Allah Almighty permits women to apply makeup and use ornaments to please their husbands and draw their attention and admiration so that husbands would refrain from giving haram gazes to other women or indulge in illicit relations with them. However, there are certain conditions for women to apply cosmetics. First, makeup cannot be applied except before husbands. Second, it must not be made from impermissible substances such as fats obtained from pigs. Third, such cosmetics can be applied unless they cause harm to women. In this case, they are impermissible.
Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states that: “The lard, as well as the flesh, of pigs is haram, for Allah Almighty says: “Forbidden unto you (for food) are carrion and blood and swine flesh.” (Al-Ma’idah: 3)
Also, Islamweb fatwa section based in Qatar has issued the following fatwa on the regulations of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals:
“1-There is nothing wrong in applying cosmetics for legal reasons, i.e., for women to please their husbands.
2-Medicines must not contain substances that Allah Almighty has prohibited, like pig fats, alcohol, and so on.
3-Cosmetics should not contain anything that may harm the body or the hair. Actually, this depends on the opinion of trustworthy doctors.
Once cosmetics and pharmaceuticals fulfil these conditions, there will be nothing wrong in using them.”