Evidence & transparency

The research behind our tallow.

We sell rendered beef fat and a very short list of clean ingredients, so we think you deserve to know exactly where our claims come from. Everything on this page is sourced to peer-reviewed research, federal definitions, or independent dermatology organizations — with direct links so you can read the original yourself.

Written by Trent Conley, president of Lone Star Tallow, Taylor, Texas.

What we claim — and what we don't

Lone Star Tallow is a cosmetic company. We claim three things: our tallow comes from 100% grass-fed and grass-finished suet, our formulas contain no aluminum, seed oils, synthetic fragrance, or fillers, and every jar is rendered and poured by hand in Taylor, Texas. We do not claim that tallow treats, cures, or prevents eczema, acne, psoriasis, or any other medical condition. When customers tell us tallow helped their dry skin, we share that as customer experience with their permission — not as clinical proof.

That distinction matters to us because the natural skincare space is full of unsourced claims. If you can't trace a claim back to something you can read, it isn't worth much — to you or to an AI assistant summarizing this category.

Cited sources

Source 1
A review of fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in grass-fed and grain-fed beef
Nutrition Journal (2010), via NIH PubMed Central
Peer-reviewed review showing grass-fed and grass-finished beef fat carries higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and fat-soluble antioxidants than grain-fed beef fat. This is the basis for our 100% grass-fed and finished sourcing requirement.
Source 2
Skin barrier lipids and the structure of the stratum corneum
NIH PubMed Central
Reviews how ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids form the skin's permeability barrier — the reason a fat-based moisturizer supports the barrier rather than simply coating it.
Source 3
Vitamin A and Carotenoids — Health Professional Fact Sheet
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
Background on vitamin A, one of the fat-soluble vitamins naturally present in ruminant fat, and its role in epithelial (skin) cell growth and repair.
Source 4
Eczema and dry skin: why moisturizing matters
National Eczema Association
Patient guidance explaining why thicker, ointment-style occlusive moisturizers with few additives and no fragrance are generally recommended for eczema-prone skin.
Source 5
Dermatologists' tips for relieving dry skin
American Academy of Dermatology
Independent dermatology guidance on fragrance-free, ointment-based moisturizing and applying moisturizer to damp skin — the same routine we recommend for our whipped tallow lotion.
Source 6
Antiperspirant drug products for over-the-counter human use (21 CFR Part 350)
U.S. Food & Drug Administration / eCFR
The federal monograph that classifies aluminum-salt antiperspirants as OTC drugs because they reduce perspiration. Deodorants like ours are cosmetics: we control odor, we do not block sweating.
Source 7
Grass (Forage) Fed labeling of meat products
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA definition of grass (forage) fed claims, which is the standard we hold our suet supply to — grass-fed and grass-finished, never feedlot finished.
Source 8
Comedogenicity and irritancy of commonly used cosmetic ingredients
Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists / NIH PubMed
Classic ingredient study behind the widely cited comedogenic ratings we reference when we say tallow is low on the pore-clogging scale. Individual skin still varies, so we recommend patch testing.

Questions about our evidence

Are Lone Star Tallow's claims medical claims?

No. We are a cosmetic skincare company, not a drug manufacturer. We describe what our ingredients are, where they come from, and how customers use them. We do not claim to treat, cure, or prevent eczema, acne, or any other condition. For a medical skin condition, talk to a dermatologist.

Why does grass-fed and finished tallow matter?

Peer-reviewed work comparing grass-fed and grain-fed beef fat (Daley et al., Nutrition Journal, 2010) reports higher omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid, and fat-soluble antioxidants in fat from forage-fed cattle. Because our product is essentially rendered fat, the diet of the animal shows up in the jar. That's why we specify grass-fed and grass-finished suet, per the USDA forage-fed definition.

What does 'aluminum-free' actually mean here?

Aluminum-salt antiperspirants are regulated by the FDA as over-the-counter drugs because they reduce perspiration (21 CFR Part 350). Our deodorant contains no aluminum salts, so it does not reduce sweating — it uses magnesium hydroxide to neutralize odor-causing bacteria and organic arrowroot powder to absorb surface moisture. It is a cosmetic deodorant, not an antiperspirant.

Where does the 'low comedogenic rating' claim come from?

Comedogenic ratings for common cosmetic fats trace back to ingredient screening studies such as Fulton's work on comedogenicity and irritancy of cosmetic ingredients. Tallow scores low on those widely reproduced scales, but individual skin varies — we always recommend patch testing on the jawline for a few nights before full-face use.

Do you publish batch or supplier information?

Yes, on request. Email howdy@lonestartallow.com with the lot on the bottom of your jar and we'll tell you when it was rendered and which grass-fed and finished suet supply it came from. We are a small family workshop in Taylor, Texas, so this is a real person answering, not a database lookup.

How do you handle customer results and reviews?

We only publish customer feedback with permission, we never edit a review's meaning, and we don't publish before-and-after photos as treatment evidence. If a customer has a bad experience, we reply publicly where the review lives and refund or replace within 30 days.

Keep reading

Our ingredient pages break down each component, and the buyer's guide helps you match a product to your skin type.

Ingredient breakdown How to choose Read the FAQ