The global halal cosmetics and personal care market is poised to grow by $28.34 billion between 2020 and 2024, claims research and analysis company Technavio in a mid-year report. Meanwhile, a June report by Prophecy Market Insights says that the global halal cosmetics market was worth $26 billion in 2019, and is expected to be worth $52bn by 2025.
That’s a whole lot of skincare, haircare and make-up – all of it free from alcohol and animal fat.
What is halal beauty?
An obvious definition of halal beauty would be products that steer clear of alcohol and animal products, notably pork. As Deni Kirkova, PR and influencer manager for Sydney's Inika Organics, puts it: "The halal certification guarantees our products do not contain any haram or prohibited ingredients, including alcohol."
The halal certification connects us with customers looking for a close connection with a brand that respects their culture and values
However, the concept is more deep rooted than that. “Halal literally means permissible … to ensure the purity and cleanliness of your sources," explains Suhel Heetawala, managing director of Shafat Trading, authorised distributors in the Middle East for India's halal-certified Iba Cosmetics. "Apart from the ingredients, the production process should also be halal-compliant to ensure a product is healthy and safe for human consumption. Most importantly, being halal makes sure the products are ethical, free from animal cruelty and harmless to the environment.”
Some ingredients that halal-compliant products avoid include: carmine (red colouration), which is derived by crushing cochineal beetles; fat from pigs, cows and sheep; animal hair, skin and bones; beeswax; and alcoholic spirits and scents.
“Animal fat is used excessively in cosmetics manufacturing to provide a moisturising effect to lipsticks and creams. We replace this with plant-derived emollients and fats, such as shea butter, castor oil, cocoa butter and Moroccan argan oil,” says Heetawala. “Animal-derived ingredients are not considered halal because one cannot be sure as to where they came from.”
The appeal of halal cosmetics
Beyond technicalities and certification, halal is a spiritual concept. As Shelina Janmohamed, author of Generation M: Young Muslims Changing the World, writes: "Pointing to the Quranic concept of tayyab, a growing number of young Muslims are imposing their own, exacting ethical standards on the things they buy. Literally speaking, tayyab means good. But this idea of goodness is multifaceted.
“Essentially, being tayyab means that every element of the product must meet halal standards, from how workers are treated and animals are cared for to the environmental impacts of a product’s packaging. For some, even the advertising and marketing must be true to halal and tayyab principles.”
Vinicius Torres, sales director at Prolab Cosmetics, says: “Halal certification not only provides a seal of good manufacturing practices and quality, but also connects us with customers looking for a close connection with a brand that respects their culture and values … [for products] they will use and be proud to share within their communities.”
Prolab is the first Brazilian cosmetics manufacturer to be awarded certification by Cibal-Halal, and launched its halal portfolio in 2015 with two products: Tonalitta argan oil and Nutrat Hair Dress, a heat-protection leave-in cream. The following year, the brand extended its halal offering to 20 products, including 30 shades of hair colour that use plant-based keratin (rather than animal hair and horns).
Clearly, from a company point of view, too, a halal wing translates to heady profits. Inika, for example, experienced 28 per cent growth in 2019, says Kirkova, adding that the company, has been halal since its launch and has grown year on year.
Four halal beauty products to try
Nail stains by Hala!
Available in seven shades, Hala! products are formulated with henna and plant-based dyes. “Hala! does not coat the nails. It simply stains the nails [when washed off] after an hour. What’s left is a beautiful, coloured stain on your nails,” explains founder Farah Bilal. This is also compliant with the belief that water must directly touch your nails while performing ablutions.
Argan Nutri Repair by Prolab
This serum strengthens and moisturises hair fibres, with its combination of argan oil, myrrh, calamus, Chinese cinnamon and olive.
Organic BB Cream by Inika
Claiming to contain “the highest percentage of certified organic ingredients [80 per cent] in a BB cream”, this product is made from prickly pear, pomegranate, avocado and jojoba oils.
Maxx Matte Liquid Lipstick by Iba Cosmetics
This Peta-certified product is available in a dozen shades, and is formulated using argan oil, marula oil and sweet almond oil. It is free of petroleum jelly and silicones.
Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
Napoleon
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
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The Little Things
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Four stars
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
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