Here’s more about Halal cosmetics. Get rid of the pig fat that you have been rubbing on your lips!

First things first. We know about halal food, but what does the line of cosmetics suggest? Is it meant only for Muslims?

Entrepreneur sisters Mauli and Grishma Teli put all our doubts to rest. The duo, who holds the credit of introducing India to its first halal beauty store, Iba Halal Care , that was launched last September, says, based on the science of ‘halal’ (Arabic word for lawful or permitted), the products are ethically manufactured and are free of harmful chemicals and impurities such as gelatin, keratin, pig fat and other animal derived ingredients.

The concept is in its nascent stage in India. Though the market opportunity for halal products is largely untapped, there is a great potential for its growth in a country that is home to 160 million Muslims.

While sceptics are of the view that the word “halal” here is only a marketing subterfuge, we dug deep into it:

FYI, if a product is halal-certified, it implies that it is not tested on animals and is free of alcohol, animal fat and harsh chemicals. The ingredients used in the making are organic too.

According to Halal India, the apex body of halal certification, halal market ranging from food to pharmaceuticals is expected to grow from $ 1.62 trillion in 2012 to $ 2.47 trillion in 2018. The halal cosmetics sector is also expected to grow making a $39 billion business in the next three years.

As most perfumes and deodorants contain alcohol (that is not considered halal) they interfere with namaz (prayer). As lipsticks and other make-up products contain pig fat, Muslim women avoid wearing them. This is how the two girls got the idea for their business. They got started with as many as 60 such beauty products.

Find out what you are actually using:

How you are using pig and other animal fats…
Items: soap, cream, lotion, lipstick, shampoo, hair conditioner
Ingredients: lard (from pigs) and tallow (from cows and sheep), cholesterol (from pig or cow fat), lanolin (from sheep)

How you are using animal hair, skin, bones…
Items: face mask, shampoo, hair conditioner, toothpaste, cream, lotion, curling and straightening treatments
Ingredient: gelatin, proteins such as collagen and elastin, keratin, allantoin

How you are using insects…
Items: lipstick, eyeshadow, cream, lotion, lipstick
Ingredients: carmine red colour (from Cochineal beetle), beeswax

How you are using alcohol…
Items: perfume, deodorant, cream, lotion, hair spray
Ingredient: ethanol

Malaysia, Indonesia and the Middle East Countries form good consumer base for such products. Keeping in view the growing demand for such products, and not just the Muslim consumer base, there are many Indian brands like Bikano, Goldwinner oil, Vadilal ice cream, Amrutanjan Health Care, CavinKare and Gujarat Ambuja Exports, which are also entering into the halal sphere. No wonder!