Why I Swear by Grass-Fed Beef Tallow for Baby Skin
By Hana, co-founder of Matylda Baby
When I first told one of my mummy friends that I was putting beef fat on my baby’s skin, she looked at me like I’d lost the plot. I don’t blame her — “tallow” isn’t exactly the word most people link with gentle, natural baby skincare.
But here’s the thing: in a world of over-complicated ingredient lists and so-called “natural” creams that are really just generic bases with a token drop of the good stuff, grass-fed beef tallow has been my quiet hero — protecting, healing, and repairing my little one’s skin in ways that honestly blew my mind. So much so, I ended up making it the hero ingredient in our BUM+BODY Balm. But that’s a story for another day.
Why Most of the Baby Creams Suck (A Lot)
I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that motherhood — and that famous “mum guilt” — makes you do some crazy stuff. So when my baby got her first nappy rash, I had a little cry and marched straight to Boots to buy the best nappy rash cream I could find.
A few days later, I was £15 lighter. Her little bum wasn’t quite as angry, but that stubborn redness just wouldn’t budge. So I went to the pharmacy again. And again. And again.
When I finally mentioned it to a mum of a toddler (who I assumed would have all the answers), she just shrugged and said, “I think that’s normal.”
But is it?
In the postpartum haze, this became my obsession. During night feeds, I was on my phone, frantically googling which ingredients to look for — and which ones to avoid. That’s when I opened Pandora’s box.
It didn’t take long to discover that 99.9% of baby creams out there are either a generic base with a token drop of the “good stuff” or — in the worst cases — a derivative of petroleum.
Why is that a problem? Petroleum-based products create a non-breathable layer on the skin. They don’t actually nourish or repair; they just trap moisture (and sometimes bacteria) underneath. For baby skin that’s already irritated, that’s a recipe for more redness, not less.
Seriously — if you don’t believe me, check out the post where I break down, in plain English, the nappy cream ingredients of all the top 10 best-selling products. Fair warning: it’s a scary read.
From Kitchen Staple to Baby Skincare
When I first stumbled across tallow, it wasn’t for baby skincare at all — it was in the context of cooking. I was looking for a healthier option for frying when a friend casually mentioned that her grandma used to use it on her skin (and how ridiculously fresh she still looks in her late 80s).
Naturally, I started looking into tallow balm — at first, selfishly for me, because I also don’t want to end up looking like a shrivelled raisin when I’m older. But here’s the thing — tallow isn’t some new fad dreamed up by a marketing team. For generations, it was a household staple.
Our great-grandmothers used beef tallow balm to protect skin from wind and sun, soothe scrapes, and keep little faces soft through brutal winters. It was in the kitchen, in the medicine cupboard, and in the hands of midwives.
Somewhere along the way, we traded these time-tested, skin-compatible fats for cheap synthetic alternatives that might look good in a jar but do little to actually nourish.
Why Tallow is Perfect for Your Little One’s Skin
The benefits of using grass-fed tallow for baby skin honestly blew my mind.
It Mimics the Skin’s Natural Oils
Tallow’s fatty acid profile is almost identical to the oils in human skin. That means it sinks in easily and supports the skin barrier rather than sitting on top like a heavy coat of paint.
It Won’t Clog Pores
Despite being incredibly rich and nourishing, good quality beef tallow balm is non-comedogenic. It hydrates deeply without blocking pores, which makes it perfect for delicate baby skin that needs to breathe.
Naturally Rich in Vitamins
Grass-fed tallow contains vitamins A, D, E, and K — all fat-soluble nutrients that play a role in skin repair, elasticity, and resilience. No synthetic versions needed; it’s all there naturally.
It Creates a Protective, Breathable Barrier
Unlike petroleum products, which trap everything underneath, tallow forms a light, breathable shield that helps skin retain moisture while still letting it function normally.
(FYI even gorgeous Salma Hayek has admitted to using tallow as part of her skincare routine — proof that this isn’t just an old wives’ tale, but a beauty secret that’s stood the test of time.)
Busting the Three Big Myths
You might be asking, why isn’t everybody using it already? What’s the catch? Honestly — the only “catch” is that most people have never been told it’s an option. Somewhere between grandma’s medicine cupboard and today’s baby aisle, tallow just… disappeared from the conversation.
Let’s talk about some myths that are stopping people from giving tallow balms a try:
Myth 1: It’s greasy and smells like Sunday lunch
High-quality, grass-fed tallow, rendered properly, is almost scentless. It melts into the skin within seconds and leaves no sticky or heavy residue. If it’s greasy or smells overpowering, it’s not the good stuff.
Myth 2: It’s weird to put animal fat on skin
Your skin barrier is made up of lipids (fats), too. In fact, tallow balm is more structurally similar to your skin’s natural oils than many plant-based moisturisers. Your skin sees it as familiar, which is why it absorbs so easily.
Myth 3: “I won’t smear something from a dead animal on myself or my baby”
No animal dies for tallow — it’s a byproduct of the meat industry. Using it is actually a way of being a responsible consumer and reducing waste by making the most of the whole animal. It’s the very opposite of being selfish.
Myth 4: It’s old-fashioned, so it can’t be as good as modern creams
Sometimes the old ways stick around for centuries because they actually work. The difference now is that we can source grass-fed, organic tallow and pair it with other skin-loving ingredients — no petroleum, no fillers, just real nourishment.
Final Thoughts (from One Mum to Another)
Finding a baby cream you can actually trust isn’t always straightforward.
I went through the Boots aisle, the pharmacy shelf, and the “all-natural” marketing spiel before I found something that genuinely worked. And the answer wasn’t in a fancy jar or a trending ingredient — it was something our great-grandmothers probably had in their kitchens.
Grass-fed beef tallow has been the quiet hero in our home — soothing rashes, softening cheeks, and protecting skin through every season. No unnecessary extras. No mystery chemicals. Just something our skin recognises and loves.
I’m not a dermatologist. I’m just a mum who wanted the very best for her little one’s skin — and found it in the most unexpected place. If you’re reading this while your baby wriggles on the changing mat, wondering if there’s a gentler way, there is.
And if you ever need anything from me, I’m just over at Matylda Baby — making tallow balms for babies like mine and yours. 💛
