Amidst the surge in skincare products, Muslim consumers are being urged to be more careful in ensuring the halal status of the products they use. According to Dr. Priyo Wahyudi, Laboratory Expert at LPPOM MUI, critical points in halal certification can arise from ingredients, processes, and production facilities. To support producers and provide education, LPPOM offers a range of services to ensure the quality of halal products.
In recent years, the beauty and skincare trend in Indonesia has grown rapidly. Almost every month, new products appear, from both local and international brands, offering claims ranging from skin brightening and anti-aging to protection from pollution. However, amid this euphoria, people are now paying closer attention to one crucial aspect: the halal status of skincare products.
This issue is not just an additional label on the packaging, but rather part of the lifestyle and spiritual needs of Muslim consumers who want to care for themselves with peace of mind and confidence in the halal status of the products they use. With the mandatory halal regulations, public awareness is growing that beauty products must align with religious values, making the use of halal products both a form of protection and a statement of identity.
The government and relevant stakeholders’ attention to halal skincare is certainly not solely focused on its enormous business potential. Equally important is the protection of consumers, the majority of whom are Muslim. Therefore, understanding the potential for haram ingredients in skincare and cosmetic products is crucial. “Consumers must be discerning when choosing halal skincare products by considering several factors,” said Dr. Priyo Wahyudi, an expert in the laboratory at LPPOM MUI.
He emphasized that the critical points for skincare products being haram encompass many aspects, including ingredients, facilities, production processes, and compliance with SJPH. Critical ingredients include raw materials and additives, such as animal ingredients like collagen, elastin, placenta extract, and stem cells, which are haram and impure if they come from pigs or animals not slaughtered according to Islamic law. Then there are animal fats (tallow, lard) as emollients or emulsifiers, glycerin, stearic acid, and palmitic acid, if the source is animal fat.
Other ingredients include lanolin (lamb fat) and beeswax, whose status must be verified. Lanolin from sheep is halal. There’s also carmine, a red dye from cochineal insects, which is often a critical ingredient in makeup and decorative skincare products, and many more.
Critical points in production facilities include the potential for cross-contamination, where halal and non-halal products are mixed without proper cleaning procedures in accordance with halal standards. Critical points in the production process include the hydrolysis process, which may use enzymes sourced from animals; production processes involving multiple facilities; and the distribution of ingredients and products, which must ensure there is no contamination with najis/haram materials during transportation.
“Beyond all that, what’s equally important is meeting halal standards, namely implementing the five SJPH criteria in accordance with business processes and product scope, consistently and continuously,” Priyo emphasized.
To support producers and educate the public, the LPH LPPOM also presents the Halal On 30 program. Through short 30-minute sessions accessible at bit.ly/HalalOn30, this program provides practical explanations of the halal certification process, so business owners can understand it without investing a lot of time.
Furthermore, the LPPOM MUI Laboratory, accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, also provides additional testing services, such as water penetration testing and vegan testing for cosmetic products. These services are essential for producers to ensure product quality meets halal standards and also meets the increasingly diverse needs of consumers. More information can be accessed at https://e-halallab.com/.
By understanding these critical points, the public is expected to choose skincare products not only based on trends or popular claims, but also on their halal certification. This is a form of caution and self-protection, ensuring that religious observances are maintained and the products used do not raise doubts. Halal skincare is not just a label; it is a guarantee of safety, cleanliness, and adherence to Islamic law.
Ultimately, choosing halal skincare is a concrete step towards safe and faith-based self-care. It is hoped that this awareness will not be just a passing trend, but rather a new culture in the lives of modern Muslim communities. Thus, true beauty can be reflected not only in healthy skin but also in peace of mind, aligned with the values ​​of faith. (***)
Source: https://halalmui.org/jurnal-halal/175/
