With growing demand from a global audience and a renewed focus on ethical production, halal beauty is reshaping what conscious cosmetics can look like
As the beauty industry accelerates toward greater inclusivity and ethical transparency, halal certified products are stepping into the spotlight. We are seeing breathable nail polishes suitable for performing wudhu and halal approved moisturisers flying off the shelves. The movement is not only gaining visibility in Muslim-majority regions like the Gulf and Southeast Asia, but also across Europe and North America.
However, as more labels join the space, questions are arising. What actually makes a product halal? And why are so many people – not just Muslim consumers – turning to this category as a trusted marker of clean and ethical beauty?
Halal beauty refers to products that are permissible under Islamic law, encompassing not only what’s in the product, but also how it is made, stored, and sold. “Halal cosmetics would need to be free of ingredients such as animal derivatives (from pigs, carrion, blood, and animals not slaughtered according to Islamic rites) and intoxicants like alcohol,” explains Javed Younis, President and Co-founder of halal beauty company Maya Cosmetics. “Halal also considers production, transportation, and how the business itself operated. There are ethical ways to run a business operation under certain Islamic guidelines.”
These types of products have not always been readily available. Younis, an American Muslim with years of experience in personal care manufacturing, felt the absence of truly halal beauty options growing up. “When there was no halal option, we would feel safer buying kosher products,” he recalls.
Dr. Umar Dar, CEO of halal beauty brand Tuesday in Love, tells a similar story. “Back when I was a medical student, my wife and I were struggling financially. We once walked past a store and some bright bottles of nail polish caught her eye. Although she had admired them she placed them back down simply because we couldn’t afford to spend any extra money. I remember the look of dismay on her face,” he recounts. “In the following weeks, I turned our kitchen into a lab, trying to create a wudhu friendly polish. When I succeeded, I gave her the first bottle – it was a Tuesday.”
Prayer-friendly nail polish may seem like a niche innovation, but it is fulfilling an essential need for many muslims. Traditional formulas prevent water from reaching the nail, subsequently rendering ablution invalid. Tuesday in Love’s products are water-permeable and lab-tested for wudhu compliance.
A range of other halal brands have also entered the scene in the last decade, including the likes of Wardah, Claudia Nour, and Mersi Cosmetics. Often, it is these smaller, independent organisations that are driving innovation, though other providers are beginning to accommodate for halal products too. “Many salon owners and nail technicians are now offering halal options for Muslim customers,” says Dr. Umar Dar.
Demand for these types of products and services is certainly climbing rapidly. According to a recent report, the global halal cosmetics market was valued at $42 billion in 2022 and is projected to exceed $134 billion by 2033. Much of that growth is being driven by younger Muslim consumers with access to global e-commerce. However, it is not just religious observance pulling people in.
An increased interest in ethical consumerism is playing a central role. Halal-certified brands often overlap with clean, vegan and cruelty-free values, which appeals to a much wider audience. Dr. Umar Dar explains: “Halal beauty products have become more popular not just amongst the Muslim community, but also among people who value ethically sourced, child labor-free products. The term halal increasingly signals those values.”
As consumer needs continue to evolve, halal products are clearly attracting an audience that is drawn to integrity as much as to aesthetics. It is this cross-demographic appeal that may position halal compliant brands as the future of a more inclusive beauty industry.
As this space expands, here are some standout brands redefining what halal beauty can look like:
Wardah: A pioneer in Southeast Asia’s halal cosmetics industry, offering skincare and makeup with mass appeal.
Tuesday in Love: Known for its water-permeable nail polish and prayer-friendly formulations, now offering UV gel options.
Claudia Nour: A brand focused on foundation shades and lipsticks tailored to modest, clean beauty.
Mersi Cosmetics: Offers breathable, long-wear nail polish in bold shades, with vegan and halal certification.
Iba Cosmetics: One of India’s few halal-certified brands offering everything from matte lipsticks to sulfate-free shampoo.
Inika Organic: A luxury halal-certified brand specialising in organic and vegan mineral-based makeup.
Maya Cosmetics: Award-winning halal nail polish brand, recognised for breathable polish safe for wudhu and free of animal by-products.
Flora and Noor: Flora and Noor was founded to provide halal-certified skincare for melanin-rich skin, after its founder saw a lack of inclusive, faith-conscious options in the mainstream market.
Link: https://www.voguearabia.com/article/the-rise-of-halal-beauty-brands
