Is beef dripping REALLY better than Botox? We put the ‘natural’ £10 beauty trend to the test

AS a TikTok beauty trend sees ‘skinfluencers’ swapping pricey creams for beef tallow as a natural anti-ageing remedy, mum-of-two Laura Blakeman, 40, from Didcot, Oxfordshire, puts it to the test.

STEAK night is a staple in our household.

Close-up of Laura Blakeman's face. — Laura Blakeman, 40, before testing beef tallow as a natural anti-ageing remedy

Woman applying beef tallow moisturizer. — The product has been hailed as ‘nature’s Botox’ on social mediaCredit: Damien McFadden

And while I’ve always been a fan of mopping up the dripping that oozes onto my plate, I never imagined I’d one day be spreading beef fat onto my face in the name of beauty.

But here I am.

Thanks to TikTok, beef tallow – the hard, white fat found around the animal’s heart and kidneys, and more generally known as dripping in the UK – is being hailed as a miracle moisturiser with Botox-like results.

A quick search reveals just how viral the trend has become, with the hashtag #beeftallow bringing up more two million videos. Holy cow…

Mega influencer Nara Smith gave it her seal of approval in a post where her husband, model Lucky Blue Smith, made her a batch of homemade beef tallow moisturiser – and gained 3.6million likes in the process.

As a mum to two young boys, aged eight and 11, the idea of cooking up beef tallow and beeswax – another ingredient used – in my kitchen was never on the cards.

But after seeing it repeatedly hailed as “nature’s Botox” on social media, my curiosity got the better of me.

I turned 40 last month and let’s just say that my Aldi skincare collection – alongside the more expensive Olay Regenerist £34 cream – isn’t doing the trick anymore.

In fact, the last five years have taken a real toll on my face and the once-fine lines have now turned into deep grooves.

After trying countless “miracle” creams, I finally treated myself to my first-ever Botox experience last year – and I absolutely loved it.

Don’t spend so much on skincare – I make moisturizer from an unusual animal product

Just a few quick injections and within two weeks, my deep-set forehead wrinkles had faded, leaving me feeling like I’d turned back time by several years.

But after six months the results wore off, and with an eye-watering £270 price tag per session, another dose is not an option.

As a school office administrator, Botox twice a year isn’t exactly in my budget – especially as I’m constantly restocking the fridge for two growing boys and my partner.

So, when I saw skincare fans raving about whipped tallow cream for just £9.99, I thought: ‘Why not give it a go?’

At this point, I’m desperate for ANYTHING that might smooth my fine lines

At this point, I’m desperate for ANYTHING that might smooth my fine lines.

Plus, it has Kourtney Kardashian’s seal of approval on her lifestyle site, Poosh.

And since I’m neither vegetarian nor vegan, why not?

My jar of Whipped Tallow Balm arrived the day after I ordered it on Amazon Prime, so I got to work that very evening.

Before and after photos showing a woman's face. — The mum got Botox for the first time last yearCredit: Supplied

Selfie of a woman on the London Eye with London skyline in the background. — Although her forehead wrinkles faded, the results wore off after just six monthsCredit: Supplied

I was initially surprised by the small size of the 60g brown glass pot, but once I saw the thick, balm-like texture inside, I knew a little would go a long way.

Waxy aroma

Amazon’s recommendation was to apply it after cleansing, gently massaging it into the skin.

I decided to make it part of my evening routine, worried that its rich texture might not sit well under make-up during the day.

That night, I dotted the balm onto my forehead, cheeks and chin, gently working it in.

The tub boasted a chemical-free formula, made in China, from 100 per cent grass-fed cow tallow, with added honey and olive oil to soothe irritation and redness.

I expected it to feel incredibly greasy, but while it left a slight sheen initially, it wasn’t nearly as oily as I had imagined and absorbed into my skin within minutes.

Neither did it have the beef dripping pong I feared it might.

Instead, there was a mild, waxy aroma – a bit like kids’ crayons. It smelled far more natural than the overpowering fragrances of my shop-bought products.

With fat being the main ingredient, I was worried it might cause an angry outbreak of spots.

Yet countless verdicts on TikTok claim it is actually beneficial for acne and breakouts.

Dr Tijion Esho, lead doctor, skin expert, and founder of CULTSKIN, explains: “The fatty acids in beef tallow, such as palmitic and stearic acid, have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce redness and irritation linked to breakouts.

“Its high vitamin A content, which plays a crucial role in skin regeneration, helps promote cell turnover and supports the healing process.

“That said, it is important to remember that everyone’s skin reacts differently.”

While I’ve never been prone to acne, I do still get hormonal breakouts at certain times of the month.

However, since I started using beef tallow on my skin, I’ve not had a single spot.

This could be because it offers a cocktail of antioxidants.

My partner thought smearing cow fat on my face was bizarre – especially when he’s more used to it being used in our Sunday roast

Dr. Esho adds: “It’s for good reason that beef tallow is making a strong comeback on TikTok.

“It’s rich in vitamins D and K2, nutrients which help to deeply nourish and hydrate the skin.

“And when sourced from grass-fed cows, it’s also packed with antioxidants that repair and protect the skin barrier.”

Dating back to ancient civilizations, the Egyptians and Romans used beef tallow in their skincare rituals.

How much does Botox cost?

BOTOX and anti-wrinkle injections are one of the most popular cosmetic treatments available today.

Botox injections work by weakening or paralyzing certain muscles or by blocking certain nerves.

The effects last about three to twelve months, depending on what you are treating.

The NHS website estimates each botulinum toxin injection costs £150-£350 per session.

The price varies depending on how much is used per session, they add.

Botox prices fluctuate depending on where you go to get it done and the number of areas treated.

Some companies offer one area for around the £200 mark, and most offer packages if you want to add more areas to your treatment.

It is worth doing your research before you undergo the treatment – and remember that going ‘cheap’ isn’t always a good idea.

Its nutrient-rich formula was a go-to for treating dry skin, wounds and other skin ailments for centuries.

Even in the 19th and early 20th centuries, tallow was a mainstay in many skincare formulations.

It is only in more recent years that it has disappeared from mainstream products, which is why – perhaps unfairly – it is now being dubbed a TikTok fad.

While I’ve witnessed numerous weird and wacky skincare trends blow up on social media, trying cow lard really doesn’t bother me.

After all, you’ve likely never heard of half the ingredients that are lurking in most high street skincare products.

At least tallow is natural and not a toxic chemical.

That said, when I started to receive compliments from friends and family and mentioned that I was rubbing beef dripping into my cheeks, I was met with some surprised looks.

My partner thought smearing cow fat on my face was bizarre – especially when he’s more used to it being used in our Sunday roast. But thankfully he didn’t notice any unpleasant smell.

After I had been massaging it into my skin daily for three weeks, I hadn’t noticed any significant changes myself.

However, when a friend commented on how great my skin looked, I realised that my face did have a healthy, plump glow.

Another said: “Your face looks so fresh and youthful – have you had Botox again?”

Skincare hero

When I told her my “secret” was basically lard, her jaw dropped in horror… until I mentioned the much more affordable price tag.

And she wasn’t the only one surprised by my new skincare trick.

Many friends quizzed me on whether it smelled, caused breakouts, or felt unpleasant to apply.

The reality, however, was quite the opposite and the results spoke for themselves.

My skin was glowing and this quickly encouraged a few of my friends to want in on the action.

For vegans or vegetarians, using beef tallow may not be an option.

But as Milly Ahlquist, a researcher at Lush Cosmetics, points out: “Many vegan and vegetarian ingredients offer similar – or even superior – benefits.

“A comparative study found that pumpkin seed oil, for instance, provided better hydrating and moisturising effects than tallow.”

While beef tallow may not be for everyone, I’ve found the extra hydration it provides to be a skincare hero during the recent cold spells.

I still don’t think it can replace the wrinkle-zapping magic of Botox, but after nine weeks of using it, I’ve noticed around a 30 per cent reduction in my fine lines.

They haven’t disappeared entirely, but they’ve visibly softened and my face looks much smoother, most likely thanks to the beef tallow deeply hydrating my skin, leaving it plumper, firmer and more dewy.

Plus it saves me splashing out £34 on my Olay moisturiser, as it is already proving to last longer.

I never imagined I’d say this, but I now have beef fat to thank for restoring a healthy glow to my face.