Ruling on dealing in cosmetics and hairdressers’ supplies

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Using cosmetics is something that women have their reasons
for using, which is that they may make a woman appear more beautiful than if
she did not use them. But if a wise woman knows what harm may result from
that, she will refrain from using them.

Medical reports have stated that these cosmetics may cause
numerous diseases.

For example, they may cause damage to the nerves of the face,
and using them repeatedly may cause sensitivities and other kinds of harm
whose effect may be seen on the skin after repeated use over a long period
of time, such as redness, swelling and secretions.

In the answer to question no.
26799 we quoted comments from a
doctor about the damage caused by lipstick, in which he said “Lipstick may
cause swelling of the lips or drying and cracking of the thin skin of the
lips, because it removes the protective layer of the lips.”

What he said is quite right. In the answer to question no.
26861 we quoted Shaykh ‘Abd
al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz as saying:

The issue of face powder or face creams is subject to further
discussion.

If it is used for beautification purposes and does not cause
any harm to the face, there is nothing wrong with it, but if it causes some
harm such as black spots etc, then it is not allowed because of the harm it
causes.

Similarly, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said, as quoted in the
answer to question no. 26799:

Many of these cosmetics contain haraam substances such as
impure things, alcohol or foetuses. In the west they deliberately kill
foetuses to make cosmetics from them.

The one who examines the situation of women nowadays will
realize how successful our enemies have been in marketing their bad products
to Muslim women. A look at the statistics on purchase of cosmetics is
sufficient to show how serious this matter is. In 1997, women in the Gulf
spent nearly three billion riyals on perfume alone, and fifteen million
riyals on hair dyes. Sales of lipstick reached more than six hundred tonnes,
whilst sales of nail polish reached more than fifty tonnes.

What would the figures be if we added what Muslim women
around the world buy? And what if we were to work out the figures now?!

A woman may use cosmetics that are made from natural
substances thus avoiding the harm that is caused by those materials. She may
adorn herself for her husband with something permissible without it
resulting in side-effects.

It should be noted that even if we assume that using these
cosmetics may be permissible, the ruling on selling them may be different.
Most of those who buy these materials are women who show their adornment and
will use them in haraam ways, and they will appear wearing them in the
streets and marketplaces, and in front of non-mahram men. The means are
subject to the same rulings as the ends.

The one who helps women to use them in these haraam ways by
manufacturing them, importing them or selling them is helping to spread
these evils and harmful things, so he is a partner in the sin and the
action. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue,
righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and
transgression”

[al-Maa’idah 5:2].

If these cosmetics are free from harmful materials and are
sold to those who will definitely or most likely use them for permissible
purposes, then it is permissible to buy and sell those materials, otherwise
it is haraam to buy and sell them.

For more details please see the answer to question no.
41052.

And Allaah knows best.