Korean cosmetics companies are winning over Muslim consumers thanks to Halal certification. It is a clear signal that Italy, with one of the world's leading beauty industries, cannot ignore: Halal certification for cosmetics is a real commercial lever, not a formality.
According to HalalFocus, Korean cosmetics companies are accelerating their entry into Muslim markets by explicitly focusing on Halal certification. Eye creams, serums and functional skincare products are seeing growing demand among Muslim consumers, and Halal certification is proving to be the deciding factor in gaining access to shelves and e-commerce platforms in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
For an Italian cosmetics company — or for an agri-food company that has already obtained Halal certification for its food products and wants to extend it to a beauty or nutraceutical line — this is anything but academic.
Muslim consumers do not apply Halal rules only to what they eat. They also apply them to what they put on their skin, hair and lips. A cosmetic product may contain ingredients derived from pork (such as gelatine or certain emulsifiers), ethyl alcohol, or substances from animals not slaughtered according to the ritual. If it is not Halal certified, it is excluded — not as an aesthetic preference, but as a religious obligation.
The world's largest Islamic markets — Indonesia with over 270 million inhabitants, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, the Gulf countries — are formalising these requirements for cosmetics too. Indonesia, through BPJPH, is progressively extending mandatory Halal certification beyond food. Malaysia has been certifying cosmetics through JAKIM for years. Saudi Arabia, through SFDA, carefully assesses the composition of imported products.
Korean companies have not merely reformulated their products: they have invested in certification from bodies recognised in the destination countries, communicated the Halal logo on their labels and built a narrative of trust with Muslim consumers. The result is visible in their sales.
Italy has a cosmetics industry of outstanding international standing, with expertise in formulation, packaging and distribution that few other nations can match. But in Islamic markets, without Halal certification issued by a recognised body, that expertise is not enough to open doors.
The process for obtaining Halal certification for a cosmetic product involves a number of specific stages:
K-beauty is gaining ground because it moved early. Italian companies producing cosmetics, supplements or nutraceuticals now have the chance to build the same advantage, before European and Asian competitors firmly occupy that space.
The global Halal cosmetics market is growing structurally, driven by the increase in the Muslim population and greater religious awareness, especially among younger consumers. Being present with a product certified by a recognised body is not a bonus: it is the minimum condition for competing.
HQC Italia has been certifying Halal cosmetics since 1983. Our certificates are recognised in more than 50 Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia (SASO and SFDA), the United Arab Emirates (GAC and EIAC), Malaysia (JAKIM), Indonesia (BPJPH and MUI) and Singapore (MUIS). If you want to find out whether your cosmetic product can be Halal certified and which requirements it must meet, you can request a free quote: you will receive it within 24 hours.
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