Why Winter Tallow Is Exactly What Your Skin Needs This Season

When it comes to skincare, we believe nature knows best. One of the most fascinating ways nature shows up in our products is through the seasonal shifts in grass-fed beef suet—the fat we render into nutrient-rich tallow.

You might not think much about what cows eat in summer versus winter, but their diet directly impacts the fatty acid profile of their fat. And that, in turn, affects the texture, feel, and benefits of the tallow we apply to your skin.

Let’s explore how the seasons shape tallow—and why that’s great news for your skincare routine.

Why Your Skin Craves More in Winter

As temperatures drop, your skin sends out distress signals: dryness, tightness, flakiness, even cracking. Cold air, low humidity, and indoor heating all work to strip away your skin’s natural moisture barrier.

Just as we crave heartier, warming foods in winter, our skin needs richer, more occlusive nourishment to stay balanced. And here's where it gets interesting: the fatty acid composition of tallow naturally shifts with the seasons, influenced by the animal’s diet, climate, and physiological state.

Introducing: Winter Tallow vs. Summer Tallow

We like to think of tallow in two seasonal forms:

Winter Tallow — richer, firmer, and higher in saturated fats like stearic and palmitic acid.
Summer Tallow — softer, with more unsaturated fats like omega-3s and CLA.

Let’s look at how each version supports your skin:

Winter Tallow Advantages

High in Saturated Fats
Forms a strong, occlusive barrier to lock in moisture.

Rich Texture
Creates a protective, emollient layer that shields against wind and cold.

Slower Absorption
Provides long-lasting hydration and defence against trans-epidermal water loss.

Stable Composition
Less prone to oxidation—perfect for harsh winter environments.

Naturally Seasonal
Reflects what animals produce in winter: protective, insulating fat.

 

Summer Tallow Advantages

While winter tallow excels in cold-weather care, spring/summer tallow—softer and higher in unsaturated fats—is ideal for:

• Lighter, fast-absorbing formulations
• Skin recovering from inflammation or sun exposure
• Regenerative day creams that feel light and fresh

 

Winter Skin Needs Winter Tallow

In cold weather, your skin demands more. Winter tallow delivers: It nourishes deeply, protects fiercely, and aligns perfectly with your body’s seasonal rhythms. It creates a stronger barrier, locks in moisture, and guards against the elements—all without synthetic ingredients.

 

Seasonally Aligned Skincare = Ancestral Wisdom

Nature knows what it’s doing. We simply follow her lead.

At It’s All Good, we work exclusively with 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised suet. We’ve observed how seasonal changes naturally shift fat composition, producing tallow that’s as adaptive as your skin needs it to be.

 

References

• Daley, C. A., et al. (2010). A review of fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in grass-fed and grain-fed beef. Nutrition Journal, 9(1), 10.
• Smith, S. B., et al. (2019). Regulation of fat composition in beef cattle. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 27(1), 25–36.
• Madison, K. C. (2003). Barrier function of the skin: “La Raison d’Être” of the epidermis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 121(2), 231–241.
• Azzi, A., et al. (2012). Antioxidant and prooxidant effects of conjugated linoleic acid. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 33(12), 1700–1711.
• Dermato-Endocrinology (2014). Omega-3 and inflammation in skin health.