The use of alcohol for cosmetic products is still a matter of debate among the Muslim community. Although it is permitted, cosmetic business actors must comply with several conditions to ensure that their products remain halal even though they use alcohol. The Assessment Institute for Foods, Drugs and Cosmetics (LPPOM) is ready to be the best partner in fast and easy halal examinations.
Cosmetic products have become an inseparable part of everyday life. Both men and women now use various types of cosmetics, from skincare to makeup, to support their appearance and skin health. In addition, in Islamic teachings, beautifying (tazayyun) is something that is recommended, as long as you use products made from halal and pure ingredients.
However, along with the development of technology, cosmetic products are made from various materials, so questions arise regarding the safety and halalness of these products. One of the ingredients often used in cosmetic formulations is alcohol or ethanol, either as a raw material, additional ingredient, or auxiliary ingredient in its production.
Alcohol is known to have various functions in cosmetics, such as solvents, antiseptics, and preservatives. With so many products containing alcohol, Muslims need to understand how Islam regulates its use in cosmetics.
Chemically, alcohol is an organic compound with a hydroxyl group (-OH) bound to a carbon atom. Alcohol not only consists of ethanol but also includes other compounds such as methanol, propanol, and butanol. However, ethanol (C2H5OH) is the most widely used in the cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical industries. In the world of trade, ethanol is better known by the trade name “alcohol”.
Ethanol or alcohol can be distinguished based on the manufacturing process. First, alcohol is a by-product of the khamr industry, which is haram and impure. Second, alcohol from the non-khamr sector, both from chemical synthesis (petrochemicals) and non-khamr fermentation results. Alcohol from this category can be used in cosmetics as long as it is not medically harmful.
Senior Halal Auditor LPPOM, Susiyanti, M.Si., explained that alcohol is used in food and beverages and is also widely found in cosmetics. “The difference is that drinks have a maximum residue limit of 0.5%. In food and cosmetics, there is no residue limit, the important thing is that it does not come from the alcohol industry. We also have to ensure that alcohol is generally produced from fermentation, and the fermentation media must be pork-free,” he said.
Guidelines regarding alcohol use for cosmetics are also clearly conveyed through the Fatwa of the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) No. 11 of 2018. The legal provisions state two things. First, cosmetic products containing alcohol are impure, and their use is haram. Second, the use of alcohol/ethanol in cosmetic products is not limited in content as long as the ethanol used does not come from the alcohol industry (either the result of chemical synthesis [from petrochemicals] or the result of the non-alcohol fermentation industry) and is not medically harmful.
Although in the modern cosmetics industry, alcohol has many important functions. However, the halalness of the ingredients used is the main factor in choosing a product for Muslims. The MUI Fatwa provides clear guidelines that alcohol from the non-alcohol industry can be used in cosmetics as long as it does not cause harm.
Therefore, conducting a product halal check through a third party is important. In this case, LPPOM always opens a discussion space for the cosmetics industry, which can be done through the Customer Care service at Call Center 14056 or WhatsApp 0811-1148-696. In addition, business actors can also explore the flow and process of halal certification by attending the Introduction to Halal Certification (PSH) class, which is held routinely every week https://halalmui.org/pengenalan-sertifikasi-halal/.
LPPOM also has an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratory for halal and vegan testing that can be used for cosmetic products. Further information regarding the LPPOM MUI Laboratory testing service can be accessed at https://e-halallab.com/.
LPPOM also strives to make it easier for Muslim consumers to check the halalness of their products. One is by providing a Halal Product Search platform that can be accessed through the website www.halalmui.org, the Halal MUI application that can be downloaded on Playstore, and the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) website. (YN)
