Nara Smith Shares Husband's DIY Beef Tallow Moisturizer Recipe in Viral TikTok
Beef tallow has become one of the most talked-about ingredients in DIY skin care — and Nara Smith is one of the influencers driving its popularity.
The TikTok star known for her ASMR-style cooking videos shared a homemade moisturizer recipe built around the rendered cow fat, sending curious viewers straight to their kitchens.
If you’re considering beef tallow for skin care, here’s what’s in Nara’s recipe, what dermatologists and research say about the ingredient and what to know before you try it yourself.
Nara Smith’s homemade moisturizer recipe with beef tallow
The viral recipe came together after Nara’s husband, Lucky Blue Smith, ran out of his usual moisturizer and decided to make his own.
“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,” Nara said at the start of the TikTok video, originally posted in May 2024.
Here’s how the beef tallow moisturizer comes together:
- Combine beef tallow and beeswax in a metal bowl
- Place the bowl over a pot of boiling water
- Once melted, remove the metal bowl from the heat
- In a separate bowl, mix squalene and jojoba oil
- Combine the squalene and jojoba oil into the tallow and beeswax bowl
- Add vitamin E oil, hyaluronic acid and glycerin separately, mixing well after each addition
- Once the mixture thickens, transfer it into a cup with a lid
- Place it in the refrigerator to set
“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.
What beef tallow actually is — and why people use it on skin
Beef tallow is rendered fat from cows, sourced from suet that surrounds the kidneys and other organs, according to UT MD Anderson. Its appeal in skin care comes down to its composition.
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.
Michele Green, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, told GQ that tallow’s “fatty acids closely resemble the natural oils of the skin, allowing it to effectively replenish moisture.” That similarity is part of why advocates argue a beef tallow moisturizer can absorb well and help skin retain hydration.
The other ingredients in Nara Smith’s TikTok recipe
Beef tallow is the headline ingredient, but Nara Smith’s TikTok recipe leans on a stack of supporting ingredients that each play a specific role in skin hydration.
A 2023 study found that beeswax can function as an occlusive, humectant and emollient. Humectants pull water into the skin, occlusives create a barrier that seals moisture in and emollients soften and soothe the skin’s surface.
Squalene — the main component of skin surface polyunsaturated lipids — mimics oils found naturally in skin and works as both an emollient and antioxidant, according to a 2009 study. Squalane, a more shelf-stable version, may be better for long-term storage, per Allure.
Jojoba oil, a liquid wax derived from the seeds of the Simmondsia chinensis plant, is widely used in skincare to moisturize, balance oil production and soothe skin, according to a 2021 study.
Hyaluronic acid and glycerin both serve as humectants — per CeraVe, they “serve the same function of drawing in moisture to hydrate the skin.” And vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant found naturally in the skin, moisturizes, protects skin cells and can absorb energy from ultraviolet light, according to Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute.
What to know before trying a beef tallow moisturizer
A viral Nara Smith TikTok recipe is not a substitute for personalized skin care advice. Beef tallow can also cause acne, according to UT MD Anderson, and everyone’s skin reacts differently to oils, waxes and active ingredients.
Nara’s husband skipped essential oils in his version specifically because she struggles with eczema and dry skin — a small detail that underscores how individualized a homemade moisturizer recipe needs to be.
If you’re considering a DIY beef tallow moisturizer, talk to a dermatologist first, especially if you have acne-prone skin, eczema, sensitivities or an existing skin care routine you don’t want to disrupt.
Sourcing matters too: the quality of the tallow, the cleanliness of your tools and how you store the finished product all affect what ends up on your face.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
