28/09/2025

ON SUNDAY September 28, 2025 theSunday Special XI

,W¶V DERXW KRZ WKH UHFHSWLRQLVW JUHHWV \RX how the assistant prepares the space and KRZ HYHU\ VWHS RI WKH MRXUQH\ UHVSHFWV your boundaries. “We need cultural competency training across the industry. Everyone should know how to respect modesty and speak with empathy,” she emphasised. + alal aesthetics is not a fringe demand - it is a necessary bridge between faith and innovation, modesty and modern care. For Muslim women, it is about accessing beauty on their own terms without fear or compromise. Clinics and aestheticians hold the power to make that possible. “ 7UXH EHDXW\ LV QRW DERXW ¿WWLQJ LQWR D mould, but about honouring who you are. When clinics embrace this with sincerity and respect, they do more than transform skin – they transform lives.” Siti said with Ḋ UPDWLRQ

Advanced skincare now embraces halal friendly, plant-based innovations.

“Brands are replacing ingredients like porcine collagen and bovine hyaluronic acid with biotech solutions. These are perfect for halal-conscious patients,” she added. The message is clear - halal skincare is not restrictive. It is forward-thinking, modern and in step with evolving science. Demystifying aesthetic treatments Another widespread belief is that aes thetic procedures are inherently haram or self-indulgent. This misconception, according to Siti, often stems from a limited understanding of what aesthetic medicine truly involves. While cosmetic elements exist, many treatments focus on managing long-term conditions like scarring, pigmentation or LQÀDPPDWLRQ 7KHVH DUHQ¶W MXVW EHDXW\ ¿[HV 7KH\ UHVWRUH FRQ¿GHQFH DQG TXDOLW\ of life. For clinics and aestheticians, this means communicating the functional benefits of treatments - especially to ¿UVW WLPH FOLHQWV XQVXUH ZKHWKHU LW DOLJQV with their beliefs. Clarity builds comfort and comfort builds trust. P ULYDF\ FHUWL¿FDWLRQ DQG FXOWXUDO sensitivity The issue for many Malay Muslim women LV QRW MXVW ZKDW JRHV RQ WKH VNLQ EXW WKH FRQWH[W LQ ZKLFK LW¶V DSSOLHG :KR LV treating them? Is modesty respected? Will they be asked to uncover unnecessarily? “Aesthetic clinics have historically been dominated by male doctors and non-Muslim-owned businesses, which can feel unfamiliar to Muslim women seeking care aligned with their values,” Siti shared. “Many women fear being treated by male doctors or asked to remove their KLMDE LQ ZD\V WKDW PDNH WKHP XQFRPIRUW DEOH ,I D SDWLHQW ZHDUV D KLMDE ZH PXVW work carefully to ensure she feels safe throughout,” she added. A 2024 study by the Malaysian :RPHQ¶V +HDOWK $VVRFLDWLRQ FRQ¿UPHG that over half of Muslim women prioritise clinics with female practitioners and YLVLEOH KDODO FHUWL¿FDWLRQV

To meet this need, clinics adopt a pro active approach by asking about patient FRPIRUW OHYHOV IURP WKH ¿UVW FRQVXOWDWLRQ training staff to understand modesty H[SHFWDWLRQV DQG R̆ HULQJ ZRPHQ RQO\ treatment options wherever possible. W K\ PHGLFDO FUHGLELOLW\ PDWWHUV Safety must never be secondary to beauty. Yet, the lure of low-cost procedures con tinues to put many at risk. “We have seen a rise in underground beauty parlours or home-based setups lacking medical oversight. These places often result in complications that could have been avoided,” warned Siti, who holds a medical degree from the Rus sian National Research Medical University. T KH 0LQLVWU\ RI +HDOWK¶V /HW ter of Credentialing and Privi leging mandates that all aes thetic clinics in Malaysia meet strict standards in personnel TXDOL¿FDWLRQV VDIHW\ SURWRFROV and ethical patient care. Clinics WKDW GR QRW KROG WKLV FHUWL¿FDWLRQ should be avoided entirely, as they operate without the safeguards essential to safe and professional treatment.

Patients should be encouraged to verify credentials and feel empowered to ask who will be performing their treatment. “Aesthetic medicine demands the same professionalism and respect as any medi FDO ¿HOG 7KHVH DUH UHDO WUHDWPHQWV DQG LI GRQH LPSURSHUO\ WKH FRQVHTXHQFHV FDQ be severe, including risks like blindness. &HUWL¿FDWLRQ LV QRW MXVW DERXW FRPSOLDQFH it is how we build trust,” she stressed. R HSUHVHQWDWLRQ DQG HGXFDWLRQ To be truly inclusive, the aesthetic indus try must rethink its approach to represen tation and access. Not every product needs a halal label - but every clinic should R̆ HU WUDQVSDUHQF\

Before booking any treatments, make sure to: 1. Ask about the products used Halal-certified skincare is still a growing market. Look for treatments that use alcohol-free products and avoid porcine derived ingredients. Brands like Shade M and Amly Botanicals offer luxury with a conscience. 2. Choose women-led clinics where possible If modesty is important to you, opt for clinics that guarantee female-only prac titioners, especially for body treatments like laser hair removal. Some even offer hijabi-only hours. 3. Wudu-friendly considerations Some treatments may affect your abil ity to perform ablution. For example, semi-permanent makeup or certain long lasting peels may create a barrier on the skin. Always ask about post-treatment protocols. 4. Be mindful of prayer times If a procedure is time-intensive, like microneedling or deep-cleansing facials, consider how it aligns with your prayer schedule. A thoughtful clinic will help accommodate. 5. Empower yourself with knowledge Not all halal claims are regulated. Do your own research and don’t be afraid to ask direct questions. Your comfort is as important as your skin goals.

“ ,¶YH PHW PDQ\ ZRPHQ from smaller towns who are curious about aesthetic FDUH EXW XQVXUH RI ZKDW¶V allowed. The industry needs to do more com munity education, with sensitivity to religious values,” Siti urged. Clinics must also re ÀHFW WKH GLYHUVLW\ RI 0D laysia in their brand ing. Representation PDWWHUV QRW MXVW

in consulta tion rooms, but in social media feeds, websites and promotional materials. “We have women in hi skin tones and so many defi nitions of beau MDE ZRPHQ with darker

True beauty is not fitting into a mould, but honouring who you are.”

W\ /RFDO EUDQGV should showcase this diversity. It tells patients, ‘you are VHHQ¶ “ ,QFOXVLYLW\ LVQ¶W MXVW DERXW WKH GRFWRU

Siti