28/09/2025

ON SUNDAY September 28, 2025 X theSunday Special

Many treatments are not about vanity, but about restoring skin health, confidence and wellbeing.”

For many of these women, beauty is not about indulgence. It is about alignment - care, faith and comfort must coexist seamlessly. “Aesthetic medicine is often misunder stood as vanity-driven, when in fact many treatments are restorative, corrective and HVVHQWLDO WR VNLQ KHDOWK FRQ¿GHQFH DQG wellbeing,” explained Dr Siti Zubaidah, Founder and Medical Director of Cosmo glam Clinic. More than just ingredients Halal skincare goes beyond avoiding alcohol or porcine derivatives. While product formulation is critical, so too is the environment in which treatment is delivered and the intention behind it. “People tend to think halal means compromise, but that’s no longer true. Many of today’s most advanced products avoid animal derivatives, alcohol and harsh preservatives. They are cleaner, VDIHU DQG MXVW DV H̆ HFWLYH ´ VDLG 6LWL Globally, many brands are reformulat ing products using biotech or plant-based alternatives. Fermented hyaluronic acid, for instance, is now commonly used as a replacement for animal-derived versions LQ LQMHFWDEOHV DQG VHUXPV ,W R̆ HUV WKH VDPH VNLQ SOXPSLQJ H̆ HFW EXW ZLWK KDODO suitability and a smaller environmental footprint. T KLV VKLIW UHÀHFWV D EURDGHU VXVWDLQ ability movement. Research by the Global Sustainable Beauty Council shows that SODQW EDVHG SURGXFWLRQ XVHV VLJQL¿FDQWO\ less water, land and energy than livestock farming - making it both eco-conscious and halal-friendly by default. Everyday ingredients like niacinamide, peptides and fruit enzymes - increas ingly found in brightening or anti-ageing products are typically lab or plant-derived. Even chemical peels now favour fruit acids or enzyme exfoliants instead of synthetic or animal-based compounds.

Halal aesthetics is no longer a fringe demand, it is a vital bridge between values and innovation Faith, skin and ƒ³®ïˆŒ®ƒŒ BY AQILAH NAJWA JAMALUDDIN B EAUTY has always been a ritualistic aspect, yet it evolves with the times. Today, serums blend science with skin exper WLVH ODVHUV UH¿QH WH[WXUH DQG skincare is no longer just maintenance but a conscious act of self-care.

Privacy and female practitioners remain top priorities in aesthetic care.

Still, for many Muslim women, the promise of modern aesthetics comes with a quiet hesitation - as if their needs sit at the margins of the beauty conversation. A V DHVWKHWLF FOLQLFV ÀRXULVK DQG WUHDW ment menus grow more complex, Muslim clients are left to navigate a maze of questions: Is it halal? Is it wudu-friendly? Will the practitioner be female? Most importantly, will their privacy and values be respected throughout? T KHVH FRQFHUQV DUH IDU IURP VXSHU¿FLDO A 2023 survey by the Malaysian Institute of Dermatology revealed that over 60% of Malay Muslim women avoid aesthetic procedures due to uncertainties around religious compliance and modesty. That figure speaks volumes about a disconnect between growing industry so phistication and the foundational cultural needs of a key demographic.

Inclusivity is not just about the doctor. It is about how every step of the journey respects boundaries.”