skincare, it's often something local or homemade. This lack of regulation opens the door to a host of other problems involving the product's sourcing, purity, consistency, use of preservatives (or not), and stability. Given these uncertainties, I suggest sticking with traditional skincare products that have been tested and regulated for your skin's safety and well-being.