Top Halal Beauty Brands in the USA
Written by: Precious Umeasalugo
For Beauty that Aligns with Your Values.
Whether you like soft glam, a full beat, a soft lip, or bright nail polish, there is a plethora of beauty products available in the US market. But for Muslim women, finding beauty options that align with faith can be a bit of a challenge. This class of Islam-appropriate beauty products are classified as ‘Halal’, which is an Arabic word that means ‘permissible’ or ‘lawful’. Generally, halal refers to items, meals, practices, and products that are not forbidden or considered ‘haram’ in Islam.
What is Halal Beauty?
When it comes to beauty specifically, halal guidelines stipulate that beauty products must not contain alcohol and must be cruelty-free. They also should not contain any animal by-products like gelatin, collagen, or human-derived ingredients like stem cells. However, some animal products like cow milk and honey are permissible under Islamic law.
While beauty is such an essential part of the daily routines of many Muslims, not all halal beauty products are actually halal-certified. The certification in fact must come from a halal certification organisation like the HCO. Additionally, a product can only be halal-certified when all the processes involved in its lifespan, from the production chain to sales, are according to halal principles.
Now that you know what halal beauty is, here are the top Halal beauty brands you need to try if you live in the USA.
Top Halal Beauty Brands to Discover
FARSÁLI
Sal and Farah Ali, a married couple who have been vocal about their journey with fertility, created FARSÁLI to promote natural beauty through safe, effective and thoroughly-researched skincare formulas. With a rich line of beauty oils and antioxidant serums, FARSÁLI is 100% vegan, cruelty-free and halal. Some must-try products from the brand are the Skintune Perfecting Serum and the Rose Gold Elixir Beauty Oil, both of which beauty guru and YouTuber Jackie Aina is a big fan of.
Amara Cosmetics
Founded in 2010 by Shamalia Mohamed, Amara Cosmetics is on a mission to provide Muslim women in the US with a halal-certified, guilt-free makeup experience. Amara Cosmetics is vegan, cruelty-free, and features an extensive range of colour cosmetics, from moisture-rich matte lipsticks and breathable nail polish to perfectly pressed complexion products.
Flora & Noor
Founded by Jordan Karim, Flora & Noor is a halal-certified, vegan, and cruelty-free skincare and bodycare brand with a focus on melanin-rich skin. As a national eczema ambassador, it was incredibly important to Jordan that Flora & Noor be made with the highest quality natural ingredients for treating chronic skin conditions like eczema and hyperpigmentation through sustainable practices.
Must-try products from the brand include the Super Glow Gel Moisturizer which contains niacinamide and blue tansy, and the #NOFILTER Enzyme Mask with tamanu and organic gotu kola.
Al Haramain and Al Halal Perfumes
Owned as a sister company by Al Haramain Perfumes in the UAE, Al Halal Perfumes takes away the stress of finding ethically-sourced, sustainable halal perfumes from around the world, including this Sparkle Perfumed Hand Sanitizer. While the line isn't extensive yet, Al Haramain itself does offer several halal options including aHaramain Golden Oudmade to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary in 2020.
Vivre Cosmetics
Founded in 2018, Vivre Cosmetics is an inclusive, halal and organic cosmetics brand in the USA. Along with matte lipsticks and oil-free liquid foundations, Vivre Cosmetics also stocks breathable nail polish that are halal-certified and are ablution-friendly. These breathable nail polish are formulated with tiny pores that allow vapour to pass through them, compared to traditional nail polish which create a solid film over the nail. Our favourite shades are Orange You Late? and Fetch My Bentley.
AXIS-Y
While the Korean climate-inspired skincare brand does not have halal certifications across board, AXIS-Y has two products which have been certified by the Korea Halal Authority: the Mugwort Pore Clarifying Wash Off Pack with artichoke, kelp, and 61% mugwort extract; and the New Skin Resolution Gel Mask with allantoin, yam root, and 2% niacinamide. Other than these two, AXIS-Y still prides itself on providing vegan, cruelty-free and affordable climate-inspired skincare across all its other offerings.
