BEAUTY /
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March 6, 2015
Part 1: Could Honey Be More Amazing Than We Think?
We Love Honey Beauty×HACCI 1912
Part 1: Could Honey Be Amazing?
Hitomi Mizutani (Madame Hacci) was bathed in honey-infused water and fed royal jelly as a snack. Seeing her grandmother and mother up close with their radiant, flawless skin, she thought, “Could honey be amazing?” She discusses the allure of honey with Michiko Fujiwara.
Summary by Makoto Kaji (The Magazine)Photo by Jamandfix
A Legacy of Honey-Kissed Skin: Grandmother, Mother, and Madame
MizutaniCongratulations on your marriage, Fujiwara-san!
FujiwaraThank you.
MizutaniYou seem even more beautiful since getting married.
FujiwaraAnd you, Mizutani-san, your skin is so smooth every time I see you. Is the secret to your beautiful skin really honey? I love HACCI's "BEAUTY HONEY" series myself.
MizutaniMy family's beekeeping business was founded in 1912, and my grandfather was so famous he was nicknamed "Dr. Bee." So, honey was always a part of my life from birth.
FujiwaraYour grandmother was also known for her beautiful skin, wasn't she?
MizutaniBoth my grandmother and my mother, who is now 78, have porcelain-like complexions. And it's not just white; it's radiant. Seeing them, and now that I'm in my 40s, I thought, “Could honey be amazing?”
Madame Hacci as a child
FujiwaraHow do you all consume it?
MizutaniWe eat it straight from the jar with a spoon! (Laughs) And yet, they are slim and healthy.
FujiwaraSo you can eat a lot of it! (Laughs)
Hitomi Mizutani (Madame Hacci)
MizutaniTry adding a teaspoon to your rice when you cook it.
FujiwaraWon't it make it sweet?
MizutaniIt gives the cooked rice a sheen and helps it stay fresh longer.
FujiwaraThat's a great tip! I never use sugar in my cooking.
MizutaniNeither do we at my family's business.
FujiwaraThe tongue can tell the difference in sweetness from sugar.
MizutaniI hope more people use it in cooking and tea.
FujiwaraI need to eat more of it!
The Hidden Power of Honey in a Teaspoon
MizutaniHoney is also great for face masks. After washing your face, apply a thin layer of honey, leave it on for 2-3 minutes, and rinse.
FujiwaraDoesn't it feel sticky?
MizutaniHoney itself has low water content and is highly hygroscopic. When applied directly to the skin, it draws moisture from the skin's surface, forming a protective layer. This prevents moisture loss to the air and protects against dryness.
FujiwaraI see. It makes sense why it's been cherished as an ideal beauty treatment since ancient Egyptian times.
MizutaniHoney is rich in nicotinic acid, known as the vitamin for skin, and vitamin B6, which helps maintain skin health. It also contains vitamin K, with its hemostatic, detoxifying, and diuretic properties, and pantothenic acid, which promotes growth and prevents aging. Its antibacterial properties are also useful; my high school son uses it for acne.
FujiwaraIt's also moisturizing, so it must be good for chapped lips in winter, right?
MizutaniAnd it's good for hair, too.
FujiwaraAs a hair treatment?
MizutaniYes. After shampooing, you can add honey to your conditioner or apply it directly, leave it for a while, and rinse. It leaves hair smooth and shiny. My grandfather used to say it reduced gray hair.
FujiwaraI definitely have to try that!
MizutaniMen can also use it after shaving or on blemishes.
FujiwaraIt's so useful in everyday life. I'm inspired to try using it in various ways.
MizutaniPlease do! I'll teach you lots of ways!
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