Health
New skincare trend has people rubbing beef fat on their faces: Dermatologists react
Rubbing beef fat on your face is one of the newest skincare fads.
Beef tallow is currently trending on social media as an alternative to traditional skincare products.
The simple-ingredient balms are made from the fat surrounding the kidneys of cows and processed into a butter that can be used as a moisturizer.
AIRPLANE PASSENGERS GO VIRAL FOR MID-FLIGHT BEAUTY ROUTINES: DERMATOLOGISTS WEIGH IN
While many might turn up their noses to using an animal-based product on the face, natural skincare company Hearth and Homestead in Virginia sold out of its tallow balm product on Black Friday.
Lily Wilmoth, the company’s founder and president, spoke with Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview about the skyrocketing demand for beef tallow.
Hearth and Homestead founder Lily Wilmoth is pictured with her husband and five children. “The biggest product for us has always been our tallow-based skincare products,” she told Fox News Digital. (Hearth and Homestead)
“It’s bigger than ever,” she said. “The biggest product for us has always been our tallow-based skincare products.”
How is beef tallow made?
Wilmoth revealed that her tallow balm is made from 100% grass-fed beef suet, or the fat that encases a cow’s kidney, which is sourced from farms across the country.
The fat is harvested, ground into a butter consistency and blended with an herb-infused olive oil before being melted, whipped, cooled and jarred, she said.
‘I’M A PHARMACIST, AND I WOULDN’T TAKE THESE 3 VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS’
“It’s not the back fat or other types of fat that you might find on your steak,” Wilmoth said. “It’s a very specific fat … our ancestors recognized that this fat was special.”
“It has a higher amount of nutrients than all the other fats in the animal,” she went on. “It’s very creamy and white in texture. It doesn’t have a weird smell or taste.”
This specific fat is where nutrients, including vitamins D and A, are stored, according to Wilmoth.
Potential benefits for the skin
“Our skin is an organ,” Wilmoth said. “That’s why it’s so important that anything we put on our skin should be something we’re really thinking about carefully.”
Some moisturizers on the market have a “long list of complex ingredients, preservatives, emulsifiers … fragrances and dyes,” which could worsen skin conditions like eczema and acne, she cautioned.
Tallow balm is recommended as a moisturizer at the end of a skincare routine, after washing with a simple, all-natural soap. (Hearth and Homestead)
“Tallow balm, which is oil-based, doesn’t need preservatives because it doesn’t contain water,” she said. “It’s not going to disrupt the natural skin barrier.”
While tallow balm is “not a healing remedy” and each person’s skin will react to it differently, Wilmoth noted that many customers say it helps with conditions like acne and psoriasis.
“It has a higher amount of nutrients than all the other fats in the animal.”
Dr. Brendan Camp, a New York-based dermatologist, agreed that beef tallow is “generally well-tolerated” by most skin types.
He confirmed that beef tallow acts as a moisturizer to help “trap water into the skin” and make it feel “smooth and soft.”
For the skeptics who may think using fat on the face can be pore-clogging, one expert noted that tallow’s fatty acid profile is “similar to our own skin’s make-up.” (Hearth and Homestead)
“As an emollient, beef tallow fills in cracks and crevices in the skin that contribute to a rough texture,” he said to Fox News Digital.
Beef tallow also contains omega-3 fatty acids and various vitamins, Camp noted, which help maintain the health of the skin barrier and protect it from “oxidative stress.”
Not ideal for everyone
Wilmoth admitted that she “cannot guarantee that every single person is going to see amazing results with tallow,” as every person’s microbiome is different.
“Depending on your particular skin type, you may find that something else works better for you,” she said.
People with oily skin may find beef tallow products to be “too heavy or greasy,” Camp cautioned.
TANNING PILLS CAN POSE SERIOUS DANGERS, DERMATOLOGISTS WARN: ‘CONSUMERS SHOULD BE AWARE’
“If you have sensitive skin, you may want to consider doing a patch test on the inside of your arm prior to using it more liberally on the skin,” he recommended.
For those who opt not to use beef tallow, Camp suggested trying other basic moisturizers that are free of fragrances and dyes and that contain hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and squalane.
One dermatologist warned that beef tallow could cause inflammation for some people. (iStock)
He also noted that, like most over-the-counter supplements, beef tallow products are not FDA-regulated.
In a video posted to Instagram and shared with Fox News Digital, Dr. Tiina Meder — a cosmetic safety expert, dermatologist and founder of Meder Beauty in London — questioned the hype around tallow balm.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Meder, who grew up in Estonia in the 1970s, shared that her mother applied beef tallow to her face and hands in the cold winters because there weren’t any other options.
“It was the only thing to protect children’s faces and hands from cold burn,” she said.
One expert warned that some of the lipids found in beef tallow can be pro-inflammatory for humans and can “sensitize the skin.” (iStock)
But Meder wondered why people would choose not to take advantage of the variety of creams and moisturizers available today that are “better than beef tallow.”
For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/health
“Beef tallow is not bioidentical,” she said. “Beef tallow lipids have very little in common with lipids of the human skin.”
“Depending on your particular skin type, you may find that something else works better for you.”
Linoleic acid, which is found in human sebum glands, is particularly essential for skin health, Meder noted, as it’s an anti-inflammatory antioxidant and also promotes viscosity — but beef tallow doesn’t contain any.
Meder added that other lipids found in beef tallow can be pro-inflammatory for humans and can “sensitize the skin.”
“It is simply not right to apply beef tallow on the skin when you have such a huge choice,” she said.
A Costco-brand cold and flu medicine has been pulled from shelves by the thousands.
A total of 8,640 boxes of Kirkland Severe Cold & Flu Plus Congestion Day and Night packs were recalled by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) last week.
This is following the FDA’s proposal to ban the use of oral phenylephrine as an over-the-counter nasal decongestant in early November.
FOOD AND DRINK PRODUCT RECALLS IN DECEMBER: IT’S ALL ABOUT ‘PROTECTING CONSUMERS’
After “extensive review,” the FDA concluded that the active ingredient in the product (oral phenylephrine) is “not effective” as a nasal decongestant.
Nearly 9,000 boxes of Kirkland Severe Cold & Flu Plus Congestion Day and Night were recalled for quality control issues. (iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said he agrees with the recent pushback against the ingredient.
“This chemical is shown to be ineffective against cold and flu in its oral form, except at a dose that has some heart toxicity and can lead to palpitations, arrhythmia and high blood pressure.”
DR. NICOLE SAPHIER’S 5 FOODS TO BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM THIS COLD AND FLU SEASON
The FDA stated that the Kirkland recall was related to quality control issues, noting in the official recall that the “released product should have been rejected.”
This was a Class II recall, which the FDA describes as a “situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
Recalled boxes of Kirkland Severe Cold & Flu Plus Congestion had lot numbers P139953 or P139815 with an August 2026 expiration date. (eBay)
Katy Dubinsky, a New York pharmacist and founder and CEO of Vitalize, confirmed with Fox News Digital that the recall most likely occurred due to deviations from CGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice).
“[That means] the product failed to meet required quality control standards and should have been rejected before release,” she said.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“To guarantee all products meet strict safety and quality guidelines, the FDA made a Class II recall, which suggests low consumer risk and typically addresses issues unlikely to cause serious harm.”
For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/health
Manufacturing inconsistencies and labeling errors can cause “many” CGMP deviations, according to the pharmacist, as well as other procedural issues rather than ingredient problems.
“Acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin and phenylephrine – the listed active ingredients – are widely used as well as considered safe when taken as directed,” she said.
Pharmacist Katy Dubinsky told consumers to stop using recalled lots of this product. (iStock)
Dubinsky instructed consumers to stop using the recalled lots and consult with a health care professional if concerns or symptoms arise after taking the product.
“However, there is no need for panic,” she said. “Recalls like this are important to keep products safe and help people trust the over-the-counter medications they rely on.”
Recalled boxes of the Kirkland Cold & Flu product had lot numbers P139953 or P139815 with an August 2026 expiration date.
Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA and Costco for comment.
Bird flu (H5N1) continues to spark warnings around the country.
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the country’s first severe case of bird flu in a human.
The patient, who lives in southwestern Louisiana, is currently hospitalized, according to a release from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).
BIRD FLU SURGES IN SEVERAL US STATES WITH REPORTS OF NEW OUTBREAKS: ‘GETTING WORSE’
The infected person is known to have been exposed to sick and dead birds that are “suspected to have been infected,” the same source stated.
The LDH is working with the CDC on genomic testing of the virus infecting the hospitalized patient. Fox News Digital reached out to the department for comment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday confirmed the country’s first severe case of bird flu in a human. (iStock)
There have been a total of 61 human cases throughout the country since April.
No human-to-human transmission has been reported, leading the CDC to maintain its stance that risk to the public is low.
GOVERNOR NEWSOM DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY IN CALIFORNIA DUE TO BIRD FLU
Despite the low risk, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency due to the bird flu.
The declaration follows an outbreak of the virus among dairy cows in Southern California farms, according to the news release on the governor’s website.
“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Newsom said in a statement.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency due to the bird flu. (Mario Tama)
“Building on California’s testing and monitoring system — the largest in the nation — we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agricultural industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information,” he continued.
“While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus.”
Doctors discuss bird flu risk
Sam Scarpino, PhD, director of AI and life sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, said the “tragic case” in Louisiana is evidence of the “widespread nature” of H5N1 in the U.S.
“It also reinforces the very serious situation we are facing,” he told Fox News Digital.
“We need to take more decisive action to control the spread of H5N1 in animal populations.”
“We need to take more decisive action to control the spread of H5N1 in animal populations. Until then, we will continue to see human spillover cases, and some of them will unfortunately be severe.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, pointed out that this severe case represents just one instance of the infection and is not necessarily cause for alarm.
No human-to-human transmission has been reported, leading the CDC to maintain its stance that risk to the public is low. (iStock)
“We’d have to know more about the patient’s particular medical details,” he told Fox News Digital. “We can’t conclude [from one case] that it’s becoming more severe in humans.”
Previous iterations of bird flu have had a 50% death rate in humans, Siegel noted, but the 61 human cases in the U.S. this year have been “very mild.”
“That is actually a good sign, that the virus is mutating away from severity, as traditionally H5N1 makes humans very sick,” he told Fox News Digital.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The most critical thing to watch, according to the doctor, is whether bird flu will begin to spread from human to human.
“That’s the key thing we’re concerned about — that it doesn’t get into the upper respiratory tract among humans,” Siegel said.
“Bird flu is a group of influenza viruses that primarily circulate among bird populations,” an expert told Fox News Digital. “However, influenza viruses are also known to jump species, and bird flu has done this a few times in history.” (Uli Deck/picture alliance via Getty Images)
“It hasn’t up until now, and that’s because it would take some mutations — at least one. We’re tracking that, but probably not closely enough.”
The vast majority of recent human cases have stemmed from direct contact with animals, he said — “but it’s now spread into the cattle population and into milk, which worries a lot of people, including me.”
Rebecca C. Christofferson, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at Louisiana State University, commented to Fox News Digital about the potential for a pandemic.
“Nobody wants another pandemic.”
“Bird flu is a group of influenza viruses that primarily circulate among bird populations,” she told Fox News Digital.
“However, influenza viruses are also known to jump species, and bird flu has done this a few times in history.”
A researcher wears a protective suit while collecting samples of wildlife where the H5N1 bird flu virus was detected in Chilean Antarctic territory in Antarctica. (Reuters/Instituto Antartico Chileno)
“The more the virus gets into mammals and then the more it passes from mammal to mammal, the greater the concern that it will adapt to mammals and spread more easily among them and then spill over into humans,” Christofferson added.
“Nobody wants another pandemic.”
For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/health
The good news, Cristofferson said, is that it’s easy to protect yourself from catching bird flu.
“If you have to handle birds or suspected ill animals (or be around ill people), wearing gloves and masks and washing your hands will protect you as it does with other respiratory viruses,” she said.
For those who are feeling “stuck” or overwhelmed while striving for work-life balance, some experts recommend adopting a “pendulum lifestyle.”
Coined by Dr. Jeffrey Karp, Ph.D, a professor of biomedical engineering at Brigham & Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School in Boston, the pendulum lifestyle is defined as a “concept that acknowledges life’s natural ebb and flow, and empowers you to thrive amidst the swings.”
“Rarely are we in balance … it’s just unrealistic and an anxiety-inducing expectation,” the doctor told Fox News Digital in an interview.
WHY THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A ‘WORK-LIFE BALANCE,’ SAYS CAREER COACH AND AUTHOR
Seeing the world as a pendulum fosters a more compassionate mindset and alleviates the pressure to be perfect, Karp said.
For those who are feeling “stuck” or overwhelmed while striving for work-life balance, some experts recommend adopting a “pendulum lifestyle.” (iStock)
With this approach, people can take small steps to “swing the pendulum,” enabling them to feel more emotionally, mentally and physically “balanced” during the day, according to the expert.
This could also empower individuals who feel “stuck” when facing daily challenges, he said.
“Looking at nature, there are so many cycles, so many things that are kind of going back and forth, like night and day …. changes of seasons, and the waxing and waning of the moon,” noted Karp.
MOST PRODUCTIVE THINGS YOU CAN GET DONE EARLY IN THE MORNING BEFORE WORK, ACCORDING TO CAREER COACHES
The pendulum lifestyle involves daily “self-check-ins” where the person gauges their physical, emotional and mental energy levels, Karp said. They can then take immediate steps to move their levels in a positive direction toward the ideal balance.
“If we can visualize everything on a pendulum, we can think, ‘What’s the one step I could take today to bring the pendulum a little closer to where I want it to be?’” he said.
With this approach, people can take small steps to “swing the pendulum,” enabling them to feel more emotionally, mentally and physically “balanced” during the day. (iStock)
For example, a person who has low physical energy could visualize a pendulum with the lowest energy on one side and the highest energy on the other.
He would then do a “self-check” to identify where his energy level lies on the pendulum and what small steps could move it closer to the ideal balance point, Karp said.
“True well-being doesn’t lie in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to navigate the ebb and flow of life.”
That might mean taking a 10-minute walk, doing some jumping jacks or performing a few stretches to move the pendulum to a higher energy level position.
“This empowers the person and reminds them they are not stuck,” Karp said.
Taking a 10-minute walk, doing some jumping jacks or performing a few stretches can move the pendulum to a higher energy level position, the expert said. (iStock)
On the flip side, if it’s late at night and a person needs to wind down, she might engage in a calming exercise like meditation or listening to relaxing music as a way to swing the pendulum to a level more conducive to sleeping, the expert advised.
The pendulum lifestyle can also serve as a mood-booster, Kelp said. When someone is feeling down, watching a funny movie or practicing gratitude can help shift the pendulum.
WHAT IS ‘BRAIN ROT’? THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHAT TOO MUCH SCROLLING DOES TO OUR BRAINS
The approach could also help launch forward momentum if someone feels “stuck” in life, the expert said.
“When you start to realize that you’re not limited to being at that spot on the pendulum, but can take a step forward and be intentional, it’s just so empowering,” he said.
The daily check-in process could help individuals identify when they are feeling in less than tip-top shape and find ways to swing in a better direction, one expert said. (iStock)
Dr. Molly Sherb, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a licensed psychologist at Mount Sinai in New York City, commented on Karp’s concept of a pendulum lifestyle.
“When you start to realize that you’re not limited to being at that spot on the pendulum, but can take a step forward and be intentional, it’s just so empowering.”
She agreed that the daily check-in process could help individuals identify when they are feeling in less than tip-top shape and find ways to swing in a better direction.
“That might include getting better sleep or eating a healthier breakfast … to help you wake up with a better bandwidth tomorrow,” Sherb said.
Progress, not perfection
Dr. Christopher Fisher, a psychologist at Zucker Hillside Hospital Northwell Health in Queens, New York, said the pendulum lifestyle could help those who feel pressured to achieve a perfect work-life balance.
“The pendulum of life’s experiences – whether emotional, cognitive or physical – is one of the truest expressions of what it means to be human,” he told Fox News Digital.
TRUMP’S DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME PLAN AND SLEEP: WHAT YOU MUST KNOW
“True well-being doesn’t lie in perfection or consistency, but in our ability to navigate the ebb and flow of life,” he told Fox News Digital.
Sherb agreed that the essence of the pendulum lifestyle is that it’s not always possible to strike that 50-50 equal balance.
Adopt a constructive viewpoint and ask yourself what positive changes or routines can help you achieve a more optimal level on the pendulum path, one expert advised. (iStock)
“It’s about constantly tuning into yourself … and seeing which parts of your life might need you more at certain times,” she said.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, but a more tailored approach based on what you need and what people in your life need from you.”
4 steps to implementing the pendulum lifestyle
Karp shared some specific strategies for adopting the pendulum approach.
1. Perform a head-to-toe check-in each morning
Ask yourself how you are feeling emotionally, physically and mentally. What parts do not feel at a 100% level?
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
2. Make any necessary adjustments
Based on your self-check-in, consider changing your routine to accommodate your energy level or take simple steps to help move the pendulum in a positive direction, Karp suggested.
3. Be compassionate and curious
If you feel off-balance, Karp said to recognize that as part of the natural pendulum swing and to embrace it with self-compassion rather than shame and criticism.
“It’s about constantly tuning into yourself … and seeing which parts of your life might need you more at certain times.”
Adopt a constructive viewpoint and ask yourself what positive changes or routines can help you achieve a more optimal level on the pendulum path, he advised.
4. Understand your pendulum swings
It could be helpful to ask yourself specific questions, such as the following.
“What factors helped contribute to a state of feeling balanced?”
“What factors contributed to feeling off-balance?”
“What small changes can I make today to foster a sense of better balance?”
“How did I respond to feeling imbalanced and was it effective?”
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
Above all, Karp said, it’s important to remember that finding balance is a “lifelong journey.”
2 dead, 3 injured in shooting in Louisville’s California neighborhood
Colorado weather: Temperatures staying in the 60s Sunday
Connecticut farmers to benefit from federal disaster relief package
A Delaware Water Gap park visit may cost more in ‘25: How you can weigh in
U.S. Amateur runner-up Noah Kent is transferring to Florida
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
The biggest Supreme Court decisions of 2024: From presidential immunity to overturning the Chevron doctrine
Trump threatens to take back control of Panama Canal over ‘ridiculous fees’
College students get emotional about climate change. Some are finding help in class
Read Blake Lively’s Complaint Against Wayfarer Studios
Trump announces newest nominations to lead DOJ, regulate US railroads
-
Politics1 week agoCanadian premier threatens to cut off energy imports to US if Trump imposes tariff on country
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25789444/1258459915.jpg "OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever says the way AI is built is about to change")
Technology1 week agoOpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever says the way AI is built is about to change
-
Politics1 week agoU.S. Supreme Court will decide if oil industry may sue to block California's zero-emissions goal
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25546252/STK169_Mark_Zuckerburg_CVIRGINIA_D.jpg "Meta asks the US government to block OpenAI’s switch to a for-profit")
Technology1 week agoMeta asks the US government to block OpenAI’s switch to a for-profit
-
Politics1 week agoConservative group debuts major ad buy in key senators' states as 'soft appeal' for Hegseth, Gabbard, Patel
-
Business7 days agoFreddie Freeman's World Series walk-off grand slam baseball sells at auction for $1.56 million
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23951353/STK043_VRG_Illo_N_Barclay_3_Meta.jpg "Meta’s Instagram boss: who posted something matters more in the AI age")
Technology7 days agoMeta’s Instagram boss: who posted something matters more in the AI age
-
News1 week agoEast’s wintry mix could make travel dicey. And yes, that was a tornado in Calif.