What is Halal Beauty And Why Is It Relevant to Vegans?

One of the new buzzwords of beauty is halal – cosmetics that are adherent to the Muslim concept of halal, meaning “acceptable” or “permitted”. In Europe, halal cosmetics are certified by Halal Certification Europe, and in the US they are certified by the ISWA Halal Certification Department.

There is definitely nothing new about halal cosmetics. But the new generation of conscious Muslim consumers have an increased affluence – and as Muslims make up 23% of the world’s population, there is no doubt that the market for halal makeup will continue to grow. According to Grand View Research, the halal beauty market is expected to be worth $52 billion by the year 2025. So despite the fact that not all Muslims believe that their beauty products need to be halal, we should expect to see this label on many of the beauty products we buy – especially since there is quite a lot of cross-over between halal and vegan cosmetics.

What Does Halal Beauty Have in Common with Vegan Beauty?

Just like veganism, the idea of halal stretches beyond just food (many people are familiar with the term halal meat, which lays out particular rules for slaughter) and encompasses things like beauty and self-care products. To be considered halal, beauty products must be free from ingredients and substances considered haram, forbidden. Those ingredients include alcohol, blood, gelatin and anything pork-derived such as pig fat – eating pork is considered haram and therefore forbidden in Islam. Halal beauty is manufactured only with clean tools and without the use of materials that can be harmful to humans. Some halal products are cruelty-free and completely free from animal-derived ingredients. This common ground between halal and vegan means that sometimes one can also be suitable for the other.

 

When is Halal Makeup Not Vegan?

Despite many halal beauty products being devoid of animal ingredients, some of them do contain substances like beeswax or lanolin, which is derived from sheep’s wool – these ingredients are considered halal but not vegan. Vegan cosmetics can also include alcohol, which is forbidden in halal products. So as usual, check the label. Also, if you are interested in eco-friendly beauty, keep in mind that ingredients such as silicone-based polymers, which can be harmful to the environment, are considered both halal and vegan.

Three Ethical Brands That are Both Vegan and Halal

With the abundance of beauty brands on the market and the many certifications and labels that can be found in the cosmetics industry, knowing exactly what you are slathering onto your face and body is no easy task. However, there are brands that are clear about choosing to cater to both halal and vegan consumers – carrying both official certifications. Here are a few of our favourites.

PHB Ethical Beauty

This British brand focuses on ethical and eco-friendly products that are free from microplastics, toxic chemicals, animal ingredients and animal testing. Their products are halal certified and 20% of the profits go to charity. Most of the packaging used by this brand is also 100% recyclable.

Inika Organic

Every product from this Australian brand, whose name means “small earth” in Hindi, is vegan, cruelty-free and certified halal, and most products are certified organic. The beauty products are also free from phthalates and parabens, and also non-comedogenic, which means they contain no pore-clogging substances. Try this brand for gentle, natural cosmetics in creative colours.

Iba Halal Care

This halal brand is also organic, vegan and cruelty-free. Iba is based in India, but ships worldwide. Loaded with clean, natural ingredients, these products are as healthy as they are pure.

 

As always, check labels and stay informed – some beauty products are considered halal due to lack of haram ingredients, even if they do not carry a halal certification. But as vegans, reading labels is second-nature, so this one shouldn’t be too hard!

 

Sources here, here, here, here and here.

 

Photos by Freestocks.org via Unsplash

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Sascha Camilli

Founder and Editor

A passionate changemaker, Sascha Camilli is the founder and editor-in-chief of Vilda Magazine. Born in Moscow and raised in Stockholm, she has also lived in Los Angeles, London, Milan and Florence, before landing in her current hometown of Brighton, UK. She was selected as one of GLAMOUR UK's Most Empowering Nu-Gen Activists and is a frequent public speaker on the topic of vegan fashion and material innovation. Her book Vegan Style is out now on Murdoch Books.

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