Muslims and lip products?

Question

I am an Avon Lady.

I went to deliver to a customer last night. She wanted to return a Lip Balm because she realised it contains alcohol, and as a muslim she does not allow any alcohol to touch her lips.
Realising that in her order were lipsticks (which she has used in the past) we read the list of ingredients, and discovered that they also contain alcohol. (Oops!)

Does anyone know what the "rules" are regarding muslims using such products????

Answer 1

Thanks for showing concern about your Muslim customers.

As you know, Islam prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages. As far as the use of ethyl alcohol in other products, there is some difference of opinion, so a decision would be made according to the Islamic scholar the individual follows as well as his/her personal practice.

Answer 2

Its tough to say. Generally a consensus on cologne is that it is ok since the alcohol will evaporate.. Some people have more stringent rules, which is out of their devotion and so they stay away entirely, while others on the other extreme drink :).

There are 4 schools of thought within islam, all recognized and respected by the each others of those schools 3 consider alcohol to be prohibited for consumption only so cologne's would be ok.

One of the schools believe it to be whats called najs which is a category comprising of blood, urine, semen among others fall in this category. Najs are things you have to wash off before you pray, otherwise prayer is nullified. so If she follows Hanafi school of thought.. she wouldn't be able to use the Make up as she would have to wash it off before every prayer.

Its good that you ask about this.. when you sell to someone muslim.. you get extra brownie points... :)

Answer 3

I also tried to find about that before, and I remember i saw something like this;

1. Cosmetics, whether they contain alcohol or not, are applied to the face or the body to make it more attractive, NOT to get intoxicated or enjoy alcoholic essence.

2. The alcohol which stay in cosmetics are not exactly the same as the alcohol in beverages. And using them don't lead to drunkenness or something like that.

Please see the link below, a scholar answered almost the same question, but it's concerned about perfume:
http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ref=1365&ln=eng&txt=alcohol

Answer 4

Yeah it's the same as in most forms of Christianity.... No alcohol will touch your lips (as in you don't drink alcohol)... but she took it too serious... because the alcohol in Lip Balm is not the same kind of alcohol in beer, wine, or liquor.

Answer 5

As far as i know, alcohol can be used as long as its does not give side effect such alcohol beverages does.

Answer 6

Why does this bother you? :)
We Muslims don't drink Alcohol or any kind of it in food or drink or whatever, because Alcohol get our brain out of control, as you see drunk people. we are created to be aware and to control ourselves. did I help?

Answer 7

As a rule...it is a customer's RESPONSIBILITY...to check the ingredients of any product that will be in contact with the SKIN, or will be INHALED, or INGESTED.

Similarly, anyone who adheres to a RELIGION, whether they are OBSERVANT or not, bears the responsibilty for practising the PRINCIPLES and PROHIBITIONS prescribed in accordance with their FAITH,...RELIGION...or 'WAY of LIFE'.

PERHAPS...your CUSTOMER has joined the growing number of
shoppers entering the RELIGIOUS MARKETPLACE...and would be wise to CONSULT with KNOWLEDGABLE adherents of her RELIGION...BEFORE leaping into the vast SUPERMARKET of 'fashionable' TASTES...STYLES, likes and dislikes.

"KNOWLEDGE...precedes utterance,...and DEEDS" is an ISLAMIC advisory.

ANYONE, seeking to satisfy their thirst for consumer GOODS and SERVICES in today's GLOBAL ECONOMY, would be WISE to LOOK BOTH WAYS ( or 4 ways)...BEFORE THEY LEAP!

You are very KIND, to re-imburse your customer ...or to permit her to exchange the OFFENSIVE product for another one MORE SUITABLE to her tastes.

Certainly, YOU are even more GENEROUS in your SINCERE effort to understand the RELIGIOUS and CULTURAL customs of
someone ENDEAVORING to practice a RELIGION other than your own.

WHATEVER the outcome...YOU are deserving of RESPECT for your efforts, and a REWARD for your SEARCH for TRUTH, and UNDERSTANDING... in an atmosphere of IGNORANCE.

NO DOUBT, you will be instrumental in FINDING a LIP-BALM to suit the DUAL requirements of the TASTES and PRINCIPLES of your customers.

Answer 8

yes she did a good thing. women never use products and parfumes which have alcohol. but this is different alcohol. this is becoz alcohol and pig fat is haram in islam. instead we use the parfum from rose petals, called ''essence of roses or atthar".

Answer 9

NOTHING WRONG!!! tell her to stop being paranoid!!
LIP STICK DOESN'T CONTAIN LIQUEUR FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.
I'm a Muslim and i think it is not a big deal. as long as she's not drinking a bottle of vodka.

Answer 10

muslim women are allowed to use lipstick.but we cant use lipstick that contains pig fat.