Eco-friendly makeup, skincare, and haircare products are the norm these days. One sure sign they’re big time: just about every major beauty brand has looked to cash in on the green trend by introducing at least a few products that are “natural”—whatever that means to them. Truly natural products, though, are derived from things like plants and minerals, and are often animal-friendly, meaning they eschew animal testing and are free of animal by-products.

But are you as familiar with halal cosmetics? If you haven’t heard of them yet, be prepared to hear more in the coming years: Halal products are made using ingredients that are deemed permissible by the Muslim religion, and they’re gaining favor with women who like their beauty products clean, green and toxin-free.

“Islam is a way of life that teaches people to take responsibility for everything around them in an honest and caring manner,” says Samina Akhter, founder and director of the halal cosmetics brand Samina Pure Mineral Makeup, citing an ethos that many environmentalists can get behind.

Akhter also adds that halal products, which are approved for use by Muslims, are typically free of alcohol, pork and other animal by-products and instead contain plant and mineral-based ingredients—once again, things that environmentalists readily support.

In reality, protecting the Earth and its inhabitants isn’t just a Muslim tenet, but one that can be ascribed to almost any religious belief. Every choice you make affects the health of our planet, and that includes the simple choice to use beauty products that are eco- and animal-friendly. To better understand how eco- and animal-friendly products are faith friendly, read on.

• Eco-Friendly: Cosmetics that are certified organic, free of toxic ingredients (like parabens and phthalates) and/or are made primarily with botanical or mineral-derived ingredients are usually classified as being natural and Earth-friendly.
• Animal-Friendly: Products that are cruelty-free are never tested on animals. Anything that’s labeled as vegan or halal-certified will also be free of animal-derived ingredients such as keratin, stearic acid, and hyaluronic acid, which can be made from horse hooves, pig stomachs, and cow placenta respectively.
• Faith-Friendly: Most faiths promote the protection of the Earth and all its living things, which means products seen as faith-friendly would likely combine the characteristics of both natural and cruelty-free cosmetics. 

Sure, there are vast differences among Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and other faiths, but we can all agree that caring for the planet on which we live is of the utmost importance—as is practicing what you preach. In a world where many beauty brands are greenwashing their products to capture their share of the natural products market, looking for halal products (which are certified by any number of organizations that ensure the strict cruelty-free and natural standards are met) and spreading the word about them is just another way to keep both yourself and the Earth beautiful.

Megan O'Neill is Beauty Editor at EndlessBeauty.com