The Cosmic Watchdog

There’s nothing that adds a bit of luxury to your day like spending some time carrying out your skincare routine.

The products that you use really depend on the effect you’re after – whether that’s anti-ageing, brightness or hydration.

But there’s one essential step that should be in everybody’s routine, and that’s moisturising.

This helps to keep skin supple and soft, and it is especially important during the winter months, when harsh weather can wreak havoc on our skin.

However, experts have warned that there’s one viral trend that everybody should steer clear of if they want to avoid acne and irritation this winter.

On social media there’s been a rising trend of people smearing beef fat on their faces in the hopes of achieving more radiant skin.

But Lesley Reynolds, skin care expert and co-founder of the Harley Street Skin Clinic, has warned of the potential negative impacts that it can have.

She said: “Beef tallow is loaded with fatty acids such as stearic and oleic acid. These work by nourishing and moisturising your skin and quite often, you’ll find these ingredients on the back of some of your skin care products.

“So some would argue that there are benefits to this method.”

But if avoiding acne is a priority for you, then this may not be the best solution.

Lesley said: “While it does contain moisturising factors, there are actually many downsides to using beef tallow as an everyday skin care product.

“Unlike your regular moisturiser, beef tallow is heavy and can block pores by trapping moisture, bacteria and dirt, which can lead to blackheads and sebaceous filaments.

“This can be triggered further if you’re someone with sensitive skin. The use of beef tallow can cause breakouts and irritation, and this is due to the fact that it’s an unrefined animal product.

“This means that it hasn’t gone through the necessary processes to remove impurities that may damage your skin. Therefore, I do not recommend using this as a means to combat acne.”

However, if you still want to use natural products in your skincare routine, there are plenty of other options that are expert-recommended.

Lesley added: “I recommend ingredients such as shea butter, jojoba oil or ceramides.

“These are scientifically approved ingredients that are designed to give your skin the moisture it needs without triggering a breakout.

“Making them a much safer and more reliable alternative to beef tallow.”