Dry, tight skin in winter

Beef Tallow for Dry Skin: A Simple Winter Routine

Winter air pulls water out of your skin, and a rich, waterless moisturizer helps hold it in. Beef tallow does that. It works best pressed onto damp skin right after you wash. Naked, our fragrance-free whipped tallow, starts at $12. If your skin runs oily, try one cheek first.

By , founder of Moose's Tallow · Updated October 8, 2026

Naked body butter is for you if your skin feels tight again an hour after lotion

Why your skin dries out in winter

Water in the top layer of your skin follows the air around it. Winter gives it less to hold. Harvard Health describes the oils between skin cells as a glue. Over-washing and dry air loosen it.

  • Cold, windy air holds very little moisture. Cleveland Clinic lists it as a common cause.
  • Indoor heat dries the air even more. Harvard Health says low humidity indoors and out pulls water from skin.
  • Hot showers strip the oils that hold water in. Lukewarm water does less harm.
  • Harsh or perfumed soaps take more oil away. A gentle cleanser is kinder.
  • Oil glands slow down with age, so older skin dries out more easily, says Cleveland Clinic.
  • Skin that has lost water feels tight and looks flaky. That is your cue to seal it in.

What to do tonight

A few small habits do most of the work. You can start with your next shower. None of it takes more than a minute or two.

  • Keep your shower to 5 to 10 minutes, with lukewarm water.
  • Pat dry and leave your skin a little damp.
  • Within a minute, press on a pea-sized scoop of whipped tallow. Warm it between your palms first.
  • Start with the driest spots: hands, elbows, shins and heels. Add more only where skin still feels tight.
  • Moisturize again after you wash your hands and whenever skin feels dry.
  • Run a humidifier in the bedroom while you sleep, and wear gloves in the cold.
  • The AAD recommends fragrance-free products for dry skin. That is why we start with Naked. Our scented butters use the same tallow base.
  • Dry heels? Put a thicker layer on at night and pull socks over them.
  • Try any new product on a small spot for 24 hours first. If skin itches constantly, hurts or looks infected, see a doctor.

Your winter dry skin routine at a glance

The AAD and Cleveland Clinic give the same core advice. Here it is by moment, with where Naked fits.

WhenWhat to doWhy it helps
After a shower or bathPat dry, then press on a pea of Naked while skin is dampA thick butter holds in the water already on your skin
After washing your handsA little on hands and knucklesWashing strips oils, so reapply every time
BedtimeOne thin layer on dry spots, humidifier onNothing rubs off, and the butter has hours to work
Heading out in the coldButter first, then glovesGloves keep cold, dry air off your skin
Elbows, shins and heelsA slightly thicker layer at night, socks over heelsThese spots are rough and thick, so they take a little more
Dry faceA rice-grain amount on one cheek firstFaces vary, so test before you commit

Tallow is rich. Start with less than you think you need and add more only where skin still feels tight.

From real customers
Review photo from Amber K.
★★★★☆

Great for dry feet

I got the lingonberry scent and love using it on my feet. Most lotions are thin and weak, but this balm absorbs slower and actually works. I apply it at night, put socks on, and it does the job.
Amber K.
Review photo from Samantha M.
★★★★★

Hydrated and healing

When I first tried Moosetallow, my hands had been dry and nearly cracking for days because my store bought lotion wasn’t hydrating enough. An hour after using Moosetallow my hands were already hydrated and healing! I appreciate that it isn’t oily and the mild apricot scent isn’t overpowering. I then bought one for everyone in my family and they love it too!
Samantha M.

Read all the reviews on the product page →

The timeline

What to expect

  1. Tonight
    A pea of Naked melts in your palms and sinks in within minutes. Tight, rough spots feel softer. Too much leaves a film, so start small.
  2. Week 1
    Skin feels smoother and less tight after you wash. You start reaching for it after hand washing, not by the clock.
  3. Week 4
    Hands, elbows and shins stay comfortable through the cold snaps. Most people find they use less once the dry spots settle.
What people ask

Why is my skin so much drier in winter?

Winter air holds less water, and the top layer of your skin follows the air around it. Harvard Health says low humidity outdoors and indoors both pull water out. Hot showers strip protective oils too. A rich moisturizer pressed on after bathing holds the rest in. Naked is waterless, so it seals water in instead of adding more.

How do I hydrate my skin in winter?

Keep showers to 5 to 10 minutes in lukewarm water. The American Academy of Dermatology says to moisturize while skin is still damp. Do it again after washing your hands. Ointments and creams add more moisture than lotions. Run a humidifier while you sleep. Naked is a thick, waterless butter, so one pea-sized scoop covers a hand.

What are some home remedies for dry skin during the winter season?

The simple ones work best. Take shorter, lukewarm showers, pat dry, and moisturize right away. Run a humidifier in the bedroom and wear gloves in the cold. Skip perfumed soaps. For the moisturizer step, many people like a short ingredient list. Naked has four ingredients: tallow, coconut oil, beeswax and vitamin E.

How can I rehydrate my dry face fast?

Wash with a gentle cleanser in lukewarm water. Then moisturize while your face is still damp, because Cleveland Clinic advises thick creams over light lotions. Tallow can suit a dry face, especially in winter. Try a rice-grain amount on one cheek first. Our tallow face cream page covers face care in full.

Why is my face suddenly so dry and flaky?

Cold wind, indoor heat and hot water are the usual causes. Cleveland Clinic also lists harsh cleansers with alcohol or sulfates. Switch to a mild, fragrance-free wash and moisturize while damp. Dry skin that itches constantly, hurts or looks infected needs a doctor. For winter flaking, a little rich butter on damp skin often takes the tightness down.

Why are dermatologists against tallow?

Fair question. Scripps Health says people with very dry skin may feel short-term softness. Cleveland Clinic says its fatty acids can moisturize, but studies are limited. So your own skin is the best test. We list every ingredient, and Naked has just four. If it is not for you, our 60-day guarantee has you covered.

What is the best moisturizer for dehydrated skin?

Dehydrated skin has lost water, so the order matters. Apply to damp skin so the moisturizer can seal that water in. Cleveland Clinic recommends thick creams or ointments over light lotions. Naked is waterless, so it seals rather than adds water. That is why we say to press it on within a minute of washing.

Their label vs. ours

Same job. Look at the ingredients.

Left is a best-seller from the store shelf. Right is ours.

Tap any ingredient to see what it is.

Lotion

Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Lotion

20

ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycol Stearate…

Also on our Never List

  • PEG-100 Stearate
  • Dimethicone
  • Mineral Oil
  • Petrolatum
  • Phenoxyethanol
  • Methylparaben
  • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
  • Triethanolamine
  • Propylparaben
  • Disodium EDTA

plus 5 more

Label from the Stop & Shop product page, checked Oct 19, 2026. We are not affiliated with Vaseline.

Moose’s Vanilla Chai Whipped Tallow Body Butter

5

ingredients

Rendered Beef Tallow, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Honeycomb, Clean Phthalate-Free Fragrance, Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

That is the whole label.

In short: Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Lotion lists 20 ingredients. 10 of them are on Moose’s Tallow’s Never List: PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA. Moose’s Vanilla Chai Whipped Tallow Body Butter lists 5 ingredients: Rendered Beef Tallow, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Honeycomb, Clean Phthalate-Free Fragrance, Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

Full Vaseline ingredient list

Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycol Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Mineral Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Petrolatum, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Stearamide AMP. Label from the Stop & Shop product page, checked Oct 19, 2026.

Red ingredients are on our Never List: 50 things we leave out of every tin.

Make the switchSee all 50 things we never use

Ingredient lists are copied from US retailer product pages, brand websites and EWG Skin Deep, and were accurate when checked on October 19 and November 7, 2026. Brands change formulas, so always read your own bottle. We are not affiliated with any brand named here.

How do we render tallow?

It starts at a local butcher shop in farm country, where one cow yields about 12 pounds of suet. That suet is the fat around the cow's kidneys, rich in vitamins A, D, E and K. Its fatty acids are ones your skin loves, so we render it slowly, by hand.

  1. Ground beef suet in a box, ready to render into tallow

    Day 1 & 2

    Two renders of tallow over low heat, six hours each

  2. Golden tallow bubbling gently in a stainless pot during the dry render

    Day 3 & 4

    Dry render for eight hours, cool & dry render again for another eight hours

  3. Warm oil poured over dried herbs in a large glass jar for the infusion

    Day 5

    Infuse tallow and oil with organic herbs over low heat for 12-24 hours

  4. Whipped tallow being mixed with beaters in a steel bowl

    Day 6

    Add in beeswax and scent (if applicable), cool, whip and fill by hand

Brian "Moose" Smith with his family and their dogs
A note from the maker

I render the suet slowly, in stages, from a local butcher. Then we whip it into small batches in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Naked has no scent, so the tallow does the work. My wife tests everything first. If it does not suit your skin, the 60-day guarantee covers it.

Brian "Moose" Smith, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Read the whole story →

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Related answers

Sources

  1. American Academy of Dermatology: dermatologists' tips for relieving dry skin
  2. Cleveland Clinic: Dry skin (xeroderma), reviewed June 23, 2022
  3. Cleveland Clinic: Beef tallow for skin (February 10, 2026)
  4. Scripps Health: Beef tallow in skin care, what dermatologists want you to know (January 22, 2026)
  5. Harvard Health Publishing: What to do about dry skin in winter