Being beautiful through the power of nature

According to Ms. Obara, the owner of Hair & Make Oasis Ankh, the concept of total balance beauty is based not only on the “outward beauty”, but also encompasses adjusting the “personality beauty” and the “inward health” through the skin and the physical condition.
To keep a “total balance beauty”, it is essential to balance these three aspects of “aesthetic” aiming at reaching the total beauty and wellness.
However, the high cost of total balance products remains a big barrier to spread “total balance beauty” concept to various customers.

About the story behind the honeysuckle products, Ms. Obara says: ‘while thinking how to make young people experience the “Total Balance Beauty”, I met with Mr. Esaki who started farming Honeysuckle in Naganuma, bringing up the honeysuckle with all his heart.
This is how I discovered that these small crops, which have been popular since the ancient times, have a great power to fulfill my ideal of “living in harmony with the earth”.’

‘My aim is to develop care products using honeysuckle as a raw material and involving all the potential of Hokkaido region.
We are now on the way to make the “Haskap beauty” development effectively fruitful. Please experience this blessing of nature.’

1. Reasons why focusing on Honeysuckle:

In our salon, the products used for permanent hair dye are mainly based on herbs and aromas together with head spa that is based on Oriental medicine theory, and the popular scalp cleansing menu. As the herbal extracts are becoming expensive, many of our customers ask why we do not use Hokkaido herbs. But we are still looking for the best usage of the local products of the beauty industry in Hokkaido.

One other reason is that I myself was involved in my uncle’s work at an early age and had a lot of experience of touching nature, and was able to remember the comfort of nature. Ten years ago, I suddenly cought a bad allergy and decided to embrace the herbal beauty and herbal medicine.

After that, I visited George’s farm in Naganuma a few years ago and tried to make the extract of the Honeysuckle. I could hear the opinion of many farmers on the benefits and merits of honeysuckle.

I think that nature’s help is essential for our bodies as our five senses become disturbed when they go away from nature.
 

2. What is Honeysuckle?

Honeysuckle is known as Haskap in Japan. The name “Haskap” comes from the Ainu language “Hashikapu” (a lot of things on the branches). It has a thin epidermis and elongated purple fruits, but it is rich in nutrients, including anthocyanin, compared to blueberries. Originally in Hokkaido, it has long been popular as synonym of a “long youth life”. Honeysuckle grows naturally in Sakhalin island and Siberia also, but in other countries like Canada, it is booming as “Hascap”.

3. The power of Honeysuckle:
 
Honeysuckle contains anthocyanins with antioxidant effects, as well as a variety of nutrients such as vitamin C, E, iron, calcium and carotene. Vitamin C, which is particularly effective for anti-aging, boasts the amount of 50mg in 100g of Honeysuckle.
Recently, it has become clear that Honeysuckle has also an anti-glycation action, and it is thought that it is very suitable for scalp care for this reason.

4. The secret story behind the birth of our Honeysuckle Beauty products:

Honeysuckle, which is a raw material, is provided by farmers  in Hokkaido and especially George’ farm in Naganuma. When I was doing the product development alone, I did not know how to make the Honeysuckle extract, and used the  juicer to strain the fruit of the Honeysuckle. After that, I met Bellecour, a local cosmetics laboratory with a similar philosophy to mine, and repeated prototypes many times to adjust the texture from fragrance to hair care.

5. Introduction of George’s farm as a producer of Honeysuckle:

From large-scale agriculture to natural farming, there are various possible styles of agriculture in the world.
George says ‘With organic farming, I can build up better soil, manage better, grow tasty, nutritious and healthy vegetables, and aim for a style that will result in using small amount of pesticides.
I was born in Nagoya, but I discovered a lot of surprising vegetables and fruits in Hokkaido. Among them, I was so curious about the Honeysuckle. At first, I didn’t even know how to bring it up, but I gradually learned how to do it. I never thought that this little fruit I was raising would support the beauty of women. I’m surprised at the power of nature again!’

6. Presentation of Bellecour Institute of cosmetics Manufacturing Company:

“Bellcoor Institute Co., Ltd.” has a corporate philosophy of making products with a “beautiful heart”. I have studied the beauty from both external and the inner spiritual side. To develop good results in the 21st century, we are constantly developing technologies that provide “real” results to our customers.

①Where was the difficulty?
Since we wanted to use Honeysuckle extract in our products, it was difficult to choose other ingredients for cosmetics that do not interfere with the concept of natural care.

②Our commitment
We are committed to blending the aroma of natural essential oils. it is especially important to keep a fragrance that gives the healing effect to the users.

③For whom the products are suitable? 
Our product is highly recommended during bath time for those who feel tired and stressed in their daily lives.

7. The prototype is finalized now, up to the next step

At present, we have finished making Honeysuckle products, and we are now proposing Honeysuckle head spa and head water therapy for our customers at the salon.

Our customers who accepted to test this prototype noticed the following: the head was untied, the scalp became soft, the head became warm, the fragrance was good, and the blood circulation was improved by the water treatment care, and it felt very good afterwards, and the body was warm after the operation and was comfortable.

I have gotten a high appraisal and very good evaluation from my customers more than I was expecting.
By all means, please experience the Honeysuckle beauty power♪

Note:
Haskap is only explored as a food in Hokkaido region for its nutritious component.
Farmers and food industrials in Hokkaido use Haskap almost to make jam, juice, ice cream, etc.
Our salon in collaboration with laboratories, research institutes, and Hokkaido university researchers,
aims to widen the usage of haskap to include beauty products.
It is our beauty challenge now!

☆.。.:*・°***** ☆.。.:*・°***** ☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°***** ☆

Beauty Salon Hair&Make 【Oasis Ankh】in Sapporo,Hokkaido

ALPHA Maruyama (Maruyama Pia Build) 3F
Odori West 24, Chuo Ward, Sapporo City
（1 min. walk from Maruyama Kouen　subway exit no. 5)
OPEN 10:00～19:00 　
CLOSED Mondays,Tuesdays

【What’s ”Ankh“？】

The Ankh is an ancient Egyptian amulet that symbolizes life and spirit;
it was called the key to open the door of destiny.

【LOOK】

We will endeavor to build an environment in which both our employees
and our customers can come together and share their dreams,
aesthetic sense, hearts, and minds.

We are a friendly and fun team!

WELCOME to Oasis Ankh!

☆.。.:*・°***** ☆.。.:*・°***** ☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°***** ☆