Thursday, April 30, 2009

NARS Modern Love Eyeshadow Palette

What if one eyeshadow compact could provide every shade necessary to fashion the perfect neutral look, eye-defining liner, or sexy smoky effect? Sounds too good to be true huh?!This seemingly impossible pursuit is now a reachable reality with the new NARS Modern Love Palette. Open the signature soft-touch black compact, complete with an oversize mirror, to reveal an array of uber-wearable shades that look natural on every skin tone. Yipee!

NARS used top-ranking shadows, in hues ranging from matte black to shimmering browns to ethereal metallic’s. Each shade was chosen for its ability to complement the others, so you can mix and match for an endless number of subtle or dramatic looks. The resulting palette can be used effortlessly to create various day-to-night looks, with six shadows to accent the lashline, lid, crease and browbone. The Modern Love Palette unleashes your inner artist. I think I am in love!

Shades:
* Alhambra (top left) Metallic Rose Mist
* Jezebel (top middle) Shimmering Sable
* India Song (top right) Shimmering Walnut
* Tokyo (bottom left) Soft Silver-White
* Habanera (bottom middle) Sparkling Charcoal-Plum
* Pandora (bottom right) Matte Black

It will be available in May 2009 exclusively at Nordstrom and sold for $50.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Mom's Day Gift Ideas: Moroccan Rose Body Butter by The Body Shop

As you might know, I LOVE body butters. Of all kinds. Since The Body Shop's body butters hold a special place in my heart, I was excited to see their Moroccan Rose Body Butter on sale for Mother's Day. For $15 (instead of $20) you can get your beloved mother a tub of yummy, luxurious body butter that smells like delicate roses. It has Community Trade shea butter to make her skin soft, smooth and supple, and Community Trade babassu oil to help repair skin's moisture barrier while restoring suppleness. Sounds like a gift you can feel good about giving this Mother's Day... and maybe grab one for yourself.

Butter Lovely!

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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Bioelements Oxygen Cocktail and Oxygenation

Did you know, back in prehistoric times, the atmosphere contained oxygen levels of 35%, but over the years the rise in pollution has dramatically decreased this number and today it’s down to just 21% and even lower in some major cities?! The drop in oxygen levels is due to the rising levels of pollution. When it comes to your skin, oxygen is vital for a radiant, younger, and less-lined complexion. In fact, your skin needs more than just the oxygen you breathe, it requires the use of oxygen-rich products to keep it functioning properly and looking its best.

Bioelements Oxygen Cocktail and Oxygenation can help your skin stop suffocating your skin and let it breathe with. They are two high performing, specialists-designed products to enhance your skin’s protective barrier and “push” essential oxygen into surface layers.

Oxygen Cocktail ($39.00 for 1oz) is a barrier-enhancing serum of moisture-binding hyaluronic acid blended with an oxygen-boosting Tissue Respiratory Factor. A few drops of this serum applied to a freshly washed face will boost its ability to fight visible aging and promote a smoother, less-lined appearance. It is great for skin showing premature wrinkles, a sallow skin tone, chronic dryness, poor elasticity, dehydration, surface wrinkles or a sluggish appearance.

After applying the Oxygen Cocktail, keep pumping that oxygen into your skin by following it up with Bioelements Oxygenation ($50.00 for 1oz). This is an oxygen-rich creme containing stabilized hydrogen peroxide in a high-performance base reinforced with antioxidant vitamins and green tea. A small amount (no more than a pea) applied to your entire face will infuse your skin with oxygen as it “pushes” protective ingredients deep into surface layers to fight off environmental pollutants and reduce dullness. And the great thing about Oxygenation is that it is also an intensifier which speeds up the results you get from your other skincare products, helping them perform better.

I really liked both products when I tried them, but I think they would work even better on someone with more normal-to-dry skin, versus my normal-to-oily complexion. They did feel very soothing, but I felt I could only apply them at night, or else my skin might get greasy very quickly. My (thankfully) young skin doesn't need this kind of anti-aging treatment yet... I might pass it on to someone who does. It is Mother's Day soon...

Both products are available at spas nationwide and online at Spalook.com or Dermstore.com.

Breath Lovely!

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Monday, April 27, 2009

Stila Sun Bronzing Powder

The other day I finally ran out of the Laguna side of my NARS Orgasm/Laguna Blush/Bronzer duo (only took 1.5 years of using it every day!). Instead of purchasing a new one, I dug into my makeup box to find another option. Out popped Stila's Sun Bronzing Powder with SPF 15. I think I bought this awhile ago, either on recommendation or on a whim at Sephora, but regardless I never used it more than once or twice. Not sure why, because it is a great substitute. I have the darker shade and even on my very fair skin, it gives just a touch of sun.. without the cancer! At $28 it is a little more affordable than the NARS anyways. But using up what I already have is half the battle.

Bronze Lovely!

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Saturday, April 25, 2009

Weekend Beauty Blog Reads from the BBN

Link Lovely!

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Friday, April 24, 2009

Sonia Kashuk Spring Treasures Collection For Taget

I have been a fan of Sonia Kashuk's beauty products for Target for years and years. In fact, my ultimate fav blush/bronzer brush is one I bought from her collection like 7 years ago. It is still super soft and hasn't started losing its bristles hardly at all. Sonia Kashuk seems to develop good quality products at VERY reasonable prices. So I was thrilled to try out a few things from her limited edition spring 2009 collection. The limited edition collection marks Sonia Kashuk’s tenth anniversary with Target, celebrating ten years of providing quality cosmetics and professional beauty tools at affordable prices. Wahoo.


The spring 2009 collection is inspired by the ocean, combining innovative design with exotic marine life and high quality materials... at really recession-friendly prices! I got to try out the Hidden Treasure Brush Set ($19.99) and the how to create the "Freshness of Spring" palette ($19.99).

The brush set is a little on the cheesy side with the silver coral handles, but it would make a
 really cute gift. The quality of the brushes is top notch, as I well know. The set includes a blush/powder brush, large eye shadow brush, angled eye shadow brush, nylon concealer brush, crease eye shadow brush and small eye shadow brush. The set of brushes come in a chic, coral-print case with luxe silver lining that can double as a clutch.

The "Freshness of Spring" palette is actually a very well puty together palette. I'm often not very found of palettes that include lip glosses, since they tend to get messy or are never used. But the eye colors and blush color makes up for it on this one! The palette includes step-by-step instructions on how to create a soft look that is perfect for spring. It includes three shades for eyes, pale pink, lovely deep lilac and a highlighting shadow that adds a serious shimmer. Lacquer your lips with three varied lip colors including an shimmering pink, a sheer rose and a flirty red. A soft pink blush completes the look for a fresh, flawless face that just screams spring.

Spring Lovely!

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Flower By Kenzo Spring Fragrance Limited Edition

FlowerByKenzo is a lovely powdery floral fragrance that is loved by many. For this spring, Kenzo has come out with a Spring Limited Edition scent. They call it a "sparkling floral" which I think I can agree with. It is welcoming the return of life and brightness, after the cold darkness of winter, with notes of lively mandarin, ginger and yummy lychee fruit. The middle contains parma violet, feesia, and at its base is white musk and incense.

The bottle is also a reflection of spring's arrival, with a singular light-hearted poppy blowing in the breeze, incased in a frosted glass. It sure is a nice addition to my growing collection of perfume bottle.

Hello Spring!

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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Kiehl's for Earth Day: Tons of Ways to Give Back!

I wanted to let you know about Kiehl’s Earth Day initiative, an environmental and celebrity partnership which will raise funds for Waterkeeper Alliance.
This spring, Kiehl’s is introducing a larger size (16 oz.) of their Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion with a Limited Edition Label Art Series ($55). They are donating 100% of Net Kiehl’s Proceeds from the series to benefit Waterkeeper Alliance. The lotion is made with organic, fairly traded Moroccan Argan oil and the bottles are made from 100% Post Consumer Recycled packaging. Now that is Earth friendly!
They have partnered with four socially conscious celebrity influencers-- Adrian Grenier, Erykah Badu, Kelly Slater, and a team of students from Parsons The New School for Design--to create Limited Edition labels, for four truly unique and beautiful designs certain to become collectible items. Go to your local Kiehl's store and check them out yourself!

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Chairman, Waterkeeper Alliance says: "With $100,000, the amount that Kiehl’s has set out to raise through the sale of this limited edition product, Waterkeeper Alliance will provide critical professional training to nearly 200 Waterkeeper Alliance organizations and develop climate change and post-carbon transition strategies at this year’s Annual Conference. Waterkeeper Alliance will convene top experts to increase leadership skills and fortify relationships that are essential to the successful guardianship of communities and watersheds around the world. We thank Kiehl’s for their continued support and praise them for their continued efforts to protect and preserve community waterways from polluters around the world.”

The limited edition body lotions are available in Kiehl’s free-standing stores on April 20, in time for Earth Day 2009, while supplies last.

In conjunction with the Limited Edition product, Kiehl’s has launched www.kiehlsgivesback.com, a web site designed to share the complete scope of thier partnership with their patrons. Through this new site, you can learn more about Waterkeeper Alliance and their partnership, and participate in two limited-time, web-only events:

EARTH DAY ONLINE AUCTION: April 22-April 24, 2009

Beginning on Earth Day, April 22, www.kiehlsgivesback.com will host a three-day online auction of 10 unique items to further support Waterkeeper Alliance. Featuring one-of-a-kind signed items donated by their partners, the auction runs for three days, April 22 through April 24 here, and 100% of all proceeds generated from this auction will be donated to Waterkeeper Alliance.

Auction items include:

* Adrian Grenier Autographed Season 4 - Entourage DVD Set (2 Sets)
* Best of Kiehl's Since 1851 - For MEN ($494 Value)
* Best of Kiehl's Since 1851 - For WOMEN ($493 Value)
* Kelly Slater Autographed AL MERRICK TUFLITE (SURFTECH) K-BOARD Surfboard
* Kelly Slater Autographed Biography – For The Love, by Kelly Slater, Jack Johnson, and Phil Jarratt.
* "ISREAL" LIMITED EDITION Poster, designed by Emek, signed by Erykah Badu and Emek
* "Moscow, Russia" LIMITED EDITION Poster, designed by Emek, signed by Erykah Badu and Emek
* PARSONS: Online Course: Hot Cities, Cool Solutions: Living in a Low-Carbon World ($570 Value)

These items are currently available for preview here, and bidding begins at 12:01 AM on Wednesday, April 22, ending at 11:59 AM on Friday, April 24.

10/10/10 ONLINE CHARITY EVENT,April 23-May 6, 2009

Since their inception, Kiehl’s has been committed to the service of our communities, and offering the highest quality products with honesty, integrity, and value to their customers. To further honor Earth Day and the environment, they are offering ten days of their ten top-selling products, for just $10. 100% of the proceeds of this event, up to $10,000, will be donated to Waterkeeper Alliance.

HOW IT WORKS: Beginning April 23, each day for 10 week days, they will offer 100 units of a single Kiehl’s product for $10, from 11 AM EST to 1 PM EST, for that day only. For example, on April 23, 100 units of Kiehl’s Marvelous Mineral Mascara in Black will available for $10 from 11 AM EST to 1 PM EST. That day’s offer ends at 1 PM EST, or, when all 100 units are sold. The next day, 100 units of another product will be offered during that time frame, and so on.

This event takes place during the business week only, and you can sign up here for daily alerts about each day’s product.

Kiehl’s products to be offered during this event will be:

* Marvelous Mineral Mascara, Black: April 23
* Coriander Liquid Hand Soap: April 24
* Close-Shavers Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream, White Eagle: April 27
* Creme de Corps (8.4 oz): April 28
* Facial Fuel (4.2 oz): April 29
* Abyssine Cream + : April 30
* Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado: May 1
* Ultra Facial Cream (1.7 oz.): May 4
* Amino Acid Shampoo (8.4 oz.): May 5
* Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion (6.8 oz.): May 6

Love The Earth with Kiehl's this year!

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Monday, April 20, 2009

Herbal Essences Hydralicious Shampoo and Conditioner

I have been an on and off user of Herbal Essences's shampoos and conditioners since I was in high school. I am a total sucker for their luscious scents and cheap prices. So when they sent me their whole line of new Hydralicious Shampoos and Conditioners, I was giddy. Since I have naturally very fine, thin hair I am trying out the "featherweight", in the yellow bottles. So far, I love them. The shampoo come out as a mixture of yellow and orange in a thick juicy sauce that lathers up into a yummy suddiest experience that smells like white water lily nectar and passion fruit. The conditioner is just the right amount of moisturizer for my hair, and yet de-tangles it completely. The smell matches and is also divine.

Besides the "featherwight", Hydralicious also comes in "self-targeting" for normal hair (neither dry nor oily) and "reconditioning" for drier hair types. Pick the one that suits your hair and get to washing! It will please your scents and your hair!

Suds Lovely!

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Saturday, April 18, 2009

Weekend Beauty Reads from the BBN

Link Lovely!

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Thursday, April 16, 2009

Boscia Clear Complexion Kit

Although I have my suspicions (going to bed with my makeup on, hormones, weather change, etc.), I'm not entirely sure why I started breaking out the other week. All I knew was I needed a change, or at least to amp up my skin care routine to fight that nasty bacteria and dry those pimples out! I received Boscia's Clear Complexion Kit a long time ago, but hadn't gotten around to trying it out. What a better time then when my skin needed clearing up?! It seems to be a great system for someone like me, with combination skin that can get irritated and dried out with certain acne fighting products. The tonic is super refreshing after cleansing the the treatment serum goes on easy and doesn't feel too sticky. The moisturizer I had tried before, so I knew it was light and absorbs moderately fast and doesn't have be greasy a few hours later. After a week of treatment, my skin is on the way to looking much better, without any yucky dry feeling spots or new breakouts. Yay bosica. Goes to show, natural products can work just as good as the chemically stuff.

Fight Lovely!

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Korres Lip Butters

Since I am such a fan of body butters, it makes perfect sense that I would also enjoy lip butters! Korres, a natural skincare line from Athens, Greece, have great pots of lip butters ($9) with exotic flavors like guava, quince, and wild rose. The guava one is clear, while the others have a tint of red or rose color to them, making them good for a girl who wants no fuss and a lot of moisture. Its all about the shea butter, baby! And the rice bran in them is what seals the moisture in and make it last and last.

Butter Lovely!

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Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Diptyque Art of Body Care Line

If you are a fellow franco-phile and/or LOVE the Diptyque line of candles as much as I do, you will be thrilled at the latest news:

Diptyque is launching the “Art of Body Care” line – five new products with five new fragrances. This line is a departure from their classic home and eau de toilette offerings and marks a new direction for the company. This is truly a sensorial, olfactive journey that takes you around the Mediterranean Sea, from Florence to Byzantium, Aleppo to Alexandria, and on to Cordoba, Spain. These five destinations have inspired five original body care products, with five distinct characteristics and five captivating fragrances:

The products are designed for the well-being of both the body and soul, and the formulas do not contain any phthalates, parabens, synthetic coloring agents, TEA, DEA, glycols, silicones, PEG, aluminum or sulfates derived from petrochemicals.

Creamy Body Wash in Olive Flower and Bay Laurel; $46.00
Fresh Body Lotion in Orange Blossom; $58.00
Rich Body Butter in Turkish Rose; $90.00
Luxurious Hand Balm in Apricot; $38.00
Body & Bath Oil in Iris; $78.00

I'm very excited to go check it out at their store on Maiden Lane here in SF. Both there and store on Bleaker street in NYC will be giving out samples of the new body line with any purchase, so check them out! If you don't live in those areas, the body line will also be available at other Diptyque retail locations.

Care Lovely!

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Monday, April 13, 2009

Pur~lisse be moist and stay protected gift set

It is going to be mothers day before you know it, so you better start looking for a fabulous gift to give your mom. She deserves it! Gift her with something luxurious that she probably would not get for herself, like this awesome gift set from natural skincare brand Pur~lisse. The be most and stay protected gift set contains three of their top selling essentials: Pur~protect essential daily moisturizer,Pur~Moist hydra balance moisturizer, and Pur~lip comfort daily lip nourisher. I got to try two of the three items and they are awesome. The lip nourisher is so good at smoothing out my often rough, flaky pout. I put it on a night before I got to bed and my lips stay soft and moisturized through the night. I also put it on before I apply lip gloss. It creates a layer of moisture, which is often needed with some of my stickier glosses. The hydra balance moisturizer is great too. It goes on super smooth and isn't "wet" like most moisturizers, so I don't have to wait ages for my skin to absorb it. It is infused with Pur~lisse's special Lotus Lupine Peptide Complex, Vitamin E and their secret blend of French Marine Plants. Sounds fancy, right? Well, at $125 for the set, it is sure to make your mom feel fancy!

Gift Lovely!

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Saturday, April 11, 2009

Weekend Beauty Reads from the BBN

Link Lovely!

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Friday, April 10, 2009

Anastasia's Brow Definer

The Queen of Brows has done it again! I honestly thought I had no use for another product to fix up my lashes, but Anastasia has come up with an awesome new item that will be on top of my pile going forward. The Brow Definer ($22) consists of a skinny tipped pencil in a neutral shade (I think almost everyone can use it, swear!) on one side and their fabulous clear brow gel with a mascara wand on the other side. Fill in your brows where sparse with light short strokes of the pencil and then quickly brush them with the brow gel into place. Presto! Perfectly defined (but NOT over done) brows for everyday, with only one product.

Define Lovely!

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Thursday, April 9, 2009

CoverGirl Fresh Complexion Concealer

While I love my precious YSL Touche Eclat, times are tough for everyone (including me) so it is s good idea to have a cheaper option waiting in the wings. I think I discovered Cover Girl's Fresh Complexion Concealer one day when my makeup had gone to hell and I had to run to the drugstore to fix it before I met up with friends after work. It has turned out to be my favorite cheap-o concealer ever. The doe-foot wand and liquid formula is super easy to apply and blends in well, especially to cover dark under eye circles. It is not quite thick enough to cover serious blemishes, but it works as a quick color corrector for my red blotchy areas. I follow it with some powder foundation and end up with a flawless "no-makeup" look. For $4.99-$5.50 it is certainly a bargain buy!

Conceal lovely!

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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Pacifica: Yummy Body Butters and Candles

I was a little surprised that a big store like Sephora would decide to carry a little label like Pacifica, but I guess that is how they grow little brands into big ones. I have seen Pacifica products in small boutiques for quite a few years now. Their packaging is very ornate and eye-catching, so they are easy to spot. They have a collection of amazing scent offerings, all tropical and very fruity/floral so it is no wonder I love them ALL. They are also made from mostly natural products and so far I'm happy with everything I've bought from them.

A few months back I picked up a bottle of the perfume spray in (one of my favorite scents) Tuscan Blood Orange at an adorable boutique called Picnic on Polk Street in Russian Hill. I love it because it reminds me of gallivanting around Italy back when I studied abroad in college.

Sephora has chosen not to carry these perfume sprays, only the solid scents, but some of their other offerings are equally as lust-worthy. I picked out a yummy body butter in Brazilian Mango Grapefruit ($15), which is a perfect way to get me in the mood for spring. I always use body butter after I shave, so this just makes that task all the more pleasant.

I also picked up a sweet smelling soy candle in Bali Lime Papaya ($16). My dangerously curious kitten thought the candle smelled so good, he went to sniff it and burned a few whiskers off, poor guy! Don't worry, I burn the candle high up on a book shelf from now on, promise!

Smell Lovely!

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Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Luxe Makeup by Rock and Republic

Clothing labels have been branching out into beauty and fragrance for a long time (think Chanel, YSL, Dior, etc.). So its not THAT weird that Rock & Republic has come out with their own line of beauty products. It is a little strange though that they think they can sell a bronzing/highlighting powder compact for $225!!! The first time I saw that it a magazine, I thought it was a mis-print. Thankfully the rest of their line is much more resonable, if on the higher end of the normal spectrum of prices. And from the few items I've tried, I'd say the quality lives up to the price tag.

The Luxe Lip Gloss ($28) is a great tasting gloss that gives a decent amount of color and lasts a few hours. I got it in Drama Queen, a fun candy pink with a good shine to it. My favorite though was the pressed eyeshadow compacts ($28). The pigment of the two shades I tried (wicked and envy) were absolutely amazing. Very deep colors that are great for using in the crease, and yet have the tiniest bit of sparkle too. There are also matte and satin shades available. The compacts are beautiful and well made, so I guess they are worth the price. They will probably last a long time as well. The line is currently available at select Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus stores.

Rock Lovely!

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Monday, April 6, 2009

L'Oreal EverPure Shampoo and Conditioner

I'm all about finding a great shampoo and conditioner I can grab at Walgreens when I run out, especially in these economic times. So when I got sent two bottles of L'Oreal's new natural, sulfate-free, vegan haircare line, EverPure, I was excited to try them out. I've been using the EverPure Moisture Shampoo (rosemary and juniper) and Moisture Conditioner (rosemary and mint) for over a month now and I am totally satisfied with the results. My hair is in great condition even though I haven't highlighted it for 3 months and cut it for 2 months (trying to pinch some pennies... so painful!). It has been a very dry in SF lately, so I think the extra moisture has been good, but I think I will try the Volume version next, since that is still my main concern. The smell of rosemary and mint is not one I would normally think I would like, but it has definitely grown on me. It is a refreshing way to start the day, and I like knowing that harsh sulfates aren't stripping my hair away. For $6.99 each, these are a great way to save some cash on your hair and stay away from nasty synthetic hair products. Not to mention the shampoo suds up quite nicely and the conditioner smooths out my tangles like nobody's business! What more do I really need?

Suds Lovely!

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Saturday, April 4, 2009

Weekend Beauty Reads from the BBN

Link Lovely!

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Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Sephora by OPI Digital Diva Collection

The sunny spring weather calls for bright colored dresses and open toed sandals. To go along with that, you need to brighten up your nail colors! I wasn't immediately attracted to the Digital Diva Collection, Sephora by OPI's first new release of shades since they launched last year. I thought they were a little on the crazy side, but maybe that was because when they came out, it was still rainy and miserable in the city. Now that it is sunny and warm, I want my nails to reflect that! I bought a brightly colored dress for a recent day trip up to wine country and I needed a fun nail color to go with it. I'm Wired, a super bright "electric coral red" turned out to be perfect. Looking down at my nails makes me happy and so thankful that winter is over. Go check out the rest of the Digital Diva collection at a Sephora near you or on Sephora.com. It will make you happy too, promise!

Polish Lovely!

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