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Eye Cream vs. Eye Serum: What's the Difference?

July 28, 202624 min read

Eye Cream or Eye Serum – Which One Do You Really Need?

The skin around your eyes is often the first place to show signs of tiredness, long workdays, lack of sleep, and everyday stress. From puffiness after a busy morning to dark circles that seem difficult to fade, the delicate under-eye area deserves focused care as part of your daily skincare routine.

One of the most common questions people ask is:

Should I use an eye serum or an eye cream?

While both are designed for the eye area, they are not the same. Understanding the difference between eye serum and eye cream helps you build an eye care routine that matches your skin's needs and your daily lifestyle.

At Oteria, skincare is designed around your body's natural rhythm through Circadian Rhythm Skincare. Instead of treating every hour of the day the same, Oteria believes your skin has different needs from morning to night. That's why each collection supports a different phase of your day, helping you care for your skin when it naturally benefits the most.

When your routine follows your skin's rhythm, every product has a purpose. For example:

Rise: Start your morning routine with Time Travel Skin Cream to support your skin as you begin the day.
Shine: During the day, products like Sun Kissed Suncare Gel help complement your daytime skincare routine.
Chill: As the day slows down, Plumpy Skin Serum fits into your evening skincare ritual.
Yawn: Overnight is when Time Travel Under Eye Serum works in harmony with your skin's natural nighttime recovery process.

Understanding where an under eye serum or an eye cream fits into this rhythm makes choosing the right product much easier.

Why Does the Eye Area Need Special Care?

The Skin Around Your Eyes is Different

The area around your eyes is one of the most delicate parts of your face. Because it experiences constant movement throughout the day from blinking and smiling to facial expressions it often reflects signs of fatigue before the rest of your skin.

That's why your under-eye area deserves products created specifically for its unique needs rather than relying only on your regular face care products.

Adding dedicated eye care to your skincare routine helps you give this delicate area the attention it deserves, whether you're starting your day or preparing your skin for overnight recovery.

Common Everyday Under-Eye Concerns

Many people notice changes around their eyes long before they experience concerns on the rest of their face. Some of the most common include:

Dark circles
Puffy under-eye bags
Tired-looking eyes
Crow's feet
Reduced eye contour brightness

These concerns can become more noticeable as part of everyday life, making an effective under eye serum or eye care product an important addition to your routine.

Why Eye Care Should Be Part of Your Daily Skincare Routine

A complete skincare routine doesn't stop at cleansing and moisturizing. Your eye area also benefits from consistent care that fits naturally into your daily rhythm.

At Oteria, skincare follows Circadian Rhythm Skincare, recognizing that your skin's needs change throughout the day. Instead of using the same approach morning and night, each routine is designed to support a specific phase of your skin's natural cycle.

For overnight eye care, the Yawn Collection focuses on supporting the skin's natural repair and regeneration processes that occur while you sleep. According to Oteria, applying Yawn products at night works in synergy with your body's nighttime recovery mechanisms, helping maximize the benefits of the active ingredients during the skin's regeneration phase.

One product designed specifically for this nighttime ritual is the Time Travel Under Eye Serum.

Formulated with:

Sweet Orange to provide instant relief for eye bags.
Brown Algae to help boost collagen production and improve eye contour luminosity.

The serum is designed to:

Reduce puffiness in just 3 hours.
Help reduce dark circles and crow's feet in one week with regular use.
Enhance eye contour luminosity within one week.

Its lightweight formula penetrates deeper and faster into the skin, making it an ideal night eye serum for people looking to care for under-eye puffiness, dark circles, and visible signs of eye ageing as part of their nightly skincare routine.

Eye Serum vs. Eye Cream – What's the Difference?

Choosing between an Eye Cream or Eye Serum doesn't have to be confusing. While both are created for the delicate eye area, they serve different roles within an eye care routine.

Understanding the eye serum vs eye cream comparison allows you to choose the right product based on your skincare goals and the time of day you're applying it.

Let's begin by understanding what an eye serum is and why many nighttime routines include one.

What is an Eye Serum?

An under eye serum is a targeted skincare product created specifically for the delicate skin around the eyes.

At Oteria, the Time Travel Under Eye Serum is part of the Yawn Collection, which supports the skin's natural overnight repair and regeneration cycle. Applying it at night allows it to work in harmony with your skin's nighttime recovery process.

The serum is formulated with:

Sweet Orange, which provides instant relief for eye bags.
Brown Algae, which helps boost collagen production and improves eye contour luminosity.

With regular use, the Time Travel Under Eye Serum is designed to:

Help reduce under-eye puffiness in just 3 hours.
Reduce dark circles and crow's feet in one week.
Enhance eye contour luminosity in one week.

Using the built-in roller, simply apply the serum under the eyes along the orbital bone before your nighttime skincare routine.

Because it is specifically designed for overnight use within Oteria's Circadian Rhythm Skincare philosophy, it fits naturally as your dedicated night eye serum, supporting your skin while its natural repair processes are most active.

What is an Eye Cream?

An eye cream is a skincare product designed to care for the delicate skin around the eyes while complementing your overall skincare routine. Depending on your routine and the time of day, it can be used as part of your morning or evening skincare ritual.

At Oteria, skincare follows the philosophy of Circadian Rhythm Skincare, where every product is created to support your skin according to its natural rhythm rather than following a one-size-fits-all routine.

For your Rise routine, Time Travel Skin Cream is designed to become part of your morning skincare ritual as your skin prepares for the day ahead. While it is a facial skincare product and not an eye cream, it reflects Oteria's approach of choosing skincare based on your skin's changing needs throughout the day.

This is an important distinction to understand:

An under eye serum is specifically formulated for the delicate eye area.
A face cream should be used on the face according to its intended purpose.
Products created for different areas of your skincare routine work best when used where they are designed to be applied.

Rather than choosing products based only on texture, Oteria encourages building a routine around your skin's natural daily cycle.

Eye Serum vs Eye Cream: A Simple Comparison

Many people search for the difference between eye serum and eye cream because both products sound similar. The easiest way to understand them is by looking at their purpose within your skincare routine.

Feature	Eye Serum	Eye Cream
Purpose	Targets specific under-eye concerns	Supports the skin as part of a skincare routine
Best For	Puffiness, dark circles, crow's feet, eye contour luminosity	Daily moisturising and skincare routine (depending on the product)
Application Area	Specifically formulated for the under-eye area	Use according to the product's intended application
Oteria Example	Time Travel Under Eye Serum (Yawn Collection)	Oteria's skincare philosophy focuses on routines throughout the day rather than a dedicated eye cream
Best Time	Night eye serum as part of the Yawn routine	Morning or evening depending on the skincare product

Instead of asking only "Eye Cream or Eye Serum?", a better question is:

Which product is designed for the concern I'm trying to address?

If your focus is the delicate under-eye area, using a product specifically created for that area can help you build a more intentional eye care routine.

When Should You Use Each One?

Knowing when to use an eye product is just as important as knowing which product to choose.

Since your skin's needs change throughout the day, Oteria recommends following Circadian Rhythm Skincare, allowing every routine to work alongside your body's natural rhythm.

Use an Eye Serum When

An under eye serum is ideal when you want dedicated care for concerns around the eye area.

The Time Travel Under Eye Serum is designed for your Yawn routine, when your skin naturally enters its overnight recovery phase.

With regular use, it is formulated to help:

Reduce under-eye puffiness in just 3 hours
Reduce dark circles and crow's feet within one week
Enhance eye contour luminosity in one week

Its roller applicator also makes nighttime applications simple and convenient.

Morning Eye Cream or Night Eye Serum?

One of the most searched questions is whether you should choose a morning eye cream or a night eye serum.

The answer depends on the product's intended use.

At Oteria, the Time Travel Under Eye Serum is specifically designed for nighttime application because it belongs to the Yawn Collection, which supports the skin's overnight repair and regeneration processes.

Using it at night allows the formula to work in synergy with your skin's natural nighttime recovery cycle.

If you're following Oteria's complete skincare philosophy, your day naturally progresses through different routines:

Rise: Begin your skincare routine with products like Time Travel Skin Cream.
Shine: Continue your daytime skincare with products such as Sun Kissed Suncare Gel.
Chill: Transition into the evening with Plumpy Skin Serum.
Yawn: Complete your routine with Time Travel Under Eye Serum before sleep.

This approach creates a skincare routine that follows your skin's rhythm instead of treating every hour of the day the same.

Can You Use Both Together?

Many people assume they have to choose between an Eye Cream or Eye Serum, but skincare isn't always about choosing one over another.

Instead, it's about selecting products that serve different purposes within your routine.

If you're following Oteria's Circadian Rhythm Skincare philosophy, every phase of the day has its own role:

Your morning focuses on preparing your skin.
Daytime skincare supports your skin throughout daily activities.
Evening helps your skin transition.
Nighttime focuses on repair and regeneration.

Within this routine, the Time Travel Under Eye Serum becomes your dedicated nighttime eye care step, working alongside your skin's natural overnight processes.

Rather than replacing your overall skincare routine, it complements it by providing targeted care for the delicate under-eye area.

This is what makes building an intentional eye care routine more effective than simply adding products without considering when your skin benefits most from them.

Why One Product Isn't Enough for Complete Skincare

Healthy-looking skin isn't achieved with a single product alone. Every step in your skincare routine serves a different purpose, and your skin's needs change throughout the day. That's why using products designed for specific moments can help you build a more balanced routine.

At Oteria, skincare follows your body's natural rhythm through four dedicated routines:

Rise prepares and protects your skin for the day.
Shine helps refresh and support your skin during active daytime hours.
Chill focuses on hydration and recovery as your day slows down.
Yawn supports your skin's overnight repair and regeneration.

When your skincare routine naturally follows these phases, every product works with a clear purpose instead of trying to do everything at once.

For example, a complete rhythm-based routine may include:

Rise: Time Travel Skin Cream to support hydration and visibly smoother-looking skin while helping prepare your skin for the day.
Shine: Sun Kissed Suncare Gel to complement your daytime skincare routine.
Chill: Plumpy Skin Serum to support hydration during your evening transition.
Yawn: Time Travel Eye Serum to care for the delicate under-eye area during your overnight skincare routine.

Instead of expecting one product to address every concern, choosing products according to your skin's natural daily rhythm creates a routine that feels more intentional and consistent.

Time Travel Skin Cream – Your Rise Essential

Start Your Morning with Targeted Anti-Ageing Skincare

Your morning skincare routine is about preparing your skin before you step into the day. Environmental factors such as pollution, UV exposure, blue light, and everyday stress can affect your skin throughout the day.

That is why Time Travel Skin Cream belongs to the Rise routine. According to Oteria's Circadian Rhythm Skincare philosophy, Rise products are created to help prepare and protect your skin before daily environmental exposure.

Why Time Travel Skin Cream Belongs in the Rise Routine

Time Travel Skin Cream is formulated to support skin hydration while helping improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with consistent use.

Its formulation includes:

Hyaluronic Acid to help keep skin plump while supporting collagen production.
Silanetriol to help preserve hydration and stimulate natural hyaluronic acid production.

With regular application, the cream helps:

Create a visibly plumper-looking complexion.
Support skin hydration and elasticity.
Deliver an immediate wrinkle-lifting effect.
Help improve the appearance of fine lines in as little as 28 days of consistent use.

Benefits of Using Time Travel Skin Cream in Your Morning Routine

Adding Time Travel Skin Cream to your Rise skincare routine helps support your skin before daily exposure.

Key benefits include:

Helps maintain skin hydration.
Supports a firmer-looking complexion.
Promotes a smoother skin appearance.
Helps preserve skin elasticity.
Complements Oteria's protective morning skincare philosophy.

Products That Pair Well with Time Travel Skin Cream

For a complete Rise routine, Time Travel Skin Cream works naturally alongside other Rise essentials, including:

White Tea Face Wash
Go To Skin Cream
Velvet Dew Skin Lotion
Rosette Face Mist
Sunkissed Shield Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++

Each product has its own role within the Rise routine while supporting Oteria's philosophy of preparing your skin for the day.

Who Should Choose Time Travel Skin Cream?

Time Travel Skin Cream is suitable for anyone looking to:

Add an anti-wrinkle cream to their morning skincare routine.
Support skin hydration throughout the day.
Improve the appearance of fine lines with consistent use.
Maintain plumper-looking skin.
Build a rhythm-based skincare routine that follows the Rise phase.

Time Travel Eye Serum – Your Yawn Essential

Give Your Under-Eye Area Dedicated Night Care

The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face. Because of this, it benefits from dedicated care instead of relying only on face cream.

Within Oteria's Circadian Rhythm Skincare philosophy, Time Travel Eye Serum belongs to the Yawn routine, which focuses on supporting the skin's overnight recovery, repair, and regeneration processes.

Why Time Travel Eye Serum Belongs in the Yawn Routine

Yawn products are designed to work alongside the skin's natural overnight regeneration cycle.

Time Travel Eye Serum combines:

Sweet Orange to provide instant relief for eye bags.
Brown Algae to support collagen production and improve eye contour luminosity.

With regular use, the serum helps:

Reduce puffiness in as little as 3 hours.
Reduce the appearance of dark circles and crow's feet in one week.
Enhance eye contour luminosity.
Deliver targeted care to the delicate under-eye area.

Because the serum penetrates deeper and faster into the skin, it delivers focused care where it is needed most.

Benefits of Adding Dedicated Under-Eye Care at Night

Adding an under-eye serum to your nighttime skincare routine offers targeted care that a regular face cream is not designed to provide.

Benefits include:

Helps reduce under-eye puffiness.
Supports brighter-looking under-eye skin.
Helps minimise the appearance of dark circles.
Supports smoother-looking skin around the eyes.
Complements your overnight skincare routine.

Products That Pair Well with Time Travel Eye Serum

For a complete Yawn routine, Time Travel Eye Serum pairs naturally with:

Bounce Back Skin Cream
Voluminous Hair Lotion

Together, these products support Oteria's overnight skincare philosophy by focusing on nighttime recovery and regeneration.

Who Should Choose Time Travel Eye Serum?

Time Travel Eye Serum is ideal for anyone looking for:

An under-eye serum for dark circles.
A serum for under-eye circles and puffiness.
An eye serum for wrinkles and crow's feet.
A dark circle remover serum for everyday skincare.
Dedicated nighttime under-eye care.

Eye Cream or Eye Serum – Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing between an eye serum and a face cream depends on the area you want to care for and your skincare goals.

Choose Time Travel Skin Cream If You Want To:

Support overall facial hydration.
Improve the appearance of fine lines across the face.
Help maintain skin elasticity.
Build a protective morning skincare routine.
Add an anti-ageing cream to your Rise routine.

Choose Time Travel Eye Serum If You Want To:

Target under-eye puffiness.
Reduce the appearance of dark circles.
Care for crow's feet.
Improve eye contour luminosity.
Add dedicated under-eye care to your Yawn routine.

Choose Both for a Complete Oteria Routine

Rather than replacing one product with another, Time Travel Skin Cream and Time Travel Eye Serum are designed to complement each other.

Time Travel Skin Cream supports your overall facial skincare as part of the Rise routine.
Time Travel Eye Serum provides targeted care for the delicate under-eye area during the Yawn routine.

Together, they reflect Oteria's Circadian Rhythm Skincare philosophy, where every product has a specific role based on your skin's needs throughout the day. By using the right product at the right time, you can create a skincare routine that works in harmony with your daily rhythm.

Why Choose Oteria Instead of Other Eye Care Products?

When it comes to under-eye care, many products promise quick fixes for dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines. However, healthy-looking skin is not just about using a single product, it's about following a skincare routine that works with your skin throughout the day.

Oteria takes a different approach. Instead of offering standalone skincare products, the brand follows the philosophy of Circadian Rhythm Skincare, where every product is designed to support your skin during a specific phase of the day.

For under-eye concerns like puffiness, eye bags, wrinkles, and dark circles, the Time Travel Eye Serum is part of the Yawn routine, helping support your skin during its overnight recovery period.

Skincare Designed Around Your Daily Rhythm

Your skin experiences different needs from morning to night. Oteria's four skincare routines are created to complement these natural changes instead of treating skincare as a one-size-fits-all process.

The four routines include:

Rise – Morning skincare preparation
Shine – Daytime hydration and protection
Chill – Evening nourishment
Yawn – Overnight recovery and regeneration

Rather than relying on random skincare combinations, Oteria encourages a structured skincare routine that supports your skin throughout the entire day.

Routine-Based Skincare Instead of Random Products

Many skincare routines are built by mixing products from different brands without considering when they should be used.

Oteria simplifies skincare by assigning products to specific phases of your daily routine.

For example:

Rise: Begin your morning with White Tea Face Wash to cleanse your skin.
Shine: During the day, Sun Kissed Suncare Gel becomes part of your skincare routine.
Chill: In the evening, Plumpy Skin Serum supports your skincare ritual.
Yawn: Before bedtime, Time Travel Eye Serum fits naturally into your overnight skincare routine.

This routine-based approach creates a simple and consistent skincare experience without unnecessary complexity.

A Complete Skincare Ecosystem

Unlike products that focus on only one skincare concern, Oteria offers products across multiple skincare categories while maintaining one consistent philosophy.

The collections together cover:

Each collection is connected through the same Circadian Rhythm Skincare approach, allowing users to build routines that remain consistent from morning until night.

Why Time Travel Eye Serum Fits the Yawn Routine

The Time Travel Eye Serum has been developed specifically for the Yawn routine, which focuses on the skin's overnight repair and regeneration period.

Here's why it becomes an important part of your night routine:

Helps reduce under-eye puffiness in just 3 hours
Helps reduce dark circles and crow's feet in as little as one week
Helps enhance eye contour luminosity with regular use
Formulated with Sweet Orange to provide instant relief for eye bags
Contains Brown Algae, which helps boost collagen production and supports cell vitality

Its lightweight formula penetrates deeper and faster into the skin, helping deliver noticeable results with regular nighttime use.

Simple Routines Are Easier to Follow

One of the biggest challenges in skincare is maintaining consistency.

Instead of creating complicated routines with countless products, Oteria organizes skincare into four easy-to-understand phases that fit naturally into your daily schedule.

This structured approach makes it easier to know:

Which products belong in your morning routine
Which products work best during the day
Which products support your evening skincare
Which products are designed for overnight recovery

For anyone looking for a more organized skincare experience, this routine-first philosophy keeps skincare simple and consistent.

How to Build a Complete Oteria Routine

A complete skincare routine works best when every step complements the time of day. Oteria's four-phase Circadian Rhythm Skincare philosophy helps create a seamless routine from morning to night.

Rise Routine (Morning)

Start your day by preparing your skin for the hours ahead.

Recommended Rise products:

These products form the first step of your daily skincare routine before moving into daytime care.

Shine Routine (Day)

As your day continues, your skincare routine shifts to products designed for daytime use.

Recommended Shine products:

Together, they become part of your daytime skincare ritual.

Chill Routine (Evening)

Evening skincare helps transition your skin before your nighttime routine.

Recommended Chill products:

These products naturally fit into your evening skincare regimen.

Yawn Routine (Night)

Nighttime is when the Yawn routine comes into focus.

Recommended Yawn products:

The Time Travel Eye Serum supports your under-eye care routine by helping reduce puffiness, improving the appearance of dark circles and crow's feet, and enhancing eye contour luminosity with regular use. Used as part of the Yawn routine, it complements Oteria's philosophy of aligning skincare with the skin's overnight recovery period.

Build Consistency With Every Routine

Following a structured skincare routine can make daily skincare easier to maintain. By moving through the Rise, Shine, Chill, and Yawn routines, you create a consistent approach that aligns with Oteria's Circadian Rhythm Skincare philosophy.

If under-eye concerns such as dark circles, eye bags, puffiness, crow's feet, and wrinkles are part of your skincare goals, incorporating the Time Travel Eye Serum into your Yawn routine provides targeted overnight care while fitting naturally into your complete Oteria skincare journey.

Conclusion

Choosing between an eye serum vs. eye cream comes down to your skincare goals and using the right product for the right area. If your focus is under-eye concerns such as dark circles, puffiness, eye bags, crow's feet, and eye contour luminosity, a dedicated product like Oteria's Time Travel Eye Serum is designed to provide targeted nighttime care as part of the Yawn routine.

Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, Oteria's Circadian Rhythm Skincare philosophy encourages caring for your skin according to its natural daily rhythm. By following the Rise, Shine, Chill, and Yawn routines, every product has a clear purpose—from preparing your skin in the morning to supporting its overnight repair.

A consistent, routine-based approach helps you build a skincare ritual that feels simple, intentional, and aligned with your skin's changing needs throughout the day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the difference between an eye serum and an eye cream?

An eye serum is typically designed to deliver targeted care with a lightweight texture that absorbs quickly into the under-eye area. An eye cream generally focuses on moisturizing and nourishing the delicate skin around the eyes. Oteria's Time Travel Eye Serum is formulated to target under-eye puffiness, dark circles, eye bags, and the appearance of wrinkles.

2. Should I use an eye serum or an eye cream?

The right choice depends on your skincare goals. If you're looking to target concerns like dark circles, puffiness, eye bags, and early signs of ageing, Time Travel Eye Serum is a suitable addition to your nighttime skincare routine. If your focus is hydration, an eye cream may complement your routine.

3. Can I use both an eye serum and an eye cream together?

Yes. An eye serum and an eye cream can be used together as part of a complete skincare routine. Apply the eye serum first to the under-eye area, allow it to absorb, and then follow with an eye cream if additional hydration is needed.

4. When should I use Time Travel Skin Cream?

Time Travel Skin Cream belongs to Oteria's Rise routine. It is designed to be used during the morning skincare ritual to support your daytime skincare routine as part of Oteria's Circadian Rhythm Skincare philosophy.

5. When should I use a Time Travel Eye Serum?

Time Travel Eye Serum belongs to Oteria's Yawn routine and is best applied at night. Yawn products work in harmony with the skin's overnight repair and regeneration cycle, making nighttime the ideal time to use the serum.

6. Which Oteria routine includes Time Travel Skin Cream?

Time Travel Skin Cream is part of the Rise collection, which is designed for your morning skincare routine and helps prepare your skin for the day.

7. Which Oteria routine includes Time Travel Eye Serum?

Time Travel Eye Serum is part of Oteria's Yawn collection. The Yawn routine focuses on supporting the skin's natural overnight repair and regeneration process while you sleep.

8. Can I use an eye serum every night?

Yes. Time Travel Eye Serum is designed for nightly use. Simply apply it under the eyes using the roller along the orbital bone as part of your evening skincare routine.

9. Is an eye cream enough for my routine?

An eye cream can help moisturize the delicate eye area, but if your concerns include puffiness, dark circles, eye bags, or visible signs of ageing, adding Time Travel Eye Serum can provide targeted under-eye care within your nighttime routine.

10. How do I build a complete Oteria skincare routine?

Oteria follows a Circadian Rhythm Skincare approach with four routines that align with different times of the day:

Rise: Time Travel Skin Cream
Shine: Sun Kissed Suncare Gel
Chill: Plumpy Skin Serum
Yawn: Time Travel Eye Serum

Each routine is designed to complement your skin's changing needs throughout the day.

11. Why does Oteria organize products into Rise, Shine, Chill, and Yawn?

Oteria's skincare philosophy is based on Circadian Rhythm Skincare, where products are organized according to the skin's natural rhythm throughout the day. Each routine is designed for a specific phase, helping you build a more structured and consistent skincare routine.

12. What products pair well with Time Travel Eye Serum?

For a complete nighttime skincare routine, Time Travel Eye Serum pairs naturally with other products from the Yawn collection, including Bounce Back Skin Cream and Voluminous Hair Lotion, depending on your skincare and haircare needs.

13. What products pair well with Time Travel Skin Cream?

Time Travel Skin Cream can be combined with other products from the Rise collection, such as White Tea Face Wash, Go To Skin Cream, Velvet Dew Skin Lotion, or Rosette Face Mist, to create a complete morning skincare routine.

14. Is routine-based skincare better than using random products?

A routine-based approach helps create consistency in skincare. Oteria's Circadian Rhythm Skincare philosophy organizes products into Rise, Shine, Chill, and Yawn, making it easier to follow a skincare routine that aligns with different phases of the day.

15. Which Oteria product should I start with?

If your primary concern is dark circles, puffiness, eye bags, or under-eye wrinkles, Time Travel Eye Serum is an excellent place to start within the Yawn nighttime routine. If you're building a complete regimen, you can gradually incorporate products from the Rise, Shine, and Chill routines based on your skincare needs.

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