Nara Smith's Viral Beef Tallow Moisturizer Recipe Has TikTok Heading to the Kitchen
Beef tallow has gone from kitchen pantry to skincare cabinet, and a viral TikTok from Nara Smith, one of social media’s most-watched home cooks, is fueling the trend. And now, everyone is heading to their kitchens to try and make their own.
If you’re wondering whether rendered beef fat actually belongs on your face — or how to make it at home — here’s what the science says about beef tallow for skin and what Smith mixed into her now-famous DIY moisturizer.
Who is Nara Smith and what is in her TikTok recipe?
Smith, the social media star known for ASMR-style cooking videos, posted a homemade moisturizer recipe in May 2024 that has kept the beef tallow for skin conversation alive. The video shows her husband, Lucky Blue Smith, making the moisturizer himself in the kitchen.
“This morning, my husband ran out of some moisturizer that he usually uses and he didn’t love it enough to repurchase, so he just decided to make his own,” she said in the video.
“We tried it after our showers and loved it! Since I struggle with eczema and dry skin, he skipped essential oils so I could use it too,” Nara wrote in her caption.
The homemade moisturizer recipe combines beef tallow and beeswax melted together over a pot of boiling water, then mixed with squalene and jojoba oil. Vitamin E oil, hyaluronic acid and glycerin are added separately, with mixing in between. Once the mixture thickens, it’s transferred to a lidded container and set in the refrigerator.
What is beef tallow for skin?
Beef tallow is rendered fat from cows, made from suet that surrounds the kidneys and other organs, according to UT MD Anderson.
A 2024 scoping review noted that “tallow is rich in triglycerides, specifically oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and linoleic acid, thus lending to its wide range of industrial applications.” It also contains vitamins A, D, K, E and B12.
“Its fatty acids closely resemble the natural oils of the skin, allowing it to effectively replenish moisture,” Michele Green, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, told GQ in May 2026.
What the other ingredients in the beef tallow moisturizer do
The beef tallow moisturizer leans on several other ingredients to do specific jobs.
A 2023 study found beeswax can act as an occlusive, humectant and emollient. Humectants pull water into the skin, occlusives create a barrier to seal in moisture and emollients soften and soothe.
Squalene — the main component of skin surface polyunsaturated lipids — mimics oils found naturally in skin and works as an emollient and antioxidant, per a 2009 study. Squalane may be better suited for long-term storage, per Allure.
Jojoba oil, a liquid wax derived from the seeds of the Simmondsia chinensis plant, is widely used to moisturize, balance oil production and soothe skin, according to a 2021 study.
According to CeraVe, “both hyaluronic acid and glycerin are humectants and serve the same function of drawing in moisture to hydrate the skin.”
Vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant found naturally in the skin, moisturizes, protects skin cells and can absorb energy from UV light, per Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute.
Is DIY beef tallow for skin worth trying at home?
Tallow’s appeal is partly that its fatty acids resemble the skin’s own oils, which is why some dermatologists view it as a credible moisturizer ingredient. But it can also clog pores and cause acne for some users, per UT MD Anderson.
Skin reactions vary, and viewers should consult a dermatologist before mixing up a batch at home. Everyone’s skin is unique and can react differently to specific ingredients.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
