The History of Whoo

Jung Yuncho line

The History of Whoo’s “Jung Yuncho” (정윤초) is an all-in-one anti-aging solution to help men take care of their skin. The line is designed to tackle first signs of aging as well as concerns commonly experienced by men, including sensitive skin during seasonal changes, irritation from daily shaving, and the detrimental effects of environmental stressors.

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:

  • Men in their 20s
  • First fine lines
  • Dull and fatigued skin
  • Decreased elasticity
  • Irritated skin
  • Dark spots

Main Ingredients

Youth Guardian™

Youth Guardian™ (유쓰 가디언™) is the key ingredient of The History of Whoo’s “Jung Yuncho” line. Youth Guardian™ is a proprietary complex that combines the benefits of “Irish Thistle” with six complementary ingredients, providing a comprehensive “six-in-one” approach. The complex delivers a range of benefits, including anti-wrinkle, whitening, firming, antioxidant, moisturising, and soothing properties. In particular, Youth Guardian™ consists of the ingredients below.

  • “Irish Thistle” (Cirsium Japonicum)
  • Niacinamide provides skin whitening [t/n skin brightening] properties. The ingredient enhances skin brightness and evens out skin tone.
  • Adenosine provides anti-wrinkle properties. The ingredient reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, promoting smoother skin.
  • Ectoine provides skin soothing properties. The ingredient calms and soothes the skin, reducing irritation.
  • Carnosine provides skin firming properties. The ingredient improves skin elasticity, resulting in a firmer complexion.
  • Hyaluronic Acid provides skin moisturising properties. The ingredient provides deep hydration, ensuring the skin remains supple and nourished.
  • Ferulic Acid helps combat oxidative stress. The ingredient protects against environmental damage and oxidative stress.
The History of Whoo - Youth Guardian

At the heart of the Youth Guardian™ complex is the concentrated extract of “Irish Thistle“, officially known as Cirsium Japonicum and referred to as “Da Ji” (대계, 大薊) in Traditional Oriental Medicine.

In Oriental Medicine, Cirsium Japonicum has been traditionally used to cool the Blood, eliminate Blood stasis, relieve toxicity, and promote the healing of sores and swellings1.

Recent scientific studies have also highlighted the benefits of Cirsium Japonicum in combating skin aging and improving skin elasticity. Research shows that Cirsium Japonicum has a significant impact on skin glycation — a process that accelerates aging by causing sugar molecules to bind to proteins like collagen, resulting in stiffness, loss of elasticity, and wrinkles.

The primary active components of Cirsium Japonicum have been shown to combat glycation, thereby enhancing skin firmness and reducing the appearance of wrinkles2. The efficacy of Youth Guardian™ is further enhanced by the use of an advanced low-temperature extraction technique that concentrates Cirsium Japonicum extract tenfold. This method preserves the integrity of the active compounds in the botanical extract, ensuring maximum potency and effectiveness.

Gong Jin Solution

All products from The History of Whoo incorporate “Gong Jin Solution™” (공진솔루션™), a proprietary herbal complex that constitutes the brand’s signature ingredient. This complex represents an evolution of “Gongjinbidan” (공진비단, 供辰秘丹), which was previously the representative ingredient of the brand.

Gong Jin Solution™ was developed through The History of Whoo’s integrative medicine research. This development involved isolating and blending the brand’s former signature anti-aging ingredient Gongjinbidan with three of its key skin-firming active components, collectively referred to as “Gongjinbidan Active.” The components of Gongjinbidan Active include Glycoproteins, Arginine, and Glutamic Acid.

Gongjinbidan (공진비단, 供辰秘丹):

The History of Whoo’s “Gongjinbidan” is based on “Gongjindan” (공진단, 拱辰丹), 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” (세의득효방, 世醫得效方), “Gongjindan” was a remedy exclusively reserved  for emperors and for this reason, it earned the name of “Emperor’s Medicine”3.

The History of Whoo - Gongjindan

“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:

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” (공진비단, 供辰秘丹).

Active Tracking Technology:

At the heart of the new “Gong Jin Solution™ 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 (포제, 炮制) refers to traditional methods in Korean medicine designed to prepare herbs for medicinal use. These techniques are designed to enhance or modify specific qualities of the herbs, tailoring them for targeted therapeutic effects. (For further details, please consult the guide on Traditional Korean Medicine available on this website, specifically section 3.3, which covers “Herb preparation and processing methods”).

The History of Whoo combined traditional Po Jae techniques with cutting-edge biotechnology to enhance the skin-firming properties of their classic ingredient, Gongjinbidan. This combination results in improved skin firmness and a more youthful appearance, providing a skincare experience that harmoniously integrates ancient wisdom with modern technology.

Key Ingredients of Gong Jin Solution™

The History of Whoo’s new “Gong Jin Solution™ 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, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Water

The History of Whoo - Gong Jin Solution herbs

In particular, the ingredient includes with five traditional herbal remedies:

  • Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root (천문동, 天門冬), or “Tian Men Dong”, is a potent anti-aging remedy that works by clearing Heat and nourishing Yin. The ingredient is highly regarded in Oriental Medicine for its effectiveness in softening rough skin and improving skin elasticity and radiance. It’s believed that these effects are primarily due to the plant’s rich content of the amino acid Asparagine6.
  • Angelica Gigas Nakai Root (참당귀뿌리, 当归), or “Dang Gui”, is known to replenish Qi and nourish Blood, meaning it restores vital energy levels and promote a healthy circulation of nutrients and energy across the body.
  • Cornus Officinalis Fruit (산수유열매, 山茱萸), or “Shan Zhu Yu”, is valued for its astringent and tonifying properties [T/N In Oriental Medicine “astringent” ingredients have the function of rebalancing the main vital substances that animate the human body: Essence, Body Fluids and Qi].
  • Ganoderma Lucidum (영지버섯, 灵芝属), or “Ling Zhi”, is highly-regarded in Oriental Medicine for promoting health and longevity. The ingredient was first described in the Classic of the Materia Medica (also known as Shennong Bencaojing, 神農本草經) and it’s used to alleviate fatigue, strengthen the immune system, and promote overall well-being.
  • Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) (타임, 百里香), which boasts antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Overall, the ingredient promises to increase energy flow, while also rebalancing and reinvigorating skin to enhance the skin’s intrinsic energy and elasticity5.

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Products

Jung Yuncho Multi Cleanser

Jung Yuncho Multi Youth Essence

Jung Yuncho Tone-Up Cream

Jung Yuncho BB Cream

Jung Yuncho Lip Balm

⬥ Recommended order of use

  • Jung Yuncho Multi Cleanser
  • Jung Yuncho Multi Youth Essence
  • Jung Yuncho Tone-Up Cream
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Shop the Line

⬥ International retailers

  • n/a

Make sure to check out the Discount & Coupons page to access exclusive offers for major Korean skincare retailers.

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Notes

  1. HEMPEN, D. (2009). Herbs that regulate the blood. A Materia Medica for Chinese Medicine, 514–617. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-10094-9.00015-7
  2. Yoon, S., Kim, M., Shin, S., Woo, J., Son, D., Ryu, D., Yoo, J., Park, D., & Jung, E. (2022). Effect of cirsium japonicum flower extract on skin aging induced by glycation. Molecules, 27(7), 2093. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27072093
  3. 김은진. (2003). “나도 한번쯤 써보고 싶다! 피부 보약, 한방 화장품.” 레이디경향.
  4. 더후(The Whoo). (n.d.). 더후: The whoo. 더후(THE WHOO). https://www.thewhoo.com/mall/brand/brand.html#con2
  5. “The History of 후.” (n.d.). Www.whoo.co.kr, Retrieved May 18, 2022, from www.whoo.co.kr/mobile/brand/hehua.jsp
  6. 나누리. (2023, February). 천문동[天門冬]의 효능과 섭취방법 알아보기. 나누리 블로그. Retrieved November 11, 2024, from https://nurri.kr/blogPost/cjsansendddmlgys

Source: LG Household & Health Care unless otherwise stated.
Words, Visuals: © 2024 Odile Monod unless otherwise stated.
You may not reproduce the above translation for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the author.

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