Honjo beauty

HONJO — Hokkaido Skincare.

Born in Hokkaido, Honjo is a Japanese skincare philosophy built around simplicity, sensitivity and respect for the skin.

Rather than approaching beauty through excess, Honjo begins by asking what the skin truly needs — and what it does not.

Honjo, created by Honjo Mayuko, grew from a deeply personal ambition: to create skincare she could genuinely imagine using throughout her own life.

The result is a collection combining naturally derived ingredients, carefully selected skincare actives and a minimalist approach to formulation.

Japanese skincare, shaped by experience. Made in Hokkaido, Japan.

Photo credit: Honju, Hamanasu (Rosa rugosa), Japan. Photograph: Σ64 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.

THE STORY BEHIND HONJO

From personal experience to a philosophy of care

Honjo’s origins lie in its founder’s own experience.

Having lived with skin problems over many years, she understood the emotional as well as physical relationship we have with our skin. Her subsequent career in beauty brought her into contact with more than 14,000 people experiencing their own skin concerns.

From those experiences came a simple idea:

What if skincare were created not around trends, but around something its creator would be comfortable using for a lifetime?

Honjo describes its ambition as helping skin move beyond temporary solutions towards a healthier underlying condition. The brand prioritises ingredients and formulation over elaborate packaging and says that this philosophy can even limit its ability to mass-produce certain products.

Japanese philosophy of attention to purpose, respect for materials and the belief that quality does not need unnecessary decoration.

For ISAI, Honjo represents contemporary Japanese craftsmanship in another form — not an object made by hand, but a carefully considered approach to beauty developed through knowledge, observation and experience

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A HOKKAIDO STORY

Hokkaido is more than the name beneath the Honjo brand.

One particularly interesting example is the lotion, formulated using soft snowmelt water from the Mount Ashibetsu water in Hokkaido. Honjo describes this water as naturally low in impurities while retaining skin-friendly minerals.

The brand also incorporates Hamanasu flower extract — Japanese rugosa rose — associated particularly strongly with Hokkaido and featured throughout the Honjo range.

It creates a compelling connection between place, nature and formulation.

Hokkaido’s snow, purity, space and nature provide a beautiful vision.

THE HONJO APPROACH

Less, but considered thoughtfully. Honjo calls its formulation philosophy “Zero Free.”

Across its core range, the brand states that its products are formulated without fragrance, artificial colouring, parabens, alcohol, petroleum-derived surfactants, mineral oil-based colourants and chelating agents, among other exclusions.

FIVE INGREDIENT STORIES

Apple Fruit Cell Culture Extract

Honjo incorporates apple fruit cell culture extract into several formulations, including its cleanser and cream. The brand associates the ingredient with helping maintain the skin’s moisture and oil balance.

Supporting balance, hydration and beautifully conditioned skin.

DNA-derived skincare ingredient

Honjo uses DNA-K/DNA-Na (PDRN) as a DNA-derived ingredient principally extracted and purified from salmon milt.

EGF

The products also feature Oligopeptide-1, which Honjo identifies as EGF. Hong associates the ingredient with helping prevent skin roughness and maintaining skin condition.

Hamanasu Flower Extract

Extracted from the Hamanasu rose associated with Hokkaido, the ingredient is presented by Honjo as a natural botanical rich in stable vitamin C and used to help maintain healthy-looking skin against environmental stresses such as dryness.

Algae Extract

Marine-derived algae extract contributes moisturising components including minerals and amino acids. Honjo positions it particularly around hydration and helping maintain comfortable, supple skin.

Together, these ingredients create an interesting balance between Japanese nature and contemporary cosmetic science

THE RITUAL

Introducing the Honjo Japanese skincare ritual.

CLEANSE — HYDRATE — TREAT — PROTECT

The Wash

A serum-like cleansing formula designed to cleanse while maintaining comfort and moisture. Its ingredient list includes apple fruit cell culture extract, DNA-K, Oligopeptide-1, algae extract and Hamanasu flower extract.

The Lotion

A hydrating lotion based around Hokkaido snowmelt water, with DNA-K and algae extract, designed particularly for skin that struggles to retain moisture.

The Retreat Serum

A more concentrated treatment formula containing apple fruit cell culture extract, Human Oligopeptide-1 and other polypeptides, DNA-K, glucosyl ceramide and a range of botanical extracts.

The Cream

The final moisturising step, designed particularly for sensitive, dry or easily stressed skin. Honjo describes it as an emollient moisturising cream intended to help reduce moisture loss and leave skin soft and smooth.

The collection also includes sun-care.

Why ISAI selected Honjo

At ISAI, we look for more than beautiful Japanese products. We look for the thinking, people and places behind them.

Honjo attracted us through its quiet approach to beauty: a skincare collection born not from passing trends, but from personal experience, careful observation and a desire to create products its founder could continue using throughout her life.

From Hokkaido snowmelt water and Hamanasu flower extract to contemporary Japanese skincare ingredients, Honjo brings nature, science and simplicity together in a distinctly Japanese approach to everyday beauty.

It is this combination of purpose, provenance and thoughtful creation that ISAI exists to share beyond Japan.

STAY IN TOUCH – HONJO JAPANESE BEAUTY BY ARTEMA NETWORK AVAILABLE SOON TO PURCHASE AT ISAI.