Tallow is rendered fat from grass-fed cattle. It’s been used for centuries in traditional skincare because its composition closely matches human skin’s natural lipid structure. Rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K in their most bioavailable forms, tallow provides deep nourishment that synthetic ingredients simply can’t replicate. Think of it as “food for your skin” - your skin recognizes and absorbs these nutrients because they’re biocompatible with your own biology.

This is one of the most common questions we get, especially from people with acne-prone skin. The short answer: properly rendered tallow is non-comedogenic for most people, but acne-prone skin deserves the following thorough explanation.

Why tallow typically doesn’t clog pores:

Tallow’s fatty acid composition closely mimics human sebum—the natural oils your skin produces. This means your skin recognizes and absorbs tallow efficiently rather than having it sit on the surface where it could clog pores.

The acne-prone skin reality:

Many people with acne-prone skin actually have dehydrated skin that’s overproducing oil to compensate. Heavy synthetic moisturizers can trap oil and bacteria, leading to breakouts.

Tallow works differently—it’s biocompatible, absorbs well, and can actually help regulate oil production by providing the moisture your skin needs.

Quality matters:

Our tallow is carefully rendered, filtered multiple times, and free from additives that could clog pores. We don’t add heavy waxes or comedogenic ingredients.

Our recommendation for acne-prone skin:

• Patch test first on a small area for a few days

• Use sparingly - a little goes a long way

• Start simple with our unscented Bare Cream

• Give it 1-2 weeks for your skin to adjust

• Listen to your skin - while most acne-prone people see improvement or no negative effects, everyone is different

The honest truth:

Most people with acne-prone skin report that tallow either improves their skin or has no negative effect. Many find their skin gets less oily with fewer breakouts. But a small percentage may find it doesn’t work for them—and that’s okay. We’d rather you make an informed decision than promise miracle results.

Not at all. Our tallow is carefully rendered and filtered multiple times, removing any animal scent. The final product has a neutral, clean scent. In our scented products, you’ll only smell the pleasant essential oils. In our unscented Bare cream, you’ll detect virtually no scent at all - just clean, pure ingredients.

No, tallow is an animal-derived ingredient. However, we respect all lifestyle choices and are transparent about our sourcing. For those seeking plant-based alternatives, we’re happy to recommend other natural skincare brands that align with vegan values.

Our tallow comes from pasture-raised cattle in Nova Scotia. These animals are predominantly forage-fed with some barley supplementation during the finishing period.

What we can guarantee: no feedlots, no hormones, no antibiotics, and animals raised with respect on pasture for the vast majority of their lives.

Good tallow comes from healthy, well-cared for animals – and that’s what matters for your skin.

Not necessarily. Here’s the thing: most grass-fed beef marketed in northern climates isn’t actually grazing on fresh pasture year-round. During winter, those animals are eating hay—which is just dried grass. So the difference between “grass-fed” cattle eating hay in winter and pasture-raised cattle receiving some grain during finishing is often a lot smaller than the marketing suggests.

The real differences you see in studies usually aren’t comparing feed types at all—they’re comparing well-managed small farms to industrial feedlots. That’s about animal welfare, stress levels, and overall farming practices, not whether a cow ate some grain.

For tallow specifically, the nutritional differences between high-quality pasture-raised and purely grass-fed are minimal, especially when you’re using it topically on your skin. What actually matters is that the animals were healthy, well-treated, and raised without antibiotics or hormones. We focus on sourcing from farms we know and trust, not on chasing trendy labels that don’t tell the whole story.