Halal Certified Beauty Care
Halal Certified cosmetic products satisfy a significant market of Muslim consumers, with 1 in 4 consumers globally adhering to halal practices. Halal Certified cosmetics have broad appeal to non-Muslim consumers too. Approximately 31% of halal cosmetics are purchased by non-Muslim consumers1. Despite increasing market share for halal cosmetics, the nuances of Halal Certified beauty care products have historically been misunderstood. This makes greater transparency around the definition of halal and certification requirements a must for anyone serving the global beauty care industry.
Let's take a look at what 'halal' means, and what it takes to make an ingredient and a finished consumer product Halal Certified.
Halal Defined
Halal is an Arabic word which means permissible, acceptable, or lawful. For those who practice Islam, halal encompasses all aspects of life that contribute to a halal lifestyle. In terms of its application in beauty and personal care, Halal Certified cosmetics indicate that a product is derived from permissible ingredients and is safe to use.
Haram Defined
Haram stands for not permitted or impermissible. Among haram impermissible cosmetic ingredients are those consisting of pig derivatives. When we say not permissible, halal cosmetics exclude ingredients that consumers view as harmful to the skin, for instance, lead, mercury, and parabens. Halal cosmetics also exclude carmine, human stem cells, and any other ingredients considered haram.
What’s not Halal Certified beauty?
Halal cosmetics allow ingredients derived from animals if they are slaughtered according to halal requirements or if they are aquatic-animal-derived. For example, gelatin is a common thickening agent in cosmetic products. If it is pig-derived, it is not permissible. However, if it is marine-derived, then it is permissible. For this reason, halal cosmetics is not interchangeable with vegan beauty. Vegan refers to complete absence of animal products or animal-derived ingredients.
What about the use of alcohol in cosmetics? Understanding Khamr and Najis
Another misconception is that halal cosmetics excludes alcohol. According to the Halal Products Research Institute and Fatwa Committee, alcohol products such as perfumes are permitted, as they are not considered intoxicants or alcoholic beverages. In other words, it is not considered khamr. Alcohol is not halal for consumption, but it is permitted in personal care formulations.
If an alcohol does not come from khamr source, such as fermentation of carbohydrates from fruits, it can be used in medicinal and cosmetic products. Alcohol used in cosmetic products and perfumes is utilized as a solvent and speeds up dispersing of fragrance agents. Therefore, this type of alcohol is permissible to use in halal cosmetics. In summary, alcohol that comes from a non-khamr source is not spiritually unclean, also referred to as najis.
Auditing the Full Supply Chain
It's crucial to take into consideration the entire supply chain to meet the criteria of Halal Certification. Indeed, every ingredient in a finished consumer beauty care product must be traceable. However, the entire accreditation process does not just involve the formulation of products. Inolex receives Halal Certification for its entire portfolio by meeting the standards for composition, manufacturing, and production that are required when providing ingredients for halal consumers.
A yearly audit to verify purity of feedstocks, processing aids, cleaning products, transport, and packaging, among other safeguards, is conducted by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA®) to ensure international standards are met in accordance with Sharia law. This audit is within Inolex's Quality Management System. If new raw materials and suppliers are involved, we ensure the certification is updated. Inolex employees also receive annual training on these standards.
You can read more about the Halal Certification of beauty care at American Halal Foundation.
1 "Top 3 Emerging Trends Impacting the Global Halal Cosmetics Marketing from 2017-2121: Technavio" https://www.businesswire.com/n...
Related Articles
Goodbye Greenwashing™ Biodegradability
Video Edu-SeriesIn our latest episode, we explore the intricate world of biodegradability and guide you on how to make truthful and impactful claims without falling into the trap of greenwashing.
Upcycling, waste reduction, and everything in between
Are you intrigued by the upcycling trend? Discover the answers to burning questions like “What is upcycling?” and “How can we identify low-waste materials?” in our insightful exploration.
Breakthrough Conditioning for Sustainable BTAC Replacement
A breakthrough conditioning technology is changing the hair care landscape, providing a safer more sustainable option for people and aquatic life. Gain insights from Lisa Gandolfi, PhD and Tobias Futterer, PhD as featured in Specialty Chemicals Magazine.