Does Tallow Clog Pores? An Honest Answer

If you have oily or acne prone looking skin, one question stops you before you ever open the jar. Does tallow clog pores? It is a fair thing to ask. Rubbing rendered beef fat on your face sounds like the last thing a breakout prone complexion needs. So let's answer it honestly, without the hype you usually get from brands trying to sell you something.

Written by Jackie, co founder of Wild Gold Tallow. After 15 years of sensitive, reactive skin and a cabinet full of products that let me down, I helped create this balm and I use it on my own face every day.

Does tallow clog pores? The short, honest answer

For most people, a well made tallow balm does not clog pores. Tallow is close in makeup to the oil your skin already produces, so your skin tends to recognize it rather than treat it like a foreign grease. That said, no single ingredient is right for every face. Comedogenicity is personal. The smart move is to understand why tallow behaves the way it does, then patch test before you go all in.

What comedogenic actually means

Comedogenic just means an ingredient is likely to block pores and form comedones, the whiteheads and blackheads nobody wants. You will see oils rated on a scale from 0 to 5, where 0 is very unlikely to clog and 5 is very likely.

Here is the part most blogs skip. Those ratings come from testing single ingredients in isolation, often at high concentration, and historically on animal skin rather than a human face. A number on a chart cannot tell you how a finished balm will wear on your skin, in your climate, in the amount you actually use. Treat the scale as a loose guide, not a verdict.

Why tallow is so similar to your skin's own oils

Your skin makes sebum, and sebum is mostly fatty acids. Tallow is mostly the same fatty acids, oleic, palmitic and stearic, in a ratio that is surprisingly close to what your own skin produces. Grass fed tallow also carries the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

Because it is so familiar to skin, many people find tallow feels nourishing and balancing rather than heavy or suffocating. It tends to sink in instead of sitting on top like a thick petroleum layer. That is a big reason the fear of beef fat clogging your face often does not play out the way people expect.

So why do some people still break out from tallow?

When a breakout gets blamed on tallow, the real cause is usually something other than the tallow itself:

• Using way too much. A thick layer of any rich balm can trap sweat and debris. A little goes a long way. Think a grain of rice, not a fingertip scoop.
• Low quality or heavily filled formulas. Plenty of cheap balms pad tallow with pore clogging extras like coconut oil, cocoa butter or a heavy wax. Those add ins, not the tallow, are often the culprit.
• Skipping the patch test. Every face is different. What agrees with your sister may not agree with you, and you only find out by testing small.
• Confusing adjustment with clogging. When you switch from stripping foam cleansers and ten step routines to something simple, skin sometimes shifts for a week or two while it settles.

What to look for in a tallow balm that won't clog pores

If you are nervous about clogged looking pores, the formula matters far more than the word tallow on the label. Here is what we would look for.

• 100% grass fed suet tallow. Higher quality fat means a cleaner, more skin compatible balm. We use 100% grass fed suet tallow and nothing cut rate.
• A short, honest ingredient list. Our balm has three ingredients: first colostrum, 100% grass fed suet tallow and USA emu oil. No fillers, no fragrance, no heavy waxes to sit in your pores.
• A carrier oil that absorbs instead of lingering. We use USA emu oil, which is light and sinks in deep, rather than cheaper plant oils that tend to sit on the surface longer.
• A texture that actually absorbs. Our whipped balm melts in and absorbs in about 60 seconds when you use the right tiny amount, so it is not pooling on your skin all day.
• An unscented option. Fewer added ingredients means fewer things to react to if your skin is temperamental.

You can see all of this in our Colostrum Tallow Balm, and browse the full lineup in our tallow skincare for sensitive skin collection.

How we use tallow on oily or acne prone looking skin

The people who love tallow on oilier skin almost always use it the same way. Less product, damp skin, and a little patience.

• Start with a rice grain sized amount. You can always add more, but most people use far too much at first.
• Apply to slightly damp skin so it spreads thin and absorbs fast.
• Try it at night first, and patch test along your jaw for a few days before going all in.

Greasiness is the usual worry, and it is almost always a too much product problem. As one customer, Rhonda, put it: "The first brand that isn't greasy. I love how my face looks and feels." Another, Holly, said simply, "It's not as greasy as other tallow products."

I get the hesitation personally. I spent about 15 years on dermatologist recommended petroleum products that never lasted and left my skin tight and unhappy. Simplifying down to a few real ingredients, used sparingly, is what finally worked for me. Real and simple beat complicated.

Want to go deeper? We break down daily application in our guide to tallow for face, and if your skin reacts easily, start with our best tallow balm for sensitive skin picks.

Frequently asked questions

Does tallow clog pores on acne prone looking skin?

For most people it does not, because tallow is similar to the skin's own oils and absorbs rather than sitting on top. Skin is individual though, so use a tiny amount and patch test first.

Is tallow comedogenic?

Comedogenic ratings are based on single ingredients tested in isolation, so they only tell part of the story. In a simple, well made balm used sparingly, most people do not find tallow clogging. Quality and quantity matter more than the label.

Will tallow make my skin more oily?

Because tallow is close to your skin's natural sebum, many people find their skin feels more comfortable and balanced, not slick, especially when they use a small amount on damp skin.

How much tallow balm should I use so it doesn't clog pores?

Start with a rice grain sized amount for your whole face. A thin layer absorbs and behaves far better than a heavy one. If it ever feels greasy, you are simply using too much.

Can I use tallow balm if I have oily skin?

Yes. Plenty of people with oilier skin use tallow happily by keeping the amount tiny and applying to damp skin. Choose a clean, minimal formula and patch test before daily use.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.