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Five nontoxic body product swaps I’ve made to my daily routine

March 27, 2018 By Ashley 33 Comments

Hi, friends! How are you? We’re talking all about nontoxic body product swaps today. And this post is entirely not sponsored. I researched, found and paid for all of these items on my own. This is something I’ve wanted to write about for a while, because it’s becoming increasingly important to me, and you’ll soon see why … 

Before we get to that — let’s do a super-short weekend recap. Ours was pretty routine, so we can cover it quickly. Dave was working on Friday night at a game, so I was home chilling with baby Brady and Rudy the pup. On Saturday, I taught Bootybarre, then we went out to a late lunch for big salads from our stand-by spot, Urban Plates, and did some shopping for some upcoming trips we have. On Sunday, we were out and about for lunch again and were on a mission to find a big mirror for our mantle in the living room, and we were successful, landing on this beauty from Pier One. The rest of the day was spent doing all the usual Sunday stuff at home, like giving little Brady a bath (so cute, every single time), doing laundry and making a pizza in the pizza oven. I mean, pretty thrilling stuff, folks. And I had every intention of having this post published sooner on the blog, but Brady’s lack of naps put a bit of a wrench in my productivity, so thank you for your patience.

Now that we’re caught up, let’s talk nontoxic body product swaps …

Five nontoxic body product swaps I've made to my daily routine by A Lady Goes West

Understanding that healthy living is more than fitness and food

To start, let’s get some background …

Over the past five years, I’ve completely opened my eyes to true healthy living and what that means. And I must admit, that for the first few years, I sort’ve thought healthy living was nothing but food and fitness — you know, going hard in the gym and eating a lot of chicken and salads — ohhh boy.

Well, now I know that it’s much more than that. It’s self-care. It’s mindfulness. It’s having strong relationships. It’s having balance. It’s acknowledging and appreciating your natural hormones (because nobody wants hormonal imbalances … been there and done that). It’s trying to live a more environmentally friendly life and being good to the planet. And it’s also about avoiding toxins as much as reasonably possible — but without getting obsessive about it.

I have so much work to do when it comes to all of the home and beauty products that I use, and I’ll never be completely toxin-free, because I like to get my hair done, and I’m not about to give up self-tanner either. However, there are a few swaps that I’ve made recently that are for the better, and every little bit counts in this scenario.

Why do clean body products matter? Our skin is our biggest organ, and it plays a huge role in our lives. It protects us, accepts and feels touch, is our bodies’ heating and cooling system and so much more. And whatever you put on your skin is absorbed directly and quickly into your body, so it’s actually pretty important that you try to choose cleaner products when you can. And as a note, there aren’t as many federal regulations on body products, so it’s up to you to look at the ingredients, and you should be informed.

Five nontoxic body product swaps I’ve made to my daily routine

As always, nobody’s perfect, and you don’t have to throw out everything in your medicine cabinet right now, but maybe start with one item and go from there. That’s what I did. Just one thing at a time …

And by the way, I would always use up whatever conventional product I had before, because I hate to waste stuff — even if it’s “toxic.”

Here we go …

Natural deodorant instead of conventional antiperspirant/deodorant

This is a big one, so it gets mentioned first. I tried to use natural deodorant a few years ago and thought it was okay, but I wasn’t truly motivated to make the switch, so I didn’t and went right back to my old standard of Secret. Then, after I got pregnant, I thought it was the perfect time to clean up some of my body products.

Natural deodorant - Five nontoxic body product swaps I've made by A Lady Goes West

Right around that time, I got sent an awesome care package of natural deodorant from EO brand. And while I loved the deodorant wipes they sent just because they were convenient, I didn’t like the actual deodorant, which came in a spray form. It didn’t work for me. I feel like I smelled and maybe was sweating even more than normal when using it. Granted, I definitely had some hormonal swings while pregnant and even now postpartum to be accounted for, so it may have not been product specific, but since then, I’ve finally stumbled on a natural deodorant that I like, and it’s about time I share it on the blog.

I found this deodorant by Schmidt’s at, of all places, Target, where it’s pretty cheap. However, my Target only carries one scent, and there are tons more available at health food stores and online. When I researched the brand, I loved what I found. Schmidt’s natural deodorant has no aluminum, no artificial fragrance, no parabens, no phthalates, and it’s certified vegan and cruelty free. Why does all this matter? Because aluminum in conventional antiperspirants is supposed to clog your sweat ducts to stop you from sweating, and that isn’t actually a good thing, because your body needs to be able to naturally eliminate rather than trap the toxins it wants to remove. In addition, conventional deodorants have synthetic fragrances and chemicals, like phthalates, which can cause headaches, allergies, fertility issues and more. No good, people. No good. These chemicals are called “endocrine disruptors” because they mess with your natural endocrine system, and it’s a huge mess you don’t want to be in.

So does natural deodorant work? Yes, in a different way. It absorbs some of the wetness, rather than blocking it. And the natural ingredients neutralize any odor. I don’t even notice that I’m wearing it, which means it’s not causing any issues, and it’s working how it should. And yes, I’m a big sweater.

Here’s what you should know about switching to natural deodorant: Some people say to go a few days with NOTHING to let your system rebalance, then start the natural products. With Schmidt’s, you want to apply it by holding the stick under your arm for about 30 seconds to let it soften and warm up the product so that it goes on smoothly — you’ll notice it’s a bit hard at first. Also, if you develop a rash or irritation, make sure you aren’t putting it on too soon after shaving — one of the active ingredients is baking soda, which can cause redness if you have sensitive skin at first. Other than that, it will take a little while for your body to get used to it, but then you should have smooth sailing.

If this brand doesn’t work for you, there are others out there you can try too. I’ve only used the bergamot + lime scent, and I’m planning to try the charcoal + magnesium scent next. I’m a convert, and I feel good about this change.

Almond oil instead of baby oil as makeup remover

Okay, are you sitting down for this one?

Did you know that baby oil is actually a byproduct of crude oil and gasoline? It’s a mineral oil, which entirely synthetic — nothing natural about it. This is NOT something we want to put on our babies. And I’d be lying if I told you that I didn’t use baby oil to remove my eye makeup and other makeup all the way up until last year (it’s a trick I learned of first in college and continued for far too long). When I learned how bad baby oil was, I decided to use my trusty almond oil to get rid of my makeup instead. Bye bye, baby oil!

Almond oil - Five nontoxic body product swaps I've made by A Lady Goes West

I’ve written an entire post about almond oil, so you know my love for it, and it is an incredibly versatile and wholly natural product you can use to remove makeup (even waterproof mascara, which is likely toxic in its own regard, but as I said at the beginning, we pick and choose what products we want to be clean and which we keep as is … every little change helps), it moisturizes the skin and just feels great. And it totally works. You won’t miss baby oil at all! I even use almond oil in my hair, by the way.

Once you start using almond oil, you won’t want to quit. There are a few good brands out there, and this is one of my favorite brands.

Natural toothpaste instead of conventional toothpaste

Sometimes I like to see if Dave will participate in my “healthy living endeavors” and I had him try my new more natural toothpaste, and he wasn’t a fan. Oh well! Nonetheless, I’ve been using Hello natural toothpaste for almost a year now, and I literally cannot stomach using regular Crest or other conventional toothpastes any longer after making the switch. They just taste wrong.

Natural toothpaste - Five nontoxic body product swaps I've made by A Lady Goes West

Toothpaste not only goes on your teeth, it definitely gets absorbed in your mouth and goes into your bloodstream too, so of course you want the ingredients to be clean. I tried Tom’s of Maine toothpaste and thought it was okay, but I’m much more a fan of this Hello product, particularly the pure mint and whitening flavor.

So does it work? Yes, just like regular toothpaste. The taste is great, it does a good job cleaning my teeth (and I never have cavities, in case you’re wondering), and has a fresh and light texture to it. 

This Hello toothpaste is free of artificial sweeteners, free of micro-beads, free of artificial fragrances and free of triclosan, which is a controversial ingredient in most conventional toothpastes, also considered an endocrine disruptor and has been linked to a host of issues including cancer. Uh-oh.

I’m definitely interested in trying more of the Hello toothpaste flavors, and I also want to try the toothpaste from Schmidt’s as well. This is another change I will definitely be sticking to. 

Coconut oil instead of fragrance body lotion

I have to give a shout-out to coconut oil, in its unrefined and purest form, because it does everything, including serving as an excellently clean and nontoxic body lotion.

Coconut oil - Five nontoxic body product swaps I've made by A Lady Goes West

I have a separate jar for the bathroom than I have for the kitchen, and I use coconut oil as my all-over lotion, sometimes my cuticle oil and sometimes even my chapstick. It’s that good. And I rubbed coconut oil on my big pregnant belly every single day to keep it moisturized during those long nearly 38 weeks. Speaking of pregnancy, I was lucky enough not to get any stretch marks, but that is thanks to genetics, not moisturizing.

Now remember, when it’s cold, coconut oil is a solid, so you have to warm it up in your hands in order to rub it into the skin. It’s easy to do though. And it does an excellent job moisturizing the skin, in my opinion. I’ve never looked back to fragrance-ridden body lotions full of questionable ingredients.

My favorite is Trader Joe’s organic coconut oil, because the price is certainly right, but there are plenty of great options out there. Three cheers for coconut oil!

Rosehip oil instead of facial lotion

This is the newest addition to my clean beauty and nontoxic body arsenal: Majestic Pure Rosehip Oil. What is it? An oil naturally extracted from the seeds of roses, or something like that. I purchased this kind on Amazon, and it’s the first brand I’ve used, so I don’t have anything to compare it to, but I like it.

Rosehip oil - Five nontoxic body product swaps I've made by A Lady Goes West

My skin is a little blotchy and dry during this lovely postpartum time, so I’m applying rosehip oil nightly after washing my face to see if it helps. So far, it definitely helps with hydrating my skin. And it’s a much better choice than slathering my face with a bunch of chemicals that I can’t pronounce. 

The weird thing about rosehip oil is that it’s orange, and so when you put it on your face, you get a slightly orange hue — making it a better choice for evening application rather than before an outing. Nonetheless, I like that I can liberally rub it all over my hands, cuticles, neck and eyes, which isn’t always something you want to do with a toxic or very expensive face lotion.

Apparently, much like almond oil and coconut oil, you can use rosehip oil for just about everything, and I’m all about multipurpose and super clean and natural products.

So there you go! That’s five swaps!

Some thoughts on choosing cleaner nontoxic body products

As I said at the beginning of this post, there’s only so much we can do and control (like the products used on you when you get your hair done, etc.). When you think about avoiding toxic products, you may get a little overwhelmed.

But I like to think of it like this: Every single little change you make is a benefit, so even if all you decide to do is check the labels of one of your body products to make sure it’s free of the harsh stuff (like all of the products shown above and below), then that’s a win. 

Five nontoxic body product swaps I've made by A Lady Goes West

What to look out for? The following words on the ingredients list: parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and ethylparaben), artificial fragrances, aluminum, phthalates and triclosan to name a few.

Just remember that your skin absorbs what you put onto it, so try and be mindful when you can. I’m on a quest to change up my beauty routine a bit too, and I plan to report back and share more on that soon.

Thank you so much for reading, my friends! I hope you enjoyed this post. Please let me know in the comments if you have any questions or if you have any other product or brand recommendations for me to try! Be good! Be mostly clean! But don’t get carried away! 🙂 

Healthy living is more than food and fitness. Check out these nontoxic body swaps on A Lady Goes West ... Click To Tweet

Questions of the day

Do you use any natural body or beauty products?

What’s one change outside of fitness and food you’d like to make for your health?

Filed Under: Beauty, Healthy living Tagged With: almond oil, beauty, body products, coconut oil, healthy living, Hello, natural deodorant, nontoxic body product swaps, nontoxic products, rosehips oil, Schmidt's

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About Ashley

I'm a mom, writer and group fitness instructor, and A Lady Goes West is where I share fitness and wellness tips, as well as stories and learnings from my life in the San Francisco Bay Area.
 
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Comments

  1. Nicole says

    March 27, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    I’ve been using coconut oil to remove eye make up for a while now – I love it! It makes me think I’m preventing fine lines while I’m at it! Also, I get terrible itchy legs and ribs in the winter and my dermatologist told me to use coconut oil, it really helps! Thanks for giving more recommendations, Ashley!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 27, 2018 at 12:38 pm

      Hi Nicole! I’m sure you are doing more than just removing your makeup with the coconut oil heheh! It’s such a useful and totally natural product. I also LOVE that your dermatologist had such a clean recommendation. Sweet! Have a great day, lady! Let me know if you try any of these others.

      Reply
  2. Buheri says

    March 27, 2018 at 1:10 pm

    I can swear by coconut oil.It has been a gem in my life,It has toned my eczema and I even use it on my babies too.I would definitely love to try the almond oil.
    Buheri recently posted…Inflatable Bubble Tent Review-Light Weight Camping ShelterMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 27, 2018 at 6:45 pm

      Hi Buheri! So glad you’re into the natural products and are using them on your kids too! Keep it up! 🙂 Thanks for reading and saying hi!

      Reply
  3. Katrina Pilkington says

    March 27, 2018 at 1:30 pm

    I love coconut oil for ALL of the things! I tried natural deodorant but ended up with very bad rashes from the ones with arrowroot or absorbent powders. I could try again I guess now that I don’t’ have those pregnancy hormones running through me!
    Katrina Pilkington recently posted…What Fitness Looks Like NOW: Lessons I Learned From My Old SelfMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 27, 2018 at 6:46 pm

      Ohhh no! Rashes? Maybe you were doing it too soon after shaving? And I would agree that pregnancy is a tough time to try natural products, so maybe give it a go again! Thanks for reading, Katrina! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Amy says

    March 27, 2018 at 2:19 pm

    I love non toxic products, too! I’m going to try the toothpaste you recommended. I used the Schmidt’s deodorant for a couple years and then a couple months ago got a horrible rash . Maybe it was related to shaving? I’m too scared to try now so I’ve switched to another non toxic brand. ?

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 27, 2018 at 6:47 pm

      Hi Amy! Oh noooo — so sorry to hear about the rash? I wonder if it had something to do with shaving. That’s no fun, but if you’ve found another natural one you like, then stick with it!

      Reply
  5. Farrah says

    March 27, 2018 at 2:28 pm

    Great tips! I’m gonna have to try that with my natural deodorant (maybe this is why it didn’t feel like it was working so well…)–I need to check out Schmidt’s sometime too!

    I really love how versatile coconut oil is too! <3!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 27, 2018 at 6:45 pm

      Hi Farrah! Natural products sometimes require another step to make them work, so hopefully warming it up with help you! 🙂 And seriously, is there anything coconut oil can’t do?? 🙂

      Reply
  6. Emily @ Pizza &Pull-ups says

    March 27, 2018 at 8:24 pm

    I will have to look for that deodorant, I have been looking for a natural one that works well for me. I use that almond oil all the time as a moisturizer and to add to bath water, it smells so good.
    Emily @ Pizza &Pull-ups recently posted…Highlights from the weekend + One Year BlogaversaryMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 27, 2018 at 8:35 pm

      Hi Emily! I hope you like the deodorant! And what a good idea to put almond oil in the bath water — I should try that, because yes, I love the smell of it too! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Patricia @sweet and strong says

    March 28, 2018 at 4:25 am

    I am totally with you on trying to clean up my beauty routine but understanding I can’t be perfect. I started using Native deodorant last Fall and have been loving it. I’ve tried using more simple face washes, but I would love to try using almond oil. And thanks for the recommendations on the toothpastes, that’s another beauty product I want to swap.
    Patricia @sweet and strong recently posted…Birthday Desserts, Snow Day Eats, and other Friday FavoritesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 28, 2018 at 8:51 am

      Hi Patricia! One thing at a time is the best we can do — so I’m glad to hear you’re working that way. I haven’t heard of Native, but glad to hear you love it. And I think everyone can get some use out of almond oil! Hope your week is great, lady! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Courtney says

    March 28, 2018 at 5:06 am

    Thanks for all the tips! I tried a natural deodorant a while ago and absolutely hated it. But it was not the brand you recommended so perhaps I need to give this one a go.

    And I still need to hop aboard your almond oil train because your skin is GOALS.

    Happy Wednesday, friend! Xo
    Courtney recently posted…The Numbers Mind Game and Why We Need to Ditch that MindsetMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 28, 2018 at 8:50 am

      Hi Court! Yessss, try out the Schmidt’s and see if it works for you — but remember it may take a few days! Also, you totally need almond oil in your life. It smells good too heheheh! Hope your week is going well, my friend!

      Reply
  9. Ashley says

    March 28, 2018 at 5:43 am

    Thanks for the tips! I’ll definitely have to give the almond oil a try. Do you ever use it as a moisturizer as well or just a makeup remover? Also, thanks for warming tip about Schmidt’s! I never felt like I could get any on when I tried it so I’ll have to give that a try 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 28, 2018 at 8:49 am

      Hi Ashley! Yes — I’ve used both coconut oil and almond oil as facial moisturizers and they work GREAT — almond oil especially. However, I’m using the rosehip now to help with blotchiness, so I’m not putting the almond oil allover — basically they are all three multi-use! 🙂 Might as well get one to do all the work, right?

      Reply
  10. Julie @ Running in a Skirt says

    March 28, 2018 at 9:13 am

    I use the coconut oil and rosehip oil. I’ve also gotten Tom’s toothpaste before. I can’t bring myself to switch deodorants— I’m so sweaty… but I’d like to try. Thanks for the suggestion.
    Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…A Local’s Guide to 48 Hours in AshevilleMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 29, 2018 at 9:15 am

      hehehe Julie! It does take time to transition to natural deodorant — so if you ever try, just remember it will be a few days before you regulate hehe! But if you don’t switch, as long as you’re using a few other cleaner products, that’s fine too. Just do what you can! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Virjinia @ With Purpose and Kindness says

    March 28, 2018 at 9:42 am

    How interesting! I’ve been looking at making the switch to natural deodorant because I’ve got sensitive skin and it’s always been an issue with it. I mean I use it but my skin feels irritated sometimes and it isn’t fun.

    I’m weird when it comes to oil and the consistency gives me the creeps. However, I do think almond oil will be a better make up removal for me so I should just make the jump!
    Virjinia @ With Purpose and Kindness recently posted…How To Make Meal Prep Easy!My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 29, 2018 at 9:16 am

      eheheh we all have issues with things creeping us out! I can’t touch a chalkboard — ugh! hahaha. Anyways, make sure you wait a while after shaving the underarms before applying deodorant and that should help too! 🙂 Thanks, Virjinia!

      Reply
  12. Stefani says

    March 28, 2018 at 11:11 am

    I was recently introduced to Windrift Farms Body Butter. It’s made from Goat’s Milk has zero chemicals and it works wonderfully, and that’s coming from someone with severe eczema. Another favorite is Waxelene. This is a petroleum jelly alternative made from beeswax. It’s all organic and petroleum free. Much like coconut oil, you can use it anywhere that needs moisturizing. It was a lifesaver during pregnancy for those super itchy patches that normal lotion won’t touch.

    Reply
    • Stefani says

      March 28, 2018 at 11:13 am

      Correction *Windrift Hill* (not Windrift Farms)

      Reply
      • Ashley says

        March 29, 2018 at 9:16 am

        Got it! 🙂

        Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 29, 2018 at 9:16 am

      Okay, I LOVE these recommendations! Thank you, Stefani! I’ll have to check them out. Hope your eczema is under control, I know that can be very painful. 🙁

      Reply
  13. Traci says

    March 28, 2018 at 5:43 pm

    Enjoyed reading! I’ve tried that same brand of rosehip oil and really liked it. I also like the Acure brand. For natural deodorant, I’ve switched to Native and will never go back. It actually works and doesn’t require any warming and the scents are amazing. 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 29, 2018 at 9:17 am

      I actually just got a care package of Acure products that I’m going to try out soon. And you are not the first person to mention Native deodorant, so clearly I should research that as well. Thanks, Traci! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Jessie says

    March 29, 2018 at 5:17 am

    Such an important topic! I use Native natural deodorant as well and love it! I’ve been using rose hip oil for several years as well and recently added hyaluronic acid (which is actually very moisturizing and good for you, it just sounds bad) , my skin has never felt so good :). I liked the Smile toothpaste as well, but have been using Dr Bronners and really like it. Yay coconut oil! We buy it fractionated (in liquid form) so it is easier to use as a lotion.

    Have a great day Ashley! I hear great things about the natural cosmetic brand Crunchi.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 29, 2018 at 9:19 am

      Hi Jessie! Wow! So many great suggestions — I love it. Thanks for these, lady! 🙂 And good work on using so many clean products in your routine!

      Reply
  15. Danielle says

    March 29, 2018 at 5:27 am

    I love rosehip seed oil! I’ve been using it for about 2 years and I tell everyone I know to try it too. I find that if I put on a thin layer about 10 minutes before I put my makeup on and let it soak in, it acts as a good primer too.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      March 29, 2018 at 9:19 am

      That’s so good to know, Danielle! Thanks for the tip! 🙂

      Reply

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  1. Making some changes outside of food and fitness with a new endeavor | A Lady Goes West says:
    October 8, 2018 at 2:56 am

    […] I started off small by switching to natural deodorant and lotion and shared a few of those simple non-toxic body product swaps I’ve made to my daily routine in this post a few months […]

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Hi, I'm Ashley. I started this blog when I moved from Florida to the SF Bay Area, and I love to help you live a balanced life, making sure you never skip a rest day. I'm a mom and fitness instructor, and A Lady Goes West is where I share my workouts, simple meals and wellness tips with you. Find out more about me and stay awhile!

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Peace out, California. This lady who went west is Peace out, California. This lady who went west is officially heading back east. Today, we closed on the sale of our home, the movers drove off with our stuff, and we ended an 8-year-and-3-month adventure in the San Francisco Bay Area. What a ride it has been, full of amazing moments, great memories, tough situations, so much learning and even more growing into who we are today. We’re heading to North Carolina with clear eyes and full hearts — so you know what that means.
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By the way, I wrote a post about my best memories from the last eight years, which is on A Lady Goes West right now, if you want to check it out! See you soon from the Eastern time zone!
So many things were tough for us in 2020, but boy So many things were tough for us in 2020, but boy am I glad we went through it all together. The highlight of the year was - by far - time spent with my little family. And we’re looking ahead to the big changes we have in store, with one-way tickets booked out of California next week. Happy New Year, friends! Here’s to change in 2021! 🎉🥂😍
Hands up in the air if you’re ready for a new ye Hands up in the air if you’re ready for a new year? While we know things don’t drastically change just because the date says 2021 instead of 2020, there is some power in possessing a more positive mindset and having your eyes wide open for more good ahead so you can accept it as it comes. Let’s be honest: This year has had some major ups and downs, and I’m definitely ready to embrace change, but I also know that change takes time and I’ve got to keep pushing for it, even if it doesn’t happen instantly.
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Speaking of 2020, today I published the final post of the year on A Lady Goes West with a raw look at a year in review both personal and professional, so head on over if you’re interested in that.
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And finally, this detailed-back bra is from @caliabycarrie and I’m loving it. It’s the Made to Move Strappy Back, and I have it in a ton of colors. #caliabycarrie #ad
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