With a projected population of 3 billion by the year 2060, the Muslim population is expected to increase by 70 percent in the next 38 years. As such, the need for Halal-certified products is also forecasted to increase—with the global Halal cosmetics industry set to reach $104.2 billion by the year 2027. According to in-cosmetics, the skincare market in Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, is climbing based on predictions from GlobalData. This growth is a result of greater financial independence for working women, greater interest in natural & organic products among the youth, and greater attention to grooming by men.
“Halal” is an Arabic term which determined whether an action or object is permissible in accordance to Islamic Law. This law applies to all aspect of the product creation, including the formulation, manufacturing and ingredients. Products need to be free from alcohol. If they do contain any animal-derived ingredients, they can only come from permissible animals that are slaughtered according to islamic law. The ritual of wudhu (ablution) before daily prayers means every part of the body touches water, including the nails. This means wudhu-friendly nail varnish needs to be water permeable in order to comply to Islamic Law.
While all these restrictions prove to be a challenge when it comes to formulation, it has also created a demand from consumers who are not seeking out Halal beauty products due to religious beliefs; rather they are looking for a more natural, clean and sustainable option when it comes to their cosmetics.
Take for instance carmine, a red pigment often found in lipsticks and blushers. It’s derived from an insect cochineal which is dried, crushed and processed in an acidic alcohol solution—therefore impermissible according to Islamic Law. Many consumers, especially those who seek out cruelty-free and vegan options look to Halal beauty as an alternative source for products that align with their beliefs.
Halal Beauty Brands
ZAHARA
Hailing from Singapore, this beauty brand offers water-permeable nail polish that are wudhu-friendly, which means they can be worn during prayer as well. Founder Amira Geneid created the products to not only be Halal-certified, but also vegan and cruelty-free.
Wardah
Wardah is a beauty behemoth in its home country of Indonesia, with a repertoire of over 400 products across skincare and makeup categories. The brand was founded by Nurhayati Subakat in 1985, but success came slow. The brand finally found its footing in 2013 and topped the cosmetic sales in Indonesia in 2018, ousting international brands like Revlon and Maybelline which were the go-to brands previously.
Its products are Halal, natural, alcohol free, and cruelty free. In addition to just selling products, Wardah believes in fostering a community by highlighting everyday heroines, and supporting various corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts including healthcare, education, sustainability and female empowerment.
Glow by Claudia Nour
Glow by Claudia Nour’s products are created in small batches as they are all hand-crafted with Claudia herself overseeing ingredients and ensuring that they’re from ethical sources. The products are free from alcohol, pig and all pig- derived ingredients, gelatin and carmine and spans over skincare and makeup.
INIKA Organic
The brand was founded in 2006 in Sydney and has won over 40 awards for their products. They are also certified to be organic, cruelty free halal and vegan. INIKA Organic takes pride in their many certifications and ensures that their ingredients are also sustainably sourced and free from synthetic chemicals and this ethos of natural and responsible beauty extends to their use of reusable materials and packaging as well.
Amara Halal Cosmetics
Amara Halal Cosmetics was the first Halal-certified makeup brand in the U.S. It’s products are made using natural ingredients without any alcohol or animal by-product.
Find out how Sensient Beauty can help you formulate the best product to tap on the growing Halal beauty industry. Contact us to learn more and discover our full portfolio of ingredients and formulations.
