Global boycott boosts demand for ethical cosmetics, raises concerns over product safety

SHAH ALAM - The global boycott movement against brands perceived to be linked to Zionism has gained significant momentum, impacting various industries, including beauty.

Many consumers, particularly those sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, are increasingly shunning products from companies they associate with supporting Israel.

This shift has prompted makeup enthusiasts and consumers to explore alternative products, often boosting smaller, independent brands and ethical beauty lines.

However, concerns about product safety remain.

International Islamic University of Malaysia pharmacy trainee lecturer Nabihah Abu Hanifah said that reputable brands undergo rigorous quality assurance and quality control processes to ensure consistency across batches.

"Typically safe makeup is subjected to stringent quality control measures, including safety testing, to ensure compliance with regulations set by health authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA)," she told Sinar Daily when contacted recently.

Before any product is sold to the public, it must be submitted to the NPRA for safety evaluations and must adhere to safe manufacturing guidelines, Nabihah added.

According to her, unsafe products, such as those containing mercury, are often mass-produced, repackaged, and sold under various brand names without proper formulation.

Nabihah stated that while there is no specialisation in cosmetics within the pharmacy field, aspiring pharmacists learn about pharmaceutical technology, which is crucial for producing safe cosmetics.

"We utilise that knowledge to create cosmetics that are safe for use," she stated, highlighting the role of pharmacists in regulatory sectors like the NPRA.

She also pointed out that pharmacists are involved in various aspects, including ingredient selection, stability testing, adherence to regulations, documentation, and compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), all of which contribute to the production of high-quality and safe cosmetics.

"Proper labelling is also essential, she added.

In a related matter, makeup artist Nabilah Nordin, also known as Warnabilla, said that many consumers are creatively seeking alternatives, resulting in a booming local beauty business as buying power shifts toward local, Asian, and genocide-free brands.

She stressed the importance of safe makeup consumption, urging consumers not to compromise their skin health for the sake of alternatives.

"While I haven't seen or heard of mercury-based makeup recently, it's not worth the risk at all," she said.