Is beef tallow or pork tallow better for skin?
It’s one of the most common questions we get. Both have a long history in traditional skincare, and both can be wonderful. But they aren’t the same, and the differences are worth knowing.
What they have in common
Beef and pork tallow are both rendered animal fats, and they share a lot of benefits:
• Both soften skin and help support its moisture barrier.
• Both are made mostly of fatty acids your skin already makes, like oleic, palmitic, and stearic acid.
• Both naturally contain fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Texture: firm vs. creamy
This is the difference you’ll notice first.
Beef tallow is higher in saturated fats like stearic acid. It’s firm, almost waxy, at room temperature.
Pork tallow has more oleic acid, the same fatty acid that makes olive oil so conditioning. It’s softer and creamier, and it melts into skin easily.
For facial products especially, that creamy feel can be far more comfortable. If you’ve tried a beef tallow balm and found it too heavy, a pork tallow balm may be just what you’ve been looking for.
Scent: stronger vs. milder
Beef tallow can keep a noticeable natural smell, even when it’s rendered well. That’s why many beef tallow products lean on strong essential oils or fragrance.
Well-rendered pork leaf fat is very mild and neutral. That lets the prairie herbs and botanicals we infuse shine without covering up the base.
Vitamin D: a little sunshine in every jar
Pork fat is a natural source of vitamin D. In a 2017 University of Wyoming study, pig back fat contained about 164 to 184 IU of vitamin D3 per 100 grams. Pigs who got daily sunshine had about twice as much of an active form of vitamin D, called 25-hydroxyvitamin D, in their fat as pigs kept indoors. (Read the study)
Our Kunekunes spend their days outside on pasture, and we love that connection between sunshine, the animals, and the jar. We haven’t lab-tested our own tallow, so we don’t put a number on it.
Suet vs. leaf fat: the cut matters
The best fat for skincare comes from around the kidneys. In cows, that’s suet. In pigs, it’s leaf fat.
Both are cleaner and milder than back fat or general trimmings. Many tallow products are made from mixed trimmings, which can affect scent and feel. We use only leaf fat in our skincare. Here’s how we render it.
A quick note on the name
Rendered pork fat is often called lard, especially in the kitchen. In our skincare, “tallow” has become the everyday word for balms made with rendered animal fat, so we call ours pork tallow to tell you exactly what’s in the jar. Read more in Pork Tallow vs. Lard.
Side by side
Beef tallow
• Texture: firm, can feel waxy
• Scent: can be noticeable
• Best fat to use: suet
• Oleic acid: lower
• Best for: body balms and very dry areas
Pork tallow
• Texture: soft, creamy, melts in easily
• Scent: very mild, neutral
• Best fat to use: leaf fat
• Oleic acid: higher, for extra softness
• Best for: face, body, everyday use, and herbal blends
Why we chose pork tallow
For us, pork tallow is the right fit. It gives our balms a soft, comfortable feel, a mild scent that lets prairie herbs shine, and a little sunshine from life on pasture. And it comes from our own herd we raise ourselves.
Read the full story in Why We Use Pork Tallow in Our Skincare.
