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What’s Your Favorite Exfoliator?

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whats-your-favorite-exfoliator

I once thought exfoliating was a pretty useless skincare step, and I felt I had better things to do with my time, like playing Duck Hunt, reading cheesy V.C. Andrews books and watching The Craft for the millionth time.

That changed around the time I hit 30. My skin started to change, started looking duller and less dewy.

Turns out that as we age the body takes progressively longer to “turn over” new skin cells, the process of pushing new cells to the surface of the skin to replace dead ones.

FUN FACT: When we’re born, a complete cell turnover takes about two weeks; by age 50, the same process takes four to six.

Why exfoliate?

The longer dead skin cells hang around on the surface of the face, the greater the likelihood of clogged pores, acne and a dull, lackluster complexion.

Exfoliation to the rescue!

Exfoliation, whether physical (like with a facial scrub) or chemical (like with a toner containing salicylic acid), brightens dull skin by sloughing away dead skin cells and increasing the rate of cell turnover.

It can also help to clear breakouts, smooth out the skin and enhance the efficacy of anti-aging treatments and moisturizers by increasing their rate of absorption.

I definitely notice a difference in my skin now when I go too long without exfoliating. It looks older, as in less rosy and glowy.

How often should you exfoliate?

Many beauty experts and dermatologists are divided on how much exfoliating one should do. Some doctors recommend exfoliating just once or twice a week; others say twice a day.

I try to follow the laws of moderation and common sense. When my skin’s exceptionally dull and behaving badly, I’ll ramp up my regular routine, exfoliating three or four times a week; when it’s more sensitive, on the other hand, once or twice/week seems to do the trick.

It may take time and trial and error to find the right frequency for you.

source, source and source

A few recommendations

Shopping around for a new exfoliator? Here are three that help me keep my combination dry/acne prone skin from doing the funky chicken:

What’s your favorite exfoliator?

We can help each other out by sharing our favorites in the comments. Describe your skin type (dry, oily, combo, sensitive, etc.) along with the name of one or more of your top exfoliating products and/or techniques. I can’t wait to see your suggestions! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. My skin type is normal/dry.

    recently I have been using the Garnier pure active blackhead clearing scrub. It gives a tingly feeling after the wash. I do like it and I use it once a week.

    But for special occasions, I use my aspirin face mask. My skin glows and everybody complements me 🙂 .
    .-= Charan’s last blog post… Nail #22 : Wet n Wild + Lakme =-.

    Reply

  5. “Exfolikate” by Kate Somerville is hellishly pricey but does a better job than any I’ve tried; it has some sort of fruit enzyme in it that really steps up the process. I’m using it much less frequently now that I purchased a Clarisonic Mia, which leads me to the question…if someone is using a Clarisonic regularly, do they still need an additional exfoliater? Would love to hear any helpful feedback on this…thanks!

    Reply

  6. I’ve got combination skin and I find that the A’kin JoJo and Corn Exfoliator is the finest I have come across – for my skin at least. It’s completely natural, and has microfine Jojoba beads in it – it gently foams as is exfoliates and leaves skin uber soft and clean but not red raw. I’ve been using it for years now and wouldn’t swap.

    Reply

  7. I love the Clarisonic with the sensitive skin brush and use it every night. It removes the day’s gunk without being rough. It also lightly exfoliates on a daily basis so that treatment products can really penetrate better. Since using it, my skin always looks and feels soft and smooth.

    Reply

  8. I have dry skin and am ashamed to say that I hardly every exfoliate. When I do, I use Dr. Brandt’s microdermabrasion high performance scrub. I guess I notice a bit of a difference but not enough to propel me to do it on a regular basis.

    Reply

    • I got a sample of this from Sephora a couple days ago and it’s pricey but a little bit goes a LONG way. I may purchase it in the future, I like that its a dual exfoliater since it physically exfoliates and chemically with the lactic acid.

      Reply

  9. You call that a fun fact Karen? I want to die! 😀
    I have combination skin with a couple of blemishes on the cheek area. I love using Clinique’s Gentle Scrub, which unfortunately has been discontinued, but I think their 7 Day Scrub works similarly. When I want a bit more work done, I use MAC’s Volcanic Ash Exfoliator, and sometimes I mix honey, sugar and lemon together and use that instead when I remind myself that the VAE was limited edition and expensive, LOL
    .-= Marce’s last blog post… Pretty Please Look – MAC Love Lace Collection =-.

    Reply

  10. i love the Ocean Sea Salt from Lush cosmetics. I’ve just started using it, and already notice a huge difference in my skin texture, and how much lack of oil i have on my face throughout the day.

    It smells yummy, and the smell lasts on your skin for quite some time.

    It is a little pricey, but it is definetly worth the buy

    Reply

  11. I really like St Ives Timeless Skin Line in “Daily Microdermabrasion” (used to be called the St Ives Elements line) It’s not expensive, I love how fine the mineral granules are and I love that its
    natural, dermatologist tested and contains no animal products, parabens or phthalates. Not to mention not tested on ani-mules either! :0) Plus it does an awsome job at making my skin look fresher and more glowy. Oh and I use about twice a week.

    Reply

  12. St. Ives all the way. I exfoliate with that twice a week and use Clinique’s toner and mosturizer every day. I will say that my sample sized thermal pore refiner from Clinique has been great

    Reply

  13. hi karen

    happy new year this is my first post in the new year! i am sorry to hear abt your hard times you have been going thru – i hope things are clearing up for you!!! <>

    i am a scrubber ( thats what i call myself) i exfoliate everyday with kiehls microdermabrasion i just dont feel clean if i dont scrub – plus when i have breakouts i feel scrubs help to clear up hyperpigmentation marks

    Reply

    • Happy belated new year! I hope that you have so much luck and happiness in 2010!!

      I am finding that I am a scrubber too! It just feels so satisfying… and my skin always feels much softer afterward. 🙂

      Reply

  15. I have normal/oily skin. I use MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator 2 to 3 times a week. I like it because it has sulfur that is great for acne prevention and it leaves my skin super soft. Every so often I use Cosmedicine Medi-Morphosis Self-Adjusting Exfoliator. It is both a chemical and mechanical exfoliation. I switch whenever I feel I need to have that extra bit of exfoliation.
    .-= Christy’s last blog post… LA Colors Green Satin: A Bargain Hunter’s Answer to Chanel Jade Nail Lacquer =-.

    Reply

  16. MD Formulations Face and body scrub – hands down the best ever! More pricey than drug store items but worth every cent!

    Reply

  17. I love exfoliating – it’s my favorite part of skin care (oh dear that kind of makes me sad!) right now I love philsophys miracle worker kit which is amazing for sloughing off old skin. In the past I’ve also liked the dermalogica microfoliant which has licorice in it which is supposed to do good things for skin as well..
    .-= scarlettholly’s last blog post… Vacation Make Up Bag =-.

    Reply

  18. I use a cream exfoliator. It is by Paula’s Choice. It is a 1% BHA. I love it, because it is proven scientifically to get into pores and exfoliate. I never use scrubs, or wash off exfoliators.

    Reply

  19. Happy New Year! (a bit late) I like the Clinique 7 Day Scrub cream, too. Makes my skin feel cleaner after using it. I used to have oily skin, but am now more combination, as I have gotten older. Still fight blackheads, though. Hate those things!

    Reply

  20. Ok, so this product isn’t a scrub, it’s a tool, but it has worked miracles for my skin. I have combination dry/acne prone skin too, and I am on a strict skincare regimen perscribed by a dermatologist, so I don’t like to add any funky creams or scrubs to my skincare lineup. That left me at a loss for how to exfoliate, but I found the perfect solution. This brush (only 5 dollars!) from sephora is gentle, but gives a good deep clean. Every night i scrub in my regular face wash with it, and my skin is glowy and has been clearing up since I’ve started using it. I would pay 50 dollars for this little gem 🙂

    Here’s the link!
    http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P0096&categoryId=B70

    Reply

    • I love the salux wash cloth for my body too! Its perfect for people who find regular loofahs not scratchy enough. I definitely feel like I can scrub better with it. Plus it dries really fast so you don’t have to worry about mold and other bacteria that come with moisture.

      Reply

  22. Mario Badescu Glycolic Cleanser – best exfoliant EVER! Never ever use physical exfoliants (like St. Ives’ Abricot Scrub, waaayyyy to abrasive), not even Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant! The thing with physical exfoliants is that they make your skin more greasy. They stimulate the glands, causing them to produce more oil. Do you need that? Probably not. You will never ever get rid of blackheads with a physical exfoliant.

    Reply

  23. I love SUKI exfoliate foaming cleanser!! It’s lemongrassy with a sugar scrub, and the best part is it’s toxin-free! It’s a facial product.

    Reply

  25. I have hyper-sensitive/combination skin (it’s dry currently from winter). I exfoliate with a grainy scrub once every other week because that’s all my hyper-sensitive skin can handle. I like Biore’s Skin Preservation Exfoliator. I use Differin and Neutrogena Oil-free Acne Wash: Redness Relief once a day though.

    Reply

  26. I have sensitive combination skin (not so much sensitive in the sense of acne-prone… though I have been a bit more acne-prone lately, but more sensitive in the allergic/reactive sense) which is oilier in summer and dryer in the wintertime.

    My favorite exfoliator is actually a mask! Korres Yogurt Mask is a fantastic moisturizing mask that gently exfoliates with lactic acid. I usually use it 1-2x a week and just leave a thin layer on overnight and it does a fantastic job of removing all the old dull skin and leaving my complexion smooth and glowy.

    The only physical scrub I use is my Soapalaya Soaps Cleansing Grains (which I’m trying to use nightly) but it’s not a very scrubby scrub at all. It’s mostly very large round particles (oatmeal bits and jojoba beads) and it’s quite effective at keeping my pores clear (especially the ones on my nose!).
    .-= Catherine’s last blog post… Winter Break Haul =-.

    Reply

  27. I used several exfoliators but since I use AngelsOnBareSkin of Lush I’m totally hooked on it. I use it once a week and use it an extra time when I feel I need it, usually on my nose and forehead. I have a little bit of a sensitive/combination skin.
    The AOBS looks really goofy in the jar (like cereals with mud?) but after you get a peasize in your hand and add some water, it becomes a great exfoliators. I allways take an extra peasize out of the jar so I can exfoliate my hands to, great stuff!

    Reply

  29. I have normal/dry/sensitive skin and I love the brown sugar face scrubs – either Fresh (which is a little spendy) or CO Bigelow’s version which is less expensive and works as well. I also love Peter Thomas Roth’s botanical buffing beads. A bottle of that lasts forever.
    For my body I use either the sugar scrub or bliss’s sea salt scrub. but Lush’s Ocean scrub is great too!

    Reply

  30. Ive used the St Ives Apricot Scrub and loved it. I also have the Soap and Glory Greatest Scrub of all that I got mostly because I loved the name … but it also works great.

    Lately ive been using the Biore Exfoliator around 3x a week. I think my skin likes it.

    Ive also bought some microfiber cloths @ Target and I use those to wash my face very gently on a daily basis (only at night) … I am noticing the difference in that my skin feels softer and looks brighter!

    Reply

    • I love st. Ives too but be careful about using it too much. You’re only supposed to exfoliate a few times a week because your skin needs time to regenerate, plus it can thin your skin. I especially worry with a scrub so abrasive as st. Ives.

      Reply

  32. I have normal/dry skin and use Fresh Sugar Face Polish, which smells like strawberries and is very moisturizing on mine and my mom’s skin. I can’t use it when I’m wearing nail polish though, because for some reason, it ruins the polish and slightly scrubs off the finish so it becomes a flat color…

    Lately though, I’ve been using Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple with Sephora’s Complexion Brush. Love the combo! Soothing, creamy moisture from Philosophy combined with the brush’s exfoliating powers = bright skin at a great price.

    DDF’s Sulfur Mask is also something I swear by – it’s not an actual exfoliator but it acts like one by cleaning out the pores, stopping breakouts, softening, and it’s just oh so wonderful. My highlight of 2009 was clearing my acne and the DDF mask was largely responsible. Now I just have to work on those acne scars…

    Reply

  33. I have an unlimited supply of Clinique’s 7-day scrub. I don’t actually like it because it leaves a sticky feel to my skin – maybe the coconut oil in it?
    But I have in the past used Lush’s love lettuce face mask – it has exfoliants in it. Leaves my skin shining.
    Also love clinique’s five minute facial – i don’t know if you’d classify it as an exfoliator.

    Reply

  34. I have normal, mature (age 55) skin. I have been using Alpha Hydrox for about 20 years. I use their Night Res-Q before bed. It is a retinol.
    My skin is really good for my age. People constantly ask me what I use. It’s cheap too !

    Reply

  35. I have combination skin with occasional breakouts and blackheads across my nose. In the past, I used St. Ives but found it to be way too harsh for delicate skin on the face. I also found it to be causing some of my breakouts because it would scratch the skin and let bacteria in. By accident, I came across a great exfoliator. It is a men’s product but who cares, it’s amazing. It is the Zirh Scrub. It has really fine but densely packed granules, and a nice fresh scent. The price isn’t too bad either, around $20.

    Reply

  36. Trying to find an alternative to the Clarisonic, I discovered Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Rejuvenator. I use it every other day, or whenever I think my skin needs it most. I love it! And I totally agree with you: my skin has changed over the years (I’m 34), and it was looking kinda dull. I’m pretty happy with my skin-care routine. I’ll be sticking with the items I use until my skin goes through another change. 🙂

    Reply

  39. I have sensitive/oily skin. I use Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. I have tried using other exfoliants but they’re not as gentle as the Dermalogica one… and you can use it everyday without irritation. Even my facialist recommended it.

    Reply

  41. i looooooove mario badescu’s almond & honey face scrub. i almost always want to eat it out of the container, it smells so good. and is gentle enough to use every other day.

    Reply

  42. It’s definitely been trial and error for me to know what works on my skin! Now that I’m a bit older it’s more combination-dry. I use RoC’s daily resurfacing disks every other day. I get them at my local CVS, love that they’re pre-moistened and dual-sided. It’s just enough grain so that depending on how hard you scrub, you get the exfoliation you need. Plus its only about $10 for a jar of 25. 🙂
    .-= Trude’s last blog post… Holiday Roundup =-.

    Reply

  43. I go for the classic St. Ives apricot scrub for sensitive skin. I also loved this one by Avon where it heats up as you scrub it on (think it was called thermal scrub) but they discontinued it 🙁

    Reply

  45. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant- no harsh scrubbies, mainly rice starche and enzymes. Same with their Gentle Cream Exfoliant. Great things for acne prone/sensitive skin. I can’t use anything with abrasive particles in it, so both of these are a must.

    Reply

  46. I use Laura Mercier’s Face Polish. I like that the jojoba wax beads feel round, not jagged, but there are a lot of them in the product so you get a good scrubbing. And it smells lovely, sort of expensive-peachy.

    Reply

  47. I realise this comment will make me sound like an exfoliating nut… But I swear I don’t have a problem!

    1. Kiehl’s Epidermal Retexturising Microdermabrasion is my all time favourite – The super fine particles are AMAZING. (Refer to: http://www.kiehls.com/_us/_en/face/dermatologist-solutions/epidermal-re-texturizing-micro-dermabrasion.htm) I use this (maybe) once a fortnight in the shower, on it’s own or mixed with my usual cleanser. Highly recommend using it in the shower, as the micronized shells in this are a pain to rinse away over the sink!

    2. Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid – My oily skin really benefits from using this regularly. I use it at least once a week (applied overnight). (Refer to: http://www.paulaschoice.com.au/Skin-Care/exfoliants/2–Beta-Hydroxy-Acid-Liquid-118ml.aspx)

    3. NeoStrata Ultra Smoothing Lotion – My favourite night moisturiser, with 10% AHA… It’s really improved my skin’s texture, and it also works really well on keratosis pilaris (on my arms). (Refer to: http://www.hamiltonlabs.com.au/site/page.cfm?u=4&c=609&dist=Local)

    Reply

  48. I don’t have much experience with exfoliators – I really only just started using one a few months ago, but out of the few that I’ve tried I love MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator. I use it a few times a week and my skin feels softer every time. I’m definitely planning on trying out the mask as well! It is expensive though, which is quite annoying :/
    .-= Rebecca’s last blog post… Top 4 animals that freak me out. =-.

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  49. Duckhun + VC Andrews + The Craft = LOLZ! Thanks for the laughs.

    I use three different exfoliators – Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains, St. Ives Apricot Scrub & Lush’s Ocean Salt Scrub. I have dry skin and during the winter, it gets especially dry so I exfoliate twice or three times a week. I will use the BB Buffing Grains with my MAC Face Wash just to give it a lil ooommmph! Then in the shower I use St Ives Apricot scrub and use the tips of my fingers in circular motion to work the product in. I really like the result I have been getting from it. I have only used the Lush scrub like three times so I can’t say for sure how well it works. I have used that in place of the St Ives apricot scrub.
    .-= Marisol’s last blog post… Time to take control =-.

    Reply

  50. Turbinado sugar w/ black truffle oil. The sugar isn’t overly abrasive and truffle oil doesn’t have the culinary aroma of your average olive oil and best of all, it absorbs quickly w/o leaving a hazy sheen. Plus, it’s organic/food grade.Can’t compete w/ nature.

    Reply

  51. I use LUSH’s Ocean Salt, but I think I might switch to Philosophy once I finished– sometimes, I find it way too abrasive on my skin, plus it has vodka in it!

    I’ve always been wary of St. Ices Apricot Scrub since it has Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in it, so I’m staying away.

    Reply

  52. My mom has taught me to exfoliate weekly since I was 12 and it works. I definitely noticed a difference when i don’t at least do it once a week. I exfoliate 3 times a week now and I alternate between St Ives Olive Scrub; MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator; and Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream. My serum and moisturizer has exfoliating qualities as well too: Even Better Skin Tone Corrector.
    .-= amy’s last blog post… FOTD Urban Decay Homegrown, AC/DC, Mushroom, Sellout Eyeshadows, 24/7 Glide on Liner Graffiti and MAC Lipstick Pink Cabana =-.

    Reply

  53. I have really dry skin so I try to exfoliate at least once a week. My fav product is Medi-Morphosis self adjusting exfoliator by Cosmedicine. It works amazing!!!

    Reply

  54. For my face, I am using the Clarisonic brush with Philosophy’s purity made simple (bonus as it seems to be a freebie with almost anything Philosophy gives away – can’t think of the last time I actually paid for that item). Oily skin and it has made a huge difference.

    For the body: love love love Fresh’s Brown Sugar Scrub (splurge favorite). The Philosophy scrubs are fantastic too.

    Reply

  55. I heart Exfolikate by Kate Somerville- it truly is like a profession treatment at home. We use it at the spa, too- it’s a best seller. I agree about not using apricot or almond scrubs- they can cause microscopic tears in the skin! It you must use a scrub, use one with man made spheres.
    .-= PeaceLoveLipgloss’s last blog post… Sun Kissed Skin =-.

    Reply

  56. for my face…..my new Clarisonic Mia….I am using the rest of my Ole Henrickson cleanser until my Philosophy Purity arrives.

    in the shower, I use a regular shower puff with a Philosophy 3in1 (currently it’s Gingerbread Man).

    Reply

  57. I use Angels on Bare Skin from Lush and it really is the best exfoliator I have ever used. Leaves my combo, sensitive skin moisturized, flakes gone, redness gone, oil in control, and smooth like a baby’s booty. Since this scrub starts as a solid, you can control how much scrub you want with the amount of water you mix with it, and since it uses ground almond meat and not shell, it wont give you microscopic cuts like jagged shells would.
    I work for Lush but venture out to find my “Holy Grail” products, and I always go back to this one. It makes a good body scrub too!

    Reply

  58. My skin is combination. When the weather is cold, like now, it gets very dry with minimal breakouts. When it warms back up, it’s much oilier and breaks out easily (although certain places continue to be dry.) I use Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream, although I forget to use it most of the time. I probably end up using it about once a week.

    Oh, and LOL! Cheesy V.C. Andrews novels and watching The Craft! Sounds like a day in the life of my teenage self. (Shudders.)

    Reply

  59. i love love love cargos polishing clothes! i find they work so much better than regular exfoliators and since i’ve paired it with lancomes clay mask i haven’t been attacked by hoards of blackheads since!

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  60. I have tried many store bought products but my favorite is the good old sugar scrub. Sometimes honey and sugar scrub it does the job it is gentle and effective. I do the same for my lips as well 🙂

    Reply

  61. My face is a crazy combo map so I use Neutrogena oil free grapefruit face scrub, where I need it. The scrub’s not really that exfoliating as opposed to foaming, but I swear it has made my skin tone even and breakout free!

    Reply

  62. I have combo/dry skin (more dry in the winter) and LOVE Make Up Artist’s Choice Micro Polish. Hands down the best I have tried. I use it once or twice a week and my skin looks and feels amazing.

    Reply

  64. I have normal skin (I guess) and yesterday I bought Origins Modern Friction — it seems to be the first exfoliator which actually does wonders. I have a can of Lush Ocean Salt, too, but I find it too harsh for the face and use it for the body.

    Reply

  66. Clarisonic, Exfolikate (YOWEE is it powerful stuff!), Lush Ocean Salt Scrub, Philosophy’s scrub. I often switch it up and vary when I use the exfoliants as my skin can be normal to dry especially at this time of year. I am 52 and find that exfoliants are a MUST to keep skin fresh!

    Reply

  68. My skin is a complicated being! At 37, I still breakout but my skin has definitely gotten a bit dry over the years. Each winter is a little worse in terms of dryness — the flakes I had during the transition between seasons this year were scary. I find I do a lot better with chemical exfoliators. I used to use Paula’s Choice but ran out while on extended travel and picked up Neutrogena Acne Stress Control wth 2% Salicylic Acid. I still need to layer on heavier mositurizer on the dry areas. I’m thinking I may need to go with a 3 lotion zone defense! But this does a great job of clearing the acne and the dry flakes.

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  69. My fave chemical is Paula Begoun’s 2% bha gel and my face scrubs vary. I can really feel the difference when I use the bha gel three times a week as opposed to 0 times a week with 2 scrubs (I like variety in my routines). Have dry/combination skin.

    Reply

  70. I swear by Queen Helene Mint Julep Scrub and alternate it with Philosophy’s Microexfoliant (not sure if that’s the exact name). Queen Helene is like $3, and I hope to never ever be without it. I used to exfoliate like once a week, and it was not enough for my skin. I do it every single day and have had amazing results. I have started to use Queen Helene maybe 2x per week and use Philosophy on the off days because the granules in that are almost non-existent but really work. Glowing skin…no blemishes… Love it!!

    Reply

    • Yes! You are so right about the mask! 🙂 And I think you’ll like the scrub too. It’s worth a try for like 3 bucks!

      Reply

  72. random, but I use just regular ole baking soda! No harsh chemicals, no smell! I use it every few days on my face and it works great! I even got my boyfriend to use it!

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  73. So far for a daily exfoliation i like Nuetrogena Facial Peel (but i think its disappearing lately hope they dont discontinue) it sticks to tthe dead surface cells and then u rub it off, rinse any residue. Leaves my crusty face fresh every time for better moisturizer absorption, evens my skin tone and i look younger!!!!!! ha ha sorry, have been out of it for a while. I want some.

    Reply

  74. I love Go Slough Yourself by Beautisol Sun Care- ITs incredible! After I use it, my skin actually feels completely different- soft, smooth and clean. I have never used any other product that I get such instantaneous, satisfying and lasting results. Check it out! Its formulated for the FACE & BODY!!! Take a look

    http://www.beautisol.com/Exfoliators-C16.aspx

    Reply

  75. I love Cure natural aqua gel! It works so well except for the price… The other one that I like is Laneige strawberry yogurt peel gel. 🙂

    Reply

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