Is Tallow Vegan? No. But It Might Be More Ethical.
Is Tallow Vegan? No. But It Might Be More Ethical.
Let’s start with the honest answer:
No, tallow is not vegan. It’s rendered fat from cows—specifically, grass-fed and grass-finished animals. That means it comes from an animal that lived, breathed, and ultimately died to be part of a food system. There’s no pretending otherwise.
But the story doesn’t end there.
At VÆR, we believe in using the whole animal. Our tallow comes from suet—the dense, nutrient-rich fat around the kidneys of pasture-raised cattle—that would otherwise be discarded in a typical meat processing system. We’re not raising animals for skincare. We’re choosing to use what already exists, closing the loop and honoring the animal fully.
It’s a philosophy of regenerative use, not exploitation.
A Different Lens on “Cruelty-Free”
We completely understand why some consumers choose vegan skincare. Nobody wants suffering in the name of beauty. But the term “cruelty-free” is more complicated than it seems.
Monoculture farming—like that used to grow soy, canola, and sunflower oils—requires massive amounts of land. That land is cleared, sprayed, tilled, and harvested with heavy machinery. In the process, countless insects, birds, small mammals, and native ecosystems are displaced or destroyed.
This doesn’t make plant oils “Animal Death" products. But it does mean the ethical conversation isn’t as black-and-white as a label might suggest.
In contrast, regeneratively raised cattle contribute to soil health, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem balance. The farmers we work with practice nose-to-tail, zero-waste systems—where every part of the animal is used. We personally visit farms to ensure the animals are healthy, well-cared for, and pasture-raised in alignment with natural rhythms.
We’re not here to convert you.
We just think the definition of “ethical” deserves a deeper conversation.
Why Tallow? Because It Works.
Beyond ethics, we use tallow because it’s incredibly effective. Its fatty acid profile closely mirrors human skin, making it deeply bioavailable and naturally barrier-supportive. Unlike many plant-based alternatives, tallow is stable, non-reactive, and free from the inflammatory compounds found in most industrial seed oils.
It’s not just an ancestral ingredient—it’s a smarter one.
And it honors a larger system of land, animal, and human wellness.
What If I’m Not Ready?
We get it. Some customers just aren’t comfortable using animal-based products. That’s okay. We don’t shame or pressure. We simply offer transparency and invite open dialogue. We believe skincare should be about nourishment, not judgment.
Our goal is to show how ancestral ingredients, used responsibly and ethically, can offer a path forward—one that’s better for your skin, and maybe even better for the planet.
If you’re curious, we’re here.
If you have questions, we welcome them.
And if you're ready, we’d love for you to feel the difference.