Halal Cosmetics Deep Dive: Ingredients to Avoid and Safe Alternatives

Why Halal Cosmetics Is a Growing Market

The halal cosmetics market has grown significantly as Muslim consumers have become more aware of the ingredients used in conventional beauty products. The core concern is not simply about what is eaten — Islam's concept of purity (tahara) extends to what is applied to the body. A Muslim woman who wears nail polish during prayer, for example, may be concerned about whether the product contains ingredients derived from prohibited sources.

Beyond the Muslim consumer market, halal cosmetics have attracted attention from vegan consumers (halal certification overlaps significantly with vegan certification in terms of excluding animal-derived ingredients) and health-conscious consumers who appreciate the transparency that halal certification requires. The result is a growing market that extends beyond Muslim-majority demographics.

Ingredients to Avoid in Halal Cosmetics

Porcine-Derived Ingredients

Pork-derived ingredients are impermissible under Islamic law and are the primary halal concern in cosmetics. Common porcine-derived cosmetic ingredients include: collagen (frequently derived from pork skin), gelatin (used in nail polish films, some creams), glycerin (can be porcine, bovine, or plant-derived — the source must be specified), and lard or pork fat (used historically in cold creams and hair products).

Glycerin is particularly important to scrutinise because it is ubiquitous in cosmetic formulations — used as a humectant in moisturisers, cleansers, and countless other products — and the source (vegetable vs. animal) is not always declared on the label. Halal-certified cosmetics must use vegetable-derived or synthetic glycerin.

Alcohol (Ethanol)

The halal status of alcohol in cosmetics is one of the most debated issues among Islamic scholars. The majority position among contemporary halal certification bodies is that ethanol used as a processing aid or at very low concentrations in cosmetics does not constitute intoxication and is permissible. However, some bodies require strict avoidance of ethanol even in cosmetic applications. The practical implication for formulators is to check which certification body your target market accepts and what their specific stance on alcohol is before formulating.

Cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and other fatty alcohols used as emollients and emulsifiers in cosmetics are not related to ethanol and do not raise halal concerns.

Carmine (E120) and Other Insect-Derived Ingredients

Carmine — a red pigment derived from cochineal insects — is widely used in lipsticks, blushes, and other colour cosmetics. Insects other than locusts are generally considered impermissible in Islamic dietary law, making carmine a prohibited ingredient in halal cosmetics. Alternative red pigments including synthetic dyes and plant-derived alternatives (beet extract, anthocyanins) are readily available as substitutes.

Non-Halal Animal Derivatives

Beyond porcine ingredients, any ingredient derived from animals not slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law is technically impermissible. This extends to bovine collagen, elastin, and placental extracts unless from halal-certified sources. In practice, most halal cosmetics certification bodies focus primarily on porcine-derived ingredients and insect-derived colorants, with less stringent requirements for other bovine or ovine derivatives — but formulators targeting strict certification should clarify the scope of their certification body's requirements.

Halal-Compliant Alternatives

The cosmetics industry has well-developed plant-derived and synthetic alternatives for virtually every animal-derived ingredient that raises halal concerns. Vegetable glycerin from palm, soy, or coconut is a direct replacement for animal glycerin. Marine or plant-based collagen alternatives are available for moisturising applications. Synthetic waxes replace animal-derived waxes. Plant-based pigments or synthetic dyes replace carmine.

Certification Bodies for Halal Cosmetics

JAKIM, MUI, and ESMA all certify halal cosmetics. The CDHA (Centre for Halal Cosmetics and Pharmaceutical Research) in Malaysia is a specialist body for cosmetics certification. For brands targeting the GCC, ESMA-recognised certification is the entry credential. For Southeast Asia, JAKIM certification provides the broadest coverage.

Use our Halal Ingredient Checker to instantly verify whether any cosmetics ingredient is halal, haram, or requires further investigation — covering 220+ common ingredients.

Explore our certifier directory for halal cosmetics certification bodies active in your target markets.