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How to set up and use iMessage on a Mac computer, and sync it with your iPhone or iPad using iCloud

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mac imessage iphone ipad

  • After a short set up, it's easy to send and receive iMessages straight from your Mac computer, instead of having to use your iPhone or iPad.
  • We recommend you set up iCloud message sharing between your Mac and iPhone so no data is lost, and you can be sure you're responding to the most recent message.
  • Syncing your iMessages to iCloud also allows you to download them to a new device at setup.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks have made messaging family members, friends, and coworkers easier than ever.

And thanks to Apple's straightforward software, you're able to keep the conversation going from any of your devices.

Stuck in a work meeting but really need to text your spouse to arrange dinner plans? Message them straight from your laptop with Apple's iMessage desktop app.

Want to try it out? Follow the simple steps below to get started:

How to set up iMessage on Mac

1. Open the Messages app from your app menu bar (also called the dock). If it isn't already there, you can find it in the Applications folder in Finder.

how to setup imessage on mac Christine Kopaczewski/Business Insider

2. Sign in with the same Apple ID you use on your iPhone to send iMessages. You may need to do some secondary authentication to complete the process.

how to setup imessage on mac

3. On the upper menu bar, click "Messages" and select "Preferences."

how to setup imessage on mac

4. Choose the "Accounts" tab.

how to setup imessage on mac

5. Enter the email addresses and phone numbers you want to be contacted at.

6. You can then choose what phone number or email address you want people to see when you start a conversation from your Mac.

7. You can now send an iMessage to any other iCloud account from your Mac.

How to enable iCloud message sharing

In order to avoid confusion and data loss, it's best to have your iMessages synced between your Mac and iOS devices. It'll also give you the ability to download all of your old messages straight onto a new device at setup.

This process involves a little setup on both your Mac and the iOS devices you use to send iMessages.

How to set up iCloud message sharing on your Mac

1. Open the "Messages" app from your dock or the "Applications" folder.

2. In the upper menu bar, click on "Messages" and then "Preferences."

3. Tick the checkbox next to "Enable Messages on iCloud."

how to setup imessage on mac

4. You can then click "Sync Now" to sync your iMessages.

How to set up iCloud message sharing on your iPhone or iPad

You'll now need to make sure that iCloud sharing is enabled on your iPhone or iPad so that they'll sync with your Mac.

1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone (it looks like a grey gear).

2. At the top of your screen you'll see the name associated with the iCloud account. Click there.

how to setup imessage on mac

3. Now tap "iCloud."

how to setup imessage on mac

4. Here, you'll see a list of everything that you can sync to your iCloud account from your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down to "Messages" and make sure the switch next to it is flipped on (it'll be green).

how to setup imessage on mac

5. Go back to the main "Settings" page by clicking on "Apple ID" in the top left corner and then click "Settings" in the top left corner.

6. Scroll down and click on "Messages."

7. Tap "Sync Now" to sync your iMessages to the iCloud.

You'll now be able to send iMessages from your Mac and seamlessly continue your conversation on your iPhone or iPad.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech

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NOW WATCH: We had our earbuds tested for bacteria to find out if it's gross to share headphones


Americans eat about 200 tiny pieces of plastic every day. Too much plastic in our diets could mess with our health in mysterious and scary ways.

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rihanna eating food

Think for a second about what you have eaten today. Chances are, pieces of plastic aren't on your list.

But they should be. 

A study published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology suggests that microplastics — tiny, often invisible pieces of plastic — are in our water, food, air, and stomachs at alarming rates.

The researchers compiled data from 26 studies, looking at 3,600 samples of food and drink sources including seafood, salt, sugar, honey, beer, and water from the tap and bottles. They also looked at microplastic concentrations in the air, indoors and out. Then they calculated how much of these substances the average person eats and breathes in every day, based on recommended dietary intakes, consumption data from the Department of Agriculture, and estimates from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Their numbers suggest that Americans take in between 203 and 312 bits of plastic every day, depending on our age and sex.

Over time, that adds up: The average American woman may ingest around 98,000 tiny plastic particles every year, while the average man consumes 121,000.  

Bottled water drinkers have it the worst. They ingest about 86,000 more microplastics per year than people who drink from the tap. That's an extra 236 small plastic particles every day.

Scientists aren't yet sure what health risks these microplastics pose for humans, but here's what we know so far.

Yeah, we eat and drink plastic. So what? 

obama eating

The most common microplastics we eat are fibers (like those from microfiber cloths), but we also take in plastic fragments, plastic granules that can be as big as sesame seeds, and tiny bits of foams and films. Plastic even comes into our noses.

"Unless coughed or sneezed out of the mouth or nasal openings, inhaled particles will either enter the digestive system via mucociliary clearing or remain trapped in the lungs," the researchers said in the study.

The World Health Organization says there isn't yet enough evidence to conclude that microplastic particles are hurting us, since so little data is available. But research conducted in other creatures does not look good. Evidence shows that microplastics hurt sea life and slow down growth and reproduction rates in fish. 

It's not yet known whether the tiny particles are dangerous for us on their own, but scientists do know that they contain toxic chemicals that have been shown to have detrimental health effects.

One category of these chemicals is phthalates, which are found in plastic packaging. At least one phthalate can cause cancer, according to the US National Institutes of Health. Phthalates can also mess with our ability to make babies and can impair normal child development. Over the past five decades, sperm counts have plummeted: Researchers have found that men today produce about half the sperm they did in the 1970s across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. There is some initial evidence this trend may be linked to more plastic use. Plasticizing chemicals may also be linked to decreases in male testosterone levels. 

Microplastics also contain the chemical BPA, which is often used in the lining of canned foods and drinks. A survey conducted in 2013 and 2014 by the Centers for Disease Control suggested that 95% of US adults have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies. There's evidence that this BPA exposure can make our bodies turn more calories into fat rather than muscle, and can make our fat cells larger. 

"BPA exposure may explain nearly 2% of all obesity in 4-year-olds," Leo Trasande, a pediatrician and public-health researcher at NYU Langone Health who was not involved in the new study, told Business Insider

In a best case scenario, any chemicals in microplastics will simply pass through our bodies without causing damaging effects. But even if that is the case, we are not safe from the harmful effects of plastic on a larger scale.

Chemicals from plastics are a problem on their own

tupperware, leftovers

Transande said that because research about the health effects of microplastics on humans is still so preliminary, it's hard to know whether the amount we're consuming is a problem.

"There's very little one can actually take away from this particular study," he said. "I can't tell you what these microplastics do. They may get excreted in feces, they may get absorbed into the human body."

But chemicals like phthalates and BPA pose a risk to people who consume food or liquid stored in plastic, regardless of whether or not they ingest any microplastics.

"Yes, microplastics are a rising concern for human health, but when it comes to the effects of plastics in food and in health, there already are many substantial health concerns known about the chemicals that absorb into food directly," Transande said. "We really should be focusing on action to limit contact of food and water with chemicals commonly found in plastic."

Read More: A toxic-chemicals expert is sounding the alarm about 4 cancer-linked chemicals that could be making us sicker and fatter

Transande added that he recommends people avoid dishwashing or microwaving any plastic containers, because the heat can cause toxic, endocrine-disrupting chemicals to leach out into what we eat. Opt out of plastic packaging and storage containers when possible, he said, and throw kitchen plastics away when they become etched or scratched. 

The new numbers could be low estimates

More research on microplastics is still needed, and there are some important caveats to note about this study. For one, the researchers only estimated how many microplastics we ingest — they didn't measure the concentrations inside people's bodies. So it's possible their counts are off.

The team's totals are also not comprehensive. They did not calculate how many microplastics people take in from some common everyday foods like meat, grains, and vegetables, for example, because there isn't much information available about the microplastic concentrations in those (data is better for things like seafood and water). The studies we do have suggest foods like chicken contain detectable amounts of plastic.

What's more, the researchers didn't include estimates for any additional microplastics that may get added during food preparation, and they didn't consider the microplastics that might accumulate on top of food while it's sitting out waiting to be eaten either. 

So the authors cautioned that, if anything, their numbers are underestimates.

In reality, our "annual microplastic consumption could exceed several hundred thousand," the researchers said.

Whatever the real total is, the only way to reduce it is to produce and use less plastic overall. This would lead fewer tiny pieces of microplastic to accumulate in the environment, and would ensure that humans consume less of the toxic chemicals found in plastic products in general. 

"It speaks to reducing the use of plastic materials in your daily life when it comes to contact with food, period," Transande said of the new research. "Because ultimately the reason that we're seeing microplastics in the environment is the ubiquitous use of plastics."

SEE ALSO: Bottled water from major brands like Aquafina, Nestle, and Dasani contains tiny plastic particles — here's what that does to your body

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A molecular biologist warns chemicals in plastic can seep into food and lead to major health effects like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes

How to add music and other audio to your Apple Watch and listen to it from the watch

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apple watch

  • Your Apple Watch has the ability to store music and podcasts so you can listen to your favorite tunes without having to use your iPhone.
  • You can also play any song or podcast that's stored on your iPhone, when you have the device nearby.
  • Storage on the Apple Watch itself is limited to 2 GB for music, so you'll have to be selective with your songs.
  • The Apple Watch doesn't have a headphone jack port so you'll need a set of wireless headphones.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

One of the great features of the Apple Watch is the ability to listen to music on the go, without having to carry your iPhone.

Whether you're going out for a run, need to be hands-free, or your phone just died and you're in desperate need to rock out, you can still access your favorite artists through your watch. All you have to do is stream the songs from your nearby phone or download them directly onto your Apple Watch.

But be warned: Storage space is limited to 2 GB for music on an Apple Watch, so you may need to remove songs or playlists before adding more.

You can also tune in to your favorite podcasts by automatically syncing their release with your watch. To free up some of that desirable storage space, Apple even automatically removes the episode once you've listened to it.

Ready to reach your playlists and podcasts from your wrist? Follow the simple steps below. But before you start setting up your music and more, invest in a pair of wireless headphones. The Apple Watch doesn't have a headphone jack to accommodate your usual set.

How to download music to your Apple Watch

There are two ways to listen to music on your Apple Watch. You can either stream them directly from your nearby iPhone, or you can download a set amount of songs onto your watch and listen without having your iPhone on you.

1. Place your Apple Watch on its charger and connect the charger to power.

2. On your iPhone, open the Watch app. If you can't find it, you can swipe right on the home screen and search for it.

3. On the "My Watch" screen scroll down and select "Music."

how to play music on apple watch

4. Here, you can select what music to download to your Apple Watch. There are two options:

  • You can choose specific playlists and albums to add to your watch.
  • You can also choose the "Heavy Rotation" feature and Apple will automatically add and remove music based on what you're listening to on your iPhone.

5. If you want to have Apple choose the music, make sure that the "Heavy Rotation" feature is turned on — the switch will be green. If you want to manually choose music click the "+ Add Music" under "Playlists & Albums" and make your selections.

how to play music on apple watch

6. Your music will sync to your Apple Watch when it is connected to power and close to your iPhone.

How to listen to music on your Apple Watch

1. On your Apple Watch, open the Music app.

apple watch music

2. You will now be able to scroll through music stored on your Apple Watch and choose a song. If you scroll all the way to the top you will be given the option to shuffle all songs on the Apple Watch. If you've got your iPhone nearby, you'll also be able to choose "On iPhone" to browse and play music that is on that device.

apple watch music

3. Once you've selected your music, the Apple Watch will ask you to connect a pair of Bluetooth headphones in order to listen to the audio. Click on "Connect a Device" and select your headphones.

apple watch music

4. You will now be able to play your music. You can use the crown (the dial on the side of your watch) to turn the volume up or down, and pause, skip forward, or skip back using the on-screen buttons.

apple watch music

Don't like the song that's playing? If you tap the three dots in the bottom right corner of the watch face you can choose to delete the song from your Apple Watch.

How to download podcasts to your Apple Watch

Just like the music setup, there are two ways to listen to podcasts on your Apple Watch. You can have your iPhone nearby and listen to any episodes saved on your phone, or you can download a set number of episodes directly onto your watch.

1. Place your Apple Watch on its charger and connect the charger to power.

2. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.

3. On the "My Watch" screen, scroll down and click on "Podcasts."

apple watch music

4. On this screen, you'll find two options for choosing what podcasts to save to your Apple Watch:

  • You can choose to have all of your new episodes in your "Listen Now" section automatically downloaded onto your Apple Watch.
  • You can also manually select which shows to sync and Apple will attempt to add three episodes from each show onto your Apple Watch (this will depend on your available storage).

Apple watch music

5. Your podcasts will automatically sync when your Apple Watch is connected to power and near to your iPhone. Once you've listened to a podcast, it will be removed from your watch to save storage space.

How to listen to podcasts on your Apple Watch

1. On your Apple Watch, open the Podcasts app.

apple watch music

2. You will now see all the episodes saved on your Apple Watch. You can select one to play or, if your iPhone is nearby, you can scroll all the way to the top and choose "On iPhone" to stream an episode from your phone.

apple watch music

3. Connect your Bluetooth headphones and you're ready to go.

4. You can use the crown to turn the volume up or down, and pause, skip forward 30 seconds, or skip back 15 seconds using the on-screen buttons. There's also an option to play the podcast at half speed, 1.5x speed and 2x speed, as well as the traditional 1x speed.

apple watch music

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech

SEE ALSO: The best smartwatches you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: I've used iPhones for nearly a decade and switched to the Samsung Galaxy S10. Now I understand Android loyalty in a way I never understood before.

I tested a $50,000 Acura TLX A-Spec PMC Edition to check out the limited-run sedan and decide if it's worth the price

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Acura TLX A-Spec PMC

  • The Acura TLX A-Spec PMC Edition is a limited-run, hand-built version of the excellent TLX A-Spec sedan.
  • For a vehicle of which just 360 will be produced, the Acura TLX A-Spec PMC Edition is a genuine bargain.
  • The PMC Edition doesn't drive any differently than the regular TLX A-Spec, but it has all the features Acura can throw into it, and it's also available in a stunning "Valencia Red Pearl" paint job.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.


The 2018 Acura TLX A-Spec was a sleeper hit for Business Insider's 2017 Car of the Year award. We named the compact sedan from Honda's luxury brand our runner-up and unidentified it as a viable rival for Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus, but at a tasty, feature-packed price.

More recently, Acura decided to do a special edition TLX A-Spec, building 360 examples by hand in Ohio, where the company also manufactures its NSX supercar.

These cars get the PMC treatment — "Performance Manufacturing Center" — but they aren't way more expensive than the regular A-Specs. But the rare birds do have a standout lineage, and can be painted "Valencia Red Pearl," one of the more gorgeous automotive colors currently available on planet Earth. (The car goes on sale later this year, by the way.)

Acura put car number 000/360 on the floor of the New York auto show for a few weeks earlier this year, and when the show wrapped, they asked us if we wanted to borrow the vehicle for a few days. We said, "Heck yes!"

The big question was, "Would car 000 be something special?"

Cut to the chase: It was — and it's still a great bargain!

Read on to find out why.

FOLLOW US: On Facebook for more car and transportation content!

The 2020 Acura TLX A-Spec PMC Edition arrived in dashing "Valencia Red Pearl" paint job.



The TLX A-Spec was a Business Insider Car of the Year runner-up in 2017.

Read the review.



The Acura TLX A-Spec PMC Edition is the only other Acura that can share a color scheme with the NSX supercar. Both vehicles are built in Ohio. American made!



I have nothing against Ferrari red, but THIS Acura red is stunning.



A special package includes TLX A-Spec PMC specific features, including black 19-inch wheels.



The car's fascia is, to be honest, sort of awkward and beaky. But it grows on you.



A set of "Jewel Eye" LED headlights would define the TLX A-Spec PMC's front end, if not for that brash, angular, blacked-out grille.



The Acura TLX A-Spec PMC, like the nearly (but not quite) identical TLX A-Spec, has a subtle-but-impressive road presence. The car has pretty much everything on offer for the TLX, to go along with the hand-built PMC Edition coolness.



The rear end is beautifully carved, with a sweet decklid spoiler and blacked-out exhaust pipes.



SH-AWD stands for "super handling all-wheel-drive" — translated, that means the TLX can send traction to the wheel that needs it most.



And of course "A-Spec" is Acura's name for the more intensely sporty exterior and interior treatment.



The car has a fastback roofline, but it isn't a hatchback: the truck lid opens to reveal a capacious cargo area, large enough to swallow up three of four suitcases.



At the other end, we have the TLX's superb engine ...



... A 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 — no turbocharger, just motor! And it's exactly the same powerplant as on the non-PMC TLX A-Spec.

It's fantastic. "We're being compelled to deal with more and more turbocharging on luxury vehicles, but the TLX's mill is all motor, and it punches above spec, at least in the feel department," I wrote in my original TLX A-Spec review.

"I thought I had more than 300 horses the entire time, testament to how that V6 in combination with a 9-speed automatic does a passable imitation of a small V8. The 0-60 mph run can be achieved in about six seconds, which isn't bonkers fast, but the TLX A-Spec comes into its own when you call on it to pass or want to cleanly access the power while modulating speed."



There are a few reminders that this Acura TLX is more special than the non-A-Spec version ...



... including a shout-out on the floor mats.



So let's slip inside and sample the TLX A-Spec PMC's interior.



The front seats are wonderful: in the case of our tester, black leather combined with suave Alcantara, and just enough bolstering to grip you when the driving gets frisky. They're also heated and cooled.



The rear seats are less purposeful, but they're perfectly comfortable. Legroom is about what you'd expect in a compact sedan: not bad, but not great, either.



Overall, the TLX A-Spec PMC's interior is more than up to par for the sport-luxury segment.



A moonroof floods the cabin with light.



The leather-wrapped steering wheel gets some snazzy red topstitching and a tiny A-Spec logo. The numerous buttons and knobs enable the driver to operate the infotainment system without taking their hands off the wheel. The steering wheel is heated, and the instrument cluster is old-school analog.



So the Acura TLX A-Spec PMC is a hand-built machine, and that fact is commemorated by a small plaque in the center console. "PMC" is for "Performance Manufacturing Center," located Ohio. Our tester car was number 000 of 360 — the very first example, fresh off the floor of the New Your auto show.

The hand-building process involves unpainted bodies going from Honda/Acura's Ohio factory to the PMC studio, where the engine, transmission, and suspension are added. The cars are then painted, seats are installed, the rest of interior is completed, and the vehicle is ready to go.



The selector for the transmission has a learning curve, but it isn't steep. The drive can also access the drive modes with this setup and activate the brake-hold feature for stop-and-go-driving or waiting at traffic lights.



Wireless charging is always a plus!



Acura's two-screen infotainment system works well if you're running Apple CarPlay on one screen. Otherwise, it seems sort of redundant.



The system is effective, however. It isn't as modern-feeling as some other systems we've tested, but the GPS navigation works fine, Bluetooth integration is excellent, there are USB/AUX ports for mobile devices, and a reasonably good set of cameras.



The Acura TLX A-Spec PMC's key fob is also quite nice, enabling remote start — a great feature on hot or cold days.



So how does the limited-edition Acura TLX A-Spec PMC stack up against the car we sampled in 2017?

As I wrote in my review of the TLX A-Spec, "Acuras are more fun to drive than Lexuses, less fun than BMWs, different from Audis (I tend to find Acuras to be better for daily driving duty), more youthful than Mercedes, and less juicy than Cadillacs."

They are, in other words, their own thing. And the PMC Edition is its own thing. The TLX A-Spec we tested in 2017 stickered at about $46,000, and the PMC version isn't expected to much costlier: probably $50,000.

The driving experience was the same, which is to say wonderful. The engine delivers a 0-60 mph run of six seconds, not crazy fast but fast enough, and the power from that V6 is smooth — you appreciate this car's virtues on the freeway.

And while all the PMC trim does for the spec sheet is add a few thousand dollars worth of goodies, the hand-built aspect of that package is genuinely compelling. For about 50 grand, you get to own one of just 360 cars.

I sort of expect all 360 to be "Valencia Red Pearl" in color — because it is just about the most beautiful red currently on the market, and you previously had to buy an NSX to get it. It's hypnotically lovely. Trust me. I would honestly never get tired of looking at this car.

And hey, it's an Acura and therefore built (by hand!) to last for decades. So you could look forward to years and years of happy, you know — looking!



Harry's has launched a collection of under-$12 hair products designed for all hair types — here's what each one is like to use

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Harry's Hair

In 2013, Harry's started out as a high-quality, yet affordable alternative to annoyingly pricey razors and shaving essentials, but over the last six years it's blossomed into a total men's grooming brand, selling everything from skincare to shower products.

Now, the Harry's is expanding once again to cater to most men's nearest and dearest feature: their hair.

The Harry's hair collection includes (from softest to hardest hold): Taming Cream, Texturizing Putty, and Sculpting Gel. Additionally, the collection includes a convenient and easy-to-use two-in-one shampoo and conditioner. The products were designed to accommodate all hair types and hairstyles.

Harry's sent the Insider Picks team the entire lineup to try ahead of the launch, and we wrote up our thoughts below. The best part, though, is that each product is priced between $7 and $12, they won't burn a hole in your wallet if you want to try them all.

Shop Harry's new hair products here or keep reading to check out our reviews.

Harry's Hair Texturizing Putty

Harry's Texturizing Putty, $12

If you're looking for some flexibility, the Texturizing Putty from Harry's is a good choice. Once applied, it provides a good hold, but unlike a paste or pomade, you can reshape your hairstyle a bit later. For example, you may want a more professional look in the morning as you head into the office, but a more messy style for happy hour after work — this putty lets you do that.

At least, that's what I experienced during a full week of using it while on vacation. I didn't need a very strong hold, but I still wanted some style. The Texturizing Putty maintained my all-day messy look, yet kept my short, straight hair in place (instead of sticking up haphazardly), despite the hot, sweaty weather. My look in the evening definitely changed from what I started the day with, so it may not work for people who want a consistent look from day-to-night.

The pliable putty is very thick and you really need to dig into it, but a little is all you need. However, the putty works best on towel-dried hair. Don't worry if it clumps up — just massage it into the hair and shape (no combing here). It leaves a matte finish, and your hair won't ever look like it's been gelled to death. The scent isn't unpleasant, but it isn't my favorite of the new Harry's products; still, it's subtle when it's on your hands and you won't smell it throughout the day. Unlike L'Oréal's Studio Line Overworked Hair Putty, Harry's feels lighter.

I used to use a pomade from Baxter of California and Sumotech from Bumble & Bumble, and the reason why I stopped is because of how expensive they are. The Texturizing Putty costs less, comes with a lot more in the jar, and works just as well, if not better. I love that it's easy to apply and maintain. Plus, the jar size meets TSA regulations, so it's the perfect hair product for travel. — Les Shu, Insider Picks Guides Editor



Harry's Hair Sculpting Gel

Harry's Sculpting gel, $8

While I like the Texturizing Putty, I love the Sculpting Gel. I'm more of a gel-kinda-guy and I like the way the liquidy product works into my hair and the semi-permanent hold it gives. The downside to most gels I've used is that my straight hair requires more of it than I like, and I also hate the "crunchy" look and feel it leaves. After trying this for a week, I'm not kidding when I say I may have found my favorite hair gel.

I find that I only need a small dollop to style my hair, even less if I'm using a comb. There's enough time for me to work with it, yet sets in pretty soon after I leave it alone. With other gels, I have this tendency to over-squeeze the bottle, but Harry's designed the cap in a way that this won't happen. The gel has a very pleasant scent, but don't worry: the smell won't stay on the hair. During my testing, the gel managed my straight hair well and into the night — even with an afternoon disco nap.

While not the same type of hair-styling product, the Sculpting Gel gives me the same experience I'd get from my all-time favorite hair product, Rewind 06 from Redken, but at half the price (or more). Rewind, for me, is easy to work with, has a good scent, and gives my hair a strong, long-lasting hold — the attributes I find with the Sculpting Gel.

At $8, it's only $2-$3 more than drugstore brands, but I like the results much more and would be happy to spend the slight premium. — Les Shu, Insider Picks Guides Editor



Harry's Hair Taming Cream

Harry's Taming Cream, $8

With the softest hold of the new products, the Taming Cream is designed for curly, coarse, or thick hair. I have thick curls so it was the best choice for me. I've been using it for a couple of weeks ahead of the launch and I love it. Before curling my hair in the morning, I add a small amount of the Taming Cream and it holds the style all day long. Even though it comes out as a white cream, it's light and can be easily worked into your hair.  You won't be left with a bunch of excess cream or white stuff in your hair — and it doesn't flake once dry.

It also has a mild scent, which I appreciate. Compared to similar products that I've used, I don't have to walk around smelling like coconuts, pineapples, and mangoes all day.  — Amir Ismael, Insider Picks reporter



Harry's Hair 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner

Harry's 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner, $7

I generally don't like two-in-one shampoo-and-conditioners because I don't know if they actually work. My hair tends to get naturally oily if I don't use conditioner, and that greasiness is what I feel when I use a two-in-one. I love Harry's packaging and the minty scent, but admittedly, I had some initial doubts.

After using it for a week, I find that it works better than most two-in-ones. Depending on your hair type, you may need to use very little or a tad more (the latter, for me). But after showering, my hair felt clean for the rest of the day and there was no irritation. A small amount will work up to a nice lather, and that smell and slight tingly feeling make showering feel so good.

I still think my separate tea tree shampoo and conditioner (Trader Joe's, nothing fancy, folks) works better at thoroughly cleaning my hair, but Harry's two-in-one is damn close. Since the natural oil in hair is actually good for keeping it healthy, I should avoid stripping it away daily. So, I am trying a new regiment that involves washing my hair with Harry's twice a day, and my separate shampoo and conditioner a couple of times a week — more if it's been a nasty day, weather-wise.

Overall, this should work for most guys, and for me, it's a nice addition to my daily hair care. — Les Shu, Insider Picks Guides Editor



Apple Watch still fails at its most basic function — telling the time (AAPL)

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Kevin Lynch, Apple's vice president of Technology, unveils some of the new features in watchOS, the operating system that underlies Apple Watch, at the company's WWDC developer conference on Monday, June 3, 2019.

Apple Watch will soon become an even more capable computer.

But it's still struggling to do the most basic thing expected of a watch — display the time.

Apple on Monday announced a slew of new features for its smartwatch at its annual developer conference. The new version of its operating system — watchOS 6 — will bring Apple's voice memo and calculator apps to the device. Users will now be able to download apps directly to their watches through its new built-in app store.

Women will be able to track their menstrual cycles with it, using a new app. And the device will even warn users when ambient noise levels get loud enough to damage their hearing. 

Read this: Apple's new watch update is the missing piece of the puzzle the Apple Watch needed, and Fitbit should be worried

But one thing the new software won't do is display the time at all times. Instead, as they have since the first Apple Watch debuted four years ago, users will still have to twist or raise their wrists just to check the hour.

That may not seem like a big deal, but it can be. It can force users to stop whatever they're doing with their hands — typing on a keyboard, say, or carrying luggage — just to check the time.

It's also just a plain design failure. The most essential function of a watch is to display the time, to allow the wearer to see the hour at just a simple glance. The vast majority of traditional wristwatch and many of Apple Watch's rivals offer this simple, but basic function. Why can't Apple's smartwatch?

Battery life isn't a good excuse for not displaying the time

An Apple representative confirmed that watchOS 6 won't include an always-on time feature, but declined to explain the company's rationale for leaving it out. So I don't exactly know what the thinking is in Cupertino.

But company officials would probably argue that it would diminish the device's battery life. And they could probably make a strong case that the device is selling pretty well without that ability.

That may be true, but I think many users would opt for an always-on screen if they had a choice, battery life be damned. And I'm no expert, but I would think that there are ways to minimize the impact on the device's charge.

The Apple Watch comes with an OLED screen. That type of screen doesn't have a backlight; instead, it can be set to illuminate only the particular pixels it needs for each image it displays. It likely wouldn't need a lot of power to display just a digital readout of the time or a simple pair of watch hands on a black background. Apple could also limit battery drain by not displaying the time with full brightness or use the watch's built-in ambient light sensor to adjust the brightness on the fly.

The company seem to recognize that customers use the Apple Watch as a timepiece. With watchOS 6, users will be able to set the device to buzz them every hour on the hour. And the updated software, like its predecessors will come with a new collection of watch faces. Many of these are customizable; users can have them display the date or their appointment or, now, the noise level around them.

What they can't do is have these watch faces show the time all the time. Until they can, Apple Watch will be a smart gadget, but a really dumb watch.

Got a tip about Apple or the tech industry? Contact this reporter via email at twolverton@businessinsider.com, message him on Twitter @troywolv, or send him a secure message through Signal at 415.515.5594. You can also contact Business Insider securely via SecureDrop.

SEE ALSO: Apple's new services 'aren't hobbies,' a testy Tim Cook told analysts

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Bombas has launched rainbow socks for Pride Month — and it's sending 40% of all the socks it donates to LGBTQ youth homeless shelters

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bombas pride month socks

  • The sock brand Bombas has launched a line of rainbow socks in both ankle and calf length ($12 each) to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month.
  • Since its founding in 2013, Bombas has donated a pair of socks to a homeless shelter for every pair sold.
  • For the month of June, Bombas is sending 40% of all the socks it donates to LGBTQ youth homeless shelters to raise awareness that 40% of homeless youth identify as a member of the queer community.

This June, more brands than ever are launching rainbow lines in celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month. While it's a reassuring sign of mainstream acceptance of the queer community, it's made it difficult to discern which companies are truly invested in giving back to the community and which are just looking to make a quick buck and raise their image at the expense of the cause. As a bona fide Queer Person™, I have a vested interest in ensuring that any Pride products I purchase are benefiting the most vulnerable members of my community, not just padding the pockets of corporate CEOs.

Bombas has launched a line of rainbow socks, available in both ankle height ($12) and calf height ($12) that directly benefit the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community — homeless youth — making them a stand-out in an overwhelming sea of rainbow options. The space-dyeing process ensures that each pair is unique, celebrating the individuality and diversity of the LGBTQ community. 

Each pair of Pride socks features all the markers of great Bombas quality: its signature honeycomb technology, enhancing arch support where you need it most; a Y-stitched heel that prevents it from bunching at the back of your shoe; and a hand-linked toe seam that completely eliminates that annoying rubbing across your toes as you walk. They are far and away the most comfortable and substantial pair of socks I own, and consistently the first ones I reach for after doing a load of laundry. 

Since its launch in 2013, Bombas has donated a pair of socks to a homeless shelter for every pair it's sold. Unused clothing is the most requested donation item at shelters, and to date Bombas has donated over 21 million new articles of clothing, including socks and T-shirts to shelters. Bombas has engineered the apparel with antimicrobial finishes and reinforced seams specifically to benefit those who are unable to put on clean clothes each day. This month, they are extending their charitable mission to the LGBTQ community in honor of Pride Month.

The Human Rights Campaign reports that LGBTQ teens are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their straight or cisgender peers. Forty percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, even though LGBTQ people comprise 10% of the general population.

To raise awareness of this statistic as well as to directly improve the lives of queer homeless youth in a small way, Bombas is giving 40% of the socks they donate to shelters that directly serve LGBTQ homeless youth in the United States. And that's not just donations as a results of their Pride line, that's 40% of all donations Bombas makes this month up to one million pairs of socks. So even if the rainbow socks aren't to your taste, you can be sure that any purchase you make from Bombas through June 30 is directly benefiting queer youth.

This Pride Month, I invite you to take a deeper look into the rainbow-painted products and offerings to see what contributions (if any) the companies behind them are making to LGBTQ causes. If they're anything like Bombas, you can feel confident in your purchase. 

Find the Bombas Calf Socks for $12 here

Find the Bombas Ankle Socks for $12 here

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This $10 purple shampoo is my secret weapon for extending the life of my highlights and keeping my blonde hair from looking brassy

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clairol

  • Keeping blonde hair looking blonde can be a hassle. Plenty of things we encounter everyday — like chlorine in the pool or mineral impurities in our shower water —can contribute to buildup that makes blonde hair appear yellow.
  • Luckily, there are plenty of products made to banish brassiness and keep blonde hair looking light and bright. 
  • Shimmer Lights ($10) is a purple shampoo that uses violet dye to neutralize yellow, brassy color. I've been using it for three years now and it's one of my favorite drugstore products — it's affordable, gets results, and saves me time and money on trips to the hair salon. 

Whether you're born with it or buy it, blonde hair is notorious for needing a lot of attention.

If you've ever colored your hair, you've probably experienced this conundrum. You walk out of the salon with fresh highlights, shining blonde and bright. Then, a few weeks later you look in the mirror and all you can see is yellow.  It's not you — it's your hair. Light color leaves little to the imagination when it comes to showing buildup. A whole host of factors including chlorine, mineral water, and UV rays from the sun, can make blonde hair appear brassy— those dark yellow, orange, and red tones that show up on your strands just after you get highlights. 

Luckily, there are a few easy, affordable ways to keep your blonde looking brighter for longer. Most notably, purple shampoo. If you're looking for a great purple shampoo that's also affordable, you'll probably come across Clairol Shimmer Lights

What is purple shampoo

The name is pretty self-explanatory, but purple shampoo is just that — regular shampoo in a deep purple shade. The active ingredient is a violet dye that neutralizes any yellow, brassy look. If you're wondering "why purple?" just look at the color wheel. Purple and yellow are opposite colors, so purple cancels out the yellow tones. Some call it a toning or color-enhancing treatment. While it's most commonly used for blondes, anyone with colored or gray hair can benefit from the shampoo as well.

There are many brands making purple shampoo, but Clairol's Shimmer Lights is a popular choice among hair stylists and blondes alike. It's affordable — $10 for a 16-ounce bottle— has been around for years, and is deeply pigmented so you'll see results in just a few uses. 

How to use Shimmer Lights 

You can use Shimmer Lights as you would any shampoo, except you should make a few small tweaks. Don't use this shampoo every single day, instead use it like it's a treatment rather than a daily lather. Clairol recommends using it once or twice a week, though you can use more or less frequently based on how your hair reacts. For maximum results, let the shampoo sit for about five minutes before rinsing. You can also add the Clairol Shimmer Lights conditioner to your routine, to amp up the effects. 

There are two main reasons why this should not be part of your everyday routine. One is that the active violet dye in Shimmer Lights is very potent. That's what make it work so well, but if you use it too often it could cause an over-deposit of that deep purple color in your hair.  Secondly, Shimmer Lights contains sulfates. I'll go more into those in a bit, but sulfates can dry out your scalp, so you're better off using them sparingly. 

When I first got my hair highlighted, my stylist recommended Shimmer Lights as a weekly treatment, saying it would help make my color last even longer. I was shocked at how well it worked. My stylist said I would be due for a touch-up appointment in three to four months,  but I ended up waiting six months to get my hair done again — I just used Shimmer Lights every now and then to keep my hair looking blonder for longer. 

purple

Some things to look out for

When I heard that I should be nixing sulfates from my beauty routine, I start reading the labels on all of my beauty products. I was pretty bummed when I saw that the Shimmer Lights shampoo, one of my most relied-on beauty products, was seemingly ridden with sulfates. Would I have to stop using it?

For me, the answer was no — I still use this product, and I'll tell you why.

Sulfates have gotten a pretty bad rap, but simply put, they're really just what gives your shampoo a soapy, sudsy appearance. Sulfates help remove dirt and debris, which gives you a squeaky clean feel, but can also strip your scalp of oil and moisture. If you're prone to dryness and irritation of the skin, a sulfate shampoo may worsen these symptoms. I have pretty sensitive skin, but I haven't found this shampoo to be too drying for me. I only use it about once or twice a week and I'll throw in a deep conditioner every now and then to keep my hair from getting brittle.

Additionally, if you get hair treatments like a keratin treatment to tame frizz sulfates can strip the treatment from your hair prematurely, so you may want to avoid them. Ultimately, sulfates aren't inherently bad for you, but if you have sensitive skin, dry hair, or have a special hair treatment, a sulfate-free shampoo is probably a better choice. 

Bottom Line

Clairol Shimmer Lights is an easy, affordable way to keep blonde hair looking vibrant and freshly colored — even months after it's been treated. If you're worried about using products with sulfates, there are plenty of sulfate-free purple shampoos out there that are gentler on your skin and strands. If you're on the fence, reach out to a dermatologist or hair stylist you trust to help you make your decision. 

Getting your hair highlighted can be an expensive endeavor, so a treatment like this that extends the life of each coloring really is a lifesaver. If you're looking for a quick brightening boost to banish brassiness from blonde (or brown or gray) hair, you can't go wrong with Shimmer Lights.

Get the Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo, from $10, at Amazon, Target, and Ulta.

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A 30-story Manhattan tower could end up slicing off 5 floors in an extreme solution to a zoning dispute. Here's what happened the last time an NYC building did that.

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1059 third avenue

  • A 30-story building on Manhattan's Upper East Side that's nearly finished could end up shaving off five floors to settle a zoning dispute, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
  • New York City's Department of Buildings told INSIDER it's "currently reviewing and giving careful attention to a community challenge regarding the project at 1059 Third Avenue."
  • Though the department doesn't force out-of-compliance buildings to slash stories, developers have several options to get in compliance, such as knocking down ceilings or creating affordable housing.
  • The last time a building took such a drastic measure was in the early '90s, when another Upper East Side building chopped off 12 stories.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A towering Manhattan condominium complex that's nearly finished could end up shaving off its top five floors amid a heated dispute with Upper East Side residents, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

New York City's Department of Buildings is looking into a zoning challenge filed on April 20 by a community organization called the Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, which says the building is nearly 10,000 square feet too large for its zoning lot.

"The magnitude and pervasiveness of errors found in this drawing are exceptional," the organization's attorney said in its zoning challenge.

Gale Brewer, the Manhattan borough president, went even further this week, reportedly sending a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio and urging investigators to look into how the building was permitted to get so big.

"I'm calling for an investigation into seemingly-fraudulent building plans for 1059 3rd Avenue filed with DOB," Brewer tweeted on Wednesday.

The building's developer, Real Estate Inverlad Development, did not immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment on the challenge.

Lopping off floors is perhaps the most extreme solution to get in compliance

1059 3rd ave

Read more:Jeff Bezos is spending $80 million on 3 NYC condos, but he already owns 4 apartments in the city. Take a look inside the building where he owns $13 million worth of real estate

The Department of Buildings told INSIDER it first issued permits for the building's foundation in September 2016 and had since approved several amendments — a common process as developers change their design plans over time.

The most recent amendment was approved in February, and the department said it was reviewing the zoning challenge and would post the results on its website.

"We scrutinize every new-building application for compliance with the city's zoning resolution," a department spokesman, Andrew Rudansky, told INSIDER in a statement. "As part of this process, we're currently reviewing and giving careful attention to a community challenge regarding the project at 1059 Third Avenue."

But if the building is indeed deemed to be out of compliance, the department isn't responsible for determining the penalty.

The developer could come up with a variety of solutions to make up for excess stories, including tearing down ceilings to reduce square footage or devoting a certain amount of space to affordable housing.

In 1991, workers used a robotic demolition machine to cut 12 stories off a building

The last time such an extreme measure was taken was in 1991, when an Upper East Side apartment building stood 12 stories too high for the city's zoning rules, according to a Times article at the time.

The building's top 12 floors were demolished slowly in 1993, after two years of strategizing how to do it safely, according to The Associated Press. Workers first took down the walls and windows and used a "robot" demolition machine, a Brokk 250, to gradually pick away at each floor from the top down, while debris was dropped through a chute to the street below.

It was "a painful way to correct a mistake on a zoning map," the developer, Laurence Ginsberg, told The Times in 1991.

Though Ginsberg had tried to make a deal to keep the top 12 floors by promising to build housing for elderly people nearby, the community group that led the zoning challenge insisted that the floors be removed.

The Times reported in 1991 that "neither the builders nor opponents of the project could recall so drastic a penalty for a zoning violation."

"By the same token," the report said, "there seem to have been few violations on such an obvious and large scale anywhere in the nation."

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NOW WATCH: Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian have a combined net worth of $189 million. Here's how they make and spend their money.

11 'Shark Tank' cleaning products that are actually useful

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shark tank cleaning products 10

  • "Shark Tank" features the entrepreneurial solutions to problems people face, from poor posture and back pain to how to "shower" when you don't have time to after your workout. 
  • There's almost no everyday problem people hate more than cleaning. The show has offered many products to help you clean your house and belongings, and keep them clean. 
  • These 11 creative products from "Shark Tank" will reduce the time, effort, and even the environmental impact of your cleaning chores. 

Making your home is hard enough, but cleaning it and keeping it clean is arguably the more difficult part. This chore is never discussed with much excitement, probably because no one truly enjoys cleaning.

If you watch "Shark Tank," however, there have been a number of product pitches that could convince you otherwise and motivate you to clean your room and belongings more often.

Some address the pain of washing your dishes and water bottles and will save your arms from intense scrubbing sessions. Others are safe, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional cleaning products. You'll also see ways to include your pets and tech devices in the cleaning party. 

These 11 products from "Shark Tank" will help you keep your entire house clean. 

SEE ALSO: The Frywall made famous on 'Shark Tank' is a game changer that reduces the mess of cooking — here's why I like using it

DON'T MISS: 17 top-rated products to clean every room in your house

A sanitary place for your dog to relieve itself — that cleans itself

BrilliantPad Self-Cleaning & Automatic Indoor Dog Potty + 1 Roll, $149.99, available at Chewy

The world's first self-cleaning dog potty, best for dogs under 25 pounds, takes care of a dirty and frequent chore. You can adjust the timer to automatically change a dirty pad one, two, or three times a day, or manually change it with a push of a button. The machine will wrap and seal the waste, keeping your home clean and odor-free. 

 



A thorough detail brush that doesn't make a mess

Brush Hero Wheel Brush Starter Set, $34.99, available at Amazon

Read our review of the Brush Hero here

From your car wheels to patio furniture to BBQ grills, the Brush Hero detail brush can clean all the hard-to-reach areas. With its steady torque and powerful scrub, it's more reliable and less messy than screwing a brush onto a power drill. The set comes with one soft and one stiff brush head. 



The original 'Shark Tank' wunderkind

Original Scrub Daddy (4-count), $11.94, available at Amazon

The biggest success from the show is undoubtedly the Scrub Daddy. So what makes this smiley scrubber so renowned? The foam adjusts to the temperature (firm in cold water, soft in warm water) so you can switch between tough scrubbing and light cleaning, and it won't scratch even delicate surfaces like glass, ceramic, and leather. You can use them anywhere, not just for dishes. 



An ergonomic broom

WISPsystem One-Handed Broom, $29.95, available at Amazon

Sweeping is a pain, especially when you realize traditional broom and dustpans don't even catch all the dirt and debris on the floor. This special broom has electrostatic bristles to collect all types of debris, and uses a push-and-pull motion to scrape it into a foot-operated dustpan. You only need to use one hand to operate it, plus you never have to bend or stoop over.



Reusable bamboo paper towels

Bambooee Bamboo Paper Towel Roll, $12.99, available at Amazon

These durable, absorbent towels are an eco-friendly paper towel alternative made of organic bamboo. Each sheet looks and feels like a regular paper towel, but can be washed up to 100 times. Each roll of 30 Bambooee sheets is equivalent to 429 paper towel rolls.



A more effective splatter guard

Frywall Medium Splatter Guard, $21.95, available at Amazon

Read our review of the Frywall here

While traditional splatter screens cover the pan, making it difficult to check on your food and resulting in condensation, the funnel-like Frywall surrounds the perimeter of the pan. The BPA-free silicone accessory still protects from oil splatters, while allowing you to continue cooking.



A natural detergent that's better for the planet

Eco Nuts Organic Laundry Detergent, $12.11, available at Amazon

These biodegradable, USDA-certified organic soap berries are quite a change from the liquid detergent or pods you're used to. In addition to being non-toxic and sustainable, they're also multi-taskers, acting as stain removers and fabric softeners. If you have sensitive skin that's often affected by the chemicals in traditional detergent or you want to make your home more green, try Eco Nuts. 



Tablets to clean the inside of your water bottle

Bottle Bright Cleaning Tablets (12-count), $8, available at Amazon

We're big advocates of using reusable water bottles and thermoses, but we have to admit they're not always easy to clean. To clean out your bottle properly — that means all the gunk hiding in the nooks and crannies, not to mention odor buildup — fill it with warm water and drop in one Bottle Bright tablet. After 15-30 minutes, the tablet dissolves and wipes out stains, germs, and residue so your bottle is squeaky clean again. 



Natural household cleaners

Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner (2-Pack), $12.20, available at Amazon

For a "Better Life" free of warning labels and harmful chemicals, shop this natural cleaning brand. Its products are so safe that you can spray them in your mouth — which is exactly what the cofounder did during his pitch. They're free from dyes, alcohol, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, and petroleum-based cleaning agents. 



A device that sanitizes your phone

PhoneSoap 3.0 UV Sanitizer and Universal Phone Charger, $59.95, available at Amazon

Read our review of the PhoneSoap here

In just 10 minutes, PhoneSoap kills 99.9% of the bacteria lurking on the device you bring with you everywhere. Its UV-C light technology breaks down this bacteria and reaches every inch of your phone, plus it includes a charger so you can clean and charge at the same time. The newest model, the PhoneSoap 3.0 actually lets you charge two devices at the same time. 



A broom that can both sweep and scrape

SweepEasy Broom, $28.87, available at Amazon

Another sweeping product from the show is the SweepEasy, a broom with a retractable scraping tool. You can scrape off stuck-on debris, food, and other sticky substances from the ground without bending down, then sweep it away, all with the same tool. It's safe for all hard floor surfaces. 



A 35-year-old CEO who sold his first startup for $1 billion says he relied on alcohol for years to escape facing his life. Here's why he's giving it up permanently.

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justin kan atrium ceo

  • Justin Kan is a mid-30s entrepreneur who sold his previous startup, Twitch, to Amazon for $1 billion, and has raised millions in VC funding for his current project, the legal startup Atrium.
  • On Twitter, Kan recently explained why he's decided to give up alcohol permanently, even though it's been a big part of his identity since he was in high school.
  • "As a young founder in high-stress situations, I often used alcohol to escape facing things," he wrote.
  • Kan also published a personal guide to Feeling Good after realizing that he's the happiest he's ever been in his adult life.
  • With his permission, we've shared his Tweets about alcohol below, along with the best tips from his Feeling Good guide.
  • Among other things, he suggests committing to five minutes of journaling a day for a week, turning your cell phone to grayscale to reduce its addictiveness, and giving therapy a try.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

I've decided to quit drinking alcohol permanently. This will be a tough challenge for me: Drinking has been a big part of my identity since I was in high school. Unfortunately, it's also been an unhealthy way to avoid being fully in touch with my emotions and my experience of life.

As a young founder in high-stress situations, I often used alcohol to escape facing things. I've struggled with this for a long time, and while I think I've gotten better over time, I believe that this is the last thing preventing me from actualizing my 100% conscious self.

Normally I would keep this private, but I hope for two things here: One, to encourage others who have struggled the same way, and two, to hold myself publicly accountable to my personal commitment.

I've been using the Streaks app to build a habit here (every day I don't drink, I extend the streak). Building a habit with an app has worked really well for me with meditation (93 days straight on Insight Timer!). (Editor's note: At the time of this publishing, Kan has made it to 56 days straight without drinking and 143 days of meditation.)

Screen Shot 2019 06 05 at 1.17.32 PMjustin kan tweet

Personal change is building a practice or habit one day at a time. There are no silver bullets in life. The good news it is possible for anyone to build a new habit.

You can have all the success in the world and still be unhappy or engage in toxic behaviors (and you will not be alone). But it is never too late to make changes in your life. I wish you the very best in your journey.

BTW, I will still meet you for a drink… but I will have soda water.

It seems like there's interest from others in joining me. If anyone is interested in joining a support group chat on Telegram, send me your handle and I'll make one (even if it's just a temporary change for you).

Guide to feeling good

I decided to write this guide because I have been pretty happy recently. I would go as far as to say that I am the happiest I've ever been (in a sustained way) in my adult life, and completely independent of my external circumstances. This is how I've done it.

Note: I started off as a beginner in each of these areas, and personally have relatively low willpower. The following things aren't very hard to do, they just require repetition, consistent reminders, and practice.

SEE ALSO: A CEO who sold his first startup for $1 billion explains how to build a company and stay happy at the same time

1. Taking time for gratitude with 5-minute journaling

I started off using The Five Minute Journal, a simple app that asks you every morning to name three things you are grateful for, as well as three things you are going to do to make that day great, and the positive affirmations you have for yourself that day. Explicit gratitude is important because it helps re-contextualize the short term negative things that happen to you throughout the day in the greater context of all the positives in your life.

The good thing about the journal is that it really just takes five minutes a day. My recommendation is that you commit to it for a week (that is only a commitment of 35 minutes) and then see if you feel better.



2. Negative visualization

One stoic practice I've adopted is negative visualization, the practice of imagining (with as much detail as possible), what your life would be like if something bad happened to you. What if you got cancer? What if you became paralyzed? What if your company fell apart and you had to get another job?

By imagining the worst case scenarios very vividly, two things happen. First, you realize that you would adapt to them; the human mind and body are very adaptable and people have adapted to far worse things that you have or will likely ever experience. Second, when you are done, you will wake up in your real life and realize how awesome it is.



3. Meditation

I'm pretty new to meditation. I started off using Headspace, which worked reasonably well to create a sense of calm for me throughout the day. After a couple of months, I would do focused meditation following my breath (on average once every other day) for about 10 minutes.

I'm now doing Transcendental Meditation (TM), which Ray Dalio recommends in Principles: Life and Work. TM is a form of mantra meditation that is quite easy to adopt, that you do in two 20-minute daily sessions (I do them right when I wake up, and then in a supply closet at work in the afternoon). While this is a big time commitment, I feel like it has paid dividends to my daily happiness, energy, and ability to be present.

Read more:Ray Dalio runs the world's most successful hedge fund according to these 20 management principles

 



4. Using the phone less

You have voluntarily decided to carry around a toxic, time-wasting Skinner-box in your pocket at all times, from the second you wake up in the morning to right before you fall asleep at night. This is incredibly stupid, and yet every smart person does it.

After realizing I was spending 5.5 hours a day on my phone, I decided I needed to kick the habit. I tried to go phoneless, and replace my phone with an Apple Watch, but unfortunately I still wanted to use some utility apps like Uber and Venmo. The solution I've settled on is that I've turned my phone to grayscale (to reduce its addictiveness; go to Color Filters in Settings), deleted email, Slack, and all entertainment apps (YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and even the browser), deleted the app store (locking it with a passcode that I don't have access to). My phone is now only useful for reading, music, texting; I find myself using it much, much less, at basically no cost to my quality of life.



5. Exercising more

I try to exercise every day, even if it is just five minutes of crunches or push-ups. In order to hold myself accountable, I have a trainer who shows up at my house 3x a week (I built a small gym in my garage). If you can't afford a trainer, I suggest committing to meet a friend at the gym on a regular schedule: a social commitment will further obligate you to go to the gym, and remove it from being an active decision that you need willpower to make.

 



Eating better

I started experimenting with diets last year as well, after discovering that I was particularly sensitive to carbohydrates. For the first six months of 2018, I tried to stick to eating a ketogenic diet (this is a good guide to keto), which worked well to increase alertness and reduce fatigue throughout the day, but was hard to keep to. For the second six months, I tried intermittent fasting (IF) and eating only one meal a day during the weekdays (dinner), and eating whatever I wanted for that meal. IF seemed easier to stick to and had about 65% of the benefits of keto.



7. Trying therapy

I was very resistant to trying therapy. Finally, after a breaking point at a previous company, I realized I had to make a change and found someone. This was life-changing for me: I worked through a lot of paralyzing guilt around failure that I felt, and learned how to detach myself from my daily emotional ups and downs. I still see someone (a different person) today.

Unfortunately, many people don't have a close, impartial person they can talk to; therapy simulates this by making it someone else's job. If you're new to therapy, I recommend that you talk to a couple of therapists before picking someone. You want to find someone you vibe with, who you feel you can learn from, and that you respect. That might take a few tries.



8. Removing attachment

I try to actively remind myself that attachment to outcomes (future successes, or even things staying the same as they are now) will only cause my own suffering. Of course, this is very hard to actively hold in your mind.

The truth is that one day we will all lose everything we have, will ever have, love, and will ever love. Your friends and family will grow old and die, your fame will be forgotten, your health will fail, and eventually you will die. That might seem scary or sad, but it's not! The sooner you accept that life is change and that you can't control the outcomes, the freer you will be.



9. Being authentic

In an effort to connect in a more deep and authentic way with people around me, I've started to try to tell people more of the positive emotions I feel towards them. For my friends, I will literally say things like, "I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate your friendship, and I've always admired that you are someone who connects well with other people as that is something I've always aspired to myself." At work, it might be something like, "I wanted to tell you I appreciate your willingness to give me constructive criticism; I know it is not always easy to honestly criticize the CEO. I think that takes guts and it has helped me improve."

The responses I've received have been surprisingly positive. Instead of being awkward as I'd feared, my friends and relationships have expressed gratitude for these authentic sentiments. (Of course, when you do this, it is important that you are actually authentic and not just blowing smoke up your friend's ass.)



10. Feeling and naming emotions

A big realization for me was that emotions (anger, sadness, fear, joy, excitement) are neither good nor bad; they're just a form of data. I've become committed to feeling all my emotions (and not trying to avoid them through escapes like drinking alcohol or distracting myself through media). Also, I've tried to develop the skill of being able to name those emotions explicitly with myself and other people ("I feel anger right now") as a way to drive more deeply into the underlying interpersonal issues ("I think this may be because I don't feel heard by you in this conversation"). This was very scary to do when I was first starting out (generally we are afraid that talking about our "bad" emotions might cause others around us to withdraw their approval), but has really helped me connect more deeply and authentically with people around me, both at work and at home.

A fuller version of this article originally appeared on Justin Kan's blog.

 

 



22 Amazon Prime-eligible gifts for Father’s Day — all under $50

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SKLZ Accelerator Pro Indoor Putting Green w Ball Return

  • It's never too early to start thinking about what to get your dad for Father's Day — which is Sunday, June 16 this year.
  • It's a no-brainer to turn to Amazon due to its massive catalog and gift ideas, so we've rounded up 22 Prime-eligible products any dad would love — all under $50.
  • If you don't find the perfect gift on this list, check out more Father's Day 2019 gift ideas here.

Before you know, it'll be time to thank your dad for all that he's done for you. Between jump starting your car in the middle of the night and assembling all of the IKEA furniture for your new apartment and styling your hair when your mom's not around, dads do a lot for us and it's time to repay the favor.

Don't worry though — repaying the favor doesn't mean emptying your wallet. We've rounded up a list of 22 Father's Day gifts all under $50. Plus, they're all Amazon Prime-eligible so not only will your gift arrive way ahead of schedule, but it won't cost you a pretty penny either. Can someone say "favorite kid?"

Here are 22 Prime-eligible Father's Day gifts under $50:

A dad hat for outdoor adventures

Lethmik Outdoor Waterproof Boonie Hat, available on Amazon for $13.95

Whether he's going fishing or hanging out at the beach, this breathable, waterproof hat will protect his eyes, face, and neck from the sun. It comes with an adjustable drawstring chinstrap so every fit is the perfect fit.



A tablet holder for the bathroom

JETech Floor Stand with Toilet Paper Roll Holder, available on Amazon for $17.99

It's a well-known joke that the bathroom can be a man cave sometimes, so allow your dad to unwind in his safe place with this tablet stand equipped with a toilet paper holder. All jokes aside, this adjustable stand can be used in the office, kitchen, or pretty much wherever your dad might need an extra hand. 

 



A tool to help find studs during construction projects

Zircon Stud Finder DIY/Pro StudSensor Wall Scanner, available on Amazon for $19.54

The handy dad will love this trusty tool that can help locate the edge of wooden and metal studs in the wall up to 1.5 inches deep. This device also has a warning indicator that can help locate live, un-shielded wires.

 



A haircutting kit

Remington HC4250 Shortcut Pro Self-Haircut Kit, available on Amazon for $48.49

Dad can cut his hair the way he wants with this kit that includes a hand-held clipper, cleaning brush, storage pouch, oil, and nine interchangeable combs of various lengths. The stainless steel blades on the combs are curved so they easily glide over every contour of his head. 

 



A Bluetooth BBQ thermometer

Smart Bluetooth BBQ Grill Thermometer, available on Amazon for $29.99

If your dad likes to grill, now he can sit down and relax while the food gets to the perfect temperature using this Bluetooth thermometer. He can get notifications sent to his phone and monitor the food's internal temperature virtually (from up to 200 feet away) instead of hovering over the grill.



An indoor putting green for the home office

SKLZ Accelerator Pro Indoor Putting Green w/ Ball Return, available on Amazon for $49.99

Allow your dad to take a break from work with this portable putting green that resembles real conditions. The green comes with alignment guides at 3 feet, 5 feet, and 7 feet to help perfect his stroke. Plus, there is a built-in ball return so he doesn't have to walk to retrieve the ball every single time.



A smart plug to control any appliance

Wemo Insight Smart Plug, available on Amazon for $44.99

Give the power to control any appliance in the house from the couch or road with this smart plug. The Wemo plug can be linked to any voice-activated home setup like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, or just download the free app — no hub or subscription needed. 



A set of silk ties for special occasions

Adulove Men's Necktie Classic Silk Tie Woven Jacquard Neck Ties 6/9/12 PCS, available on Amazon for $22.98

Gift style and swagger with this silk tie set, available in six, nine, or 12 ties. Each tie measures 57.5 inches long and 3.1 inches wide, and comes in various solid colors and patterns sure to match any suit and dress shirt combo.



A growler attachment that acts like a keg

Pressurized Growler Dispenser for Craft Beer, available on Amazon for $49.99

Anyone who loves craft beer will love this growler attachment capable of keeping beer fresher longer. The attachment is compatible with all standard 38 millimeter threaded growlers so your dad can dispense beer anywhere. The CO2 canisters can be found here.



A tough water bottle to keep liquids cold

Hydro Flask 21 oz. Standard Water Bottle, available on Amazon for $32.95

This water bottle can help keep drinks hot for up to 6 hours or cold for up to 24 on long car trips and adventures alike due its double-walled insulated design. The mouth of the bottle is big enough to fit ice cubes, but small enough that he won't splash water all over his face when he goes for a drink.  



A pair of timeless cufflinks

Baban Deluxe Steampunk Mens Cufflinks Vintage Watch Movement Shape, available on Amazon for $29.99

For special occasions, your dad can wear cufflinks that look like the inner workings of a 20th century wind-up clock. Its metal, hollow design can add just the right amount of class to any suit worn for weddings, work, or parties.



An indoor security camera

Wyze Cam 1080p HD Indoor Wireless Smart Home Camera, available on Amazon for $25.99

This HD camera can allow dad to view an HD live stream of the home via his smartphone or view playback mode with the free rolling 14-day cloud storage that's included. The image sensor can detect motion and alert dad, or he can verbally ask to see a certain room when the camera is paired with an Alexa-powered device.



A set of grilling baskets

Charcoal Companion Nonstick Kebab Grilling Baskets, available on Bed Bath & Beyond for $12.99

Forget having to buy wooden skewers every time you want to grill up kebabs. These non-stick metal baskets let you easily cook meat and vegetables on all sides while keeping them safely contained within the basket — all without needing to slide food onto skewers by hand.



A powerful shovel to get to those back-breaking roots

Radius Garden 22011 Root Slayer Shovel, available on Amazon for $49.99

Help your dad spend less time working on the yard with this specially-designed root shovel. Constructed like an inverted "V" with sharp blades, this shovel can cut through and remove even the toughest of roots and weeds.



A simple lawn game you can play together

Champion Sports Wooden Ring Toss Set, available on Amazon for $15.99

Father's Day just so happens to fall within lawn game season, so get your dad this ring toss game that you can play together. Made from solid wood with lightweight, easy-to-see plastic rings, this game will ensure that barbecues, camping trips, and days in the sun will always be fun.



A tackle box to organize fishing gear

Flambeau Outdoor 6383 Classic 3-Tray Tackle Box, available on Amazon for $11.44

Take your dad fishing with his new — and very organized — tackle box. He can use the eight tray compartments and six removable dividers to hold hooks, weights, bait, and fishing line however he wants.

 



A heart-rate monitor

Wahoo TICKR Heart Rate Monitor, Bluetooth / ANT+, available on Amazon for $49.88

Now your dad can track his heart rate, calories burned, active minutes, distance, and pace with a single device. The TICKR's technology works via Bluetooth and is compatible with most smartphones, GPS devices, and even the Apple Watch so he can view stats in real time. 



A silicone wedding band

Egnaro Silicone Wedding Ring for Men (6 sizes, 8 colors), available on Amazon for $6.99 to $16.99

For the active dad or the dad that misplaces everything, these silicone wedding bands are a great solution to expensive wedding bands. Made from premium silicone, they're comfortable, breathable, and won't stretch out over time. 

 



A portable speaker

JBL Clip 3 Portable Waterproof Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, available on Amazon for $39.95

This tiny portable speaker can play up to 10 hours' worth of music anywhere and everywhere via the attached carabiner clip. It's compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled device and has a  built-in speakerphone so you can play music and take phone calls hands-free.  



An anti-theft wallet

ID Stronghold Thin RFID Blocking Trifold Wallet, available on Amazon for $33.95

This slim wallet made from genuine buffalo leather has six cards slots, an ID card slot with viewing window, and three hidden compartments for extra cards or receipts. Also, the wallet is protected with RFID technology to help prevent identity theft.

 



A set of crew socks with added funk

Fun Patterned Funky Crew Socks For Men (4 color patterns), available on Amazon for $24.99

For the quirky dad, get him 12 pairs of fun crew socks to match his personality. These socks are made from 95% polyester and 2% spandex, and fits shoe sizes ranging from six to 12.



A smart lightbulb

Philips Hue Dimmable LED Smart Bulbs, available on Amazon for $46.99

Let your dad turn the house into a smart home with these smart LED light bulbs. Simply screw the light bulb into the socket and control via the Hue mobile app, or activate voice-control with the Philips Hue Hub and Alexa-enabled device.

 



I flew on Southwest Airlines to see how it compared to Delta and United — here's what I found (LUV)

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southwest

  • I flew Southwest Airlines for the second time in my life as I traveled from New York City to St. Louis in October 2018.
  • I came away satisfied with my flight and more likely to use Southwest in the future.
  • The plane's cleanliness and entertainment options, as well as the ability to check my suitcase for free, were the biggest highlights.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories

 

As airplane seats get smaller and fees get larger, what once seemed like small comforts take on greater importance. 

In October 2018, I flew Southwest Airlines for the second time in my life as I traveled from New York City to St. Louis, six months after a passenger on a Southwest flight died following a mid-flight engine failure. The flight was like most others I've taken but had a few notable differences from United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, the airlines I most frequently use. Some of the differences were cosmetic and others were more substantive, but overall, my flight left me with a positive impression of Southwest and increased the odds I'll use it again.

Read more: London's Heathrow Airport is eliminating one of the worst parts of airport security with new scanning technology

The first time I flew Southwest, I was startled by its lack of seating assignments and unconventional boarding process. This time, I knew what to expect and was more attuned to some of the details I'd previously missed. While the plane's legroom and seat width were average and below average, respectively (according to SeatGuru), there were a few parts of my travel experience that impressed me. 

Being able to check my bag for free was a significant perk, and the seats were cleaner and seemed to be made of more comfortable material than what I'm used to when flying economy on other airlines. Southwest's entertainment options were the biggest surprise, as the airline's website offered a wide range of movies, music stations, and television shows, many of which were free, without requiring me to download an app.

Here's what I thought of my second experience with Southwest.

SEE ALSO: American Airlines CEO reveals why he engineered 2 of the biggest airline mergers in the last 20 years

My flight was at 7:25 a.m. on a Monday, so when I arrived at LaGuardia Airport a little before 6, I wasn't surprised to find a nearly empty check-in counter.



I was happy to find that checking my suitcase was free.

My trip was about three-and-a-half days in total, which would have made it difficult to fit everything I needed in a carry-on bag. My suitcase was too big to qualify as a carry-on item, so Southwest's policy allowing customers to check two bags for free (so long as they're under 50 pounds and don't exceed 62 inches in any direction) saved me a total of $60 for the trip, compared to United, American, or Delta.



The security line was a little more crowded than I expected, though not unreasonably so.



I was very surprised by how many people were on my flight.

I hadn't imagined a New York-to-St. Louis flight would be near capacity early on a Monday morning, though I later learned the flight's final destination was Las Vegas, which may have explained the big crowd.



Since it doesn't let customers choose their seats when they buy their tickets, Southwest uses a different boarding system than other airlines.

After you check in, you're given a boarding group and number that determines when and where you line up to board. Unless you pay an extra fee, your boarding position is determined by the time at which you check in for your flight.



In theory, Southwest's boarding system sounds like an upgrade over those used by other airlines, but in practice, it benefits some passengers and hurts others.

I generally use a backpack or small duffel bag as my carry-on item, so I'm usually not concerned about boarding early since I don't need overhead bin space. That means I tend to avoid lining up before my group begins boarding, which often results in me being one of the last people to board my flight.

Southwest's system provides people with my boarding preferences the opportunity to board earlier than we would have otherwise. But since your boarding position determines your seating options, boarding position is more important than on other airlines. If Southwest used a more traditional boarding system, it would be chaotic.

And for those customers who like to line up early to secure overhead bin space, Southwest's boarding system might seem unfair, as it doesn't reward their willingness to trade extra time standing in line for a higher chance of being able to put their carry-on items in the overhead bin.



When I boarded my flight, I was happy to find that a number of aisle seats were still available.



While the seats on my plane, a Boeing 737-700, offered about average legroom and below-average width (according to SeatGuru), they seemed a little cleaner and made of more comfortable materials than what I've usually experienced when flying economy on other airlines.

That isn't saying much, but it's always a pleasant surprise when any part of my seat warrants an even slightly positive reaction.



I'm 5' 11'' and had enough legroom to prevent serious discomfort, with a little room to spare.



The drink selection and prices seemed reasonable.



The flight attendants gave out both pretzels and Belvita biscuits, which was helpful since I hadn't eaten breakfast yet.



The most impressive part of my flight was the entertainment options.



Southwest's entertainment options could only be accessed from a mobile device.

But a number of music and TV options didn't require me to download an app. Instead, they were accessible from Southwest's website, which I could use without paying for wi-fi.



There was also free messaging available to those who have iMessage or WhatsApp.



If I had wanted additional internet access, wi-fi would have been $8.



The Southwest entertainment site's design was clean, clear, and easy to navigate.



I was very impressed by the range of movie, music, and TV options Southwest's site offered. And, for the most part, the streaming was reliable and the loading times were reasonable.

The site had over 15 channels of live TV.



The site offered a number of popular shows for on-demand streaming.



Though some required an app.



As with live TV, the on-demand shows streamed reliably, for the most part.



Though at one point, the streaming stopped working ...



... as did the in-flight wi-fi.



The site had a generous selection of movies.



At the time, the movies weren't free, but a Southwest representative said that has changed.

The Southwest representative said all movies available on the airline's flights have been free since November.



The site also had a music streaming section that included radio stations and podcasts.



It seemed useful for passengers who wanted to listen to music but didn't have a robust library on their phone available for off-line use.

I had no problems streaming music or podcasts on the site.



The site also had a travel guide tailored to my destination. I didn't expect it to be terribly useful, but found it to be surprisingly focused and concise.



It gave four recommendations for restaurants, bars, hotels, and sightseeing/entertainment options.



Though I'm not sure how many people are going to book a hotel after arriving at a destination.



Still, the entries for each category provided brief but informative summaries that can help travelers generate ideas.



Overall, I came away satisfied with my flight.

Nothing on or before my flight was noticeably worse than what I've experienced with United and Delta, and in some areas, like bag check fees, cleanliness, and entertainment options, Southwest excelled. While my standards for air travel aren't terribly high, Southwest exceeded them and increased the likelihood that I will use the airline in the future.



The best exercise bikes you can buy for home workouts

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the best exercise bikes

  • An exercise bike is a great way to keep your heart healthy and muscles toned, and it could help you lose weight or maintain it at where you want it.
  • When you have a stationary bike in the home, you are able to work out at any time, without having to travel to the gym.
  • The Exerputic 4000 Magnetic Recumbent Bike is our top pick because it's well made and fairly affordable.

Exercise bicycles, also known as stationary bikes or spinning bikes (although the latter is a different beast entirely), have a surprisingly long history, dating back to the 16th century. Francis Lowndes invented a device approximating the function of an exercise bike in the late 1790s. His creation, the Gymnasticon, predated even the earliest riding bicycles by several decades. By the end of the 19th century, as bicycles took their modern form, stationary bikes used for exercise became a more common sight in homes and gymnasiums.

For much of the 20th century, the exercise bike and the treadmill were essentially the only stationary devices suitable for cardiovascular exercise. Then, in the late 1900s, equipment such as the NordicTrack, the elliptical trainer, and stair machines gained in popularity. For a while, exercise bikes seemed almost passé, used more for hanging laundry than for fitness in the home and relegated to the back corner or many fitness centers. Then the spinning craze hit a few years back and exercise bikes surged into style once again.

And why shouldn't the exercise bike be popular? On those days when it's too cold for a run or too rainy for a walk, or when there's no time for a trip to the gym, a home exercise bike is a great way to get your heart rate up and your leg muscles pumping. When you use the various seated and standing positions and the interval training approach of a spin class, you can even get what amounts to a total body workout right there on a stationary bike. And compared to an elliptical trainer, many exercise bikes are relatively affordable and compact. Some even fold away to stash in a closet or under the bed.

Our guide includes exercise bikes to fit every budget and every home. Some are small enough to tuck under a desk, while others will require a few square feet of real estate. But all of the stationary cycles included will help you hit those cardio fitness and weight management goals.

Here are the best exercise bikes you can buy:

Updated on 06/06/2019 by Les Shu: Updated prices, links, and formatting.

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best home gym equipment you can buy to get fit

The best exercise bike overall

From the padded armrests and seat cushion to the ergonomic backrest to the customizable workout settings, the Exerpeutic 4000 Magnetic Recumbent Bike proves you can burn calories in comfort.

Who said a fat-blasting cardio workout session had to be unpleasant? No one who has ever eased himself or herself into the plush seat of the Exerpeutic 4000 Recumbent Bike, certainly.

This superlative home exercise stationary bike has a generously padded seat the cradles your core while promoting airflow, a mesh backrest that offers plenty of support while keeping you cool, and padded armrests that keep your elbows and forearms comfortable even as your legs churn away at the bike's magnetic tension system.

The Exerpeutic 4000 offers 24 different levels of tension, so whether you're just starting to exercise for the first time in years or you're looking for a way to stay fit between century rides, this bike will offer just the right level of challenge for you. It also comes with 12 workout programs, so you can tailor your exercise sessions to suit your fitness goals and your personal preferences. While you're using the bike, an onboard computer will track metrics including distance, RPMs, your heart rate, and even the watts of power generated.

And while this is a larger bike that will take up some room in the home, it's lightweight enough to be rolled into the corner (or the garage) after each use.

One satisfied owner calls it "sturdy and super quiet at all speeds," adding that the "seat is extremely comfortable." Another buyer says the Exerpeutic 4000 Magnetic Recumbent Bike offers "everything I want" in a stationary bike.

A TopFitnessMag.com review calls the Exerpeutic 4000 a great choice for people who are of medium to "bigger proportions" who want to shed the "extra pounds." A write up from IndoorsFitness.com praises the "advanced console" the bike features, noting its many programs and its connection to a fitness tracker app.

Pros: Comfortable seat design, multiple fitness programs, large weight capacity

Cons: Poor manual makes initial setup frustrating

Buy an Exerpeutic 4000 Magnetic Recumbent Bike on Amazon for $398.98



The best budget exercise bike

The Marcy Recumbent Mag Cycle exercise bike costs less than half the price of many similar bikes without notable loss of quality.

Let's be clear here: the Marcy Recumbent Mag Cycle is a pretty basic stationary bike. The onboard "computer" tracks time, speed, distance, and approximates likely calories burned, but it's not going to offer you customizable workout programs like you get with many more advanced, expensive exercise bikes. But what this low-cost bike will do is help you burn calories, lose weight, and tone your muscles, which is all those other bikes do anyway, just with fancier features.

The Marcy Recumbent Mag Cycles offers eight different intensities of magnetic resistance, so it suits people of varied fitness levels. Using these eight settings, you can create your own workout program by switching up the difficulty during the session. While in operation, the Marcy Recumbent bike is quiet and stable, suitable for use while you watch TV or with kids sleeping in the room next door.

While this is a more basic option than many exercise bikes, its low cost makes it a great choice for those on a budget or who aren't sure they'll use it much and thus hesitant to make a large investment.

One satisfied owner calls her Marcy Recumbent Mag Cycle "very quiet" and a "good value for the money." Another was happy to find that the "assembly was easier than [he] thought it would be."

A writer from BikesReviewed.com called the Marcy Recumbent "easy to mount and dismount," a safety quality that makes it ideal for seniors. A BestWomensWorkoutReview.com piece called it a "budget-friendly exercise bike."

Pros: Great low price, easy to mount and dismount, quiet operation

Cons: Computer is basic and limited

Buy a Marcy Recumbent Mag Cycle from Target for $152.99



The best folding exercise bike

The XTERRA FB150 Folding Exercise Bike provides a fine cardio workout when it's set up for use, then folds away into a compact package.

Ironically, the best thing about the XTERRA FB150 Folding Exercise Bike is how little you'll see of it most of the time. When folded up, this bike occupies just 17-inches by 18-inches of floor space, so it can be stuffed in a closet, tucked behind a door, or even laid flat and slid beneath a bed that sits well above the ground.

Not only can you stash this folding stationary bike just about anywhere, but you can use it almost anywhere, too. Even when deployed for use, the bike measures only 18-inches wide and 32-inches in length, so it will fit even in a smaller room.

The XTERRA FB150 Folding Exercise Bike has an adjustable padded seat so it can accommodate riders of varied height, and its curved, multi-grip handlebars allow you to grasp on wherever is most comfortable. When you take hold of the pulse grips set at the sides of the handlebars, you can keep track of your heart rate, helping you achieve ideal cardio intensity.

The bike's small onboard computer also tracks time, speed, distance, and calories burned. A simple dial adjusts the resistance difficulty, which is spread across eight settings.

An EXTERRA FB150 owner named Mary calls it "fantastic" and loved the bike's ease of assembly and how "comfortable and easy to use" it proved to be. A buyer called Ashley said it was "quiet" and perfect for a "workout while watching TV."

A HealthFitnessCritique.com review called this compact bike easy to fold down and tuck away "when you're not using it" and said was easy to "put together in less than half an hour with the clear instructions and simple tools in the box."

Pros: Compact bike folds away for storage, low price tag, easy assembly

Cons: Too small for many users

Buy an XTERRA FB150 Folding Exercise Bike on Amazon for $115.70

Buy the XTERRA FB150 Folding Exercise Bike at Walmart for $119.99



The best pedal exerciser

The VIVE Pedal Exerciser is small enough to tuck away under a desk or table, letting you pedal away and burn calories and tone your legs and core at any time.

No, the VIVE Pedal Exerciser is not a stationary bike, exactly. But the type of exercise it fosters and the benefits therein gained are quite similar to those achieved with a standard exercise bike, and this from a unit that costs a fraction of the price and stows away in any home, office, dorm room, or that can be loaded into the trunk of a car and brought along on the road.

At just 12.5-inches in height, the VIVE Pedal Cruiser slips under a desk or table with ease, allowing you to exercise while you work, watch TV, read, surf the web, or any of the other countless activities we do while seated in the course of our modern lives. An LCD screen set into the compact unit tracks metrics including RPMs, speed, distance, and approximate calories burned.

But perhaps the best thing about this unique pedal machine is that it doesn't have to be used only as an under-desk leg exerciser; the VIVE Pedal Exerciser can also be set up on your desk or table for an arm workout. Just grab the pedals with your hands, set the right resistance level, and spin away to build arm muscles and burn calories as part of a complete body workout.

With hundreds of reviews posted on Amazon, the VIVE Pedal Exerciser enjoys a strong 4-star rating. An owner named Patty calls it "high quality with advanced features," while a fitness fan named Nina found it "very sturdy but not too heavy to move around."

A Top5Reviewed.com write up called the VIVE Pedal Exerciser a "multi-purpose" device perfect for "low-impact workout" sessions for the arms and legs. A HealthierLand.com review called it "portable and petite" and ready for use "anywhere you please."

Pros: Compact and portable, works legs or arms, low cost, low impact exercise

Cons: Not as effective a workout as standard stationary bike

Buy a VIVE Pedal Exerciser on Amazon for $59.99



The best smart exercise bike

Beside the fact that the Schwinn Classic Cruiser fitness bike is Bluetooth ready and works with popular cycling apps, this retro-styled bike simply looks great.

I have a Schwinn Classic Cruiser stationary bike, and I love it. Everyone who sees this bright red vintage-style bike perched there in a corner of my basement remarks on its great looks, and having used the bike plenty, I can tell you that this thing not only looks great, but it works great, too. Once you get past the unique looks, in fact, you get to the actual stuff that matters here.

The Schwinn Classic Cruiser stationary bike offers seven levels of resistance that are controlled by a lever set atop the right handlebar. On the left handlebar sits a manual timer, the kind you twist to set and that clicks along then dings when the time is up.

But when the bike is plugged in and connected to your tablet via Bluetooth, you'll quickly realize that it's vintage only in styling. The bike works with multiple popular fitness and cycling apps, including a proprietary Schwinn Classic Cruiser App and the celebrated Ride Social app. With an iPad or other tablet set into the bike's attached media shelf, you can connect with riders around the globe and/or take a virtual ride through lands including the Australian Outback, the plateaus of Tibet, or numerous major metro areas.

Using an app, you can also enjoy myriad pre-programmed workouts that will maximize the enjoyment of and benefits derived from using this handsome exercise bike.

A Schwinn Classic Cruiser owner named Elisabeth loved the "sturdiness and simplicity" of the design and appreciated the "extra soft" seat that made it suitable for extended use. And for me, I love that the action of the magnetic resistance wheel remains smooth even at more challenging settings.

A DudeIWantThat.com review called the Classic Cruiser "vintage only in looks" and praised its "range of modern features," while a CoolThings.com article noted how its "integrated transport wheels let you easily move it around" a room.  

Pros: Charming retro style, works with multiple apps, sturdy and durable

Cons: Rather expensive option

Buy a Schwinn Classic Cruiser from Schwinn.com for $499



Grammy-winning producer Mark Ronson talks about his 'very personal' upcoming album and his partnership with Virgin founder Richard Branson's cruise line

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mark ronson

  • Grammy-winning producer Mark Ronson spoke to Business Insider last month about his upcoming album, "Late Night Feelings," and his partnership with Virgin founder Richard Branson's cruise line, Virgin Voyages.
  • Ronson also discussed his work with collaborators like Amy Winehouse, Diplo, and Lykke Li, and the effect that the success of his last album, 2015's "Uptown Special," had on his subsequent music. 

Four and a half years after the release of "Uptown Special," which was Mark Ronson's fourth studio album and first platinum-certified LP, the seven-time Grammy-winning producer is set to drop his fifth album, "Late Night Feelings," later this month.

Ronson spoke to Business Insider late last month about the process of making "Late Night Feelings," and about his recently announced creative partnership with Virgin Voyages, a cruise line from Virgin founder Richard Branson that will debut in 2020.

We also touched on Ronson's work with the late Amy Winehouse, whose 2006 album "Back to Black" he coproduced, and his recent collaboration with Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li, who features prominently on "Late Night Feelings."

Joined in the interview by Nirmal Saverimuttu, the chief commercial and experience officer for Virgin Voyages, Ronson discussed his role as a curator for the cruise line's music and onboard record shop, and his and Diplo's scheduled residency of performances for the company.

Our conversation took place over an international call between New York and England, the somewhat tenuous connection of which led to a humorous back-and-forth regarding the pronunciation of Lykke Li's name, among other less interesting moments of clarification.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. 

John Lynch: What drew you to this partnership with Virgin Voyages as a creative opportunity?

Mark Ronson: I've always been a fan of Sir Richard as a record collector and everything that he did in music, everything about what he's created. And this, like all the other stuff he's done, has a really music-centric component, which is exciting. It's exciting to be part of something that's never been done before, and it makes sense. It's like a blue-chip brand, you know? I guess it's all of the things that they're doing aside from the DJ-ing — the launch of the night club and stuff like that.

And just the fact that they're going to have a record shop onboard. I'm like a nerd who knows everything about music and these kind of things. And knowing that this whole thing started because Richard Branson opened a record shop in the 1970s. I love that there's all that lineage and legacy in it.

Lynch: I saw that Diplo is joining you in this venture. I imagine that will probably result in a Silk City performance or two. How do you think you'd approach that?

Ronson: Yeah, that actually would be a lot of fun. I know that he's just been confirmed. I don't know if we're doing the same dates, but that's my guy. Part of the really fun thing of Silk City of the past year is that it's sort of reinvigorated my love and joy for DJ-ing, playing club music and having fun.

And [Diplo's] the guy. He's turned what he does with club-going into making all these international forms of music, and it seems like that's the only guy going to like Pakistan and Brazil, and all over the place. Now he's doing his country thing, and he obviously makes a lot of sense to be involved with something like Virgin as well. I mean hopefully they book us on the same gig. I don't know if they can afford it. I'm sure he's more expensive than I am. But we'll see.

Nirmal Saverimuttu: We'll see if we can get one good overlap so we have that [laughs].

Ronson: I'd love that. And actually, I'd love going to watch him DJ, too. I caught his set at Coachella, and it was killer.

Lynch: It might be uncouth to say, but what immediately comes to mind with Sir Richard Branson and a "voyage" is that shot of him kite-surfing with a nude model on his back. Is that image at all indicative of the experience one can expect from this, that type of "on-the-sea" lifestyle?

Ronson:I think with anything about the "lifestyle" that you should maybe take it.

Saverimuttu:Yeah. We've really tried to create something that's very different, and we've created this world-class Creative Collective of people like Mark, Concrete Amsterdam, and Tom Dixon. We're actually at Tom Dixon's hotel today, where we had our event. And what we're really trying to do is make sure we bring the radical glamor of a Boutique Hotel to the ocean. Yeah, there's going to be great, great DJ sets and great parties, but there's also going to be a very epic, healthy dose of well-being, because we think that's a really important part of it.

We love yachts, we love the ocean, and we love sailing. But we've got things like outdoor sun decks and outdoor yoga decks, so you can workout outdoors, and we think that it's going to be a magical experience. So I really think about it as kind of the radical glamour of a Boutique Hotel on the ocean with a wonderful well-being and vitamin C program to back it up.

Lynch: Mark, there's this Amazon Echo commercial set to "Valerie" that stopped me in my tracks recently, just hearing Amy's voice in it. And it made me wonder how you reflect on your great work with her, your body of work with Amy Winehouse.

Ronson: I saw that. Are you talking about this commercial with the grandfather and the son, with "Valerie"?

Lynch: Yes.

Ronson: Yeah, I saw that the other day. It's really lovely. I mean, it's crazy because "Valerie" didn't even chart in America when it first came out. It was a hit in England, but that was always this kind of deep cut, so it's really nice to see. I mean, obviously because Amy's so celebrated in every way, people are going to unearth everything she's done. But the way that that song "Valerie" has become this sort of joyous celebration of who she is is something I'm very psyched to be a part of.

And obviously I have really fond memories of the day we recorded it. It was the first time she met the Dap-Kings. They had already played on her album ["Back to Black"], but she had never met them. And it was a beautiful sunny day in Brooklyn. So yeah, I have a lot of good, good memories and, you know, attachment to the music that we made, and our friendship.

 

Lynch: I have to say, "Late Night Feelings" is a jam. The single, I mean. I haven't heard the full album. But I was wondering about the steel drums on that song, and whether you had this oceanic partnership in the back of your mind at all when making it.

Ronson: We hadn't done the deal quite yet for me to be a part of Virgin Voyages when I wrote that song. But you're right, the steel drum thing. It's definitely an island touch. Actually, for the steel drum on "Late Night Feelings," I found this cool guitar pedal made by Electro Harmonix that has this steel drum setting. So I guess I'll probably bring that with me on the ship and serenade everyone with these steel drum sounds, until they throw me overboard.

Saverimuttu:Like the guys on the New York subway [laughs].

Ronson: Yeah. I'm going to learn "The Little Mermaid" in time for it.

Lynch: [Laughs]. Lykke Li is great on that song, and I saw that she's on a few tracks on the album. How was your experience of collaborating with her?

Ronson: Oh, with Lykke? [pronounced slightly differently].

Lynch: Oh, yeah, with Lykke [echoing pronunciation]. Sorry.

Ronson: No, no — listen, there's no way to say it. It's just a bad [phone] line. I wasn't correcting your pronunciation of a Swedish name that like neither of us are saying properly. I met somebody Swedish recently, and they were like, "Oh, so you're working with Lykke [pronounced to rhyme with 'touché'] ?" And I was like, "What is that?"

But she's actually someone that I've known for a while, and we've been friends. When I started to work on this album, there's this songwriter named Ilsey [Juber], who cowrote "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" and "Late Night Feelings," and a lot of this stuff. We started to write the song, and she was like, "I've been working with Lykke a lot. We should get her to come down and write the song with us, and finish it, and sing on it."

And it's funny because we've been friends for so long, and she almost lives down the street, that I never thought to ask her. And then to think what a big part of this record she's become, since she actually named the album by coming up with the lyric "Late Night Feelings." She's really been a massive part of it.

Lynch: She's drastically underrated in my opinion.

Ronson: Yeah. I think that hopefully this record and the next record she makes will definitely go on the way to changing that.

Lynch: I'm looking forward to the album, as I have for your previous four. I read in various places that you've called this your most personal album to-date. How do you think that manifested itself in the music, or how did your process shift?

Ronson: I guess in my 25 years of DJ-ing in clubs in New York, I think I'm always obsessing over the drum beat, and that's how we usually write songs. Like "Ooh Wee" and "Uptown Funk" and "Bang Bang Bang," they usually come from us making the track first, and then we figure out what the song is after, put a rap over it, write a song to it, whatever it is. This is the first album that I really wrote from an emotional point of view. The emotion came first, and then we figured it out.

So it is a very personal record, and I think that's sort of why it's better. I think the more honesty that you put in your music, the more it reaches or connects to something true and genuine. So, I feel like that's what I'm especially proud of with this record. And it still has the cool baselines and dancy stuff that I've had in some of my other records.

Lynch: In the wake of your last album, "Uptown Special," being such a success, did you feel that with your next solo project you wanted to take a certain amount of time off to kind of bask in it, the success of that album?

Ronson: I think the main thing was just to come to peace with the fact that I'll never make anything that's quite as wildly popular as "Uptown Funk." That's such a crazy anomaly. There was probably a split second where I felt like, "Should I make something like that?" But the fact is when we made "Uptown Funk," we weren't thinking about anything but having fun and making something that felt true in that moment.

And that's the same thing for any records I've been involved with it. You know, none of them really sound like anything out at the time when they come out, whether it's "Locked Out of Heaven," or "Shallow," or "Rehab," or whatever it is. None of these songs really have anything on the radio that sounds like them. So we're always trying to make stuff from an honest place that feels genuine.

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B Corps are businesses committed to using their profit for good — these 13 are making some truly great products

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  • B Corps are for-profit businesses that volunteer to be graded by the nonprofit B Lab each year to ensure they're meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. 
  • They're among the most impressive of companies that are willing to conceptualize "good business" as including both profit and purpose (and have the third-party vetting to prove they really mean it). To B Corps, sustainable business isn't charity, it's better business.
  • Below, I've rounded up a few of the B Corps we love shopping at most. If you like the sound of them, they're good companies to support. 

As the past can attest, not all of society's ills can be solved by well-meaning government or nonprofits alone. While invaluable, they won't reveal themselves as silver bullets capable of single-handedly eradicating poverty, inequality, and infusing the workforce with jobs that make workers feel their lives have dignity and purpose.

For that caliber of change, we'll need to consider the importance of businesses. The economist Milton Friedman famously wrote in 1962 that "there is one and only one social responsibility of business...to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits", and while that sentiment remains largely unchanged, there are companies willing to bet on a different conceptualization of "good business."

Perhaps most impressive of this group are B Corps — businesses that volunteer to be graded by the nonprofit B Lab each year to ensure they're meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. 

Companies that get awarded B Corp status have committed to using their business to work towards a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Together, the companies and their communities work to reduce inequality, lower poverty levels, and create a healthier environment, stronger communities, and jobs with purpose.

In short, B Corps leverage their resources (creativity, manpower, and profits) to pay into a better world for people in general — creating a definition of success that includes the commonwealth and positive impact as necessary aspects of sustainable consumerism. It's not charity, it's better business.

Below, we've rounded up 10 companies we love to shop at that also happen to be certified B Corps. They make great stuff we love to buy, but they're also helping drive a global movement that uses business as a force for good. 

Check out 13 stores we love to shop at that also happen to be "business for good" B-Corps:

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SEE ALSO: 9 companies you didn't know use recycled water bottles in their products — from little-known startups to giants like Nike and Adidas

Allbirds

Shop Allbirds here

Allbirds are often referred to as the "world's most comfortable shoes" and we'd be inclined to agree. We also love that each collection seems to get even better at optimizing natural materials — without ever raising prices or changing the quality that has made these shoes such a cult favorite.

Allbirds' classic sneakers and loungers are made from moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating, odor-resistant merino wool that is ZQ-certified (meaning it meets stringent standards for sustainable farming and animal welfare) and uses 60% less energy than synthetics. Their second collection was comprised of sneakers and skippers made from cooling, eco-friendly eucalyptus pulp. Both collections are ultra-comfortable, low-maintenance, made from sustainable materials, and cost $95 for a pair. 

The company recently expanded on their thesis of great shoes that also just happen to be good for the environment with a line of $35 flip-flops made from the first carbon-negative EVA foam ever developed— a breakthrough three years in the making for the company. The foam is made from sugar cane rather than harmful petrochemicals, and it's not proprietary: Allbirds is making a concerted effort to encourage even its competitors to adopt the new material.



Patagonia

Shop Patagonia here

Patagonia is a beloved outdoors company for many reasons — the main two being their superior and innovative products, and the other being their conservation efforts, including giving 100% (yes, 100%) of their profits from Black Friday in the past directly to grassroots nonprofits working to protect air, water, and soil quality for future generations. In 2016, this amounted to $10 million. 

Patagonia was the first California company to sign up for B certification back in 2012, and the company also participates in 1% for the Planet, meaning they contribute 1% of annual net revenue to nonprofit charity organizations focused on conversation and sustainability. 

Since 1985, the company has donated $89 million to environmental work. In their 2017 Annual B Corp Report, Patagonia acknowledges that activism can be polarizing because it can cross over into what is perceived as political. Regardless, the company says "activism and advocacy are critical to achieving our mission. We'll always act, even if we lose some business along the way."

 



Cotopaxi

Shop Cotopaxi here

Cotopaxi is an outdoors brand with social purpose built into its DNA. The gear itself is superior: clever, intuitive, and consistently bringing a fresh, necessary perspective to an outdoor staple. (I count their packable jacket and 35L travel pack as among my all-time best finds). But, somehow, it's almost more exciting to talk about the work the company is doing outside of its own great products.

From its inception, Cotopaxi has been founded upon the idea that the interests of profit and people could not only coexist, but also enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship.

The B Corp values can be found at all levels of operation. Employees spend 10% of their work time in their local communities, adventuring outdoors, or doing service. the company donates 2% of its yearly revenue to ending poverty by funding local organizations working on sustainable solutions. Cotopaxi also puts out a Repurposed Collection of limited-edition gear made out of scraps. 

The company has also created a skills-based volunteering initiative that leverages the time and talent of employees to respond to community needs, such as a card writing program that provides a paid 'first job' for refugees in Salt Lake City. The program provides youth with professional development, work experience, a competitive wage, and the opportunity to practice their English language skills. 



Leesa

Shop Leesa here

Leesa is best-known for being one of the forerunners in the increasingly crowded direct-to-consumer mattress space. Its Leesa Mattress has 12,000+ five-star reviews, and both of the company's mattresses (Leesa and Sapira) have been named best in category by both Business Insider and The Wirecutter. 

The company also has three philanthropic pillars: giving one mattress for every ten sold, planting one tree for every mattress sold, and devoting resources to national and local organizations. Despite the startup's marked accomplishments in a crowded space, Leesa's Head of Social Impact, Jen-Ai Notman, told Business Insider the social mission would likely to still rank as the overwhelming incentive for working at the company.

Overall, Leesa has donated 30,000 mattresses to those in need, committed to planting one million trees by 2025, and makes a point to provide the opportunity for employees to feel invested in their own backyards with local volunteer opportunities. 

 



Casper

Shop Casper here

Casper may be the single most recognizable name in the direct-to-consumer mattress space. Its classic mattress was developed in-house by a team of product engineers with experience from IDEO and NASA and has since expanded into everything from sheets to pillows to dog beds— new products which have been well-received in reviews.

Part of its B Corp status as of 2016 is having dedicated guidelines for suppliers, giving preference to those owned by women or underrepresented populations, as well as screenings of those suppliers to make sure they're up to their code of conduct in social and environmental performance. 



Bombas

Shop Bombas here

Bombas is another company that was founded with the primary directive of giving back to the community, with its actual product idea coming only second.

Regardless of order, the company still makes the best pair of socks we've ever tried.

Founders David Heath and Randy Goldberg told Business Insider the now cult-favorite company began as a way to address the fact that homeless shelters have a shortage of sock donations. Noticing consumers didn't have a great option between high-end niche technical socks and a 6-pack at Target, Heath and Goldberg spent two years obsessively re-inventing the wheel with their pair of Bombas socks: adding blister tabs, a reinforced footbed, targeted areas of tension, "stay-up technology," and contoured seaming like a Y-stitched heel to minimize bunching, sliding, and sticking. It turns out there was a lot to improve, and you can feel the difference when you wear them.

Since 2013, the company has also donated more than 8.5 million pairs of socks to homeless shelters thanks to its "buy one, give one" model.

The socks Bombas donates have been as meticulously designed for their wearers as the ones you buy for yourself. Goldberg told Business Insider they worked with their giving partners to design a sock that would "specifically meet the needs of the homeless": darker colors to avoid visible wear and tear, added anti-microbial treatment to prevent odor or bacteria if they can't be washed as frequently, and reinforced seams for durability. In essence, if you treat yourself to a nicer sock (Bombas' pairs run at about $12 for ankle socks), you'll also be treating someone else who could really use a better pair as well.



Beautycounter

Shop Beautycounter here

Beautycounter, a skin care and makeup brand, has become synonymous with the clean beauty movement. Since its founding in 2013, the company has had what it calls The Never List— a laundry list of 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals that are never used in its products, including the 14,000 banned or restricted by the EU. (The US bans just 11.)

It's also involved in advocacy for better, healthier legal regulation in the US and Canada. 

Its makeup is solid, but it has some of the best skin care products— all blessedly sans harmful chemicals — on the market. 



Tentree

Shop Tentree here

Tentree is an outdoor company that essentially bills itself as a forestry program that also sells clothes. For every product you buy, the company plants ten trees through thoughtful programs that not only reforest the earth but also help rebuild communities around sustainable local economies

Since its inception, Tentree has planted 30 million new trees on earth. By 2030, the company's goal is 1 billion. 

The brand's clothes, while made from about 95% sustainable materials, mostly consist of comfy, unassuming sweatshirts, shirts, leggings, and other basic apparel sold at a reasonable price. They've also fostered a lively online community, and lay claim to the third most-liked Instagram post of all time.



United by Blue

Shop United by Blue here

United by Blue, an outdoor apparel and accessories brand, was founded first and foremost to preserve and protect the places in which explorers go to play. That means its top-notch gear comes hand-in-hand with conservation work. The company utilizes inventive, sustainable materials and removes one pound of trash from the world's oceans and waterways for every product sold. You can even join them in a cleanup. 



Ethique

Shop Ethique here

Ethique is a company that makes it easier for the average person to marry a desire for the best in beauty/body/hair care with a desire to not add more plastic to the earth or chemicals to their skin and the water supply. 

Founded by a female biologist, the company formulates 30+ solid "beauty bars" for everything from shampoos to conditioners, moisturizers, self-tanners, and body washes, and they actually work

Every bar is vegan, sustainably sourced, naturally-derived, and comes in biodegradable packaging. They also last 2-5 times longer than bottled options since they're so concentrated (and since 70% of bottled shampoo is water), meaning you save money and contribute a smaller carbon footprint since you're ordering less frequently. To date, the company has prevented more than 3.3 million plastic bottles from being made and disposed of.

Ethique (French for "ethical") is certified climate-neutral, cruelty-free, and donates 2% of revenue or 20% of profit (whichever is highest) to charity.

In 2015, the company was recognized as New Zealand's most sustainable business with 'the Best in B' award. In its early stages, the company also attracted the highest number of female investors in PledgeMe history. (PedgeMe is New Zealand's crowdfunding platform.)



Athleta

Shop Athleta here

San Francisco-based Athleta makes relatively affordable but premium performance clothing designed by women athletes, and it focuses most of its philanthropy on empowering girls and women. 

Through the Gap Inc. P.A.C.E. program and Fair Trade U.S.A., the label supports programs impacting the lives of the majority-female workers that create its apparel and has run empowerment-focused campaigns such as "Power of She" in the past. The company also offers thousands of free fitness and wellness events each year, supporting an estimated 10,000 hours of employee volunteering in the community in 2017. 

By 2020, the company has committed to a goal of 80% of its apparel being made with sustainable fibers (currently 46%), 10,000 female employees (currently 2,500+), 25% of products made using water-saving techniques (currently 1%), and 80% of its waste diverted from a landfill (currently 70%). 



UncommonGoods

Shop UncommonGoods here

UncommonGoods is a marketplace of both creative and cheeky craft-like inventions like chocolate waffle shots that make great gifts, as well as artisanal staples like the bowls pictured above. The site feels like a clean, navigable Etsy with fewer products and a more distinct thesis: utilitarian, but "unique." 

It's unusual to see a diverse aggregator like UncommonGoods as a B Corp (Etsy gave up the distinction in 2017), but the company has been one since 2007. 

UncommonGoods works with its artists to use sustainable or recycled materials when possible, chooses environmentally friendlier packing materials, and prints its catalog on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified and recycled paper. They also founded "Better to Give" that allows customers to choose a non-profit partner for the company to donate $1 to with every order. 

For UncommonGoods, the "business for good" model is working, with the company growing steadily from 5 employees to over 200 year-round. As part of their approach to business, their lowest-paid hourly seasonal worker makes 100% more than minimum wage. 



MPOWERD

Shop MPOWERD here

NYC-based MPOWERD is a standout change-maker company making affordable, innovative products that help people fit clean energy into their daily lives. Its best-known product is the Luci, an inflatable solar light. Particularly well-loved for their versatile applications for campers and hikers, MPOWERD is an increasingly recognizable name in the outdoors genre.

True to the B Corp mindset, MPOWERD uses its impressive sales in the developed world markets to power a tangible impact in the developing world— namely, the three billion people who live without access to electricity.

Its big sales drive down costs, and those savings are passed on to MPOWERD's clients in developing economies: "This allows anyone, no matter their circumstances, to own (or sell) our lights at prices they can actually afford." 

Through this and many other tactics, the company delivers affordable, life-changing solar lights to off-the-grid communities around the world. It has strategic NGO partnerships in over 30 countries, emergency relief sales, and a customer-driven Give Luci program that encourages shoppers to purchase units for their global nonprofit partners. 



The best dumbbells you can buy for your home gym

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best dumbbells

  • It's truly amazing what you can do for your body with a good pair of dumbbells.
  • The space-saving, intuitively-designed Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells are our top pick because the weights can be adjusted to weigh as little as 5 pounds or as much as 52.5 pounds per dumbbell.

While undertaking the truly harrowing process of packing up an entire house prior to a cross-country move last year, a select few items in particular required special attention. These included delicate china and irreplaceable artwork, to be sure, but one group of decidedly less refined objects also presented a complication: my dumbbells. I had to figure out the best way to move more than 300 pounds of weight, distributed across dumbbells weighing as much as 50 pounds and as little as 5, from LA to NY without adding too much extra cost to the process.

The solution was a to stash some of the weights in a car we were shipping, to bring a few dumbbells with me in the car I drove, and to distribute the remainder of the weights in boxes filled with bulky but lightweight items like comforters, pillows, and stuffed animals. An even better solution, though, would have been to opt for adjustable weight dumbbells in the first place, concentrating all of the pounds needed into just one pair of hand weights. Live and learn, folks.

Whichever pair or set you choose, dumbbells offer a superlative strength training workout because they engage so many muscles at once during use. A weight machine stabilizes the load for you, concentrating only on a few specific muscle groups at a time. Even a barbell limits the muscles used by distributing the effort across both arms (and/or shoulders, quads, pecs, and so forth).

When you have a dumbbell in your hand, you make use of myriad muscles both large and small as you work to safely and steadily complete those reps. The result is everything from enhanced grip strength to conditioning, as well as building up the targeted muscles, of course.

So while the next time I buy dumbbells I might opt for a modular system with adjustable weights, I'll never turn my back on this classic approach to strength training. Fitness machines are all fine and good, but a good old dumbbell workout is great.

Here are the best dumbbells you can buy in 2019:

Updated on 06/06/2019 by Les Shu: Updated prices, links, and formatting.

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best fitness trackers you can buy

The best dumbbells overall

The Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells allow you to adjust the weight of each dumbbell anywhere from 5 to 52.5 pounds.

The first time I saw a pair of Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells, I have to admit that I was skeptical at best. The weights just looked odd, what with a dial controlling how much weight was loaded onto each bar and the dumbbells looking almost dainty when not loaded up to their full 52.5-pound capacity. And what a waste of time fiddling around with dials when you could just have a larger set of multiple solid weights to grab as needed.

Then I did a few reps of chest exercises and curls. Guess what? The skepticism was gone. These dumbbells feel sturdy whether laden with just a few pounds for a lateral raise or with more than 50 pounds for bench presses or lunges. They adjust so quickly — you just set the dumbbell into its base among the weight discs, turn the dial to the desired load, and pick the bar up again. And given the fact that this one pair of dumbbells can replace 15 separate sets, there is simply no comparison when it comes to price.

Yes, the $250 price tag is high, but think of it like this: Assuming each of the 15 pairs of dumbbells you would have to buy to match this set cost $25 each, which is in fact about half the price of most pairs of hand weights, you would still pay $375. The actual price to match the variety of weights offered by this pair would probably be closer to $600 or more, in reality.

Also, while many people might not need every single weight configuration offered by the Adjustable Dumbbells, their broad range of adjustments makes them suitable for multiple users. There is only one drawback here, and it's the fact that 52.5 pounds is not enough weight for some exercises for some people. But hey, you can just buy the heavier weights you need, you big strong someone.

The Wirecutter calls these dumbbells "user-friendly" and felt they represented a great value. Fit Rated says the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells had a "sturdy feel and solid rubber grip" and were ideal for home gyms.

With nearly 4,000 reviews logged at the time of this writing, these dumbbells have a stellar 4.7-star average rating on Amazon. One satisfied exercise enthusiast loves the convenience of these dumbbells, saying: "With very little time to get to the gym ... these to maximize the time I do have to work out." Another owner notes their "amazing flexibility" and says "the weight changes are fast and seamless."

Pros: One pair of dumbbells replaces 15, quick and easy weight changes, comfortable grips

Cons: Maximum weight of 52.2 pounds too light for some users

Buy the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells on Amazon for $299



The best basic dumbbells

The CAP Barbell Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells are made from solid iron and are perfectly sized and balanced for countless workouts. 

Sometimes simple really is better. I know I just sang the praises of a set of fancy adjustable dumbbells, but in a perfect world, I would have a home gym large enough to accommodate multiple sets of these classic CAP Barbell Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells instead of one adjustable pair.

With a solid iron dumbbell in each hand, you can work out for hours every week, drop the weights a thousand times (assuming you have pads on the floors!), and never run the risk of damaging your gear. Frankly, I'm not really sure how you could even damage these weights without a furnace that could reach the 2,800-degree melting point of iron.

The dumbbells come in a pair with individual unit weight spanning everything from 5 to well over 100 pounds (they're also sold individually on Amazon). Each weight has a textured grip that helps you maintain a safe, proper grasp on the weights even when your hands are damp with sweat. The hexagonal shape of the weights prevents them from rolling around on the ground — which protects people from injury and walls or other equipment from damage — and also helps the dumbbells rest more stable on a rack.

I personally own dumbbell pairs weighing 50, 40, 25, and 15 pounds (OK, I only have one of the 15 pound weights, having dumped the other while way off the path during a training hike that turned into a trailblazing and route-finding ordeal) and have been using the weights for more than seven years so far. Yes, adjustable dumbbells are convenient, but solid iron is forever.

The CAP Barbell Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells have a 4.2 out of 5-star rating on Amazon. One customer called them a "solid buy" and was impressed with the accurate weight of each dumbbell after he tested them with a scale. Another called them "no frills dumbbells" that "get the job done."

USA Home Gym calls the CAP Barbell Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells well-made and appreciated how the hexagonal shape stops "the dumbbell from rolling" and can "provide easier storage."

Pros: Last for a lifetime, hexagonal shape prevents rolling, easy to read weight numbers

Cons: Price adds up with multiple pairs

Buy a set of 10-pound CAP Barbell Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells on Amazon for $27.47 (prices vary by weight)



The best adjustable dumbbells

The Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells save you space by offering multiple weight configurations on each bar and save you cash by using a basic spin-lock collar and weight discs that slide on and off the grips.

There is one major drawback to using a Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbell: During the course of a set of reps, the star-shaped locking collars that keep the weight plates on the handle almost always loosen, letting the weights jostle and spin and potentially impacting your form or even your safety. Here's the thing: You can counter this loosening either with a rubber O-ring or simply with a rubber band twisted around the threaded posts.

I used these exact types of dumbbells for many years, switching to solid weights only after somehow losing a few of the plates over time, thus making it difficult to create a properly balanced weight. And while not ideal for the serious power-lifter, for most strength-training enthusiasts, these weights are a great option because they're easy to use and affordable.

To adjust the weight you have on each bar, you just twist off the holding ring, slip on the desired plates (making sure to evenly balance the weight) and then twist the collar back on. The inch-thick grips are a perfect size for most hands and the fact that you can adjust each dumbbell from as light as a pound or so when the handle is unladen to many dozens of pounds makes them quite versatile. Just remember that when a set says 60 pounds, that means total, i.e. a maximum of 30 pounds per hand, for example.

Dumbbells Reviews calls the Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells yours for "a very friendly price" and appreciates their ease of adjustment. Fitness Rocks calls these weights "versatile" and "high quality," noting their solid cast-iron construction.

The Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells have an average Amazon rating of 4.3 stars. One customer says these weights give you "more than your money's worth" when compared with other dumbbell options. A customer says they make it "very easy to set the amount of weight that you want."

Pros: Affordable option, easy to adjust weight, space saving design

Cons: Weight discs sometimes come loose, circular weights can roll on floor

Buy a 60-pound set (30 pounds each) of Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells on Amazon for $61.49 (prices vary by weight)



The best low-weight dumbbells

Adding lower weight dumbbells can make your workout much more productive, and the AmazonBasics Neoprene Dumbbells are perfect for that.

If you think you can't get a meaningful workout using a pair of low-weight dumbbells, try holding them in an arm outstretched and parallel to the floor for a few minutes — you'll feel the burn. The AmazonBasics Neoprene Dumbbell set comes in pairs from 1 to 20 pounds, but the set we're recommending — a 20-pound set, which contains two 2-, 3-, and 5-pound weights, and a stand — are ideal for use during a walk or jog or during calisthenic exercises like knee bends, arm extensions, and so forth.

Low-weight dumbbells are great for people doing physical therapy, for older exercisers, or for people who are looking more for toning and leaner muscle than larger, more cut musculature. And a low-cost set like this is always welcome regardless of your fitness goals.

The dumbbells are color coded for quick and easy identification and are entirely coated with a thick layer of neoprene. This covering enhances grip security and comfort and also protects flooring and furniture from a dropped weight. You probably can't achieve a Schwarzenegger-like physique with these weights, but you can tone and tighten and also do wonders for your cardiovascular health.

The Lifevest calls the AmazonBasics Neoprene Dumbbell Set a great choice thanks to the "comfortable grip" and affordability, while TBPR notes that it's "easy to assemble."

The AmazonBasics Neoprene Dumbbells have a 4.6-star average rating online, with one user saying she "love[s] these weights" and calling them a "tremendous value for the money." Another owner loves the compact "size of the set" and the color-coding system.

Pros: Low price, comes with a stand, color-coded weights

Cons: Much too light for some people

Buy a set of 2-, 3-, and 5-pound (20 pounds total) AmazonBasics Neoprene Dumbbells with stand on Amazon for $28.49 (price varies by weight)



The best aquatic dumbbells

For a safe, productive workout, use the natural property of buoyancy to your advantage with the Trademark Innovations Aquatic Exercise Dumbbells

Usually, a dumbbell helps you build muscle by requiring resistance against the downward pull of gravity. When you bring the Trademark Innovations Aquatic Exercise Dumbbells into the pool, you will instead be challenged the keep these highly buoyant EVA foam dumbbells down under the surface of the water.

Floating weights are a great way to challenge your body without putting undue strain on your muscles or joints and while minimizing the risk of injury. Not only is it harder to hyper-extend yourself while using aquatic dumbbells, but should you let go of one, it will bob to the surface instead of smashing down on your foot!

Using aquatic barbells can provide a targeted workout for the muscles in your arms, shoulders, and even across much of your back, depending on how you hold the "weights" while in the water. Keeping them partially above the surface provides only a bit of added resistance and is great for the early stages of physical rehab. Holding the dumbbells all the way under the water can present more of a challenge than you might expect, actually helping tone and strengthen muscles.

The one major drawback (if you can call it that) here is that you will need a pool, lake, or ocean in which to use these things (stick to the pool, please).

Wiki.Ezvid took a look at the Trademark Innovations Aquatic Exercise Dumbbells and like what they saw, calling the foam durable and saying the dumbbells offered a "decent amount of resistance."

Pros: Great for low impact workout, low price point, durable closed-cell foam

Cons: Not enough resistance for many users

Buy the Trademark Innovations Aquatic Exercise Dumbbells on Amazon for $5.99-$15.29 (price varies by color)



How to reset any Roku remote that has stopped responding

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  • All Roku players come with a handy remote control that needs to be paired with the player. If it stops working, you might need to reset the remote.
  • You also need to reset the remote if you want to use it with a different Roku player.
  • Some Roku models come with an infrared remote that doesn't have a reset button, and doesn't ever need to be paired or reset.
  • You can reset the remote in minutes by rebooting the Roku player and then pressing the reset button on the remote.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

All Roku media players come with a simple but effective remote control. And while the exact appearance of the remote varies from one Roku model to another, they all feature a home and back button, a directional pad, and buttons to play and pause video. Some models come with quick-launch buttons for popular streaming services, like Netflix and Hulu.

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And while the remote isn't essential — you can also control your Roku via a smartphone app on your iPhone or Android device — it's pretty convenient. But if you can't get your remote to connect to your Roku player, you might need to reset it. You can also reset the remote if you want to use the remote on a different Roku player.

There are actually two kinds of Roku remote controls: an Enhanced remote (which is a "point anywhere" remote that controls the player no matter which way it's pointed) and the simpler infrared remote (that requires direct line of sight with the player to operate).

You can only reset an Enhanced remote — the infrared remote can't (and doesn't need to) be reset, as it will work with any compatible Roku player just by being pointed directly at it. If an infrared remote isn't working, try replacing the batteries.

Most Roku models come with the Enhanced remote. These models include the Roku Streaming Stick, Roku 2, Roku 4, Roku Premiere, and Roku Ultra.

How to reset the Roku remote

1. Remove the batteries from your Roku remote.

2. Unplug the power cable from your Roku player, wait for 5 to 10 seconds, and plug it back in again.

3. When you see the Roku's home screen on your TV, insert the batteries in the remote.

4. Press and hold the reset button, which is located in the battery compartment, for about 5 seconds.

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5. The pairing light on the remote should start flashing (depending on the model remote, this pairing light is either in the battery compartment near the reset button or on the front of the remote).

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The Roku remote should reset and pair with your Roku player.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

Join the conversation about this story »

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How to set up any model of Roku player and remote

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  • Before setting up a Roku media player, make sure you have an HDMI cable on hand, unless you're setting up a Streaming Stick. An HDMI is included in the box with some models, like the Roku Express, but the Premiere and Ultra don't come with one.
  • After you connect the Roku to a TV and plug in the power cable, on-screen instructions will guide you through most of the setup process.
  • You'll need access to a web browser on a computer or mobile device to activate your Roku, create an account, and finish setup.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Roku media players are among the most popular streaming devices available, thanks to their simplicity, ease of use, compatibility with thousands of streaming channels, and affordable pricing.

In fact, Roku offers a family of devices from the budget-priced Roku Streaming Stick ($29.99) to the high-end Roku Ultra ($99.99). No matter which Roku model you have, setup is similar and straightforward.

How to set up your Roku media player

The process of setting up a Roku is generally the same regardless of which Roku model you have. We'll point out any differences as we go.

Note that you might need to purchase an HDMI cable separately, as not all Roku players include one in the box. The Roku Express and Express Plus include an HDMI cable; the Roku Premiere and Roku Ultra do not. (The Streaming Stick doesn't include an HDMI cable, but you don't need one to connect it.)

1. Connect the Roku player to an HDMI cable and then plug that cable into an HDMI input on your television. If you have a Roku Streaming Stick, you don't need an HDMI cable. Instead, just insert the Streaming Stick directly into the HDMI port. Alternately, some Roku models, like the Roku Express Plus, come with a composite video cable you can use if you have an older TV that lacks an HDMI input.

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2. Plug the Roku's power cable into the Roku device. Depending on which model you have, this power plug will either be a small round connector or a micro-USB connector. Plug the other end of the cable into one of the TV's USB ports, or into the included AC adapter. If using an AC adapter, plug it into an electrical outlet.

3. Make sure the TV is turned on and set to the correct input for the Roku player. After it boots, you should see the Roku's welcome screen.

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4. Insert batteries in the Roku remote.

5. You might need to pair the remote control. If you're instructed to do so, press the reset button on the remote (it's located in the battery compartment) for several seconds.

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6. You can now use the remote control to follow the on-screen directions. Select a language and set up your Internet connection by choosing a Wi-Fi network and entering your password. If you have a Roku Ultra, you have the option to avoid Wi-Fi and connect the player directly to your Internet router using an Ethernet cable.

7. After connecting to the Internet, the Roku player may need to install updates. Let the device install updates and restart as needed.

8. The Roku player might ask to test the screen. Use the remote to follow any instructions and let the player detect the display.

9. Now it's time to activate your Roku player. Follow the on-screen directions to open a web browser on your computer or mobile device and navigate to roku.com/link. Enter the code that is displayed on your TV screen.

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10. Create a Roku account. If you already have a Roku account from a previous Roku device, enter your username and password now.

11. Roku may ask you to choose streaming channels. At this time, you can customize your Roku experience by choosing and logging into your favorite channels, like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, and any others you want to watch.

If you have a Roku Express, you'll want to mount it so that your remote control can maintain line of sight with the player. It comes with a small adhesive strip which you can apply to stick the Roku to the side or top of the TV (but don't put it behind the TV, where the remote control can't see it).

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best streaming sticks and boxes you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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8 products created by startups as a direct result of customer requests

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

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  • "The customer is always right" goes the old adage. "Always" is a strong word choice, but retail companies can't deny the power and influence that customers can have over the product development process. 
  • Agile startups are often able to quickly spot and address customer demands for a new product or style. 
  • When they work collaboratively with customers to bring them what they want, the final product is inevitably a success. 

Though retail companies have dedicated product developers and marketers to determine what products to release next, they do often take into consideration the feedback and requests of their loyal customers. After all, without customers, these brands wouldn't be able to succeed as they do, so it behooves them to listen with open ears. 

For startups, the timeline between noticing a common customer demand and bringing it to market is sped up. Unshackled by the bureaucracies of a legacy company, the small teams tend to be able to move more nimbly and interact with their fans in more creative, efficient ways. 

These conversations between brand and customer strengthen loyalties and make customers feel more like active collaborators instead of passive bystanders in the product development process. In the end, both parties win: customer gets exactly what they want, and startup is rewarded with sales. 

See eight popular startup products that were created as a direct result of customer demand below — unsurprisingly, they were hits. 

Tommy John women's underwear

Shop women's underwear at Tommy John, starting at $20

Read our review of Tommy John women's underwear here

Since launching in 2008 with ultra-comfortable men's underwear and undershirts, Tommy John has been fielding requests for women's underwear. A photo of a woman wearing its boxer briefs and extolling its virtues finally convinced the founders it was time to design a collection to specifically address the underwear woes of women. 

The underwear comes in three types of fabric (Air, Cotton, and Second Skin), and they're all very soft and stretchy. They never bunch, roll, or show panty lines, so it's no wonder they're our pick for the best women's underwear you can buy. Available in six different cuts, they are a little expensive starting at $20 a pair, but we feel they're definitely worth it. 



Everlane sneakers

Shop the Tread Trainer at Everlane, $98

Read our review of the Everlane Tread Trainer here

Everlane has been making shoes like flats and heels for years, but only introduced its brand new sneaker brand, Tread, in 2019. It's calling them the world's lowest-impact sneakers, using recycled and natural rubber for the soles, leather from a Gold-certified tannery (meaning it meets high environmental standards) for the body, and recycled plastic for the laces and lining. 

Our resident sneaker expert Amir described them as such: "The overall design isn't groundbreaking, but what makes them feel special is Everlane's ability to strip away wasteful materials while maintaining such a classic look." 

 



Curology cleanser and moisturizer

Start your free trial of Curology, $59.90 afterwards

Curology makes it convenient to get a prescription acne cream for your skin and manage your progress with a board-certified dermatologist, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner. At its start, Curology only provided the personalized acne treatment, which it calls its Super Bottle, but has since added a cleanser and moisturizer to make a full three-step bundle of acne-fighting solutions. 

The non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and paraben-free cleanser and moisturizer work together with the acne cream, so you're not sabotaging your results with ineffective skin-care products. 



Made In wok

Shop the Blue Carbon Steel Wok at Made In, $99

Made In offers top-quality cookware staples (non-stick pans, saucepans, knives) at affordable prices, but its most loyal fans still felt like their stovetops were missing an important specialty pan. It turns out everyone really wanted a wok, so a wok this top chef-backed kitchen brand created. You can now cook up restaurant-quality stir fry right at home.

Made In's wok has a flat bottom instead of a traditionally round one, making it more practical to store, and it's made from carbon steel, a material that's lightweight, heats quickly, and also retains heat exceptionally well.  

 



Allbirds flats

Shop the Tree Breezer at Allbirds, $95

Read our review of the Allbirds Tree Breezer here

A challenge to knit flats brand Rothy's has emerged, and it's proven to be a worthy competitor indeed. Though women love Allbirds sneakers like the signature Wool Runner or the vacation-ready Tree Skipper, they also desired a more feminine silhouette, something that would let them wear the Allbirds brand even to the office or on dates. 

The Tree Breezer flat features the padded merino wool insole that fans are already familiar with, paired with uppers made from a eucalyptus textile. It also has a bouncy sole made from sugar cane. Comfortable, lightweight, and machine-washable, the Tree Breezer is yet another Allbirds hit that's made just for flats lovers. 



Volition serum

Shop Volition beauty products at Sephora, from $12

Read our review of Volition here

Volition's best-selling Snow Mushroom Water Serum ($62) isn't the only customer-requested product from the brand. In fact, the whole model of this innovative beauty brand is based on what customers want. Members of the community submit ideas for beauty and skin-care products they want to see, and they're only made if it gathers enough support from the rest of the community. 

Popular products include the above serum, which hydrates skin, minimizes pores, and promotes collagen production, as well as a daily sunscreen that doesn't leave residue or odor and resurfacing pads powered by apple cider vinegar. 



G-RO backpack

Shop the G-RO Backpack XV Classic, $220

Read our review of G-RO here

Kickstarter and Indiegogo phenom G-RO became the most successful crowdfunded luggage campaign in history in 2017, rolling out with a smart carry-on that featured unique, oversized wheels. It followed up with another set of bags that travelers needed to make all their travels more seamless. 

This backpack is one of those highly demanded bags. It has an expansion system that more than doubles its capacity, so you can really make the most of your packing space, and it can be carried two different ways. It's constructed with ultra-durable, water-resistant fabric, and there's a compartment for everything you can think of. Tech-obsessed travelers will appreciate the USB port and multi-access protective laptop pocket. 

 



Lively strapless bra

Shop the Lively No-Wire Strapless Bra, $35

Read our review of the Lively No-Wire Strapless Bra here

According to underwear and swim company Lively, when the site first launched in 2016, the most searched item was "strapless bra." It gave the people what they wanted with the Smooth Strapless ($35) and followed up with an even more comfortable no-wire option. Thousands of women joined the waitlist for this secure, lightly lined strapless bra that you'll nearly forget you're wearing. 

All of Lively's underwear is shockingly affordable given their quality, and when you mix and match bras and underwear, you'll save more.



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