COSRX, Skincare Tips
Is Snail Mucin Halal?
Snail mucin is regarded as pure because it comes from snails’ gooey residue, and no snails were harmed during the harvest. So, yes, snail mucin is halal.
The popularity of snail mucin in skincare products is increasing and in fact, already penetrated countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Skincare products have had significant growth since 2020 and were valued at $30, 685.4 million. It is projected to have a sustained rise at $1,44,816.1 million by 2031.
What is Halal And Why Is It Important?
Before I delve further into snail mucin, let’s first understand what halal means. Halal translates from Arabic as ‘Permissible’ or allowed. In the Quran, it is the opposite of Haram or ‘Forbidden’.
There is a complex explanation of the definition of this word because it covers a wider scope but it is usually associated with Islamic Dietary Laws, pharmaceuticals, and personal care.
Halal Skincare Products, What You Need To Know
Now let’s head over to Halal Skincare products. Purity is one of the core vitals of Halal products, be it food or non-food applications. The ingredients, raw materials, and process need to be free from impurities.
Muslim women highly regard skincare and hygiene as integral parts of their religion. Skincare and cosmetic brands must have Halal certification to enter Muslim countries and cater to their people.
The certification is issued by a Muslim-governing body and the approach depends on the classification of the brand or product.
Benefits of Halal Skincare Products
Surprisingly, Halal skincare products are popular even among non-Muslims. If you are into an all-natural product kind of user, you might want to search further about Halal skincare. There might be different approaches to achieving healthy and youthful skin, but the common denominator is always the benefits you will get from them.
Halal-certified skincare products are:
- Pure
- Cruelty-free
- Sustainable
- Clean and free from GMOs and alcohol
- Mostly Vegan
- And ethically-sourced ingredients
The Discovery of Snail Mucin
Did you know that even before Korean skincare products popped up, snail slime, snail mucin, and snail filtrate, simply called the slime, has been around since the time of Hippocrates? He used snail slime to treat and reduce skin inflammation.
Another account also noted that Chilean snail farmers’ skin lesions recovered fast, without scars when they held snails they breed for a French food market. This event then gave birth to a Chilean brand Elicina, a snail slime-based cream.
Benefits of Snail Slime
Snail slime has the active properties of hyaluronic acid, glycoproteins, and glycolic acid. These properties help improve collagen production, support skin regeneration, hydrate and lock in moisture, and of course, slow down aging. It fights acne and prevents breakouts by treating oily skin too.
This golden discovery also treats certain skin diseases such as:
- psoriasis
- eczema
- dermatitis
Muslim Women Skincare Essentials
Hygiene and appearance are vital in Muslim women. They were taught to be clean and presentable in their way of life. In the Middle East, the use of rose water, argan oil, and other organic ingredients is popular.
Mostly plant-based, natural, and ethical skincare products are the main principles that Muslim women adhere to. And, many brands comply with the Halal requirements no matter how complex because of the growing demand from them.
However, Korean beauty brands reintroduced snail mucin into their skincare products and the world embraced it warmly because of its heaping benefits. This then created a healthy discussion about whether the snail mucin is Halal or is in line with Islamic law.
Is Snail Mucin Halal?
The quest in catering to Muslim consumers is research and science-driven, especially when companies need to get the Halal certification. And among the best discoveries, snail mucin or secretion is the most interesting.
But, skincare shouldn’t compromise your loyalty and faith, so is snail mucin halal? Yes. The use of snail filtrates in the production of skincare products is paramount because of their healing and beauty advantages. Snail extracts or mucin are harvested ethically. Furthermore, it coincides with Islamic Law.
Non-Halal Ingredients To Watch Out
When purchasing or skimming through the aisle of beauty products, make sure to avoid products that contain non-halal ingredients, unless they have specified an organic alternative.
- Ethanol (alcohol)
- Rooster-comb hyaluronic acid
- Swine gelatin
- GMOs
- Animal by-products
- Human stem cells and animal-derived
- Collagen (mostly taken from mammals)
- Lard
- Glycerin
- Allantoin
- Mercury
- Hydroquinone
- Lead
The list goes on depending on the type of beauty and skincare products you are looking for. You can also check the label if the brand you are interested in has been certified Halal.
Muslim-friendly Korean Products
Traditional Korean skincare spun around organic and healthy ingredients. Perhaps, this is the thing that coincides with the all-natural requirements of being Halal. However, meeting with the Halal ingredients is challenging especially when it comes to adding the ingredient ethanol.
Mazhabs have varying opinions regarding the use of ethanol in skincare products. Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) and MUI Indonesia state that the use of ethanol can be permissible if it comes from organic alternatives like natural fermentation or manufactured sources, except those from liquor.
Only a handful of Korean skincare products met the criteria, here are a few of them:
COSRX
COSRX is perhaps the most popular when it comes to snail mucin skincare products. Over the years, their scientific research and experiments paved the way for new sets of beauty products.
They have found organic alternatives to essential beauty product ingredients.
- Glycerin – plant-derived
- Ethyl Hexanediol – fermented grains
Propolis, beeswax, and snail filtrates are their main ingredients. This makes COSRX a favorite for many Muslim women.
Here are some of COSRX’s products:
They also have Alcohol-free Toner
You can also check out these all-organic finds from COSRX:
- Low pH cleansers (available in 20ml and 150ml)
- Pimple Patches
GLOSOME All Day Glow Solution Tencel Mask
Balancing beauty and love for nature. An all-biodegradable sheet mask that gives you a natural glow and hydration.
Glosome All-day Tencel mask gives you standout white skin with moisturizing benefits.
It contains key ingredients which are:
- hyaluronic acid
- Jeju herb cocktail
- marine water
You can relax and feel moisturized without the fear of any harmful elements.
- No parabens
- Mineral oil-free
- Vegan
- Without synthetic colors
- Cruelty-Free
AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum
Correct the dark spots on your face with an organic glow serum. Axis-Y incorporates these ingredients:
- Papaya
- Sea Buckthorn
- Niacinamide
- Oryza Sativa Rice Bran
Axis-y contains 5% Niacinamide serum that aids in brightening dark spots and reducing hyperpigmentation.
The corrector also enhances the moisture retention of your skin delivering a dewy shine.
It’s vegan and free from parabens, has no artificial coloring, and fragrances, has no mineral oils, and has not been tested on animals.
KEEP COOL Ocean Deep Blue Oil
Complete the nourishment of your skin with ocean-deep blue oil that was made from 100% plant-based ingredients.
This beauty oil comes from a combination of 8 vegetable oils for a subtle luminous appearance.
Key Ingredients:
- Eggplant Fruit Extract – gives the natural deep-blue color and contains moisturizing and antimicrobial effects
- Rose Canina Fruit Oil – high in omega fatty acids and rich in antioxidants
- Jojoba Seed Oil – helps lock in moisture and prevent skin dryness
It is hypoallergenic so people with sensitive skin can also use this product. There are no artificial fragrances or synthetic colors too to make it 100% all-natural.
There are plenty more Hala skincare products that you can find in the market. Just make sure to check the labels!
Summary
Snail mucin fits the requirement to make it halal and get included in the list of Halal skincare products. It comes from snail mucus and has tremendous beauty and health benefits. The best takeaway we can get from learning about Halal skincare products is the love for nature and for humans. Whatever is pure and holy, and does not hurt.
It should not harm any animals or humans or have undergone experimentation just to create a profitable product. One must consider using an all-organic beauty product to maintain a healthy and youthful glow. After all, we have the same denominator, to live healthy and presentable.
