I’m a Black guy living through harsh winters, and every year my skin gets ashy enough that I skip lotion and go straight to Vaseline.
This winter I tried beef tallow skincare from The VanMan Shop to see if it could keep my skin comfortable without feeling like I’m wearing grease all day.
I tested soap, balm, and eye cream to see how and in what way they were superior popular industrial alternatives like lotion and vaseline. And yes, I know that vaseline is free of additives, but it’s the byproduct of petroleum and that’s always bugged me just a little.
I’m not one of those guys who thinks that there is something inherently superior about non-chemical or non-industrial products, but I became curious about tallow products after about the connection between polyunsaturated fats, inflammation, and skin damage.
I tried three of their products (a balm, soap, and an eye cream) and I’ll tell you what worked, what didn’t, and who this is worth it for.
How to find the best tallow products for your skin
When selecting a beef tallow product, you have to remember that not all beef tallow products are the same. It’s important to make sure that your beef tallow is:
- Dry-rendered
- From grass-fed AND grass-finished cows
Those are two non-negotiables, because they directly affect the stability and quality of the tallow products.
Most tallow brands don’t even know where their tallow comes from. That’s a problem, because real tallow isn’t just “beef fat.
It’s rendered suet — the fat from around the loins and kidneys of cattle raised for meat. That specific source is what gives tallow its stability and nutrient profile.
If the sourcing is sloppy, the product will be too.
A serious producer should be able to answer basic questions:
- Where does the fat come from?
- Do they know the farm?
- Do they know how the cattle are raised?
If the answer is vague, you should move on to a different supplier.
Whipped tallow feels nicer, but it’s lower quality, and you get less actual product. Wet rendering can also introduce moisture, which increases the risk of bacteria or mold.
Dry-rendered tallow is denser, more stable, and holds up better over time.
It may feel heavier, but that’s exactly what you want.
I wrote an entire article breaking down everything you need to know about beef tallow that you can read here.
This is why went with The VanMan Shop because I spoke to the founder and liked their sourcing (Dakotas + Fatworks in Colorado). Most of their products also include a few simple add-ons like honey, beeswax, or essential oils.
A review of VanMan Shop’s beef tallow products
VanMan Bison Tallow & Honey Balm
My first impression of VanMan Bison Tallow & Honey Balm was how tiny a 2 oz. tin is. I’m used to purchasing skin products in larger containers, so this was a surprise.
For comparison, a standard jar of Vaseline is 13 oz., and the Bison Tallow & Honey Balm is 2 oz.
The Bison Tallow Honey Balm is $111. That does include free shipping, which is a nice perk. A jar of vaseline is $7.
It’s $111 for 2 oz (free shipping), so yeah—this is premium-priced. It’s also their most expensive balm because bison costs more than beef.
The Bison Tallow Honey Balm is also infused with a lot of great natural additions, like:
- Raw Manuka Honey
- Organic Royal Jelly
- Organic Beeswax
- Organic Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- A blend of the essential oils
If you aren’t a fan of the essential oils, The VanMan Company also sells essential-oil-free version of the Bison Tallow Honey Balm.
Also, I just happened to pick up the most expensive beef tallow balm that VanMan offers. VanMan also sells:
There’s also an essential-oil-free version of the Tallow and Honey Face Balm.
The moment I touched it, I understood that 2 oz. was actually a great value.
You do not need a lot of tallow because it spreads easily, and a little bit goes a long way on your skin. Compared to Vaseline, a much smaller dollop covered a much larger surface area of my skin.
I barely used any on my lips as well, but hours later, I’m not showing any signs of gray, ashy skin—and I’m writing this in the midst of a January cold snap.
It doesn’t feel as light as lotion, but that’s to be expected. However, it doesn’t feel nearly as heavy as Vaseline and, in my experience, protects your skin just as well.
Obviously, the price is a little higher than your standard bottle of lotion or Vaseline, but it doesn’t come with any extra chemicals or irritants. It feels like it actually stays on the skin instead of disappearing in 10 minutes like most lotion.
One more thing about Bison Tallow and Honey Balm. It has a gentle, masculine smell. My wife immediately commented on it.
That’s the best way to describe it, and it’s a result of the essential oils added.
Grab some Bison Tallow and Honey Balm here.
VanMan’s Tallow Soaps
The Vanman Shop also sells soaps made of tallow.
I added the soaps because regular bar soap dries me out in winter, bringing out the ashy skin.
While I can say I was definitely not as dry as I normally am after a few minutes out of the water, I wouldn’t use the soap without the using the balm afterwards. It’s not THAT good at retaining moisture.
With that said, it’s a hell of a lot better than just using bar soap.
I picked up the:
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Pumpkin Spice Tallow Soap. It definitely smells like pumpkin spice, which is actually quite pleasant and got some nice compliments from my wife. This one is also listed on the site as “limited run,” so who knows how long it will last.
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Pine Tar Tallow Soap. This one is my favorite soap. First, this one has a great smell. I’d define this as a masculine smell, almost like a musk, but “softened” by the pine tar.
Also, tea tree oil is a powerful antimicrobial agent and activated coconut charcoal enhances the soap’s ability to remove dirt without adding harsh cleansers or detergents. -
Honey and Tallow Soap. While vanilla definitely has a scent, and honey has a slight one, this is unscented. This is a great option if you aren’t a fan of fragrances, naturally added or otherwise.
VanMan also offers a tallow and coconut soap, which I’ll try next.
I’m pleased with the soaps; they smell great, and they are making my skin softer and less likely to be ashy.
- Check out VanMan's Pumpkin Spice Tallow Soap
- Check out VanMan's Pine Tar Soap
- Check out VanMan's Tallow and Honey Soap
VanMan’s Pearl Eye Cream
Eye cream is meant for the thinner, more sensitive skin around your eyes, so it’s usually gentler and more occlusive than a standard moisturizer.
The tallow, lanolin, beeswax, emu oil, and castor oil create a protective lipid layer that dramatically reduces water loss in the thin skin around the eyes. This is important because a lot of what people call ‘eye wrinkles’ are dehydration lines.. When you seal moisture in effectively, those lines soften fast. Not permanently, but noticeably.
The added ingredients—green tea, royal jelly, pearl powder, and essential oils—play a supporting role.. Green tea brings mild antioxidant support, royal jelly adds some skin-conditioning benefits, and pearl powder contributes more to cosmetic finish than anything transformative.
I’m only 40, but the best way to get rid of wrinkles is to not get them in the first place. So I’ll probably continue with this, if for no other reason than I actually notice a difference in the “freshness” of my eyes.
No one thinks I look my age now, and I’m confident that this product will keep it that way. With that said, this eye cream is on the pricier side.
It’s $56, but you use so little that a tin should last a while
Check out VanMan’s Pearl Eye Cream here.
Final verdict on VanMan’s Beef Tallow Skin Products
The products do exactly what they promise—and honestly, a little more. Being a black guy who lives in a climate like mine, you trust my judgement about what works for skin nourishment and moisture.
When I went into this journey, I didn’t even know that tallow soaps were an option, but they are a wonderful addition. Especially if you live in a place that has “hard water” or water that is overly chlorinated,
I’ll have to update this review during the summer months to see if I can get away with just using the soaps to keep my skin ash-free, but even if I can’t, beef tallow is lighter than vaseline so I wouldn’t mind using it in the summer anyway.
While I vouch for VanMan and if you purchase from any of the links above, I’ll get an affiliate commission, I want to be real and help you—with the knowledge in the first section of this article about how to select the best tallow product, any brand you select will be awesome if it meets those requirements.
With that said, if this article was helpful, I’d greatly appreciate you purchasing any of VanMan’s products from any affiliate link on the page or this one right here. I’ll get a small commission at no extra charge to you.
Thank of it as a way of saying thank you.
