Sunday, September 30, 2012

And Now, a Spending Ban

I'm back! For the most part, I loved New York and had a fairly flawless time there, apart from the two massive bruises on my legs from bumping into the corners of the bed because our hotel room was so tiny, losing a purchase from Gap because I left the shopping bag somewhere, and walking around so much during my time there but somehow not losing any weight. But those are truly minor quibbles. I loved finally being able to be in and explore a city that I'd always dreamt of visiting. I saw my favourite Impressionist artworks in person, had Steve Kazee sign my Playbill after seeing Once on Broadway, got up close and personal with Niagara Falls on Maid of the Mist, ate at Momofuku and Gramercy Tavern, and experienced the joy of flying 21 hours, twice. But most predictably, I bought makeup like I’d never be able to buy makeup again. I’ve lugged a treasure trove of stuff back home and probably have enough to fuel posts until at least the end of the year.

Sephora is the black hole into which my money disappeared. What I bought there, along with MAC goodies, a few drugstore purchases and some other random things, comprise my shamefully indulgent bounty.



The largest concentration of items are Benefit products, mainly because of the significant price difference between the US and Australia. I got a little overexcited buying 3 boxed powders (which at the end of the day, aren't exactly cheap at around $30 each with 8.875% sales tax) and even a $25 mascara, despite the fact I have about 5 unopened tubes from different brands at home, and I'm perfectly content with Maybelline Define-A-Lash, which I can easily buy for $10. I thought about buying more NARS blushes but I had no idea what to get apart from Orgasm, which now that I have, I'd be interested to compare against my existing blush collection as I've apparently purchased countless dupes. I considered getting Sin, but opted for Benefit Dallas instead.

I'm somewhat surprised I didn't buy more from Revlon, given how much cheaper its products are in the US compared to Australia. I was thrilled to finally track down Whimsical, and I also managed to test the real deal (Deborah Lippmann Glitter in the Air) at Bloomingdale's, and can verify the two are more or less the same. I made sure to grab a bottle of Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation, which isn't available in Australia, despite also buying NARS Sheer Glow, which the Neutrogena is said to be a cheaper alternative to. 

Part of me wanted to buy more at MAC because of how relatively affordable the products were compared to Australian prices, but I already had gone overboard with blush, so I stuck to their raved about lipsticks (in Creme Cup, Shy Girl and Viva Glam Nicki). I also bought Rubenesque Paint Pot, as I was looking for something slightly different to the medium taupes and bronzes that I usually go for. Despite much temptation, I resisted buying Fluidline, Eye Kohl pencils, Satin Taupe, concealer or any brushes.

I also bought a couple of Laura Mercier face products, two beigey, rosey, slightly more neutral blushes, a Stila eyeliner pen and a small bottle of the seemingly polarising Caudalie Beauty Elixir. Posts about most of the stash to come. In the meantime, I need to battle jetlag and the depressing reality that my holiday is over and returning to work is just around the corner.

72 comments:

  1. HOOORRAYYY WELCOME BACK!!!! Even though you're dreading about how vacation is over, we all missed you on here haha. Coincidently I'm wearing Revlon's Whimsical right now hehe. I also recently tried the NARS Sheer Matte but was greatly disappointed and had to return it. I hope it works out for you though, cause I heard so many great things about it so I'm pretty bummed that it wasn't compatible with my skin. I look forward to your reviews!! And don't worry, Sephora is like a deathly black whole for all of us makeup junkies. I try so hard not to go to mine! haha

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  2. SO GLAD YOUR ARE BACK. I hope you enjoy all your purchases - I can't wait to see your posts on them. You got so much awesome stuff!
    S xx

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  3. Amazing haul, I can't wait for your follow-up posts!

    Sephora is such a trap. I walk in with a short list and three hours later I'm organising for items to be sent to my hotel because I've bought too much to carry.

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  4. Ahhh so many goodies! Can't wait for you to review them all :)

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  5. Amazing haul! So jealous. Can't wait to read reviews! My friend is coming back from the US in a few days and I gave her a list of 10 items - she managed to get them all! Can't wait to receive them :D

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  6. wow such an wonderful and big haul... it happens with me most of the time that my knees or thighs get hurt by the beds corner room size doesn't matter to me. I am so interested in your review about mac and Revlon product.. sephora is no doubt a big hole.... :)

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  7. i missed your posts! i'm so jealous - what an amazing haul! i'm glad you enjoyed your trip :D

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  8. "Sephora is the black hole into which my money disappeared." SO TRUE. And I see you bought the Benefit They're Real set! Can't wait to see your reviews on those products! xx

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  9. haha, yes, Sephora always burns a big hole in my pocket. And I have as many as 4-5 Sephora so near me. =P Bad being in a city-country. Lol. But I still love Sephora.

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  10. Oh I'm happy you're back, I missed you!
    You bought a lot of amazing stuff, can't wait for your reviews :) xx

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  11. yay you're back! what an incredible haul! i'm so envious! really excited to see swatches/read reviews!

    a-la-foliee.blogspot.com

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  12. Such a great haul! I really want to go to America just to buy makeup!

    http://kitschsnitch.blogspot.com.au/

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  13. Massive welcome back!

    I was looking forward to you being back! Glad you had a great time in NY and nice haul, hun!

    <3

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  14. Holy moly! Greatest haul ever! Glad to hear your trip went well and you got back safely :) Looking forward to the reviews!
    x

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  15. You have been busy! :)

    I would of had a field day in Sephora, ooo I want to go too!

    Hope you had a lovely time,

    Amy xx
    http://alittleboatsailing.blogspot.co.uk/

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  16. Welcome back! Looks & sounds like you had an amazing time in NY! I can definitely see why a spending ban must be imposed now. Oh well, this is totally a once in a blue moon experience so no regrets right? ;P

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  17. YAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!! I was wondering when you'd be back! Glad you had a safe trip and a great time! I'm so proud of you and your stash hehe though I wish you'd bought more NARS blushes (like Deep Throat and Luster)! Hahaha good luck with the spending ban ;) I'm definitely struggling with mine at the moment, but I have to make myself save up for a holiday camp/trip to Harbin at the end of the year. Who did you travel with, that you were able to spend THAT much time shopping for makeup? xx

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    1. Rereading this post (because I'm putting off writing a geography report :D) and realised I didn't spot the Tarte Exposed blush (YAY looking forward to hearing about how you rate this), another Bad to the Bronze Color Tattoo (why?), and the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser and Mineral Powder (double YAY)! I'm torn between congratulating you upon your self-restraint or wishing you'd bought more MAC. :3 I'm sure this didn't go down well with the parents/bank balance hahaha.

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    2. I had no clue what NARS blushes to get! It was doubly hard because I attempted to place them on my face to get an idea of what they looked like, but I don't think that was terribly effective considering artificial lighting, lack of brushes, and having to scrub my face off about 10 times while I piled on crap and then took it off :p I actually bought the bulk of these in a late night dash to Sephora during the tail end of our trip - I knew that we wouldn't be back and the store was closing in about ~50 minutes, so I was under the pump! Good luck saving for your trip - there will be plenty of time to spend money on makeup, but spending money on experiences is usually more worthwhile and longer-lasting :)

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    3. The Color Tattoo is actually from Maybelline's fall range - it's Gold Shimmer. I wanted the green and beige one, but they were sold out at the only display I saw them at :( I was totally stumped at MAC - I remember spending ages at Macy's while my friend browsed the whole department store. I was contemplating what to get but just couldn't decide. The variety paralysed me. Somehow my contemplated choices (like Melba blush or Satin Taupe) just seemed really, really superfluous (like I already have peachy blushes and brown/taupe eyeshadows to last 108934823 years). I wanted to get some brushes but they were so expensive. I shied away from any kind of concealer/foundation/powder, so pretty much that left the lipsticks. I did want to get one of their Casual Colour cream blush/lip colour pans, but they only had Relaxation and some funky purple one, so I passed.

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    4. Whirlwind Sephora run! Must have been pretty crazy, I imagine. I had a whole list of MAC things I wanted but after thinking it over I think MAC's really overrated for what it is- the eyeshadows especially. Now that other brands are really stepping up their ranges it seems irrational to pay so much for MAC- at US and UK prices but even more so at the Australian mark-up. The lipsticks are classic MAC shades though- can't wait to see how you find Creme Cup- I think it's much more you and Michelle than me though- I don't find the blue-based baby pinks as appealing as you two :P And did you get a baby Benefit Sugarbomb? It definitely looks smaller than the other boxes!

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    5. I'm kind of meh about Creme Cup ... not sure if I should've picked up Hue or Angel instead. Angel and Creme Cup are supposed to be very similar, I think the only difference is slightly in colour but more in the formulation. I would never pay $35 or whatever it is for a MAC lipstick in Australia though, that's just mindboggling! Lipsticks are $15 (+ 8.875% sales tax) in New York, which is probably at the maximum range I'd be willing to shell out for a lipstick (but I mean, it was MAC), with the exception of the very rare "luxury" lipstick splurge (YSL, Tom Ford, Burberry, Dior, Chanel, etc). I got a Sugarbomb sample because I bought like $100 of stuff at Benefit, so they gave me that and this free makeup bag and powder samples. It worked out quite well as Sugarbomb was one that I didn't buy. Though I wouldn't have minded Dandelion either ;p

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  18. omg so jealous of your insanely huge and amazing haul!!!
    EEEEK Nars Orgasm! :D
    I would have gone insane at the MAC counter.

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  19. Omg I would kill to get my hands on even half of this stuff!! I'm desperate to go to Sephora too!! Xx.

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  20. welcome back!!! I'm so jealous over here, you got so many great stuffs!! *__*
    I'm happy you had a great time there!

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  21. You bought some of the most amazing things! I honestly don't blame you, if I went into Sephora they would probably get all my life savings haha

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  22. What a dream haul! I love Benefit's Dallas... it looks scarily dark in the box but on the face it gives a pretty natural glow! I'm heading back home to the US soon and I can't wait to visit Sephora again. New follower :)

    x Ellie
    http://ellalogy.blogspot.com

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  23. What an amazing haul, I'm excited just seeing a photo of it all so goodness knows how you must be feeling haha!! I'm glad you had a great time!

    -Alice
    shinyprettythings-alice.blogspot.co.uk

    x

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  24. Glad to hear you're back. I hope you had an amazing time! I'm indescribably jealous of all the goodies you have purchased! I cannot wait to read your reviews on all the products! :D

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  25. Yay, you're back :) Glad you had an amazing time and so jealous of all this stuff, can't wait to see the reviews :)

    xoxo

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  26. Great haul! It does suck about the Australian and US price difference

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  27. LOL i feel like that everytime I buy cosmetics..whether at mac or sephora.. it's like you get one thing but then you see some other product that you wanted to purchase as well and there goes the moneyy :T Can you do a swatch of benefit's hoola? Ive been wanting to purchase that as well ~ so it'd be nice to see how it looks. thanks :)

    Joyce @ carouselstreet.com

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  28. wow what an amazing haul! i am insanely jealous. hope you have a good rest, sounds like you lived every makeup fanatics dream! haha

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  29. Woww~ im speechless from this haul. Really jealous right now, but i am happy for you that you have so much new products to use and try out :) This is a very great haul, most of the products i would have personally bought and i don't blame you for going crazy for the Benefit box powder~ They are amazing to use and in a very cute packaging hehe :) Thanks for sharing xxx

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  30. WHAT A HAUL!
    It's crazy to hear that makeup is so much more expensive in Australia then in the states! And I thought makeup here was expensive. I love everything you purchased! I think I see a benefit creaseless cream shadow in there? They are my favorites! And I love revlon, and benefit!

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    1. It is - there is a major price difference and it sucks :( Not just for the higher end brands, a Maybelline mascara here retails for $18 or so! Crazy! I did buy a Benefit cream eyeshadow in Busy Signal, though I was contemplating Birthday Suit :) Which is your favourite shade?

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  31. In USA is very cheap makeup, here in chile too expensive :c but buying online is also a good option, other brands and cheaper.

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  32. Yes, hello! Can I be your new best friend? LOL OMGosh you just bought almost everything off of my wishlist!!! And no, no and no, we can't have enough blushes in our life hahaha Now, seriously, you did get a lot, but I totally understand you. I can't get even a quarter of the things you got here and I completely understand the frustration of everyone raving about something and not having it available locally. Not to mention the price tag thing, ugh, the closest major city I have is Buenos Aires, I can get quite a few Revlon things there (I can get SOME here, but is ridiculously expensive) that I can't find where I live, but when I looked at the tag I was speechless, everything costs 3 times as much as it does in the US, so when I hear people say "Oh yeah, Revlon is just a drugstore, affordable brand!" I'm like errr, no, feels more like high end for me and my purse! Oh may, that was a bit of a rant there! LOL I want to hear more about your trip and the places you got to visit and pictures if possible ^^ I'm really glad you had such a fabulous time in NYC. xx

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  33. I recently just brought my mom into Sephora for the first time and she fell. in. love. I was always wishy washy about getting the Orgasm Blush, but leave it to my mom to convince me to get both the gloss and the blush. I'll be going to get them both soon! You'll have to tell us how the tarte blush is and the Revlon cream blush as well! I have one and I just can't seem to make it work for me.

    -Tara Joy
    http://beausandbows.wordpress.com

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  34. Yaaaay you're back!!! Missed you so much! :D But I'm glad you had a great time overall. NYC is like a different world to me sometimes. Would love to see some shots of the city if you took some. ;) Yay for all that makeup! I would probably go all out on buying things in a different country too, so don't fret, haha! Looking forward to your reviews/testing out of everything! <3

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  35. Wow! What a great collection. How's the Benefit They're Real mascara? Wanted to try it for quite a while but it's so expensive! I currently use BadGal Lash mascara.

    Fiona
    www.toxicdiamonds.com

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    1. I'm really liking it so far! The main thing I've noticed with it is that it is quite resistant to smudging, which I'm impressed by - especially on the lower lashline, which invariably smudges no matter what mascara I use. I don't have amazing lashes naturally, but They're Real lengthens, thickens, separates and holds curl. If only it were cheaper.

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  36. WOW! I did exactly the same as you and went a bit mad in Sephora!! Loving the benefit goodies :)

    Charlee
    http://charmedcharlee.blogspot.co.uk
    xxxx

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  37. Woo! What a great selection of products! I noticed you finally have Revlon - Whimsical as well!

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  38. Ohh this is a beautiful haul. I'm glad you had a dandy time in NY minus the bruises and losing a purchase. And I agree completely on the Sephora statement. I can never go in there and just get the one item I planned on getting. LOL. I love NARS blushes, Luster is one of my go to's if you want to try another and I really want to get Sin! I'm glad you're liking Sheer Glow I think I might try it just to compare the two haha!

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  39. Welcome Back lovely! OMGGGGG I am jealous haha, that's a great assortment of makeup products you got! Love all the Benefit, can't wait to read some reviews:)

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  40. Welcome back! That is one massive haul I really love Nars blushers have you got Sin? its soo pretty :) x

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  41. Girl, you got some killer items!! Go you! I'm happy you had a great time in NY, take care!

    <3 Rubiiee

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  42. Ooooooooooooooh my goodness. Welcome back, I'm glad to hear that the trip was great one! Needless to say I'm jealous of your haul, especially of the Tarte blush - I would love for Tarte to introduce their products to the Australian market. Looking forward to the reviews :)

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  43. Those pictures are absolutely beautiful I mean.. holy cow! Fantastic!

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  44. So happy that you had a great holiday! You picked up some amazing stuff! Can't wait for all the posts xx

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  45. Nice collection!

    www.fashioncontainer.com

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  46. I just drooled all over my laptop. LOL, massive! If NYC gave you all this then the bruises don't matter ;)

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  47. Welcome back!!! I LIVE for Benefit and that mascara is worth it, trust me! :) I'm a benefit girl definitely! They even do my brows at their brow bar!

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  48. Omg, I HATE losing a shopping bag! Has happened to me too, so don't feel alone, haha.

    So it turns out everything is cheaper in US compared to Australia?? And here I was thinking about moving there....lol :D

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  49. Wow that looks like one super haul! Glad you're back, have missed your posts! x

    http://wewereraisedbywolves.blogspot.co.uk/

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  50. Welcome back! So happy to hear you had a great time, except for those few minor annoyances. And wow, what a great haul! Have fun trying everything! :-)

    ~ Yun

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  51. Holy Moly you got a lot of stuff!! That will definitely last you a long time :P Looking forward to your post-jetlag-posts :)

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  52. Hooray for hauls!! So sorry to hear you lost a bag and had some minor annoyances, but I'm glad that overall you had a great experience in NY! Welcome back home. I hope you can sleep lots until you go back to work. I think you did a great job with your hauls and the damage could have been much worse, hehe. =)

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  53. Great haul! I found out that I'm going to America (Reno, Nevada) in January and hopped onto Sephora and started making a shopping list already! Now to work more hours and save. Muahahaha. I'm so excited!

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  54. You're back!!! Everything looks so great. I will love to see reviews from all those products!!
    hugs!

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  55. Welcome back~~~ Hope that your bruises have recovered by the time you see this!! I am so jealous of the massive haul. I spot so many lovely goodies and I look forward to the upcoming reviews.

    Liz
    chewylove.blogspot.com

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  56. welcome back! and my gosh that's an awesome haul! so many goodies!!

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  57. im glad to hear you had a great time in NY :) and good luck with ur spending ban!

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  58. Found your blog through maddie and i'm loving it as much as i love hers! I always thought I was kinda a beauty junkie, wow! you take a it to a whole 'nother level! will look forward to your posts! Sorry about your lost shopping bag (i've done it before), but glad to see you enjoyed your time in the states overall.

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    1. Thank you :) Glad you stopped by - I have followed you! I am definitely one junkie, it's not pretty :p

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  59. WOW! What a glorious bounty to behold! :) I'm travelling to US next year and already have a running list of Sephora 'wants' that I must purchase. I think you did so well, I don't know how I would resist MAC with the price difference we have here is AUS. It's insane! Look forward in reading more about your beautiful finds in future posts :)
    take care,
    x.k
    http://profoundfeline.blogspot.com.au/

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  60. hahah wow you really made out!!! sounds like some hang ups but well worth it for the fun trip!

    Jessica
    http://www.jumpintopuddles.com

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  61. What a good haul! I am a big fan of Benefit, but those box powders are not easy to lug around. I almost got the Revlon Photoready cream blush the other day, so I can't wait to hear what you think.

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