IN response to the increasing demand for products and services catering to Muslim consumers, which were still lacking in the Philippines, the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), an agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), developed a line of personal care products that were halal-compliant.

Among the DoST-ITDI halal-compliant, personal care products were lipstick and lip balm, which both contained shea butter and either virgin coconut oil (VCO) or avocado oil on top of other emollients that made them moisturized; soap made from avocado oil, shea butter and VCO, infused with lemon and cucumber extracts; shampoo infused with lemongrass oil, VCO, peppermint, wheatgerm oil and rosemary essential oil; and toothpaste containing VCO, papaya extract and peppermint.