Wagyu beef stands apart from other beef primarily because of its fat content—more specifically, its type of fat. It's known for high levels of intramuscular marbling, which gives it that melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Tallow is known to closely mimic the skin's natural sebum. Wagyu tallow is softer, richer in unsaturated fats, and melts at lower temperatures than fat from breeds like Holstein or Angus. This softness isn't just a culinary trait—it's a chemical property.

We believe this makes for a superior skincare experience.

And that's what sets Wagyu Silk Emulsion apart from all other tallow based cosmetics.

Wagyu cattle metabolise fat differently.

Research has shown that breeds like Wagyu have elevated activity of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), an enzyme that converts stearic acid (a saturated fat) into oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat. This leads to:

• Higher proportions of oleic acid in Wagyu fat
• Softer, with a lower-melting point
• A creamier, more "buttery" feel to the meat (and by extension, the tallow)

And that's what makes Wagyu Silk Emulsion so much softer and easily absorbed compared to skincare made from regular animals.

Reference: Gotoh et al., 2011

Standard beef fat typically melts at around 100°F (38°C). Wagyu fat? Around 77°F (25°C).

Human skin sits close to 90°F (32°C) on the surface. This means:

• Wagyu tallow begins to melt on contact
• It spreads more easily, similar to body butters or balm textures
• There's no waxy or greasy residue common in harder animal fats

This means we need less heat to make Wagyu Silk Emulsion than other tallow cosmetics brands, helping maintain the integrity of the fatty acid chains which are so important to hydrating skin.

The SCD enzyme is active in lipid metabolism. Wagyu cattle produce more oleic acid via this conversion. That's why Wagyu beef is not only softer but also higher in what many nutritionists consider "good fat."

We're not eating this fat in a moisturizer—but if you consider that oleic acid is used in skincare for its emollient properties, this becomes a meaningful overlap.

Wagyu fat has been shown to contain elevated levels of:

• Oleic acid (omega-9) – rich, emollient, and restorative
• Palmitoleic acid (omega-7) – present in sebum, antimicrobial
• Eicosenoic acid – antioxidant, balances skin oils

This trio of unsaturated fats overlaps with ingredients already found in high-end skincare. Each has its own function, but together they suggest a skin-compatible lipid profile.