We caught up with one of our speakers, Dr. Yavuz Özoguz to find out how he plans to focus on halal certifications for personal care products, one of the biggest current trends, during his speaker session on halal cosmetics at in-cosmetics 2015.

How do you define Halal Cosmetics?

Halal is the arabic word for “permissible” and describes any object or action which is not forbidden for a Muslim according to the understanding of Islam. If something is not Halal in the field of food it leads to the prohibition of consuming it. For example, it is not permitted for a Muslim to eat pork or drink wine. In the field of cosmetics, the definition is much more complex, for example it is not “forbidden” to slather human skin with wine. It only leads to impurity of the skin and has to be purified before next religious rites, but it is not forbidden. Therefore “Halal” in the field of cosmetics means, that the use does not prevent religious rites directly or indirectly.

What gave rise to the creation of Halal Cosmetics?

In western countries the population does not increase at such a rate that cutthroat competition exists. To achieve growth, producers must identify future consumer groups. The rise of Halal cosmetics has come about due to product developers increasing their understanding of ingredients and the needs of Muslim cosmetics consumers.

What are the differences between natural cosmetics and Halal cosmetics?

Halal is based on the religious definition of purity and impurity. There are a lot of impurities according to Islam that are natural but not necessarily Halal. For example cosmetics using animal sources and those products using ethanol from vegetable sources are natural but not Halal.

What ingredients cannot be used in Halal Cosmetics?

All ingredients, which are defined as “impure” in Islam, which are in short all animal (and human) sources as well as ethanol from fermentation. But also some “pure” ingredients can lead to problems. For example silicone itself is pure and Halal. But if it covers the head skin, it prevents religious washings.

What ingredients can be used to replace alcohol?

It has to be mentioned, that only ethanol from fermentation is “impure”. Other alcohols as well as ethanol from gas synthesis are pure. In all cases a Muslim may not drink anything with ethanol, but if they use cosmetics with synthetically manufactured ethanol it has a different effect than using ethanol from fermentation – although in both cases the chemical formula is the same. There is always a significant spiritual aspect with all matters Halal.

What is the current market size of Halal Cosmetics?

Reputable papers suggest that about 20% of Muslim consumers are concerned about Halal issues with the products they are using. But these papers do not consider that more than 80% of Muslims would choose to purchase a Halal product, given the choice.

Where are the strongest markets and why?

Several papers write about Asia being the strongest Halal market due to the fact that most Muslims are living there but in my opinion we should not underestimate the markets in the Western World due to the growing Muslim population and the higher education standard.

In what countries is the highest growth potential and why?

I am not an economist, but if European countries have a real growing market on their doorstep, meaning they can provide a large group of consumers with products of interest and build a marketing basis for the whole world.

Who supplies Halal conforming ingredients?

One will be astonished, if you know how many suppliers produce Halal and are certified. But only few companies advertise this capability and only answer if they are asked due to some fears according the image of Islam.

Dr Özoguz is speaking at the Halal cosmetics and personal care: A market with future potential Marketing Trends Presentation at in-cosmetics on 15 April 2015, 11:15 – 12:00 Marketing Trends Theatre