The “What’s” and the Importance of Halal Cosmetics to Muslim

Cosmetics or make-up products are important items in the life of every woman. No doubt many feels incomplete if they travel outside the house without applying cosmetic products.However, as the hijab community in Southeast Asia increases, as having increase awareness from hijab fashion bloggers, celebrities wearing hijab, and fashion shows specifically for Muslim women, Muslim women often question whether the cosmetic products used are halal certified.

What is Importance of Halal Cosmetics for Muslim Women?

Recent studies have shown that women who apply lipstick will an average women using lipstick would end up “eating” it about 4-9 pounds in their lifetime through locking their lips or when they drink or eat while wearing one. With the ingredients and chemical compositions of usual lipsticks which includes fatty acids and gelatins as well as alcohol or animal extracts, some Muslims are not aware of the ingredients composition of what they use. Around 60% of the world’s Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific Region. For Muslim women especially for devout ones, choosing halal cosmetics is an absolute thing to do. This is mainly a form of obedience as Muslims are indeed forbidden the consumption of certain ingredients. Likewise with cosmetics, the use of cosmetics must also pass the halal test from the authorities.

Criteria for Cosmetics be called Halal

So, what are the criteria for a cosmetics to be called halal? The following are the basic guidelines:

1. The ingredients used do not contain dogs and pigs.
2. When using material from animals such as collagen from cow fat, the process of death or animal has been carried out in accordance with Islamic procedures (the same as when we slaughter animals with a sharp knife and chant the name of Allah SWT).
3. Cosmetics are not made of animals that have teeth fangs.
4. Cosmetics are not made from animals that have claws.
5. Cosmetics are not made of animal blood and placenta.
6. Cosmetics do not contain alcohol.

What’s the deal even the product is not eaten?

Muslim women as beauty enthusiasts are increasingly concerned that halal products are not only about food consumption, but also the types of cosmetics that are worn on the skin. Local regulations such as Indonesia’s religious orders and in Law No. 33 of 2014 concerning the Halal Product Guarantee, requires special care in selecting and using cosmetic products. One of these things actually affects the validity of worship by a Muslim.

Conclusion

As Muslim women wants to remain and look beautiful, they are still careful to be exposed with the impurities they believe especially when using cosmetics products that have unclear halal status as it can invalidate their worship. Therefore, Muslim women who use cosmetics are vigilant in using cosmetics. For them, it is a matter of principle, always wanting to be religiously lawful.