Tallow vs. Shea Butter vs. Coconut Oil: Which Natural Moisturizer Is Right for You?

If you are moving to natural skincare, you will meet three moisturizers again and again: tallow, shea butter and coconut oil. All three are simple, plant- or animal-based fats. They feel very different on the skin, though, and they suit different people.

Beef tallow

What it is: Rendered beef fat, ideally from grass-fed suet.

How it feels: Rich but melts quickly into the skin; whipped tallow feels like a soft cream.

Why people choose it: Tallow's blend of oleic, palmitic and stearic acids overlaps with the lipids in your own skin barrier, and it carries fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Many people with dry, mature or sensitive skin find it more comforting than plant butters.

Best for: Dry, normal, mature and sensitive skin. Use a small amount if you are oily.

Shea butter

What it is: Fat from the nut of the African shea tree.

How it feels: Thick and waxy until it warms up; can feel heavier and slower to absorb.

Why people choose it: It is a vegan option, rich in stearic and oleic acids, and widely available.

Best for: Body care, very dry hands, feet and elbows. Some people find it heavy on the face.

Coconut oil

What it is: Oil pressed from coconut meat.

How it feels: Light and slippery when melted, solid when cool.

Why people choose it: It is inexpensive and smells lovely.

Watch out for: Coconut oil is high in lauric acid, and on its own it is considered pore-clogging for many people when left on the face. It shines in body care, hair care and in small amounts within a blended formula, but a pure layer of coconut oil is not the best face moisturizer for oily or blemish-prone skin.

Quick comparison

• Feel on the skin: tallow is rich but melts in; shea is thick and slower to absorb; coconut oil is light and slippery.
• As a face moisturizer: tallow suits dry, mature and sensitive skin; shea can feel heavy; pure coconut oil can clog pores for many people.
• For body care: all three work well.
• Vegan: shea butter and coconut oil are; tallow is not.

Why we build around tallow

Grass-fed tallow is the base of every Ivory Clay face cream. We pair it with cold-pressed oils, botanicals and essential oils so each formula suits a skin type — see our face creams.

Whatever you choose, patch-test first and give your skin a few weeks to adjust.

Curious? Read why our tallow is truly premium or shop the full collection.