Tallow can belong in a routine, but it works best in a supporting role rather than replacing everything else on the shelf. It makes the most sense as a cleansing step or a richer night step, applied right before bed when skin can spend hours absorbing it. Use it sparingly at first, a small amount worked into damp skin, and see how your face feels the next morning before adding more. Keep it away from sunscreen and any lighter daytime formula, since those steps need to stay reliable rather than rich.

Sunscreen is where the tallow conversation should stop entirely, since that step needs to be reliable and reapplied, not rich and occasional. Apply it as the final step every morning, in a real amount, rather than treating it as an afterthought once richer products are already on. Reapply through the day rather than trusting one morning layer to carry you, especially outdoors. Save anything cooling or soothing for after real sun exposure, once the day's damage is already done rather than to prevent it. Keep this category on its own track and let richer tallow steps live somewhere else in the routine.