PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine factors influencing consumers’ intention to purchase Halal cosmetics through the lens of theory of consumption values (TCV).Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a quantitative research methodology, collecting data from 185 respondents through an online questionnaire. The participants, selected via purposive sampling, were all current purchasers of cosmetics. The data were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with the assistance of IBM SPSS and SmartPLS software.FindingsThis research reveals that emotional value is the most substantial value predictor, followed by epistemic value, conditional value and functional value. Further, the moderation analysis shows that the effect of conditional value is strengthened when the consumer are from a higher social class.Originality/valueThis study reveals that consumption values with context-specific attributes directly impact consumer purchase intentions towards Halal cosmetics, while social class acts as a significant catalyst. This offers a fresh perspective that mitigates the traditional misconceptions about Halal cosmetics among Malaysians, highlighting the complexity and resilience of consumer adoption in this innovative sector.