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The global halal cosmetics market size was valued at USD 47.76 billion in 2024. The market is projected to be worth USD 53.12 billion in 2025 and reach USD 115.03 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 11.67% during the forecast period.

It shows that the halal skincare market is growing rapidly and for good reason. Today, more consumers are becoming mindful of what they put on their skin. For Muslims, this mindfulness extends beyond clean and ethical beauty. It’s also about purity, prayer compatibility, and spiritual alignment.

However, here’s the good part: halal skincare benefits not only Muslims. Its clean, ethical, and cruelty-free values resonate with people across cultures.

So, if you’ve ever dreamed of launching your own halal beauty brand, whether to solve a personal problem, serve your community, or create a purpose-driven business, now is a time to start.

Let’s walk through this journey step by step!

1. Understand What ‘Halal’ Really Means in Skincare

Before diving into the business side, it’s important to understand what makes skincare halal. The word ‘halal’ simply means ‘permissible’ in Arabic. But when it comes to cosmetics, it goes beyond just avoiding pork-based ingredients. 

Halal skincare must exclude all prohibited substances like alcohol, pig-derived collagen or gelatin, and any ingredients not sourced according to Islamic law. It must also be free from contamination during manufacturing.

One important thing often overlooked is that for Muslim consumers, skincare must not interfere with wudu (the ritual washing performed before prayers). That means products should not create a barrier on the skin that blocks water from reaching it.

Thick layers of silicone or certain waterproof formulations could make wudu invalid, which is why halal skincare often uses water-permeable, breathable formulations.

To understand halal skincare formulation in more detail, read this guide!

If you want to build a brand that truly serves its audience, you’ll have to understand their spiritual and lifestyle needs.

Read Also: What is Halal Skincare? A Beginner’s Guide

2. Start With Thorough Market Research

Every successful skincare brand begins with deep research. Before you decide on a product, a logo, or even a name, spend time understanding the market.

Who are your ideal customers? Are they Muslim women looking for gentle cleansers? Men wanting grooming products that align with their faith? Moms searching for halal baby skincare? Are they environmentally conscious shoppers who love plant-based ingredients?

To get real insights, spend time on platforms like Reddit, Quora, and beauty forums. You’ll find Muslim users sharing their frustrations, from not being able to find wudu-friendly makeup to concerns about hidden animal derivatives in creams. 

Look into your competitors. Read and watch reviews of the current halal brands. Take notes. This kind of research helps you understand the market.

Assess brands like Flora & Noor, INIKA Organic, Husn Beauty or Wardah. What are they doing right? What are their gaps? Maybe they don’t offer a certain product. Maybe their prices are too high. Maybe their packaging feels too clinical. All of this helps you define what makes your brand unique.

3. Define Your Niche

The truth is, you don’t need to launch ten products at once. It’s smarter and more manageable to focus on one or two great products at the beginning. That might be a face serum, a moisturiser, or body butter. The key is to solve one clear problem.

For example, maybe your serum helps with dry skin. Or maybe your moisturiser is specially designed for girls dealing with acne caused by sweat and fabric. The more specific you are in your niche, the stronger your brand identity will be.

4. Source Ingredients and Formulate Products the Halal Way

Here comes the exciting (and sometimes challenging) part: developing your products.

You have a few options. The easiest is to work with a private-label manufacturer that already makes halal skincare. You can choose a formula, tweak it a bit, and launch under your own branding. This is quick and cost-effective.

The second option is contract manufacturing, where you develop your own custom formulas with a lab. You provide the ideas, and they help you bring them to life, while making sure everything stays halal. 

If you have the budget, you might consider building your own in-house lab. But that takes time, investment, and a lot of technical expertise.

Whichever route you choose, make sure your ingredients are truly halal. Don’t just take a supplier’s word for it; ask for certification and documentation. 

And always opt for clean, minimal, and gentle formulas. This makes halal certification easier and appeals to a wider audience who prefer simple, non-toxic skincare.

5. Get Halal Certification

This step is crucial if you want your brand to be taken seriously.

While some small brands try to skip certification, it often leads to customer doubts and missed opportunities. Halal certification builds trust, especially if you want to sell in Muslim-majority countries or partner with retailers.

There are several recognised certifying bodies worldwide, such as IFANCA in the US, HMC in the UK, JAKIM in Malaysia, and MUI in Indonesia. 

Each has its own process, but generally, they’ll ask for your ingredient list, supplier certificates, manufacturing details, and conduct a thorough inspection. Certification fees can range from £2,000 to £10,000, depending on the country and product type.

6. Branding That Builds Trust

Your brand should tell a story. A logo and tagline are important, but what truly matters is how your audience feels when they see your product.

Choose a brand name that reflects purity, beauty, or spirituality. Keep your packaging clean and minimal; think soft, earthy colours, recyclable materials, and easy-to-read labels. Always display your halal certification clearly on your product and website.

But branding goes beyond visuals. It’s also about your message. Tell people why you started this brand. Maybe it’s your own skincare struggle. Maybe it’s your faith journey. Maybe it’s a desire to build something meaningful and ethical. Whatever it is, make it human and honest.

When people relate to your story, they’ll trust you more, and that trust becomes the foundation of your business.

Here are some resources you’ll need on your way:

7. Build Your Online Store

Once your products are ready, you need a platform to sell them. Thankfully, today’s technology makes it easier than ever.

You can build a website using Shopify or WooCommerce. Make sure your site is mobile-optimised, fast, and visually appealing. Use high-quality product photos, include clear ingredient lists, and answer common questions on a dedicated FAQ page.

If you prefer not to manage everything yourself, e-commerce marketplaces offer a plug-and-play model that lets you skip the tech setup and start selling right away. Choosing the right platform can amplify your brand reach. 

Let’s look into a few options:

a. Etsy: Great for selling skincare products. Offers a wide audience but is competitive and fee-heavy.

b. Amazon: Trusted, high-volume platform, but harder to stand out without a big budget.

c. Riwaya: A standout platform that specifically caters to Muslim audiences and Islamic products. Unlike Etsy or Amazon, Riwaya aligns with the values of your target audience, offers a dedicated space for modest fashion, and supports sellers with branding, SEO, and curated collections.

Why Choose Riwaya?

Since its launch in 2021, Riwaya has seen a large increase in sales year on year, helping sellers make thousands of pounds every month. 

If you’re launching a halal cosmetics brand rooted in Islamic values, Riwaya offers built-in trust, loyal shoppers, no hidden fees, only 5% commission, and a growing Muslim customer base, which makes it a strategic first Islamic marketplace to join.

Learn more about how Riwaya can help you grow your business here!

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to connect your store to social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. These platforms will be a major source of traffic and sales.

8. Market Your Halal Beauty Brand

Marketing halal skincare is all about education and connection.

Many consumers still don’t know what halal skincare is or why it matters. So, create content that explains it. Write blog posts about ingredients to avoid, share skincare routines that are wudu-friendly, or make short videos showing how your moisturiser helps.

Work with influencers who genuinely believe in your mission. Find Muslim beauty bloggers or skincare enthusiasts who care about clean beauty. Ask them to share honest reviews, tutorials, or unboxing videos.

Most importantly, engage with your audience. Reply to comments, answer questions with care, and share behind-the-scenes moments from your brand journey. This human connection builds loyalty faster than any paid ad.

9. Launch Your Brand

When you're ready to launch, consider doing a soft launch first. Share your product with a small group. It could be your friends, family, or a local Muslim women’s group. After that, gather feedback. This helps you fix any issues before going big.

Then, plan your official launch around a special occasion. Many halal brands launch during Ramadan or before Eid, when people are buying gifts and self-care items. You can also host online events, giveaways, or live Q&A sessions to build excitement.

Remember, your first launch doesn't need to be perfect. What matters is that you're listening, learning, and improving.

10. Manage Operations and Grow Slowly

Once your brand is out there, the real work begins: managing orders, dealing with suppliers, responding to customers, and thinking about what’s next.

Use simple tools to manage inventory and track sales. Google Sheets, Notion, or basic inventory software can be a huge help. Listen carefully to customer feedback. If people ask for travel-size products or fragrance-free versions, take notes. This is how you decide what to launch next.

Don’t rush to expand. Grow slowly and intentionally. Add new products only when you’re confident in their quality. Always prioritise trust over trendiness.

Conclusion

Starting a halal skincare brand is much more than selling creams and serums. It’s about creating something that aligns with people’s faith, values, and everyday life. It’s about building a business that’s not only profitable but purposeful.

You don’t need a million-dollar budget to get started. You need sincerity, knowledge, and a deep respect for your customers. From sourcing ethical ingredients to telling your story with heart, every step you take matters.

So if you’re thinking about launching your halal skincare brand, take that first step today. There’s a whole community out there waiting for what only you can offer.

Selling with Riwaya

Are you ready to turn your passion for halal cosmetics into a thriving online business? Riwaya is here to support you at every stage of your journey. As a seller on Riwaya, you’ll benefit from a platform that understands the ethical market.

With 1000s of monthly visitors and 100s of sellers onboard, you can connect directly with a huge market of Muslim customers. Apart from this, our behind-the-scenes team handles everything from SEO to marketing worth £1000s, so you could focus on what you do best: selling your amazing products!

Still not Sure! Join Riwaya for the first month free and watch your business grow.