Mirror Neurons & Mimicking

How to Get an Apple from Monkeys

This video was made based on and inspired by a story in the book, "Monkey Wisdom and Other Stories," written by Dr. Sukhmander Singh. Special thanks to Dr. Singh.

To know more about mirror neurons, click here.

I'm so sorry

"April is the cruellest month, ...."

Cited from "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot, 1922.

The afternoon after the rain stopped

RIP, Ukraine

Their sacrifice won't be in vain.

Topical Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)

Why vitamin C for skin?

It’s not unusual to see the claim that topical vitamin C solution helps improve skin condition and prevent premature ageing.

According to some research, one of the most important functions of vitamin C is to help generate collagen, a protein responsible for skin strength and elasticity (OSU). By increasing the collagen level, vitamin C helps prevent and reverse wrinkles. Vitamin C is also one of the most powerful antioxidants, which helps restore and prevent UV damage like discoloration, age spots and fine lines. 
* Click the OSU, which is the website of Oregon State University to see more information supported by the researches of the benefits and efficiency of topical vitamin C solutions.

How about efficiency?

But the efficiency of topical vitamin C has been questioned. It is said that the natural form of vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid is unstable in room temperature, and it could easily decrease its function. So vitamin C in usual skin care products doesn’t deliver its benefits as much as expected. Synthetic derivatives of vitamin C like ascorbate phosphate and ascorbyl palmitate are relatively stable, but these agents are considered to have absorption limitation (OSU). According to some research, however, topical vitamin C could increase its stability by adding other antioxidants like ferulic acid, phloretin or vitamin E (OSU). 

Possible benefits

·  Wrinckles & Photodamage

I have enjoyed some benefits from using topical vitamin C solutions: brightening skin tone, smoothing out fine lines and evening out skin texture. I tried several different topical vitamin C solutions including vitamin C serum from La Prairie, high potency evening repair from Perricone and high potency serum from Cellex-C, but I have been sticking to the topical vitamin C solution from Skinceutical since 2009. The formula of the solution has changed over the years. As of 2014 its active ingredients include L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E and ferulic acid. 

·  Acne & Dry Skin

Besides wrinkles and photodamage, topical vitamin C might work for acne or dry skin. But studies show that the effects of topical vitamin C for acne and dry skin are in questions, and more researches are required (OSU). I read a lot of reviews of many different topical vitamin C solutions before I tried out. Some consumers enjoy the benefits from using topical vitamin C. Others claim that they got dry skin or breakouts after using some topical vitamin solutions. 

There are so many topical vitamin C solutions at the market. When you choose the right one which agrees with your skin condition, you’ll enjoy the benefits. If you invest time to look into reviews of skin care products with some discretion, you can find the right one that is worth every single penny.   

Tips for usage

1. Vitamin C easily oxidizes as it exposes to air, light or heat. As time goes by, the color of topical vitamin C solutions turns into yellow and then orange. So choose the topical vitamin C solution with the stabilizer like ferulic acid, phloretin or vitamin E. After opening the solution, you’d better use it up as soon as possible minimizing the exposure to air, light and heat. 
2. You can use topical vitamin C morning and/or night. But you'd better follow the direction on the insert of the product you are using. 
3. Especially when you use topical vitamin C and retin A solution at the same time, you'd better follow the direction of the products you are using. It has been said that retin A might limit the absorption of vitamin C. But according to some experts, there is no real reason not to use retin A and vitamin C at the same time. The bottom line is to avoid applying one right after another. Or use one in the morning and use another at night.

Rosehip Oil & Acne

Can people with acne-prone skin get benefits from using rosehip oil? 

It depends on the type of acne. According to reviews of people with acne-prone skin, they got more breakouts in most cases. In general, using rosehip oil is not recommended for acne. However, some who tried rosehip oil for acne report that they benefited from using it. I am one of the consumers who enjoy benefits for acne. I have been almost free from acne due to hormonal imbalance or bacterial infection since I used pure rosehip oil daily.

  

Why is rosehip oil effective for some type of acne? 

Retinoid acid, one of active ingredients in rosehip oil, is considered an agent to treat certain types of acne. This property in rosehip oil might help prevent and clear acne quickly. Another hypothesis is that rosehip oil contains the property to prevent bacterial infection that could bring about acne.  

Even though rosehip oil is not recommended to treat for acne in general, fatty acids in rosehip oil are considered to be effective for clearing acne trace.  

I have got these benefits most prominently. Besides, I have enjoyed more benefits such as brightening skin tone, softening skin texture and hydrating skin. In almost every case, the effect of skin care products varies with a user. I read many good reviews about pure jojoba oil for cleansing and pure argan oil for moisturizing, and I tried them out. But they led to breakouts. Now I’m using the pure argan oil for hair treatment instead. It is very effective to have sleek hair.  

Benefits of Rosehip Oil

In April 2013, I got very tiny bumpy rashes similar to goose bumps around my left chin. The affected area was flaking. I combed through internet to figure out what might cause this and what I could do to fix it.

Despite my thorough research, I couldn’t single out the cause. I just narrowed down to a few ingredients of the toner and natural facial mask that I tried at that moment: organic honey with pollen, apple cider and witch hazel. When I tried the facial toner with witch hazel and other botanical ingredients, such as calendula flower extract and lavender oil, I had the almost same symptom on my left chin 4 years ago. It looks like that my skin doesn’t agree with some of these natural ingredients.

I stopped using the toner and facial mask, and I tried raw Shea butter to keep moisturizing the affected area right away. One day after, it got less dry, but the skin condition looked about the same. With a little concern, I tried the rosehip oil based on its benefits for skin care which I came to know during the research. 2 hours after applying the oil, I found the rash bumps were almost gone. It was a real surprise. The affected area came back to normal over night.

Since then, I have been using the rosehip oil every day. The benefits of the rosehip oil could vary with a user’s skin condition. I’m enjoying a few benefits from using the rosehip oil: brightening skin tone, softening skin texture, hydrating skin and preventing acne and discoloration. Especially, I like the oil because since I used it, I have been almost free from a skin rash due to hormonal imbalance or allergic reaction. I sometimes get a skin rash, but it easily goes away and rarely leave discoloration.

Active Ingredients & Possible Benefits

The case varies according to a user, but there are several active ingredients in the pure rosehip oil which might help improve some skin issues.  

1. Essential Fatty Acids

Linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid which is essential for the structure of membrane cells to keep moisturizing skin, helps prevent premature ageing. It helps mitigate and prevent fine lines by keeping the skin hydrated. 

Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid and Oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid help regenerate skin cells and repair damaged skin. 

2. Vitamin A, which is a topical trans-retinoic acid helps prevent premature ageing caused by sun exposure.

It could help prevent acne and repair the trace of acne by balancing skin oil and moisture.

3. Lycopene, which is an antioxidant helps protect and repair skin from premature ageing. 

4. Beta-carotene, which is a source of pro-vitamin A helps improve sun damaged skin. 

Tips for Usage  

● Apply 1 or 2 drops of the pure rosehip oil directly all over the face after using a toner or mix 1 or 2 drops of it with your daily moisturizers and apply the mixture to the face morning and/or night. When you use the rosehip oil in the morning, don’t forget to apply a sunscreen.
● If you want to improve your skin tone, try a topical vitamin C solution after applying the rosehip oil. 

Toner → Rosehip oil → 5-10 min. → Vitamin C solution → Routine skin care products. You'd better apply a vitamin C solution after the rosehip oil is completely absorbed. 

You can use the rosehip oil and vitamin C solution morning and night unless there is a special direction on the insert of the skin care product you are using.   

● Avoid the area close to the eyes. The eyes might sting.  

● Do the patch test under your arms or ears before using it.