The History of Whoo
Cheongidan Rejuvenating Pro-Radiance line
The History of Whoo’s “Cheongidan” (천기단) is a premium anti-aging skincare line to revitalise dull and fatigued skin and target more complex signs of aging. The line is based on a modern reinterpretation of the royal beauty secrets of Chinese Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty.
The empress was known to have an extensive beauty routine that allowed her to maintain her youthful appearance even in mature age. American portrait painter Katharine Carl, who lived in the Chinese Imperial Court for nine months and became a close acquaintance of the Empress, argued that Cixi had a “wonderfully youthful appearance”1.
Photographs of Empress Cixi in her 70s caused a sensation in the West as they showed the sovereign having a perfect smooth complexion with no visible wrinkles. However, critics later argued that official portraits were retouched to enhance the Empress’s beauty2.
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 you’re 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. It’s important to stress out that there is no correspondence between Oriental Medicine organs and Western anatomy so capitalised names in this article shouldn’t be interpreted in the Western medical sense.
⬥ Recommended for:
Main Ingredients
All products in the “Cheongidan” line provide a complete treatment in 3 stages that promises to revitalise aging skin from inside out:
⬥ Cheongibidan 12α (천기비단 12α, 天气精萃 12α)
“Cheongibidan 12α” (천기비단 12α, 天气精萃 12α) represents a culmination of tradition and cutting-edge technology. This advanced ingredient is powered by Bio-herb AI, a technology developed by The History of Whoo’s Oriental Medicine Research Institute. Bio-herb AI is a ground-breaking technology that predicts and selects the most effective herbal prescriptions for skin health by analysing research papers from all over the world.
From replenishing moisture to fortifying the skin’s natural barrier and combating oxidative stress, “Cheongibidan 12α” addresses 5 key signs of aging with precision and efficacy, making it a comprehensive solution for achieving radiant and healthy-looking skin.
In particular “Cheongibidan 12α” consists of 30 ingredients, including 27 traditional herbal remedies7:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Saposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Angelica Tenuissima Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Viscum Album Extract, Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Cuscuta Australis Seed Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Gardenia Florida Flower Extract, Kaempferol.
“Cheongibidan 12a” is an an advanced iteration of The History of Whoo’s acclaimed “Cheongibidan” complex found in The History of Whoo’s original “Cheongidan” line.
“Cheongibidan 12α” is a herbal complex based on the beauty practices of Chinese Empress Dowager Cixi. It’s composed of premium herbal ingredients to address complex signs of aging. “Cheongibidan 12α” works both on the inside and the outside of the skin: by controlling the flow of the 6 Qi‘s on the inside, “Cheongibidan 12α” helps boost skin’s natural luster on the outside.
In Oriental Medicine, the theory of 5 Periods and 6 Qi (오운육기, 五運六気) describes the influence of seasonal and climatic changes on the health of human beings. According to the “Advanced Textbook of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology”:
“Wind, cold, summer-heat, damp, dryness, and fire are the six climatic factors which correspond to normal seasonal changes. Normally, they are known as the “Six Qi.” (…). The Six Qi normally will not cause diseases. However, if and when the Six Qi become abnormal or excessive, as happens in abrupt changes in environmental conditions, and if the body’s resistance is too weak to adapt to these variations, the Six Qi may become the six excesses: pathogenic factors that cause diseases3.”
Advanced Textbook of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology
When body’s immunity is weakened or compromised, the 6 environmental forces called 6 Qi become injurious by invading the body and they are traditionally referred to as “6 Pernicious Influences” or “6 Evils” in Oriental Medicine.
In relation to the skin aging process, the 6 Evils manifest through these symptoms:
The elaborate formula of “Cheongibidan 12α” was created to target all these symptoms at once.
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⬥ Golden Gardenia
After two decades of dedicated research on traditional herbal remedies, The History of Whoo unveiled “Golden Gardenia“, a botanical treasure that is highly-regarded for its powerful antioxidants and reparative properties. One of its standout benefits is its ability to effectively manage oxidative stress caused by external harmful factors like ultraviolet rays and fine dust.
“Golden Gardenia”, scientifically known as Gardenia Jasminoides but also referred to as “Cape Gardenia” or “Golden Magic,” is an evergreen plant that displays exceptional resilience, even in the harshest winter conditions. When these flowers bloom, they start off as pure white and gradually transition into creamy yellow and golden yellow as they mature.
After an astounding 80,000 hours of cultivation, The History of Whoo carefully hand-picks the flowers within just 48 hours when the blossoms have turned a radiant golden hue to ensure the utmost quality. The extraction process is then carried out at low temperatures over a period of 72 hours, allowing the active energy and anti-aging powers of the plant to be preserved.
⬥ Pro Radiance™
“Pro Radiance™” is an innovative ingredient designed to enhance skin radiance you for a youthful, luminous complexion. The ingredient was created using extensive data collected from the skin profiles of over 17,000 Asian women. Through meticulous big data analysis, The History of Whoo identified powerful ingredients that have the ability to enhance radiance and restore elasticity. These potent ingredients are encapsulated within nano liposomes, allowing for enhanced absorption and maximum effectiveness.
“Pro Radiance™” tackles a wide range of skin concerns, including wrinkles, fine lines, reduced skin barrier function, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, dead skin cells, dryness, roughness, and age spots. Furthermore, it improves skin clarity, radiance, fineness, and elasticity.
“Pro Radiance™” consists of7:
Glycerin, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Oryzanol, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Quercetin, Chrysin. Sodium Mannose Phosphate, Mannose, Kaempferol, Sodium Pyruvate
⬥ Wild Ginseng With Pearl Knots (산삼옥주)
Panax Ginseng is one of the most expensive Hanbang herbs. Ginseng is also known as “Shincho” (신초, 神草), meaning “God’s Herb”, and in Oriental Medicine it’s commonly used to replenish Qi (“tonify Qi”) across the Five Organs (오장, 五臟).
Wild Ginseng (Panax Ginseng Meyer cv. Silvatica) and Cultivated Ginseng present significant differences, both in terms of market price, morphology and of general properties. In fact, Wild Ginseng was shown to contain at least 10 times the amount of active compounds of Cultivated Ginseng6. This enhanced effectiveness, along with its natural scarcity and difficult availability, make Wild Ginseng one of the most precious herbal remedies in Oriental Medicine.
Different morphological characteristics of Wild Ginseng (sx) and Cultivated Ginseng (dx). (source: YTN)
Pearl knots are small protuberances found on the fine rootlets of some Wild Ginseng plants and they store nutrients absorbed from the soil during growth.
The biological nature of pearl knots is the foundation of the seasonal absorbing root of ginseng4. Meaning that the number of pearl knots of a ginseng plant can help observers get a general understanding of the plant’s age, with a high number of pearl knots indicating a longer growth time.
(picture by 소담정)
Products
Cheongidan Rejuvenating Pro-Radiance Balancing Toner
Cheongidan Rejuvenating Pro-Radiance Emulsion
Cheongidan Rejuvenating Pro-Radiance Cream
Cheongidan Radiant Regenerating Eye Cream
Cheongidan Radiant Regenerating Essence
Cheongidan Illuminating Regenerating Essence
Cheongidan Nutritive Essential Ampoule Concentrate
Cheongidan Ultimate Lifting Ampoule Concentrate
Cheongidan Intensive Brightening Ampoule Concentrate
Cheongidan Illuminating Refining Essence
Cheongidan Illuminating Refining Pad
Cheongidan Radiant Regenerating Wrinkle Repair
Cheongidan Radiant Regenerating Gold Concentrate
Cheongidan Wild Ginseng Facial Oil
Cheongidan Regenerating Eye Serum
Cheongidan Radiant Cleansing Foam
Cheongidan Radiant Soft Foam Cleanser
Cheongidan Gold Ampoule Mask
Cheongidan Radiant Essence Cushion SPF50+/PA+++
Cheongidan Radiant Powder Pact SPF30/PA++
Cheongidan Double Radiant Base
Cheongidan Double Radiant Base Pink
Cheongidan Radiant Essence Foundation SPF35/PA++
⬥ Recommended order of use
Shop the Line
⬥ International retailers
⬥ South Korean retailers
Make sure to check out the Discount & Coupons page to access exclusive offers for major Korean skincare retailers.
Notes
- Chen, D. (2013). “The Western Perception of Empress Dowager Cixi”. Master of Arts. University of Victoria.
- Peng, Y. (2013). “Lingering Between Tradition And Innovation: Photographic Portraits Of Empress Dowager Cixi.” Ars Orientalis, Vol. 43.
- State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. (1995). “Advanced Textbook on Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology”. New World Press.
- Li M, Li RJ, Liu MY. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1989;14(11):654-701.
- Qi, Z., Li, Z., Guan, X., Wang, C., Wang, F., Li, P., & Liu, J. (2019). “Four Novel Dammarane-Type Triterpenoids from Pearl Knots of Panax ginseng Meyer cv. Silvatica. Molecules£ (Basel, Switzerland), 24(6), 1159. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24061159
- Jeong H. (2009) 인삼ㆍ산양삼ㆍ자연산 산삼의 ginsenoside 함량 분석 및 홍삼화 후 성분변화 비교. 상지대학교 학술정보원.
- Whoo后官方网站. (n.d.). https://www.whoo.com.cn/