Tallow Vs Coconut Oil: Which Is Better For Your Skin?

Tallow Vs Coconut Oil for Skin Care

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When it comes to skincare, we’re often bombarded with a dizzying array of choices, each claiming to be the ultimate solution. Amongst the crowd, two common natural options stand out: tallow and coconut oil. While it’s true they both have their pros and cons, one stands head and shoulders above the other for most people.

Spoiler alert: While coconut oil has its perks, tallow might blow you away with its skin-mimicking properties, rich nutrient profile, and unparalleled ability to nourish and heal. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the science, the benefits, and the real-world results of these two skincare powerhouses.

What Is Tallow?

While coconut oil is pretty self-explanatory – it’s the plant-based oil extracted from the meat of coconuts – what exactly tallow is and why it is becoming so popular for skin care requires a little more explanation.

Tallow is a nutrient-rich, natural fat derived from the suet (the raw, hard fat found around the kidneys and loins) of animals, typically ruminant animals like cows or sheep.

To render tallow, the suet is gently heated to melt the fat, separating it from impurities like connective tissue and water. Once strained and cooled, the result is a smooth, shelf-stable fat rich in vitamins and healthy fatty acids that closely mimic the composition of human skin, making it ideal for skincare.

Tallow is nothing new, however, as it has been used for centuries in various cultures for cooking, candle-making, and skincare and was prized for its ability to heal and protect the skin. This ancestral ingredient is now making a comeback in modern natural skincare and the testimonials from new users are certainly impressive.

beef suet and rendered tallow
Through rendering, we turn organ fat into pure tallow.

Key Differences Between Tallow and Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a common oil for skin care because it is lightweight, deeply moisturizing, and packed with lauric acid, which has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. 

Its ability to lock in moisture makes it ideal for softening dry skin, while its antimicrobial benefits can help with acne and minor skin irritations. Additionally, coconut oil is rich in antioxidants like vitamin E, which protect the skin from free radical damage.

While I don’t hate coconut oil at all, it can be an excellent oil for hydrating the skin, tallow offers these same benefits and so much more. Let’s take a look at some specific properties of both.

Fatty Acid Composition

While the fatty acid content of a skincare product might not be your first concern, it is one of the crucial components in any skin care product because it determines how well the product hydrates, nourishes, and supports the skin. 

Tallow is predominantly composed of long-chain fatty acids, including:

  • Oleic Acid (C18:1): A monounsaturated fatty acid that deeply hydrates the skin and provides anti-inflammatory benefits.
  • Palmitic Acid (C16:0): A saturated fatty acid that helps strengthen the skin barrier and protect against environmental stressors.
  • Stearic Acid (C18:0): A saturated fatty acid that enhances skin repair and supports the skin’s natural barrier function.

 

This fatty acid profile closely resembles the composition of human sebum, which is why tallow is highly compatible with the skin. It provides deep hydration, restores balance, and strengthens the skin without clogging pores.

Coconut oil, on the other hand, is primarily composed of medium-chain fatty acids, including:

  • Lauric Acid (C12:0): A medium-chain saturated fatty acid with strong antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, making it effective for acne and minor skin infections.
  • Capric Acid (C10:0) and Caprylic Acid (C8:0): Medium-chain fatty acids that provide additional antimicrobial benefits and contribute to coconut oil’s lightweight, fast-absorbing texture.
  • Myristic Acid (C14:0): A fatty acid that aids in cleansing and softening the skin but can be comedogenic (pore-clogging) for some.

 

While both benefit the skin, tallow’s long-chain fatty acids more closely mimic human skin’s natural oils, allowing for deeper hydration and barrier support. Coconut oil’s lighter medium-length chains prove less effective and reach deeper layers of the skin.

Vitamin Content

Differences between Tallow and Coconut oil
Tallow vs. Coconut Oil.

The vitamin content of tallow is where it stands superior compared to many of its competitors as it’s jam-packed with a whole symphony of vitamins.

Tallow contains a wider range of skin-benefiting vitamins, primarily vitamins A, D, E, and K, making it more versatile and effective for various skin concerns like hydration, repair, and anti-aging.

Coconut oil, on the other hand, primarily contains vitamin E, which provides antioxidant benefits but doesn’t address as many skin health aspects as tallow.

The vitamins in tallow are highly bioavailable, meaning they are easily absorbed and used by the skin. These naturally fat-soluble vitamins closely match the skin’s needs, making them highly effective for nourishing and healing.

While coconut oil’s vitamin E provides excellent antimicrobial properties, its lack of fat-soluble vitamins does not give it the same synergy with the skin as tallow’s more complete nutrient profile.

Due to its more complete nutrient profile, tallow’s vitamin A promotes skin cell turnover and collagen production, while its vitamin K aids in healing and reducing discoloration—properties that coconut oil lacks.

For overall skin support, tallow’s superior vitamin content delivers a more holistic approach to skincare, addressing hydration, healing, and protection with its rich vitamin blend. While coconut oil is not bad and does offer antimicrobial benefits, compared to tallow it offers limited support, focusing primarily on surface hydration and protection.

Skin Compatibility

You have likely heard that tallow has a bioidentical structure, closely mimicking human sebum. But what does this actually mean?

Human sebum is the oily substance produced by glands in the skin that help moisturize and protect the skin and hair by creating a natural barrier against moisture loss and environmental damage. 

Tallow is exceptional because it doesn’t force your skin to rely on synthetic, temporary fixes—instead, it works in synergy with your skin’s natural biology. 

As we age, face environmental stress, or deal with skin conditions, our skin can struggle to produce the vital nutrients and lipids it needs to stay healthy and resilient. Tallow steps in to fill that gap, replenishing the skin with the very same components it naturally creates but may lose over time. By doing so, tallow helps restore the skin’s ability to perform at its peak—nourishing, healing, and protecting itself as nature intended.

While coconut oil provides a good moisture barrier and can help lock in some moisture, its molecular structure doesn’t match the skin that closely. Hence, it tends to sit on the surface of the skin, providing a barrier but failing to penetrate the skin, therefore leaving the skin feeling greasy.

Comedogenic Ratings

For those with naturally greasy skin, or have had problems with moisturizers clogging pores, coconut oil will likely make these problems worse, while tallow should not contribute to clogging and may in fact help. To see why, we need to look toward the comedogenic scale.

Every oil has a comedogenic rating on a scale of 0-5, which measures how likely an ingredient is to clog pores, ranging from 0 (non-comedogenic) to 5 (highly comedogenic), with the lower-rated ingredients being less likely to clog pores and high ratings more likely.

Coconut oil is very high on the comedogenic scale with a score of 4 out of 5, meaning it is more likely to clog pores, especially for people with oily skin. While its antimicrobial properties are beneficial, its pore-blocking tendencies may lead to breakouts in some individuals.

Tallow, on the other hand, scores between 1 and 2 depending on the source, with healthy grass-fed and finished tallow topping out at 1, among the least likely oils to clog pores.

This may surprise many, as some brands of tallow moisturizer are known for feeling greasy and clogging pores, but tallow is the least likely substance in the product to cause this effect. Instead, it is usually mixed with other, cheaper filler oils that may be high on the comedogenic scale. That’s why we at GreenStead Living use only a small amount of jojoba oil (<15%), an oil sitting between 0-2 (ratings vary on the source of the oil).

Comedogenic Scale of various oils
Oil Comedogenic scale

Skin Protection

Tallow is rich in stearic and palmitic acid, strengthening and repairing the skin barrier while shielding it from environmental damage. Its abundance of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) further supports skin resilience and accelerates healing, making it a powerhouse for skin repair and protection. 

In contrast, coconut oil forms a protective layer on the skin but lacks the diverse nutrients necessary for deeper repair and barrier fortification. As a result, tallow is significantly more effective in promoting long-term skin health and recovery.

Anti-Inflammatory and Soothing Effects

Tallow’s oleic acid content makes it highly anti-inflammatory and soothing, ideal for calming irritated or inflamed skin. It is gentle and effective for managing conditions like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis without exacerbating sensitivity. 

Coconut oil, while offering some anti-inflammatory benefits due to its lauric acid content, can sometimes irritate sensitive or acne-prone skin due to its comedogenic nature. This makes tallow a more reliable choice for soothing inflammation and reducing redness without the risk of pore-clogging.

Antimicrobial Properties

Coconut oil shines in its ability to combat bacteria and fungi, thanks to its high lauric acid content. This makes it a strong contender for addressing acne-prone skin, minor skin infections, and other microbial concerns.

Tallow, while deeply nourishing and beneficial for skin repair, does not have notable antimicrobial properties. For users seeking antibacterial or antifungal benefits, coconut oil holds the edge, though its potential to clog pores may limit its usability for some skin types.

The Winner? Why Tallow Stands Out

With its superior fatty acid profile and range of vitamins, tallow simply packs a punch that coconut oil, and all other oils, simply cannot match.

Thanks to its composition of long-chain fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) that closely match the skin’s needs, tallow deeply nourishes, hydrates, and strengthens the skin, restoring its natural barrier and supporting its peak performance. Its low comedogenic rating ensures it works well for sensitive or acne-prone skin without clogging pores, making it a holistic choice for hydration, healing, and repair.

Despite reports from some of tallow clogging pores and feeling greasy, tallow in itself, with its low comedogenic value, is unlikely to be the culprit. Instead, look to the ingredients list to ensure it has not been mixed with more comedogenic oils. Also, the quality of tallow is critical – always go for grass-fed and finished tallow, staying away from cheaper ones.

FAQs

Is coconut oil or tallow better for your skin?

With its superior fatty acid profile and range of vitamins, tallow simply packs a punch that coconut oil, and all other oils, simply cannot match.

Thanks to its composition of long-chain fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) that closely match the skin’s needs, tallow deeply nourishes, hydrates, and strengthens the skin, restoring its natural barrier and supporting its peak performance. Its low comedogenic rating ensures it works well for sensitive or acne-prone skin without clogging pores, making it a holistic choice for hydration, healing, and repair.

Tallow contains a wider range of skin-benefiting vitamins, primarily vitamins A, D, E, and K, making it more versatile and effective for various skin concerns like hydration, repair, and anti-aging.

Coconut oil, on the other hand, primarily contains vitamin E, which provides antioxidant benefits but doesn’t address as many skin health aspects as tallow.

Coconut oil is very high on the comedogenic scale with a score of 4 out of 5, meaning it is more likely to clog pores, especially for people with oily skin. While its antimicrobial properties are beneficial, its pore-blocking tendencies may lead to breakouts in some individuals.

Tallow, on the other hand, scores between 1 and 2 depending on the source, with healthy grass-fed and finished tallow topping out at 1, among the least likely oils to clog pores.

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