Halal cosmetics are seeing an upsurge in popularity and demand, not just from Muslim populations worldwide, but also from a growing number of health-conscious consumers who are paying more attentions to the products they put on their bodies.
For a product to be certified halal, it should not contain alcohol, should not be tested on animals, and should not contain animal ingredients, and it is this attention to purity and quality that is driving the Global Halal Cosmetics Market at a CAGR of 13.67 percent.
Maintaining Integrity of Halal Cosmetics: A Key Challenge
However, while this emphasis on purity is what attracts consumers to halal products to begin with, it is also one of the main challenges faced by vendors in the market.
The practice of halal is not just limited to the ingredients and manufacturing of these products but applies to all the activities involved in the supply chain. Vendors have to take immense care to comply with religious obligations and ensure that halal cosmetics and personal care products are prepared and packed as per Islamic law, and not contaminated by any haram ingredients.
Improved Certification and Standardization Procedures
Lucky for vendors and consumers of halal cosmetics, the rules and procedures relating to halal certification and standardization have recently improved dramatically.
As more products are certified by recognized certification bodies, consumer confidence in the products has increased There are now strict guidelines regarding the raw materials that can be used in halal products, and the new guidelines even extend as far as the packaging, handling, and storage of these products.
Some of the major halal certification bodies include:
- JAKIM (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia)
- AIFDC-ICU (The Assessment Institute for Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics – Indonesian Council of Ulama)
- MUIS (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura)
- MS 2200: Malaysia’s Halal Cosmetics Standards
- AHF (American Halal Foundation)
- The Indonesian Council of Ulama
Entry of Multinational Vendors
Because of the huge growth potential for halal cosmetics—in part due to improved standards— large multinational players are entering the Global Halal Cosmetics Market. Colgate-Palmolive and Avon are some of the big names that have recently entered the market by launching halal-certified cosmetics lines.
But even though the entry of global vendors will help create further awareness about halal cosmetics and improve the distribution of these products worldwide, the market is still dominated by regional halal cosmetics vendors.
Some Major Vendors Making Waves in the Global Halal Cosmetics Market:
- Amara Cosmetics was the first company in North America to provide completely halal-certified cosmetic products manufactured in the US. The company aims to promote awareness among the Muslim community that halal is not limited to food but also applies to cosmetics. Its mission is to provide cosmetics that are obtained from natural sources such as plant extracts.
- IMED Lab was another prominent vendor in the Global Halal Cosmetics market in 2014. All the products formulated and manufactured by the company are audited and certified by JAKIM (the only authorized Malaysian government authentication body for halal products and certification).
- INIKA Cosmetics was another leading vendor in the Global Halal Cosmetics market. It is an Australia-based natural cosmetics company, and half of its product portfolio is certified organic and halal. It is one of the best performing natural cosmetics companies in the world, and has a varied range of products for the face, eyes, and lips such as mineral foundations, brow pencils, eyeshadows, eyeliners, and lipsticks.
