Seed Oils vs Tallow
Seed Oils vs Tallow: Seed Oils, Skincare, and the Rise of Grass-Fed Tallow
What We're Rethinking at Bayard Candle: Seed Oils vs Tallow
Lately, seed oils have found themselves at the center of a wellness conversation—especially in the worlds of food and skincare. From Instagram influencers to nutrition blogs, there’s a lot of talk (and a fair amount of confusion) about whether these oils are helpful, harmful, or somewhere in between. And as a company that cares deeply about what goes into our products—and onto your skin—we think it’s worth unpacking.
So, let’s start with the basics and take you behind the scenes into something new we’re testing right now at Bayard Candle. Is there a need to put seed oils vs tallow debate on the center stage?
The Seed Oil Conversation: Where Did the Concern Come From?
Seed oils like sunflower, soybean, grapeseed, and canola are everywhere—from packaged foods to natural skincare lines. The concern around these oils primarily comes from how they’re processed and consumed. When used in high-heat cooking or heavily refined for mass production, they can oxidize and contribute to inflammation in the body, a known factor in chronic disease, including some cancers.
But here’s an important distinction:
Most of the health fears around seed oils involve ingestion—not topical use.
In body care, many of these oils are used in their cold-pressed, unrefined forms, which can actually be quite beneficial for the skin. They’re lightweight, vitamin-rich, and often well-tolerated by even sensitive skin. When used thoughtfully and stored properly, seed oils remain a valuable part of many skincare formulations.
Still, the conversation got us thinking—what if we could go even deeper into skin nourishment, drawing inspiration from traditional remedies that are gaining renewed interest?
Why We’re Testing Grass-Fed Tallow in Our Body Care Line
As we continue exploring ways to offer products that are not only beautiful but deeply effective, we’ve started working with an ingredient that’s been used for centuries but is just now returning to the spotlight: grass-fed tallow.
Yes—real, rendered fat from pasture-raised cattle. It may sound rustic, but tallow has earned its place in the skincare revival for good reason.
When sourced from grass-fed animals, tallow is:
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Rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K—all crucial for skin health
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Highly compatible with our skin’s natural structure, making it incredibly effective at moisturizing
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Naturally antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory
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Excellent for soothing dry, cracked, or irritated skin
We’re currently experimenting with tallow in small-batch formulas for lotion bars, whipped body butters, beard balms, and healing salves—each one infused with our signature essential oil blends.
Our Commitment to Thoughtful Formulation
The tallow we’re testing comes from local, grass-fed farms, chosen with care and intention. Just like the rest of our ingredients, we make sure everything we use is ethically sourced, minimally processed, and crafted to support real skin needs.
And don’t worry—our vegan-friendly offerings aren’t going anywhere. We know our community includes people with different preferences and values, and we’ll continue to provide plant-based body care products right alongside our new tallow line. It’s all about offering options that let you choose what feels best for your skin and lifestyle.
We have released a tallow lip balm and the early responses are very favoring. It's definitely giving us encouragement to dive deeper into developing new products. As you may know, we don't just find a recipe and make a product for it to sell. We develop our own formulas, test to get desired results and tweak things to fit our customers needs when necessary.
What It Comes Down To: Skin Care, Not Hype
The seed oil debate has sparked some important questions—and we're here for thoughtful discussion, not fear-based marketing. Whether it’s seed oils or tallow, what matters most is the quality of the ingredient, the integrity of the formulation, and how your skin responds.
At Bayard Candle, we're always evolving—guided by tradition, research, and our commitment to simple, nourishing ingredients. We’re excited to bring you along on this journey as we expand our body care offerings to meet your skin where it’s at, one thoughtful product at a time.
Have questions about ingredients or want to share your skincare experience with us?
We’d love to hear from you. We believe transparency builds trust—and you deserve to feel confident in every product you use. Do you really think there is a need to steer towards tallow as an ingredient or is this just a marketing ploy to use another by product in the bovine industry. We can't make any health benefit claims, but there is definitely a buzz when it comes to seed oils vs tallow.
We do really want to hear from you, we want to develop body care products that positively effect your life. Is there something you think Bayard candle should look into developing? We are currently working on a shampoo bar as well as our own bath bombs. But those products don't really fall under this seed oils vs tallow debate. Let us know, help us grow into the company you're proud to purchase from!