The History of Whoo
Bichup line
The “Bichup” (๋น์ฒฉ) line is The History of Whooโs representative skincare line. Itโs a complete anti-aging skincare treatment that works both preventively and correctively. The products in the “Bichup” line work together to enhance skinโs natural self-repairing power, reduce visible and underlying signs of aging, and improve overall skin immunity.
Disclaimer: I personally translated the majority of facts and contents in this article from original Korean sources, so I kindly ask you to credit my work if youโre planning to use any of the information included in this guide.
Many concepts mentioned in this guide are based on Oriental Medicine principles, for a better understanding please refer to the introduction to Traditional Korean Medicine on this website. Itโs important to stress out that there is no correspondence between Oriental Medicine organs and Western anatomy so capitalised names in this article shouldnโt be interpreted in the Western medical sense.
โฌฅ Recommended for:
Main Ingredients
The key ingredient of The History of Whoo’s “Bichup” line is NAD Power 24โข a potent age-defying ingredient that helps reinforce the skin barrier and stimulate skin regeneration. The products in the line are also enriched with Jahabichup Complexโข (the former key ingredient of the “Bichup” line and the brandโs signature ingredient “Gong Jin Solutionโข”.
โฌฅ 1. NAD Power 24โข
NAD+ (short for Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is an important coenzyme that exists in every living cell. It plays a critical role in a variety of biological processes, including cellular energy metabolism, DNA repair, gene expression and cellular signalling. Its crucial role in upholding cellular health and function makes it a vital molecule for comprehending the aging process.
As we age, NAD+ levels decline, impacting cellular functions and contributing to age-related decline. This decline is connected to all the key signs of aging, such as mitochondrial issues, DNA damage, and compromised cell repair responses.
NAD+ decline with age2
NAD+ has garnered significant attention after it was described as an age-reversing ingredient in the book โLifespan: Why We Ageโand Why We Don’t Have Toโ by David Sinclair from Harvard University, a world-renowned, leading authority in the field of aging genomics. Research has in fact shown that boosting NAD+ levels through supplementation or lifestyle interventions may help mitigate the effects of aging and promoting overall health and longevity.
That’s why many researchers are focusing on NAD+ as a next-generation anti-aging treatment.
development of nad power 24โข:
Like the rest of the body, the skin also experiences a decline in epidermal NAD+ levels over time. This decline in NAD+ is one of the key factors that contribute to skin aging. Consequently, younger individuals or those with minimal skin damage typically exhibit higher concentrations of epidermal NAD+.
Until recently, NAD+ had not been widely used as a cosmetic ingredient due to its poor ability to penetrate the skin. After dedicating more than 20 years to researching skin self-regeneration and 10 years studying the anti-aging effects of NAD+, the Whoo Oriental Medicine Skin Science Research Center has developed a transfersome technology to enhance skin permeability and stability of NAD+, resulting in improved skin penetration and intracellular delivery of the ingredient. This NAD+ transfersome ingredient is called: NAD Power 24โข, a key age-defying ingredient.
Compared to NAD+, NAD Power 24โข is 5 times more stable and its skin absorption rate was shown to be over 94% higher.
Patent (pending): 10-2024-0026673 Cosmetic composition containing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and elastic liposomes.
merging tradition and modern science:
To maximise the effectiveness of NAD Power 24โข and intracapsular NAD+, the Whoo Oriental Medicine Skin Science Research Center developed a formula that combines NAD Power 24โข with two classic remedies borrowed from Traditional Korean Medicine: Licorice (a source of Enoxolone) and “Yoonseolran” (rich in Quercetin).
These two ingredients possess excellent antioxidant properties and were combined in an optimal ratio to help prevent the decomposition of NAD+ within the skin.
โYoonseolranโ (์ค์ค๋), in particular, is a skin-refining ingredient extracted from Black Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum L.). The plant is naturally rich in Quercetin, a compound with senolytic properties that induces the apoptosis of ageing cells.
Patent (pending): 10-2024-0026371 Skin improving composition containing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.
โฌฅ 2. Jahabichup Complexโข
All products in The History of Whooโs “Bichup” line contain โJahabichup Complexโขโ (์ํ๋น์ฒฉ Complexโข, ็ดซๆฒณ็ง่ดด Complexโข) a proprietary ingredient designed to revive skin and enhance its self-regenerating power. The ingredient is the result of 15 years of research using the latest data mining technology. Through data mining, LG Household & Health Care analysed twenty million studies to discover the best traditional ingredients that could deliver the desired effects.
โJahabichup Complexโขโ combines Chojahabidan (์ด์ํ๋น๋จ, ่ถ ็ดซๆฒณ็ฒพ่), the signature ingredient of The History of Whooโs “Bichup” line, with “Royal Bowondan” (๊ถ์ค๋ณด์๋จ, ่กฅๅ ็ฒพ่), a blend of three traditional royal remedies, to deliver a comprehensive anti-aging treatment that revitalises the skin, promotes self-regeneration, minimises the appearance of wrinkles, improves elasticity, and enhances skin radiance.
โฌฅ 2.1 Chojahabidan
The โJahabichup Complexโขโ contains ten times the concentration of “Chojahabidan” (์ด์ํ๋น๋จ, ่ถ ็ดซๆฒณ็ฒพ่), the original signature ingredient The History of Whooโs “Bichup” line since its launch in 2009. โChojahabidanโ is designed to mimic the properties of Jahageo (์ํ๊ฑฐ, ็ดซๆฒณ่ป), or Hominis Placenta, a traditional royal remedy used to treat Qi (vital energy) deficiency and, in turn, reinvigorate the body.
The Donguibogam, the most representative text of Traditional Korean Medicine, describes the Jahageo as follows:
It’s used to cure emaciated individuals that are lacking vital energy and nutrition, weak individuals with a body exhausted by overwork, and those who suffer from skin pigmentary changes and melasma.
DONGUIBOGAM (1613)4
Due to legal, ethical, and safety concerns surrounding the use of human-derived ingredients, The History of Whoo developed โChojahabidanโ, a powerful blend of HEPES. PDRN, vitamins, peptides, amino acids, and recombinant proteins (growth factors) that mimic the composition and properties of human placenta.
Clinical studies have shown that “Chojahabidan” delivers the following skin benefits:
In-vivo test results are based on comparative testing against a vehicle control formula that does not contain Chojahabidan, conducted over an eight-week period. In-vitro test results are based on comparative analysis between Chojahabidan and PDRN alone.
Overall, โChojahabidanโ is designed to mimic the effects of human placenta (Jahageo) by enhancing the skinโs natural ability to recognise and address its weaknesses, promoting self-healing and skin regeneration.
Chojahabidan appears in ingredient lists as:
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Sodium DNA, Arginine, Tryptophan, Threonine, Lysine, Valine, Leucine, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Tyrosine, Potassium Aspartate, Sodium Glutamate, Glutamine, Asparagine, Proline, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Biotin/Folic Acid/Cyanocobalamin/Niacinamide/Pantothenic Acid/Pyridoxine/Riboflavin/Thiamine/Yeast Polypeptides.
Patent No. 10-20220067532; A cosmetic composition mimicking placenta.
โฌฅ 2.2 Royal Bowondan
After studying various historical records and traditional Oriental Medicine texts, researchers at LG Household & Health Care identified the three primary herbal prescriptions used for the health of Eastern royals: Gongjindan (๊ณต์ง๋จ, ๆฑ่พฐไธน), Kyungokgo (๊ฒฝ์ฅ๊ณ , ็็่) and Cheongsimwon (์ฒญ์ฌ์, ๆทธๅฟๅ ). By merging these traditional formulas with contemporary dermatological science, the team developed three innovative cosmetic ingredients:
Together they form “Royal Bowondan” (๊ถ์ค๋ณด์๋จ, ่กฅๅ ็ฒพ่) a multifunctional formula designed to nourish the Three Treasures (์ผ๋ณด, ไธๅฏถ) of Oriental Medicine: Essence (์ , ็ฒพ), Energy (๊ธฐ, ๆฐฃ), and Spirit (์ , ็ฅ) and address underlying skin conditions before they become apparent.
โฌฅ 2.2 Gong Jin Solutionโข
All products from The History of Whoo contain “Gong Jin Solutionโข” (๊ณต์ง์๋ฃจ์ โข), a proprietary herbal complex that constitutes the brand’s signature ingredient. This complex represents an evolution of “Gongjinbidan” (๊ณต์ง๋น๋จ, ไพ่พฐ็งไธน), which was previously the representative ingredient of the brand.
Gong Jin Solutionโข is the result of The History of Whoo’s extensive integrative medicine research. The brand began by identifying and isolating the key skin-firming active ingredients found in Gongjinbidan: Glycoproteins, Arginine, and Glutamic Acid. These three active ingredients, known as “Gongjinbidan Active“, were then combined with Gongjinbidan, The History of Whoo’s original signature ingredient, to obtain the more potent Gong Jin Solutionโข.
Gongjinbidan (๊ณต์ง๋น๋จ, ไพ่พฐ็งไธน):
The History of Whoo’s “Gongjinbidan” is based on “Gongjindan” (๊ณต์ง๋จ, ๆฑ่พฐไธน), a traditional Oriental medicine prescription originally created by Chinese physician Wei Yilin. According to the classical text or Oriental Medicine “Efficacious Remedies of the Physicians” (์ธ์๋ํจ๋ฐฉ, ไธ้ซๅพๆๆน), “Gongjindan” was a remedy exclusively reserved for emperors and for this reason, it earned the name of “Emperor’s Medicine”1.
[source: ๋ฐฑ๋ก๋ดํ์์]
“Gongjindan” appears in many traditional medical texts from China and Korea and it’s described as a remedy that strengthens the body’s immune defences and brings back the natural balance between its organs.
The Donguibogam (the most representative text of Traditional Korean Medicine) describes “Gongjindan” as follows:
“If a man is sickly even after growing up, he is constitutionally weak. In such a case, body fluids should be increased but body heat should be cooled down. Other medicines are inefficacious against it, but this medicine is effective to harmonize internal organs with each other and to prevent various diseases.”
DONGUIBOGAM (1613)
To this day, “Gongjindan” is a vital tonic that is still commonly used in many Asian countries to combat chronic fatigue, weak constitution and deteriorated immunity.
Through the integration of modern science, LG Household & Health Care developed a cosmetic ingredient based on the original prescription for “Gongjindan”: “Gongjinbidan” (๊ณต์ง๋น๋จ, ไพ่พฐ็งไธน).
Active Tracking Technology:
At the heart of the new “Gong Jin Solutionโข is The History of Whoo’s Active Tracking Technology, an innovative Hanbang Bio-Po Jae technology that effectively delivers the skin-firming properties of Gongjinbidan to the skin.
The term Po Jae (ํฌ์ , ็ฎๅถ) refers to traditional methods from Korean medicine used to prepare herbs for medicinal use. These techniques are designed to enhance or modify specific qualities of the herbs to prepare them for specific therapeutic effects. (For further details, please consult the guide on Traditional Korean Medicine available on this website, specifically section 3.3, which covers โHerb preparation and processing methods”).
The History of Whoo combined traditional Po Jae techniques with cutting-edge biotechnology to enhance the skin-firming properties of its signature ingredient, Gongjinbidan.
Key Ingredients of Gong Jin Solutionโข
The History of Whoo’s new “Gong Jin Solutionโข appears in ingredient lists as:
1,2-Hexanediol, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Arginine, Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Glutamic Acid, Glycoproteins, and Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Water
In particular, the ingredient includes with five traditional herbal remedies:
Overall, the ingredient promises to increase energy flow, while also rebalancing and reinvigorating skin to enhance the skinโs intrinsic energy and elasticity.
Gong Jin Solutionโข combines four different patented technologies: patent no. 10-2168532, 10-216853, 10-222362 and 10-2411385.
โฌฅ 2.2.2 Gyeongokbidan
Gyeongokbidan (๊ฒฝ์ฅ๋น๋จ, ็ผ็็ฒพ่) is a modern reinterpretation of Gyeongokgo (๊ฒฝ์ฅ๊ณ , ็็่), one of the three main restorative remedies documented in the Donguibogam5. Gyeongokgo has been often referred to as “Noblemen’s medicine”6 because it was historically a prescription reserved exclusively for nobles and members of the royal court.
Gyeongokgo was traditionally used to address chronic fatigue and emaciation associated to Lung Qi and Yin Deficiency5 . In Oriental Medicine, Lung Qi plays a crucial role in managing the retention or elimination of fluids via the skin, which directly influences the opening and closing of skin pores. When Lung Qi is deficient, the pores may appear more enlarged and pronounced. On the other hand, Yin deficiency manifests through a generalised dryness across all vital organs, skin included.
Through the application of a proprietary technology, the Whoo Oriental Medicine Skin Science Research Center has developed Gyeongokbidan, a cosmetic ingredient based the original Gyeongokgo prescription. Gyeongokbidan is designed to rebalance Lung Qi and Yin while enhancing skin texture by replenishing moisture levels and minimising the appearance of pores.
Gyeongokbidan appears in ingredient lists as:
Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, and Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract.
โฌฅ 2.2.3 Cheongsimbidan
Cheongsimbidan (์ฒญ์ฌ๋น๋จ, ๆทธๅฟ็งไธน) is based on classic Korean herbal remedy Cheongsimwon (์ฒญ์ฌ์, ๆทธๅฟๅ ), a prescription used to reduce excess heat in the Heart and the Liver and, in turn, treat cardiovascular conditions. As a cosmetic ingredient Cheongsimbidan is designed to relieve redness and irritation, eliminate impurities and rebalance skin to ultimately strengthen the foundation of the skin and promote a clear and radiant complexion.
Cheongsimbidan appears in ingredient lists as:
Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Saposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract and Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract.
โฌฅ 3. Yoonseolran
โYoonseolran” (์ค์ค๋) is a skin refining ingredient extracted from Black Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum L.). The plant is naturally rich in Quercetin, a substance with senolytic properties that induces apoptosis of aging cells. In The History of Whooโs “Bichup” line, โYoonseolran” is used to optimise the effects of NAD Power 24โข.
Patent (pending): 10-2024-0026371 Skin improving composition containing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.
โฌฅ 4. Cordycepin
Cordyceps Militaris (๋์ถฉํ์ด ์ฝ๋์ธํ, ๅฌ่ซๅค่) is a parasitic fungus renowned in Oriental Medicine for its wide range of pharmacological effects, which encompass anti-tumour, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and reinvigorating properties. Similar to Wild Ginseng, it is a naturally rare ingredient, which has contributed to its status as the worldโs most expensive fungus, with prices soaring as high as $140,000 per kilogram7.
Cordycepin is the main bioactive compound found in Cordyceps Militaris. It works to energise and rejuvenate skin by improving cell senescence8.
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Notes
1. ๊น์์ง. (2003). โ๋๋ ํ๋ฒ์ฏค ์จ๋ณด๊ณ ์ถ๋ค! ํผ๋ถ ๋ณด์ฝ, ํ๋ฐฉ ํ์ฅํ.โ ๋ ์ด๋๊ฒฝํฅ.
2. Massudi, Hassina & Grant, Ross & Braidy, Nady & Guest, Jade & Farnsworth, Bruce & Guillemin, Gilles. (2012). Age-Associated Changes In Oxidative Stress and NAD Metabolism In Human Tissue. PloS one. 7. e42357. 10.1371/journal.pone.0042357.
3. ๋๋๋ฆฌ. (2023, February). ์ฒ๋ฌธ๋[ๅคฉ้ๅฌ]์ ํจ๋ฅ๊ณผ ์ญ์ทจ๋ฐฉ๋ฒ ์์๋ณด๊ธฐ. ๋๋๋ฆฌ ๋ธ๋ก๊ทธ.
4. ๊น๊ฒฝ๋. (2005). โํผ๋์๋์ ๊ฐ์ ์ โ์ํ๊ฑฐ(็ดซๆฒณ่ป).โโ ์ ๋์.
5. ๊นํ์ธ. (2020). โGyeongokgo Is Known to Rejuvenate Our Body and Strengthen Immunity – ์๊ฐํ์์ฝ๋ฆฌ์.โ Power Korea
6. Haejuclinic. (n.d). โHaeju Gyeongokgo.โ
7. Hou, David Anderson, Chia-Yi. (2021). โThe Worldโs Most Valuable Parasite, Caterpillar Fungus, Can Cost up to $63,000 per Pound.โ Business Insider.
8. Kim, Hyo Jin et al. (2015) โSuppression of Cellular Senescence by Cordycepin in Replicative Aged Human Dermal Fibroblasts,โ Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea. ๋ํํ์ฅํํํ, 41(2), pp. 135โ141. doi: 10.15230/SCSK.2015.41.2.135.
