SELINA SPOTS GAP FOR SKIN LOTIONS

AWELSH entrepreneur has invented halal-friendly skincare products, after realising that Muslim women must remove their makeup before praying. Selina Wells, from Blackwood, started putting her recipes together after noticing a unique gap in the market.

Animal by-products and alcohol content make many household lotions, toners and soaps unsuitable for Muslims.

As a result, Selina’s Hyfryd products, which also include moisturisers, exfoliators and migraine balm, are being sold around the world.

“There are no animal products whatsoever in any of my items,” she said.

“In halal-friendly products the type of alcohol used can’t be brewed, so I use plant- based alcohol or vitamin E.

“I know Muslim women need to remove make-up before praying and I wanted to make a product that’s acceptable in Islam.

“That means my products are suitable because of the nature of the alcohol.”

Selina’s initial idea was to create a vegan brand and she started by using food items to make a moisturiser, which she handed out to family and friends.

Fed up with paying a hefty price for skincare products, she went about inventing her own mixture and went on a course to learn how to prepare the products legally, before setting up Hyfryd Skincare.

Selina now travels around the world carrying out research into new formulae and ingredients.

“My aim was to make products which are reasonable to buy but which are also a lot more pure, with no nasty substances and which are suitable for people with allergies,” she said.

“I found there was a gap in the market for vegan skincare and then I extended it into halal-friendly.”

When her business gained in popularity Selina also changed her diet and became vegan so she could fully live her brand.

She travels across the UK to take part in festivals and provide workshops teaching adults and children how to make vegan and halal skincare and household products.