Beauty buffs have been raving about rubbing beef fat dripping all over their faces in the aim of achieving radiant and glowing skin – but skincare expert Lindsey Reynolds reveals the true effects it can have
How far would you go in the hope of glowing and radiant skin? Beauty buffs have now resorted to smearing beef dripping all over their faces.
Yes, beef dripping, the oil you usually cook your roasties in on a sunday. The beef fat that you buy in the supermarket and what McDonald’s use to fry their chips in – is the latest viral skincare phonomenon.
TikTok can heavily influence choices when it comes to the latest skincare trends, but it poses the question – are some of these trends going a little too far? There is no way of fact checking if the latest trends are even safe, and we don’t truly know if what we’re being told is even safe for us.
So, does a bit of beef fat really give you a glow? With over 60million posts about tallow, it’s clear it’s becoming a well searched term and fans of this trend claim it works as a ‘natural’ moisturiser, as well as promising to help clear up acne. However skincare expert Lesley Reynolds, co-founder of the Harley Street Skin Clinic, has given her thoughts on the newest viral craze.
When asked if there are any potential benefits to using beef tallow on your skin, the expert shared: “Beef tallow is loaded with fatty acids such as stearic and oleic acid. These work by nourishing and moisturising your skin and quite often, you’ll find these ingredients on the back of some of your skin care products. So some would argue that there are benefits to this method.”
However, there are also “many downsides” to rubbing the animal product directly to your face according to Lesley, who stated: “While it does contain moisturising factors, there are actually many downsides to using beef tallow as an everyday skin care product. Unlike your regular moisturiser, beef tallow is heavy and can block pores by trapping moisture, bacteria and dirt, which can lead to blackheads and sebaceous filaments.”
She warns it can also trigger those with sensitive skin, and it could result in breakouts and irritation which is down to it being an unrefined animal product. This means it hasn’t gone through the processes to remove any impurities that may damage your skin.
As the expert warns against using it, she suggested using something a little more natural in your regime instead. “I recommend ingredients such as shea butter, jojoba oil or ceramides. These are scientifically approved ingredients that are designed to give your skin the moisture it needs without triggering a breakout. Making them a much safer and more reliable alternative to beef tallow.”
Despite these trends being tempting, seeing hundreds of people following them online, Lesley urged beauty fans to be cautious and research the safety before trying. Dr. Anil Sharma, a dermatologist with Sharma Skin & Hair Surgery told Healthline: “While TikTok creators may be recommending [beef] tallow as a ‘natural’ remedy, it’s important to understand that it could cause more harm than good.”
He explained that it’s highly comedogenic, meaning it can clog pores and make acne even worse, and added that some studies have found it can also increase sensitivity to sunlight. “Also, rather than helping your skin barrier, it may actually do the opposite due to its high oleic acid content.” This can result in dryness and further irritation as well.
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