Have you ever read the back of your moisturiser?
Most commercial moisturisers contain a long list of ingredients — many of which exist not to nourish your skin, but to make the product stable on a shelf, spreadable, or smell pleasant. That's not necessarily harmful, but it does raise a fair question: how much of what you're applying is actually doing something useful for your skin?
Let's compare.
What's in a typical commercial moisturiser?
A standard commercial lotion or cream typically contains:
- Water — often the first ingredient; provides initial hydration but evaporates quickly
- Emulsifiers (e.g. cetearyl alcohol, polysorbates) — bind water and oil together; some can disrupt the skin barrier with prolonged use
- Humectants (e.g. glycerin, hyaluronic acid) — draw moisture to the skin; effective but often rely on other ingredients to seal it in
- Preservatives (e.g. parabens, phenoxyethanol) — necessary to prevent microbial growth in water-based formulas
- Fragrance — one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis and skin sensitivity
- Silicones (e.g. dimethicone) — create a smooth texture and feel but form an occlusive film without nourishing
None of these are inherently dangerous, but the more complex a formula, the more potential irritants it may contain — especially for sensitive skin.
What's in tallow cream?
Our Tallow Farm Tallow Cream contains one ingredient: 100% grass-fed beef tallow.
That's it. No water, no preservatives, no emulsifiers, no fragrance. Just rendered fat from pasture-raised cattle.
How do they compare?
| Tallow Cream | Typical Commercial Moisturiser | |
|---|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Grass-fed beef tallow | Water, emulsifiers, humectants, preservatives, fragrance |
| Skin compatibility | Very high — similar composition to skin's own sebum | Variable — depends heavily on formulation |
| Vitamins | A, D, E, K naturally present | Often added synthetically |
| Shelf life | Stable without preservatives (fat-based) | Requires preservatives due to water content |
| Fragrance | None (unscented) | Commonly added |
| Suitable for sensitive skin | Yes — minimal irritant risk | Depends on formula; fragrance is a common trigger |
Which is better?
"Better" depends on what you're looking for. If you want a simple, ingredient-transparent option with no synthetic additives and strong biological compatibility with your skin, tallow is hard to beat. If your skin is doing well on a commercial moisturiser and you're not experiencing any issues, there's no urgent reason to switch.
But if you've struggled to find a moisturiser that doesn't irritate your skin, or you've been looking to simplify your routine and cut out synthetic ingredients, tallow is worth trying.
Try it for yourself
Start with our Tallow Sample Pack to test the cream and soap before committing. Or go straight to the 300ml Tallow Cream if you're ready to make the switch.