Shea Butter vs. Tallow: How Two Rich Fats Compare

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Shea butter and tallow are two of the richest fats in skincare. One comes from a tree, the other from cattle. Both are solid in the jar and soften with warmth. Here’s a fair, side-by-side look.

Where shea butter comes from

Shea butter is the fat from the nuts of the shea tree, which grows across a wide belt of African savanna, from Senegal in the west to Uganda and Ethiopia in the east. Its English name comes from the tree’s name in the Bambara language of Mali.

• The fruits are gathered by hand, traditionally by women
• In traditional methods, the kernels are heated, ground, and worked with water until the fat can be skimmed off
• Commercial shea is often pressed or solvent-extracted, and may be refined and deodorized

In much of its native range, shea is also an everyday cooking fat.

Where tallow comes from

Tallow is rendered beef fat. Raw fat is slowly melted, strained, and left to set into a firm, pale fat. For a closer look, read what to ask about how tallow is rendered.

Like shea, tallow has a long history of everyday use, from the kitchen to the soap pot.

What they’re made of

• Shea butter: mostly oleic and stearic acids
• Tallow: mostly oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids
• Both: pure fats, with no water of their own

Texture and feel

• Both are solid at room temperature and soften with body warmth
• Shea tends to feel soft and creamy once it starts to melt
• Tallow is firmer in the jar and turns glossy when warmed between your fingers

In a finished product, the feel also depends on what each fat is blended with.

Scent

• Unrefined shea has a nutty, sometimes smoky scent
• Refined shea is close to neutral
• Well-rendered tallow has a mild, faint scent

Added essential oils or fragrance will change what you notice in either one.

How each is typically used

• Shea: lotions, creams, lip balms, hair care, soap, and some chocolate making
• Tallow: balms, soap, cooking, and, historically, candles

Who might prefer which

• If you avoid animal ingredients, shea is a natural plant-based choice
• If you enjoy a nutty scent, unrefined shea may appeal
• If you like the idea of a farm-sourced fat that makes use of the whole animal, tallow fits
• Whichever you choose, patch test anything new

Most Reyic balms are grass-fed tallow and olive oil, handmade in the USA. Some jars add named essential oils, and Au Naturel is unscented. Trouble Spots, our focused-care balm, also adds shea butter.

FAQ

Is shea butter better than tallow?

Neither is better for everyone. They come from different places and feel a little different, so it mostly comes down to preference.

Can shea and tallow be used together?

Yes. Some makers blend them. Most Reyic balms pair tallow with olive oil, and Trouble Spots adds shea butter to that base.

Where should I start with Reyic?

Start with Au Naturel, the unscented jar, or compare every balm in the grass-fed tallow balm collection.

Curious how a tallow balm compares on your own skin? Try Au Naturel, or browse the full collection.