What I Say When Asked, "What is HACCI?"

Michiko Fujiwara (hereafter, Fujiwara)It’s wonderful to see you again. I’ve already tried the three new cleansing products.

Hitomi Mizutani (hereafter, Mizutani)It’s an honor to meet you again like this. I’m so glad you’ve tried the new products already. How were they?

FujiwaraIs this our first meeting on OPENERS in six years? Back then, the focus was on cleansing with the honey facial soap, but your product lineup has grown considerably, and HACCI has changed, hasn’t it?

MizutaniThank you for recommending the honey facial soap so widely. Indeed, we’ve expanded our products, and while people praise our good products, nothing has changed for me since then. My role is simply to use the honey from diligent bees to bring good things to the world.

FujiwaraWhat surprised me this time was, “Finally, you’ve created organic products.”

A Cleansing Time That Makes Your Heart Dance!

MizutaniWhen I asked you to try the three new cleansing products, you requested to see the ingredient lists, and I thought, “As expected, you’re so sharp!”

FujiwaraWhy did you decide to launch three cleansing products at once?

MizutaniCleansing is so important for women, yet the awareness about it is still quite low. We’re launching three products simultaneously with the intention that you can use them differently depending on your skin’s condition that day.

FujiwaraI see. Indeed, our makeup intensity varies daily, and our skin condition changes with our cycles and the seasons. So, rather than picking just one, arranging all three in the powder room and choosing based on mood could make makeup removal time more enjoyable.

MizutaniWe find cleansing a chore (laughs) and tend to do it out of obligation, but I want people to enjoy it from the heart.

FujiwaraThat’s a unique idea, sensibility, and development capability, Ms. Mizutani.

Passion, Sense, and Persistence

MizutaniWhich of the three cleansing products did you like best?

FujiwaraAmong the cream, milk, and oil, I particularly liked the cream and milk. The milk has a wonderful viscosity, and the feeling after rinsing is so pleasant.

MizutaniI’m so happy to hear you say that.

FujiwaraSince the beginning of this year, I’ve become interested in organic products, and I seek cleansing agents that don’t interfere with the skin’s natural functions but rather enhance them. Using HACCI’s cleansing cream this time, I felt it perfectly aligned with that philosophy – it’s so very HACCI, and so very you, Ms. Mizutani.

MizutaniWhen customers with sensitive skin tell me, “Even I can use this,” I feel like, “I’m glad to be alive!” (laughs).

FujiwaraYou possess a trifecta of passion, sense, and persistence, Ms. Mizutani. For creators, passion and sense are meaningless without the drive to continue. You are doing truly remarkable work.

MizutaniThank you. I hope everyone feels what you feel.

A "Cleansing" Dialogue Between Hair & Makeup Artist Michiko Fujiwara and HACCI President Hitomi Mizutani

Cleansing That Soothes the Mind and Skin (2)

Human Skin Transformed by the Power of Plants!

FujiwaraWere there many requests for cleansing products from HACCI customers?

MizutaniYes, there were. We already had an oil cleanser, but I had always wanted to create milk and cream versions. That’s when I discovered the “PHYT’S” research institute in France. Phyt’s is both a research institute and a product manufacturer, and its name derives from “Phytotherapy” (plant-based therapy), using only organic ingredients without any synthetic chemicals. These are photos from there.

FujiwaraWhen did you discover it?

MizutaniIt was three years ago. After learning about Phyt’s, I began studying organic principles seriously. At first, I was a bit skeptical, thinking, “Can human skin really change with the power of plants?” But when I visited the institute, the president spoke so passionately about organic that the interpreter was exhausted (laughs). As we worked together with Phyt’s, I started to believe, “This might be the real deal.”

FujiwaraThe photos suggest it’s a very pleasant place.

MizutaniIt’s in a small town in the South of France called Bages. There’s a farm next to the institute and a factory converted from a château; the environment is simply magnificent. I thought, “I’m a bit tired, let’s go for a horse ride” (laughs). And that’s when I decided I absolutely had to create this cleansing product here.

FujiwaraWhat prompted that decision?

MizutaniWhen I visited Phyt’s, butterflies and ladybugs were flying around the institute and factory as a matter of course. I had never seen such a sight. The president then said, “This is organic.” That statement deeply moved me.

Product Creation: Driven by People's Passion

FujiwaraYou traveled to France for three years. Working with a leading figure in organic skincare must have broadened your horizons, Ms. Mizutani?

MizutaniThe president shares the same passion as I do. He’s also a chemist specializing in plants, and he told me, “Working with HACCI this time, we’ve created something even better than what we make ourselves,” which made him very happy. However, the development process was challenging. The ingredients are excellent, but the French have a different approach – if it’s good, they don’t fuss over texture (laughs). They said, “We know it’s good for the skin, but Japanese women won’t be satisfied with this texture!”

FujiwaraI see (laughs).

MizutaniWe had quite a battle, adjusting the spreadability and the post-wash feel… (laughs). But they became very interested in honey.

FujiwaraWhat were the key ingredient innovations this time?

MizutaniWhen you used the cream cleanser, didn’t your skin feel “fluffy” after rinsing? That’s actually the effect of “beeswax.”

FujiwaraNot honey, but beeswax?

MizutaniYes. I’ve been paying close attention to beeswax for a long time, constantly thinking and searching for products where it would be most effective. This time, I wanted a “rich, dense feeling” after makeup removal, so this was it!

FujiwaraIt effectively removes heavy makeup and leaves the skin feeling moist and plump after washing.

MizutaniExactly. I’m so glad you noticed. Meeting Phyt’s and finding a president whose ideas aligned with mine allowed me to pursue this to the fullest. We communicated better than through language, and I learned so much about the benefits of organic.

FujiwaraCompatibility is crucial between people who create things, isn’t it? If your sensibilities don’t align, you can talk about the same thing but still misunderstand each other.

MizutaniAbsolutely. The origin of the name Phyt’s itself signifies “how one can regenerate oneself with the power of plants,” and it’s such a wonderful place. Please visit with me sometime.

FujiwaraI also believe that skin has the power to regenerate itself, and it should. That’s why I’m paying close attention to organic products. And speaking of which, isn’t product development like a sincere hobby for you, Ms. Mizutani? (laughs) Knowing your dedication to soaps, I can easily imagine your commitment to cleansing products too (laughs).

MizutaniYes, it’s a serious hobby (laughs). I’m very glad we could unveil all three cleansing products at once this time. If a product isn’t at least 120% of what I envision, there’s no point in releasing it under HACCI. I want to create things that “exist in the world, but are unique to HACCI.”

A "Cleansing" Dialogue Between Hair & Makeup Artist Michiko Fujiwara and HACCI President Hitomi Mizutani

Cleansing That Soothes the Mind and Skin (3)

What Do Humans Need to Live in Harmony with Nature?

MizutaniSpeaking of organic, my younger brother is in beekeeping and started a 40,000-hectare herb garden in Mie Prefecture. He told me, “If I can harvest herb honey, you can use it for HACCI.” I visited recently, and it’s truly vast. The flowers bloom in June, so I’m already looking forward to the herb honey.

FujiwaraHerb honey? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.

MizutaniIn this era, we need to focus on such things and reset. Nowadays, younger women are more sensitive to organic and natural products.

FujiwaraI’ve also felt this recently since I started planting herbs, incorporating them into my life, and studying organic principles. I wonder if chemistry has reached its limit. As animals living in harmony with nature, if chemistry advances too far, I don’t think we humans can keep up. We need a balance between chemistry and nature, and I feel it’s time to re-examine the power of nature.

MizutaniI agree with you completely, Ms. Fujiwara. You’ll truly realize how amazing organic can be for human skin when you use these cleansing products. You’ll notice it after rinsing – your skin texture changes to become moist and fluffy.

Keywords for the Three Cleansing Products: "Mature Women"

FujiwaraOf the three cleansing products, which is your top recommendation, Ms. Mizutani?

MizutaniFor the “Milk” with its amazing viscosity, use it when you want to enhance your feminine charm. It contains over 85% serum ingredients and has an exceptional fragrance. The “Cream,” as I mentioned, has a superb finish after rinsing. And the renewed “Oil” is 95% plant-derived. While honey and oil are difficult to mix, we’ve incorporated the maximum amount of honey using new technology. It lifts dirt just by applying it to the skin and is gentle on the skin.

FujiwaraThe packaging is simple for all of them.

MizutaniThe bottles are designed to fit seamlessly into any powder room, and the packaging was conceived to evoke an image the moment you see it.

FujiwaraEven though it’s honey, it features butterflies.

MizutaniThat’s right. We were inspired by the “butterflies that visited the Phyt’s research institute” and incorporated them into the packaging design.

FujiwaraPerhaps the simplicity comes from your confidence in the product itself.

MizutaniThese three cleansing products have a lot of attention paid to their fragrances as well, so we truly hope mature women will cherish them.

Special Cotton That Feels Warm to the Touch

FujiwaraThe cotton packaging also has butterflies.

—Concluding Thoughts— Hitomi Mizutani

Michiko Fujiwara has always been an inspiration, and I really wanted her to try these three new cleansing products, so I’m thrilled we could have this dialogue. As expected, she has a keen interest in organic, and I’m happy she understood the essence of the products.
The development of these cleansing products began with the president of France’s Phyt’s institute expressing interest in honey, and it took about three years from the initial concept to this launch. It was fortunate timing that we could release all three products simultaneously. Please try using them according to your lifestyle. Each has a different fragrance, which should make your makeup removal routine more enjoyable.

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