HALAL MAKE UP?

By: Nina Naquiah Ahmad Nizar

“Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty.”

[Sahīh Muslim]

Cleanliness is pre-requisite to beautification, in which the state of purity is most loved by Allah and His prophet. Cleanliness, hygiene and beatification are highly related to cosmetics. There are numerous reasons that made cosmetics as women’s (and men’s) best friend. For some, cosmetics are worn daily due the importance placed on image and the competition in the workforce. Preference is more on color cosmetics that preserve and protect the skin against sun damage rather than just improving the exterior. These are the baby boomer generation who are innovation driven purchasers; yearning for age defying properties cosmetics, foundations that protect the skin against UV rays and reduce the appearance of fine lines, treatment ingredients that help a variety of skin problems, and lip glosses and lipsticks with a plumping effect. Apart from that, there are also users who want good quality mass-market personal hygiene products at affordable prices (Karl Lintner 2009).

There are disputes on whether or not halal cosmetics productions are necessary. Some may inquire if putting on make up to show non-muhrims is allowable or even in extreme cases, puts the query for halal cosmetics as darurah.  It isn’t inevitably a ‘Muslim’ principle to wear excessive make up because of the Islamic views on the importance of modesty.

Quran [24:31] And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers! Turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.

So, is creating a Halal make up range in anyway contradictory? Samina, the founder of Samina Pure Make Up, in Islam, it is considered good for a wife to make the effort to look attractive for her husband while also maintaining a modest appearance when in public. There are plenty of family and women only occasions where Muslim women can wear what they want. Reality speaks; both practicing and non practicing Muslim women wear makeup, if so then why not provide a Halal option (Aftab Gulzar 2010).

In this side of the world, already there are Malaysian Halal certified cosmetics brands that include Safi, Binari, Syahirah, Clara International, and a few others. Wan Norma Wan Daud, Director of the Product and Services Development Division, Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation or MATRADE says, “We not only need to create awareness amongst the Muslims that they should be concerned about the cosmetic’s composition, but also tell them that Halal cosmetics are available and where to get them. Malaysia can sell a lot especially to the Middle East, simply because ours is certified Halal,” She also thinks that Islamic scholars must set the record straight on various issues concerning the use of cosmetics and the set limits for Muslims. 

Now, after decades, many Western companies are increasingly developing marketing campaigns and formulating products themselves with Muslims firmly in sight under the “Islamic marketing”. As the Islamic population has grown in size and affluence there are now vast community of Muslims worldwide and more multinationals are seeking to tap into the market. 

Colgate-Palmolive, for instance, claims to be the first international company to have obtained Halal certification in Malaysia for toothpaste and mouthwash products. Colgate’s products now bear the Halal logo, which also is featured in the company’s television commercials.

Ibn Umar (R) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: 'Make a regular practice of the Miswaak, for verily, it is healthy for the mouth and it is a Pleasure for the Creator (i.e. Allah is pleased with the Muslim who uses the Miswaak)'.

                                                                                                                         [Sahih:Al-Bukhari]

Unilever says the Sunsilk Lively Clean & Fresh shampoo, which is sold in Malaysia and Singapore, was created for people who suffer from oily scalps after wearing any head covering, be it a baseball hat or head scarf. After company research showed that many women who wear the head scarf complained of oily scalps, it introduced the halal products in television commercial aimed at them. More to the point, The Tom’s of Maine brand had its products being certified Halal since 2006 except for bar soap and Wicked Fresh! Mouthwash, and Revlon Colorsilk and Colorsilk Luminista hair colouring products have been certified for more than ten years.

 Katie Leavitt of Tonic sums up a proposition of another makeup entrepreneur and former pharmaceutical clinician, Dr Mah Hussein-Gambles, saying that Halal is for everyone and we should approach it from the eco-ethical angle too, besides the religious angle. What's more, realizing the vast Muslim market, with the credibility of halal claimed products, she is confident that halal can sell, both for Muslims and non-Muslims. Hence, with the availability of halal cosemetics, beautify ourselves within the limits of Shariah and feel good! Wallahua’lam.