To be halal certified, every ingredient in cosmetic products must be traceable. Products must not contain ingredients derived from pigs, carrion, blood, human body parts, predators, reptiles and insects, among others. Ingredients of animal origin must come from animals allowed slaughtered under Islamic law. This also applies to application tools such as makeup brushes, where hair fibers may contain animal by-products. During preparation, processing, storage and transport, products must be in clean and hygienic conditions, free of najis [dirt]. Cosmetics can be made with products of animal origin, but only ingredients of animal origin of halal species slaughtered according to dhabīḥah are allowed. Common animal ingredients in cosmetics are lecithin, glycerin, fatty acids and collagen. Some colorations come from insects considered haram and therefore not considered halal. Other ingredients and products of concern are moisturizers and skin creams that contain dairy products, as the enzymes and microorganisms used to process dairy raw materials can be haram. Rennet is one of those enzymes usually derived from the stomach of calves. If the calves have not been slaughtered in accordance with halal requirements, Renn and all products made from it are haram.
The swelling rennet of vegetables is therefore preferred to ensure halal status. Modern cosmetic ingredients present many challenges for halal verification. In addition to microorganisms, animal enzymes must be detected as coming from a halal source. Similarly, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) must come entirely from halal sources. If any of the genetic material containing a GMO comes from a haram source, the resulting GMO is also considered haram. Some common cosmetic ingredients derived from GMOs include starches, oils, and many other agricultural botanical ingredients. Unless the origin of the genetic material is known and confirmed as halal, products derived from GMOs can be haram. Modern biotechnology poses other challenges for halal consumers. Stem cells can be used in anti-aging creams or related products. As with GMOs, the source of stem cells could be haram. Although stem cells may be of botanical origin, halal certifiers may reject stem cells in cosmetics as haram unless there is complete and traceable documentation proving that they are of halal origin.
This is usually provided by a halal certificate from the supplier of the ingredient. Like INIKA, many halal brands focus less on putting attractive seasonal products on hold, as beauty standards are constantly changing. Rather, they focus on attracting a population of people whose beliefs never change. “There`s a younger generation coming into the market every year, so they`re going to see an average growth of 15 percent over the next five or maybe 10 years,” Haberkon says. And in a world where people are trying to root themselves more in each faith, but it`s hard to keep their bearings, trying to be more halal is something some want to do. So why not? The term “halal,” in that it refers to cosmetics, simply means products made, manufactured and assembled from ingredients permitted by Islamic Sharia. Other ingredients are considered “haram”, which means that their consumption is prohibited. While cosmetics are usually applied topically, the skin is the body`s largest and most absorbent organ – as Gwyneth Paltrow and other natural beauty advocates would be the first to remind you – so it`s plausible that users are still consuming ingredients indirectly. Therefore, many religious Muslims are looking for alternatives to consumer makeup brands. Halal means “permit” in Arabic and describes what is permitted by Islamic law. Halal is best known for its application to food, but is also applied to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and even business practices. For cosmetics, certain products are of greater importance.
Lipstick, for example, can be consumed unintentionally while eating or drinking, so Muslim consumers may need to carefully research its ingredients. Halal users are also looking for alcohol-free fragrances because the fragrances can be inhaled by chance and the Muslim Nutrition Law prohibits the consumption of intoxicating substances. “Certification is the only way for a company to export to certain countries or sell its products as halal – a company cannot claim to be halal certified without a third-party certifier like ISWA,” ghanim explains. “We audit production as a whole, not just products. All companies must have state-registered facilities. We currently need testing for pig DNA and salmonella, and protocols to test for alcohol content are currently being developed. “Branding and imagery must be in alliance with the right Islamic virtues and must not be blasphemous if they want to bear the logo of a local certification body. The rigor of the application of these regulations makes it attractive to Both Muslim and non-Muslim customers for its recognized quality assurance. The product certification process can take several months and can be costly. For this reason, many brands choose not to apply for certification. In those cases, it would be up to the consumer to check the list of ingredients to assess its halal legitimacy.
Many consumers also confuse vegan products with halal-certified products. It is true that vegan products do not contain animal by-products, but they may contain alcohol. Similarly, some halal-certified brands use Islamic Sharia compliant ingredients that might not be considered completely ethical by brands that promote sustainability, such as silicone-based polymers, dimethicone, and methicone. .