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Friday, May 31, 2013

Review: Thymes Agave Nectar Home Fragrance Mist

thymes agave nectar mist
Agave nectar brings layers of lemon blossom, red grapefruit and tangy guava combine with refreshing citrus, radiating a bright cheerfulness and are softened with agave nectar to form the warm, rich honeyed base note. Subtle crystalline musk and soothing aloe leaf combine to deliver a clean, fresh finish. The Agave fragrance profile is dominantly citrus with sub families of green and gourmand. Other Thymes fragrances with similar profiles are Verbena Bamboo and Thymes Essentials. (http://iamthemakeupjunkie.blogspot.com/2013/04/review-thymes-agave-nectar-body-wash.html)
The Agave Nectar Home Fragrance Mist comes in an eco-friendly low VOC room spray that scents the home with this bright citrus fragrance.  It creates a welcoming environment that instantly freshens any room in the house. One or two sprays and you have a room full of fragrance.
I have been using it in our bathrooms and bedrooms, which have seemed musty lately (especially our bedroom!!!). The fragrance is not overpowering at all. It comes out light and airy, not causing any migraines for me (which is a HUGE surprise). I love the agave nectar scent because it is a citrus based scent. What I like the most is that it doesn’t take much at all to get a lot of fragrance in the air, a little goes a long way…
The Agave Nectar Home Fragrance Mist comes in a 3 oz. spray bottle for $17.00 and can be found on www.thymes.com, or at various stores around the US (http://www.thymes.com/Store-Locator/). I am so happy with all of  the Thymes items I have used so far. Clean and fresh is how I would describe them. Wouldn’t you like a nice, clean and fresh scent in your home this time of year?

I am listing a link here for another way to get odors out of your home, because nobody wants odors in their home! Here is a link to The Odor Dude. This is 20 Common Household Odors and How to Remove Them Fast. I'd like to thank The Odor Dude for the link.


Until Next Time~

Marie Papachatzis
I Am THE Makeup Junkie 

 
(This item was sent for consideration) 







Thursday, May 30, 2013

SEPHORA HOT NOW

The HOTTEST Beauty Picks: JUNE

SAN FRANCISCO, May 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether backstage at fashion week, rubbing shoulders with the stars at film festivals or bringing clients the latest and greatest from beauty brands both big and small, SEPHORA is on top of every beauty trend.  Looking for help with which products to choose?  Each month, we bring you SEPHORA HOT NOW, the most buzzed-about beauty handpicked by our experts.  From behind the scenes to the doctor's office, these top six picks will easily show you what's at the forefront of our minds and the beauty landscape. 

 

 

This June, get ready to celebrate our #SephoraSweet15 birthday with our #HOTNOW picks:

SCENT OF VICTORY
Prada Luna Rossa $54 is a thrill-seeking, revitalizing men's scent that captures the dynamism of the annual Amerhttp://www.multivu.com/mnr/60123-sephora-hot-now-hottest-beauty-picks-trends-juneica's Cup sailing competition with its invigorating blend of bitter orange, fresh spearmint, and amber.

COCONUT CHEEK STAIN
Infused with 50 percent coconut water for instant moisture and cooling, Josie Maran Coconut Water Cheek Gelee ($22) provides buildable color that glides on for 14 hours of hydration.  The sheer blush has a smooth, blendable gelee texture perfect for the summertime heat.

CC CREAM FOR HAIR
The first-ever CC cream designed to protect and nourish hair, Alterna Caviar CC Cream ($25) boasts ten benefits in one concentrated formula and contains groundbreaking color-protecting technology. 

GREEK YOGHURT FACIAL
Inspired by the ancient Greek skin-soothing and moisturizing remedy, the thick cream in KORRES Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial ($45) contains 2.5 times the protein content of regular yogurt and works overnight to nourish, hydrate, and calm dry, stressed-out skin.

PRECISION HAIR REMOVAL
This one-step, mess-free facial hair remover gently eliminates hair in three minutes with a foolproof, precise applicator that can even be used on eyebrows.  The citrus-scented formulation of Bliss Fast Fuzz Off ($42) also includes soothing aloe and vitamin E for the most comfortable hair removal of the season.

TWO-WEEK TAN
Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2–3 Week Tan ($63) is the world's first two-to-three week sunless tanner.  Innovative pHen02 technology extends color four times longer than the standard sunless tan.  Odorless mousse dries on contact and fades evenly to give a worry-free and safe for your skin faux summer glow.

To learn more about this month's HOT NOW picks go to:  http://www.sephora.com/contentStore/mediaContentTemplate.jsp?mediaId=12200056, follow us on twitter @sephora or check out theglossy.sephora.com

SOURCE Sephora

 

Review: Kat VonD lock-it tattoo foundation

KatVonD lock-it tattoo foundation

I review a lot of foundations. In fact, they tend to be my most popular posts! Having a great foundation is one of the keys to a successful face. The other, of course, is great skin. For years I have been searching high and low for a full coverage foundation that matches my skin. Well, I think I have found it! Kat VonD’s lock-it tattoo foundation in (light 42) is a very light color that is just about perfect for me! I found this at SEPHORA while I was lucky enough to be out browsing around one day.

This foundation is formulated with 21 % pigment to provide beautiful color and texture on the skin. The natural polymers absorb oil to provide a matte finish and it has emollients to add a velvety texture for smooth, hydrated skin. It was formulated without parabens or synthetic fragrances.

 

This foundation has the WOW factor:

  • it covers extremely well, full coverage 
  • it wears for 24 hours
  • it comes in 14 shades
  • it can even cover tattoos

When I first pumped this out I noticed that it was pretty thick. I also noticed that I pumped out a little too much. (the color KatVonD lock-it tattoo foundation_swatchlooks light but my face is VERY light, I have a lot of freckling that makes my face look a little darker) So I applied it to my face, and it covered so well! Everything that I wanted covered was covered. It doesn’t dry out fast like most long wearing foundations though. I recommend using only 1 pump to cover your face if you are needing regular foundation, 2 pumps if you need super coverage. It has a really good matte finish. You might not even need any powder to set it. I tried it again on another day and only used one pump, it still had a ton of coverage! This foundation is the kind to use if you want to cover-up something, like acne scars. It would be perfect for that purpose. Or if you have oily skin, as it gives a matte finish. And it looks very natural, there is no cakiness.

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You can see from the photographs above that the Kat VonD lock-it tattoo foundation has superior coverage. It wears very well too. I checked throughout the day and it looked fresh all day long. This is definitely going to be one of my favorite go to foundations from now on. The Kat VonD lock-it tattoo foundation comes in a 1 oz. container and is available from SEPHORA stores or via www.sephora.com for $34.00.

 

Aviva Drescher Covers Panache Vue' Magazine

 

Celebrity Hairstylist Ivan Torres of Angelo David Salon tells us how to get the exact look with just a few steps!

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1. Apply the Angelo David Premier Volume Spray ($18.50) and blow dry hair smooth using the  Angelo David Round Brush $55 (available at www.angelodavid.com).
2. Next, use a 1.5 inch curling iron to create your set and style the Angelo David  Clip-on Extensions
Allow the hair to cool after your set.
3. Gently use your fingers to break up the curls, then tease the back of the crown to create lift. Finish the look with a medium hold hairspray Angelo David Premier Volume Spray .

 www.angelodavid.com 

@AD_Salon

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Review: MitoQ Anti-Aging Face Serum

Power. Antioxidant. Rejuvenation.

mitoqI have tried so many anti-aging creams and serums. Many have been so-so or not worth the money I have spent on them. Until now! I was lucky enough to try MitoQ. This cream is a breakthrough in the anti-aging market!

MitoQ is considered to be the most potent anti-oxidant on the market today. Challenging the skin care industry with its efficacy, it is the only topical cream to deliver ubiquinone to mitochondria at levels that rejuvenate the cells, thus encouraging natural production of collagen and elastin. This leaves skin looking radiant, with a looking lit-from-within glow! The key to this cream is the MitoQ molecule, a patented invention and the result of over 10 years of research and development by Dr. Michael Murphy of the Mitochondrial Biology Unit in Cambridge and Professor Rob Smith in the Chemistry Department of Otago University in New Zealand. They developed a way to neutralize free radicals where they are produced, stopping the skin aging process, healing prior damage and to deliver the antioxidant to the cells mitochondria.

 

MitoQ does the following:

  • contains a patented molecule called mitoquinol, proven to be 1000x stronger than CoQ10
  • gets rid of fine lines and wrinkles by redefining the skin
  • fades scars, brown spots and skin discoloration
  • lightens and brightens skin, skin looks more radiant
  • hydrates skin, so that skin looks more beautiful
  • softens skin, skin is noticeably more softer within 3 days
  • skin looks younger with less lines, wrinkles and scars; MitoQ does this within 30 days

This cream is a very light cream. MitoQ can be used alone or with other skincare products. Only 2 pumps is needed to use over the entire face, neck or décolleté. The cream is safe for all skin types, even hypersensitive skin. It can be used morning or evening, both if needed.

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Before MitoQ

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After MitoQ

MitoQ is now my favorite cream! After just using it for a few weeks now, I have noticed a HUGE difference in my skin. I took before pictures of my face and I wanted you to see the how much sun damage I have. MitoQ is amazing. Never before have I had such great results with a cream. This is the best thing I have ever used on my skin. It reduced the discoloration on my skin, made it incredibly softer and made it much firmer (and I didn’t even realize that it wasn’t firm).

Look at the before photographs, you can see significant sun damage that I have (all from when I was a carefree youth). In the after photographs there is significant difference in how much discoloration there is in my skin. After only 2 weeks of use, my skin has shown a drastic improvement in freckling and age spots, it looks so much brighter. In the photographs of my neck you can see that there is a slight improvement in the fine lines of the neck as well as a lot brighter. Can you imagine how the difference is at 4 weeks? Or 6 weeks? MitoQ works! And it works in a short amount of time!

MitoQ is $185 for 1.7 oz./50 ml. It is available via www.mitoq.com. I think you will be very happy with this cream. My results are not forged. Believe me, I didn’t want to show you photos of my skin without makeup but I thought you needed to see how well this cream works. As an esthetician you can take my word for it!

(This item was sent for consideration)

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Review: Joey Healy Luxe Brow Powder, Duo Brow Brush, Brow Architect Stylo and Brow Structure Clear Set

Joey Healy Brow Powder and Brush

Joey Healy Luxe Brow Powder and Duo Brow Brush

I have been searching for the perfect eyebrow makeup forever. I have used just about everything I think. And I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I’m naturally blonde. Yep. So whenever I put on makeup, which is everyday, I have to do something to my brows (which are a very light brown). Also, I have tweezed my brows into oblivion. They are very thin and need some oomph. Since I color my hair red, it is conceivable that I would want to have reddish brown brows, right? Well, it is extremely difficult to find the right product to make them this color. It also depends on which color my hair is at this current time, right? Recently I was able to try out a few products from brow guru Joey Healy that actually looked great on my brows and didn’t make me look like I had caterpillars above my eyes. I am so happy!!!! I have been getting wonderful complements on my brows lately. All thanks to the wonderful Joey Healy. He is a prominent eyebrow stylist, makeup artist and esthetician. Mr. Healy has worked at Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman and Barney’s New York. He found that customer service is the key to having a successful career. In 2009 he started his mobile eyebrow division and in 2011 started The Joey Healy Eyebrow Collection. His products are available at www.joeyhealy.com.


The Luxe Brow Powders ($28.00) come in 6 shades. The formula is waterproof so that brows can stay beautiful all day long. The six shades are:

  • Parchment: for the fairest, platinum blondes to the light haired. It adds a soft beige tone and a hint of warmth to pale brows. This shade also makes a stunning eye shadow!

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  • Corduroy: a cool ash tone without any trace of red, this tone works well with blonde or brunette. Depending on the intensity of the application, this color is the chameleon to the taupe family.

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  • Equestrian: for the redheads, the rarest of beauties. Often overlooked, this color has a natural cinnamon tone. Ideal for the majority of redheads and strawberry blondes. It is a rusty, earthy red that is never brassy. (This is my color)

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  • Moccasin: for a warm toned brunette or an auburn headed woman. A clove of brown with a rich touch of mahogany.
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  • Tobacco: This color is a robust, dark chocolate brown like its namesake. It can be a thought of as a catch all color for all rich, brunette hues. It is perfect for all dark haired women and unlike many dark powders, it never turns red and remains neutral throughout the day.
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  • Raven: This is the color that the dark haired women have been searching for. It is hard for women of dark hair to find a color that is realistic. It is the perfect onyx shade with cool tones, no red, just soft smoke to charcoal black.
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As you can see, there is a good selection of colors, which other brands might not offer. For years that has been my biggest gripe. I have had the hardest time finding a color that looks good with my chosen hair color. I know my brows aren’t the best (I tweezed them to almost nothing when I was younger, as I mentioned earlier, and I advise you not to do that). In the photos below you will see that the color I am using (Equestrian) looks very natural. I used the Duo Brow Brush ($28.00), which I found was the perfect complement to the powder. The brush was small enough so that I could apply the powder to my brows without using too much in any area. Use the spool on the other end first to shape the hair so that you can apply the powder easier.

Joey Healy Brow Stylo_FaceJoey Healy powder

My thoughts: I like the color, finally a real color for me! I like that there are six shades to choose from. As you can see, the Equestrian matches my hair very well. The price is a little much, however, when I used it I only had to use a tiny amount to get my brows done. Which means that this product will last ages. You only need to use a little to get the job done. I think this is a great product, if you are willing to spend the money. Thumbs up from me!

Joey Healy Brow Stylo

Joey Healy Brow Architect Stylo

You can create just the right amount definition with the Brow Architect Stylo ($25.00). This waterproof eye pencil is DSC01306fully retractable so it never needs sharpening. It also has a brush on the other end to blend the color out. Available in 5 perfect shades, this convenient and portable pencil looks like a powder. Finish with Brow Structure Clear Set for a groomed finish . The colors are:

  • Wicker: the universal taupe shade for blondes and light brown, highlighted brunettes.

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  • Suede, a warm chestnut color perfect for redheads. Strawberry blonde to medium redhead.

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  • Antler: for the true auburn hair, a burgundy kissed brown.

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  • Molasses: espresso with a neutral undertone, all shades of chocolate from milk to dark.

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  • Teak: is the premiere choice for fiery redheads and deep, copper tones.  Its bold henna hue has a complexity that elevates it beyond red to a true russet.

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I found the pencil easy to work with. It is small enough that the color goes in tiny strokes. The pencil is long enough that it will last a while, so I think it is worth the money. The color was also a good match for my hair, similar to the powder. I did find that I would work with both at times, when I needed the pencil to “fill” in areas that the powder couldn’t.

Joey Healy Brow Gel

Brow Structure Clear Set

This water resistant, transparent gel will tame unruly brows and provide natural definition. The formula leaves eyebrows soft never hard and it doesn’t disturb the Luxe Brow Powder or Brow Architect Stylo underneath. Brow Structure Clear Set ($25.00)has a spiral brush that lifts hair into place while providing the right amount of gel. Flake-free formula, a must for every makeup bag!

 

All products above can be found on www.joeyhealy.com. Not only does he have great products, but he has brow makeovers and regular makeovers too! I am so happy that I now have the right colors for my brow. Lately I have received a number of good comments about them. I have always thought that they were my worst feature and to have people say great things about them makes me feel so happy!

(Products were sent for consideration)

 

Beauty is Inside and Out as Sephora Launches YOU + SEPHORA Cosmetic Collection To Benefit Charities Across the US

Following the launch of Values Inside Out, Sephora's charitable platform that seeks to make communities across America more beautiful, Sephora is proud to present the first limited edition cosmetic collection to benefit our non-profit partners.  The YOU + SEPHORA cosmetic collection, which will be available June 1 st in all US Sephora stores and on Sephora.com, retails for $20 and features a covetable clutch, glitter eye liner, lip gloss and nail polish. Sephora USA, Inc. will donate $13 for each bag sold in-store to the store's selected charity*, while bags sold on Sephora.com will benefit the American Heart Association**.

SEPHORA USA YOU + SEPHORA COSMETIC COLLECTION

YOU + SEPHORA features:

  • 1 collectable cosmetic pouch, perfect for purse, travel or gym bag
  • 1 mini lip gloss in a dusty pink shimmer finish, apply over your favorite lipstick or wear alone
  • 1 mini gold glitter liquid eyeliner, wear alone or layer to brighten the glitter effect
  • 1 mini nail polish in a warm champagne metallic finish, the finishing touch for your summer ensembles

Mary Herald, Sephora's Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Education, said, "At Sephora, our continual mission for Values Inside Out is to inspire and engage our teams to play a part in making a difference in their communities, and this bag allows them to do just that, share their passion for cosmetics with their clients that ultimately supports our charitable partners across the country."

Values Inside Out is a visionary partnership program matching Sephora stores across America with non-profit organizations in their own communities.  Under this program, each store's team of cast members (Sephora's term for sales associates) chose a local non-profit to help through raising awareness, providing funds and contributing their own "sweat equity" to aide that organization in fulfilling its mission over the course of 2013. To learn more about the program and for a list of charities and more information on their causes, please visit www.sephora.com/values-inside-out

*For a list of charities, please visit www.sephora.com/values-inside-out
**Sephora USA will make this donation for each bag sold during the period 6/1/13-12/31/13, while supplies last

SOURCE Sephora USA

Web Site: http://www.sephora.com/values-inside-out

 

Monday, May 27, 2013

Review: Stila “Nude” Collectible Palettes, Exclusively @ Ulta

Stila Nude Collectible Palettes

Can there ever be too much “nude” eye shadow”? No. When it comes to eye shadow, women are always searching for the perfect color. I always want to do my eye in a nude look, but that look is never the same. Nude is about light and dark, how shadows play off of the light. So for that reason, nude tones are hot. Why do you think nude tone eye shadow palettes are so popular? When I saw these @ Ulta I grabbed them up immediately! Each palette offers six eye shadows, an all over shimmer and either a bronzer or cream blush. There is also a “look” for you to do and a mirror inside.

Not So Nude

Stila Not So Nude Collectible PaletteStila Not So Nude Collectible Palette_Inside

Not So Nude_swatchesNot So Nude_swatches2 (2)

The “Not So Nude” palette looks gorgeous in pan. I was thinking I would try this one first because all of the colors were so nice. When I went to swatch them though, they went on kind of meekly. The eye shadows are as follows from the top left: sugar (light pink shimmer), fawn (dark cool taupe satin), barefoot (dark burgundy black), buff (nude cream), mink (matte reddish brown), and dolce (shimmery gold). The blush is kitten, all over shimmer (pink) and there is a cream blush/convertible lip color in lily (medium pink shimmer).

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For the look I did with the Not So Nude palette I used fawn in the crease, then mink under that to try and define the crease somewhat more. You can see that fawn doesn’t show up well in photos, as it is very light. I used barefoot in the outer edge of my lid and under my eye to line, buff on the lid. Tarte Amazonian cream liner in bronze was used as a liner on the top lid and for mascara I needed a powerhouse, so I wanted MAC’s False lashes. Under the brow I used sugar to blend it up and out. I used kitten all over shimmer on my cheeks. On my lips I used the new Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss in Rosy Future (rosy mauve).

The Natural

Stila The Natural Collectible PaletteStila The Natural Collectible Palette_Inside

Stila The Natural Palette swatchesStila The Natural Palette_swatches2

I am in love with The Natural palette! The colors that it has make the most beautiful, natural looking eye and cheek. As you can see from the eye shadows in pan, the colors are very neutral toned. There are a mix of matte and shimmer shades so that everyone can get a really good looking mix going. The eye shadows in the palette are: pure (matte cream), linen (matte light taupe), innocent (matte mauve), element (shimmery bronze), demure (shimmery copper rose) and silk (shimmery rose taupe). For the cheek it has organza all over shimmer (pink gold) and soft clay bronzer (satin warm clay).

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I am very happy with the look I did from The Natural palette. It gave me a beautiful nude look. For my eye I used innocent in my crease then I took silk underneath that to make it look like the crease was a little bit deeper. Innocent was then used in the outer edge of the upper lid and under the eye to line. I used demure on the upper lid and pure under the brow. I didn’t line my upper lid this time to leave my eye looking more “daytime”. For mascara, I used Benefit’s They’re Real, which really gave my stubby lashes some volume and length. On my cheeks I used the soft clay bronzer under the cheek and organza on top. For my lips I used NYX Mega Shine gloss in LG112.

Dare To Bare

Stila Dare To Bare Collectible PaletteStila Dare To  Bare Collectible Palette_Inside

Stila Dare To Bare_swatches1Stila Dare To Bare_swatches2

The whole look in the Dare To Bare palette is definitely a warm look. If you wear cool tones, it will be a stretch to try and wear this. I think this would look great with medium to dark skin tones. The six eye shadows are beautiful. There are three mattes and three shimmers. The eye shadows are: au naturel (medium matte chocolate), sepia (dark matte sepia brown), native (dark matte warm earth), playful (shimmery bronze), earthy (shimmery warm earth bronze), and double dare (dark satin reddish brown). For the cheeks there is birthday suit all over shimmer (light golden cream shimmer) and wink bronzer (warm shimmery brown).

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The look with the Dare To Bare palette is definitely more intense than with the other palettes. The eye shadows are darker, intense in color and more pigmented. These call out for a sultry summer evening. I wanted to do a look that would showcase how intense they are. I used native in the crease then used double dare all over my lid and under my eye to line. Playful was used just above double dare in the crease to intensify the shimmer effect. I took au naturel and blended it out with native under the brow. I lined the upper lid with MAC’s Superslick Liquid Liner in Defiantly Feline (reddish bronze) and under my eye I lined with Pixi’s Endless Silky Eye Pen in Black Cocoa. For mascara I used my favorite, SEPHORA’s Outrageous Volume (LOVE!!!!). All of this really opened my eye and brought out the green in it. On my cheeks I contoured with wink bronzer and birthday suit all over shimmer. I finished the look with MAC’s Frost Sunmetal lipstick (bronze).

So, the verdict. Each palette really does give a different look. Personally I found that The Natural palette gave me a beautiful, natural look that I would wear every day. However, I am not discounting any of the palettes. I adore each of them for what they offer. They offer a look. Every morning I am in a different mood and I can have a different look based on this palette. So many choices!!! These collectible palettes are $20.00 each exclusively at Ulta stores and www.ulta.com. I suggest you get each one! Let me know which is your favorite.

 

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Review: SEPHORA PRO Palette in Warm #SEPHORA #PROPaletteinWarm

(product photo courtesy of www.sephora,com )  SEPHORA PRO Palette in Warm $68.00 This deluxe eyeshadow palette with 38 warm color...

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