In today’s society, everyone is becoming more conscious of what they consume, put on their skin and the way their lifestyle affects the environment. Over the past few years the terms “green,” “eco-friendly” and “organic” have made their way into everyday conversation. However, the term “halal” may still be one term that raises eyebrows. As this concept of cosmetics continues to grow in popularity around the globe, it’ll only be a matter of time before halal beauty products become as commonplace as everything else we use on a regular basis.

Before diving into what halal cosmetics are, it is helpful to first know what “halal” means and where it comes from. For those of the Muslim faith, this term is very familiar. Arabic in origin, halal means “allowed” or “permissible.” This concept mainly comes into play when it comes to food, as well as other aspects of living a Muslim lifestyle. As most people know, Muslims are not allowed to eat pork. Therefore, it is not considered “halal.” Make sense?

Speaking of pork, it is because of this very food item that the idea of halal cosmetics came about. Thanks to the research efforts of a mother of five named Samina Akhter, who happened to be a follower of the Muslim faith, the nature and source of the ingredients in her beauty products became the main focus of what she found to be a terribly unhealthy practice. Not only did many of the beauty products she researched contain alcohol and animal sources, pork fat/residue was also included. For the many practicing Muslim women around the world, applying cosmetics to their complexions that contains pork by-products is just as bad as eating it.

As a result, Akhter decided to create her own cosmetics line that was truly halal. Her concern wasn’t just about abiding by her faith, it also dealt with the importance of having beauty items available that were cruelty-free and much healthier for people’s complexions. According to the halal cosmetics movement, any skincare, beauty, fragrance or body care products cannot contain pork (fat, residue or any other trace of this source) or alcohol. Additionally, it must be animal-cruelty free as well.

The great thing about halal certified cosmetics is that its availability isn’t just for Muslims. Women from all walks of life have found this new generation of products very appealing, leading to a large boom in business. Consumers aren’t the only ones that recognize halal cosmetics to be the next best thing in skincare, either. A number of companies in the beauty industry are jumping on the bandwagon to offer their own halal certified brands. Of course it is important to make sure that any products you purchase actually meet the guidelines and requirements that allow it to be certified halal. Although this movement is steadily on the rise in demand, there are still many people that are not aware of the purpose it serves and the benefits it could have for their complexions. With the way the products are selling, however, it won’t be long before these types of cosmetics start appearing in local stores as well as online specialty retailers.

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