In October last year, actress Sana Khan quit the entertainment industry after being enlightened by the ‘teachings of Islam’. The decision came at the backdrop of her depression phase, following her ‘bitter breakup’ with dancer Melvis Louis. Thereafter, she found ‘Halal love’ in a Gujarati businessman named Anas Sayed and tied the knot with him in November 2020.
After her return to Islamic fold, far from the ‘sinful’ world of entertainment, Sana Khan was seen promoting Halal beauty products and makeup. She had even launched her luxury skincare range of products and treatments.
Halal makeup, certification and business model
Unlike conventional makeup, Halal makeup adheres to Islamic standards i.e. they are free from pig-derived and other forbidden ingredients. They are also wudu–friendly (permeable to water) as required by Islamic standards. Halal beauty products can range from eyeshadows, foundations, nail polishes, and even fragrances.
As per ISWA Halal Certification Department, halal makeup must be free from alcohol, najs ingredients (filthy and unclean), forbidden animals in Islam or animals that have not been slaughtered as per Sharia law. According to its director Habib Ghanim, the slaughter of an animal is considered Halal when it is done in the name of Allah, followed by the recital of prayer (Kalma). The animal must be killed with bare hands or a specific method of cutting.
“Your skin is the biggest organ in your body. It absorbs everything, so you’re consuming [ingredients] indirectly,” says Habib Ghanim. Although Halal makeup is not new in the world of cosmetics, it has gained prominence among the Muslim community who comprise 23% of the world’s population. Reportedly, more and more Muslims are now searching for Halal alternatives to commonly used makeup and other beauty products.
However, the mere use of Halal ingredients is not sufficient to receive a Halal certification. A makeup brand needs to meet lengthy requirements at every stage of production and distribution for it to be certified as Halal. It may take up to 2 years for a brand to receive such a certification. In the United States, Amara Cosmetics for instance have been producing halal makeup products. The largest certification organisation in the country is the U.S. Halal Certification.
According to Habib Ghanim, all products are tested in associate labs to check for traces of pork or its byproducts before for certification. The certification costs around $2000, depending on the number of products that are certified. To be able to use the trademark, logo and copyright of the US Halal Certification, a brand needs to pay for it extra. The certification agency also requires brands to notify if product ingredients are changed. It also undertakes an independent audit of products sold by halal-certified companies.
“Singapore was one of the first countries in the world to formalize halal certification for cosmetics. It was one of the first countries to have government regulations and a whole department that supervises and ensures that everything is in compliance with the law,” Ghanim heaped praises on the Singapore halal certification industry. As per Karine Estelle, the founder of cosmetic brand Klarity, the halal certification has allowed them to serve their Muslim customers who can rely on their credibility.
She said that non-Muslims too could also use the same halal-certified products as they are less harmful and ‘cruelty-free.’ According to Imam Latif of Honest Chops, halal is a lifestyle that is not limited to meat or food. Reportedly, he oversees not only the butcher’s adhering to Islamic traditions during slaughter but also the humanitarian ethics behind it. He highlighted the environment-friendliness of Halal products by sourcing the animals from the right place, selling every edible part of the animal and eliminating wastage. “The preservation of life is one of the primary objectives of Islamic law,” remarked Latif.
He regretted that Muslims at times buy vegan alternatives to conventional cosmetics due to a lack of Faith in halal-certified products. “There are a lot of Muslims who become vegan, vegetarian, or adopt a kosher lifestyle because they are frustrated with halal products on the market…There isn’t a national certification system that is so recognized that if you don’t have it, you’re not given credence,” Latif added. However, both Ghanim and Latif are convinced that Muslim consumers will continue to buy halal products and the industry, which is worth billions of dollars, will witness a boom.
