• Being a world leader comes with a lot of responsibility. It also involves grueling days, difficult decisions, and a consistent amount of high pressure.
• The intensity of these roles can age leaders during their time in office, and because of the scrutiny of modern-day media, there are photos to show these changes.
• These before and after photos show how 15 world leaders, from Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin to Queen Elizabeth, have aged in office.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

Being a president, prime minister, or supreme leader is by no means a guaranteed way to stay youthful.

Election cycles, political compromises, long days, and difficult decisions are just a few of the things world leaders have to deal with on a daily basis.

In 2015, the British Medical Journal published a study comparing elected leaders and runner-ups in 17 countries between 1722 to 2015 to see how hard being a world leader is on the body.

The study concluded that becoming a head of government "substantially" increased the risk of mortality. Candidates who served as a head of government lived about 4 years less after their last election than those who never served.

Here are 30 photos showing how world leaders have aged since they were first elected.

SEE ALSO: Before-and-after photos show how dramatically presidents aged in office

Here's President Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration in January 2017. He was 70 when he took office, the oldest in US history.

At age 73 in 2019, here at a news conference in South Korea, he doesn't look too different.

British Prime Minister Theresa May came to power in 2016 during a chaotic political time while Britain decided whether or not to remain part of the European Union.

After a stressful three years, and no concrete outcome, May resigned as Prime Minister in 2019.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau became leader in 2015, after a surprise victory ousting a government that had been in power for the previous 9 years. He was 43.

Source: Washington Post

In 2019, with another election approaching, the biggest change looks to be the length of his hair.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected in a historic landslide victory in 2014. He was 63.

Source: The Guardian

In 2019, after winning another term, he's looking pretty similar. The beard's a little trimmer.

Xi Jinping became China's president in 2013, after being elected general secretary of the Communist Party in 2012. He was 59.

Other than some grey hairs, China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong doesn't look too different.

Source: BBC News

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro assumed power at age 50 in 2013 after the death of former President Hugo Chavez.

Source: AP

In 2019 he's looking a little weathered, which makes sense considering the country's weak economy and a continuing struggle over who the legitimate Venezuelan president should be.

Source: Vox

North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un came to power as one of the youngest world leaders in 2011 after his father, Kim Jong-Il, died. At age 30, he inherited a nuclear arsenal and a bevy of human rights abuses.

Source: Business Insider

Here he is meeting with Trump in the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas in June 2019. A trip to Beijing in 2018 was his first known time outside of North Korea since becoming leader.

Source: Business Insider

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the country's first elected female leader, came to power in 2006 at age 51.

Source: BBC News

Here she is in 2019 after 13 years as Germany's leader. She's said her current term, her fourth, will be her last.

Source: NPR

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was elected in 2006, but stepped down after a year in office, citing health issues.

Source: BBC News

He was re-elected as prime minister in 2012, and in 2019 he's on track to become Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister. Abe is now 64.

Source: The Guardian

Recep Tayyip Erdogan was elected as the president of Turkey in 2014, after also serving as prime minister for 11 years. This is him in 2002.

Source: BBC News

At age 65 in 2019, Erdogan is looking older after a particularly stressful year when his party twice lost the mayoral race for Istanbul. He's previously said that when the city was lost, the country would be, too.

Source: Al-Monitor

Russian leader Vladimir Putin became prime minister in 1999 after working as a spy and security chief. In 2000 he went on to become president when Boris Yeltsin resigned. He was 47.

Sources: CNN, The New York Times

Now 66, here's Putin nearly two decades after he came to power.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was elected in 1996 and again in 2009 after a 10-year gap.

Here he is at age 69 in 2019. In April, it looked like he had won a fifth term as prime minister, but after failing to produce a coalition government, Israel will decide who its leader will be in September.

Sources: CNN, AP

In 1981, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei became Iran's president at age 42. He served in that role until 1989, when he became Iran's supreme leader, which he still is today.

Source: CNN

Here he is in 2019. In July he'll celebrate his 80th birthday.

Equatorial Guinea's president Teodoro Obiang Nguema has been in power since a military coup in 1979. He is the world's longest currently serving world leader.

Source: Nation

Here he is in 2018 after 39 years as president.

Queen Elizabeth II wasn't elected, but she's the longest-serving living monarch in the world. Here she is at age 30 in 1957, five years after becoming queen.

At 93, after a lifetime in the public eye, she's still smiling.

• If you need to charge your iPhone in a hurry, there are many things you can do to make the charging process faster.
• Don't charge wirelessly or plug your iPhone into a computer. And the more wattage your wall charger provides, the faster the phone will charge. 
• You should also turn off your iPhone or put it in Airplane Mode to help it charge faster. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Charging up your iPhone sounds like it should be a straight forward task. But there are a lot of ways to speed up (or unintentionally slow down) the charging process. 

If you're in a hurry and need more battery life as quickly as possible, here's how to make your iPhone charge faster.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999 at Apple)

iPhone 8 (From $399 at Apple)

30W USB-C Power Adapter (From $49 at Apple)

USB-C to Lightning Cable (1 m) (From $19 at Apple)

30 Watt USB-C Wall Charger (From $25.99 at Apple)

30 Watt USB-C Charger (From $13.99 at Apple)

SEE ALSO: The best and fastest lightning cables you can buy for your iPhone

Use a wall charger

First thing's first: Using a wall charger — any wall charger — is going to be faster than plugging your phone into a computer's USB port. Use a wall charger if you have one. 

But not all wall chargers are equal. In general, the higher the device's wattage, the faster it can deliver a charge to your iPhone. The wall charger that comes with your iPhone is relatively anemic, rated at 5 watts. 

If you have an iPad, use the wall charger that came with it instead, since it delivers 12 watts and charges about 33 percent faster.

If you have a new iPhone, use a fast charger

The newest crop of iPhones (which include the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the iPhone X family) include fast charging. Paired with the right wall charger, these phones can go from empty to 50 percent charge in half an hour. 

Apple doesn't include a fast charger in the box, though. You need to purchase a fast charger and a USB-C to Lightning cable. Apple offers its own 30 Watt USB-C Power Adapter and USB-C to Lightning adapter cable. 

There are other fast charging options as well. Anker offers a 30 Watt USB-C Wall Charger, for example, and iClever has its own 30 Watt USB-C Charger. There are a lot of affordable choices.

Don’t charge wirelessly

Wireless charging (if you have a newer iPhone, or you've put an old iPhone in a wireless charging case) is admittedly a convenience. But like most conveniences, this one has an unintended cost: slow charging. 

Wireless chargers work much more slowly than plugging the phone into a Lightning cable, which is why you should skip wireless if you're in a hurry.

Turn the phone off

Your iPhone will charge more slowly if it's powered on and performing tasks while it's also trying to send current to the battery. The best solution is to simply power it down. 

Start the Settings app, tap "General," and then tap "Shut Down."

Put it in Airplane Mode

Sometimes it isn't practical to turn your phone off completely, but the next best thing is to put it in Airplane Mode. In Airplane Mode, your phone disables Wi-Fi and cellular service, which can save a significant amount of power, letting the phone charge faster. 

To do that, pull down the Control Panel from the top right of the screen and tap the airplane icon at the top left. Or, if you're using an iPhone older than the iPhone X, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap the airplane icon at the top left.

Avoid using it

You can probably guess where this is going: Just avoid doing anything with the phone while it charges. Don't stream music, browse the web, or check email. Put the phone down and leave it alone to charge in peace.

Keep it cool

Batteries are little chemical factories, and when you charge a phone, the electric current causes chemical reactions to happen deep inside your phone. 

These chemical reactions tend to heat up the battery, but they work most efficiently when the phone is cool. You can help the phone to charge faster by keeping it out of direct sunlight and in a cool location if possible. If you keep the phone in a case, consider taking it out of the case while it charges — many cases trap heat, which is bad. 

In fact, if the phone gets too hot (about 95 degrees), it may stop charging completely until it has an opportunity to cool down. 

Cycle the battery occasionally

This isn't something you can do in the moment, but put this on your to do list. 

Your iPhone's battery will charge more efficiently if it has a chance to cycle — to go from 100 percent to completely dead about once a month or so. Every once in a while, let your phone run down all the way until it shuts down. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• 'Why won't my iPhone charge?': How to diagnose and fix common iPhone charging problems

• How to properly clean your iPhone's charging port when it won't charge

• Tips for fixing an iPhone or iPad charger that appears to be broken

• 'Why won't my iPhone turn on?': 3 ways to troubleshoot an iPhone that won't restart

• L.L.Bean is running a Fourth of July sale on outdoor gear, apparel, footwear, and home goods.
• Through July 4, you can save 20% on your order (including full-price and marked-down items) when you use the promo code "JULY4" at checkout.
• Visit Business Insider Coupons for the latest deals and savings at L.L.Bean. 
• Check out tons of other Fourth of July weekend sales happening right now. 

L.L.Bean is celebrating the Fourth of July with a big sale. Through July 4, you can save 20% on your L.L.Bean order with the promo code "JULY4" at checkout. Along with apparel and footwear (including the iconic Bean Boot) for men, women, and kids, the sale also includes bags and travel accessories, outdoor equipment, and home goods.

The code is valid on full-price and marked-down L.L.Bean items, but products from the other brands the company carries, like BioLite, Thule, Yeti, and Leatherman, are excluded from the sale.

You can choose from summer styles to wear now, past-season fall and winter styles for later in the year, or a combination of both. During the sale, you can save up to 60% on sale styles. To help you get to the best deals quickly, we rounded up 15 of our favorite products on sale. If you're looking for something specific, you can jump directly to the product categories listed, below.

Shop the L.L.Bean Fourth of July sale now.

• Men's deals
• Women's deals
• Boys' deals
• Girls' deals
• Footwear deals
• Bags and travel deals
• Outdoor equipment deals
• Home goods deals

SEE ALSO: All the best Fourth of July sales we know of so far — on mattresses, appliances, clothes, and more

Bean Boots

Men's: $111.20 (originally $139) [You save $27.80]

Women's: $111.20 (originally $139) [You save $27.80]

Men's Carefree Unshrinkable Pocket Tee

$15.99 (Originally $22.95) [You save $6.96]

Men's Wrinkle-Free Double L Chino Shorts

$63.99 (Originally $99) [You save $35.01]

Men's Casco Bay Boat Mocs

$55.99 (Originally $89) [You save $33.01]

Men's Tritium Field Watch Stainless

$175.20 (Originally $249) [You save $73.80]

Men's Rapid River Technical Fishing Shirt

$23.99 (Originally $79) [You save $55.01]

Men's Traverse 10-inch Swim Trunks

$23.99 (Originally $44.95) [You save $20.96]

Women's Summer Knit Maxi Dress

$31.99 (Originally $64.95) [You save $32.96]

Women's Squareneck Tanksuit

$27.99 (Originally $74.95) [You save $46.96]

Women's Premium Washable Linen Shirt

$39.99 (Originally $64.95) [You save $24.96]

Women's Maine Isle Slide

$19.99 (Originally $29.95) [You save $9.96]

Women's Essential Sun Hat

$13.59 (Originally $39.95) [You save $26.36]

Women's Signature Handsewn Suede Loafers

$55.99 (Originally $159) [You save $103.01]

Everyday Lightweight Tote

$23.99 (Originally $34.95) [You save $10.96]

Sportsman's Medium Spinner Pullman

$199.20 (Originally $319) [You save $119.80]

• Scientists who study large numbers of people around the world have found that certain foods are linked with death, cancer, and diabetes.
• Of course, eating a little bit of these "bad" foods won't kill you, but they can have a detrimental effect on your health over time.
• In general, nutritionists recommend eating fresh vegetables and whole grains, and cooking at home when you can. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Healthy eating can feel like a tricky game. Some diet gurus insist that carbs are bad, while others suggest that low-fat foods can help people slim down.

The truth is more complicated, though, and nutrition experts are starting to insist that there's just no eating plan that's right for every body. 

Still, there are some foods that scientists have found — after years of studying people who eat them around the world — to be associated with negative health outcomes.

Here are eight of the worst offenders, which science has suggested up our odds of developing cancer, gaining weight, contracting diabetes, and ultimately perishing earlier than we should. 

SEE ALSO: The Cuyahoga River caught fire 50 years ago. These stomach-churning photos highlight why the EPA exists.

Meats from the grill and other burnt foods.

The risk: Cancer.

Burnt items — whether that be something charred over coals, browned in a toaster, or even a lit cigarette — aren't great for human health in big doses.

When meats like chicken, pork, beef, or fish are cooked or fried at high temperatures, they form compounds called heterocyclic amines, (HCAs), as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These compounds can prompt DNA changes that may increase a person's cancer risk.

But the way that these compounds work in tandem with others inside our bodies is complex and still not fully understood. (One study from Kansas State University found that marinating meats in spices like rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage may cut down the HCAs in a piece of meat by 87%.)

Another potentially risky compound that forms when food gets browned is acrylamide — it's one of the toxic chemicals smokers inhale. When foods like bread, coffee, or french fries are roasted, fried, or baked at high temperatures, they produce acrylamide. But there's no good evidence that a little browning is harmful. In fact, California recently reversed its cancer warning for coffee, saying that "after reviewing more than a thousand studies, we concluded that coffee consumption does not pose a significant cancer risk."

Red meat (even when it's not grilled).

The risks: Cancer and heart disease.

Tucking into a juicy steak or burger can be a treat, but you can have too much of a good thing.

Beef, ham, lamb and other red meat contain a protein called haem that can damage the intestinal lining, increasing the risk of colon cancer.

There's also no fiber in meat, so it's important to supplement any meaty meals with fresh, nutrient-rich veggies. One recent study found that people who consumed more red meat had an increased risk of death over time, though that could simply be because people who eat a lot of meat generally eat less fresh produce, and therefore miss out on the health-boosting benefits of vegetables.  

In addition, many red meats are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, too much of which can clog the arteries and increase the risk of a heart attack or a stroke. But lean, unprocessed meat can contain nutrients like iron, zinc, vitamin D, potassium, and B-vitamins, as well as protein. The American Heart Association recommends choosing high-quality red meats and sticking to reasonable portion sizes.

Sugary foods.

The risks: Diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

Many foods naturally contain sugar, including fruit, grains, and dairy. Refined sugar is sometimes added to food often to improve its taste and lengthen shelf life.

Sugar can harm your health in several ways, in addition to simply causing you to consume more calories than you otherwise might. Too much of it increases triglycerides, a type of fat produced by the liver when it breaks down fructose. Triglycerides in the bloodstream can build up inside the walls of your arteries, contributing to heart disease. 

Sugar is also linked to cancer, since it can damage cells. Once cancer is present, sugar can also speed the growth of tumors because cancer uses sugar as fuel. 

An added problem is that sugary foods often contain "empty" calories that come without other nutrients, unlike the calories in vegetables, nuts, and fish. 

Juice and other sweet drinks.

The risks: Early death, diabetes, cancer, and heart issues.

For years, we've known that soda is bad for our health. Juice may not be that much better, even the fresh, 100% natural kind.

A recent study published in the journal JAMA analyzed years of health records from more than 13,400 black and white US adults. The scientists found that each additional 12-ounce serving of juice that adults drank per day was associated with a 24% higher risk of death.

That doesn't mean juice kills people, but a mounting body of evidence suggests that fruit juice can be nearly as dangerous for our health as other sugary beverages.

Part of the problem is that when we drink sugar, fructose gushes into our liver, unabated by other nutrients like fiber that slow digestion and help us feel full and satiated. Over time, all those sweet drinks can lead to sour consequences.

A 34-year study of more than 118,000 men and women across the US released earlier this year found that people who sip more sugar-sweetened beverages are more likely to die from all sorts of illnesses, especially heart problems and cancers. That study suggested that diet soda and sugar substitutes may not be much better if consumed in large doses.

Processed food (yes, that may include cheesy quesadillas).

The risks: Overeating, cancer, and diabetes.

A processed food can refer to any item that's not part of an edible plant, animal, fungus, or algae.

Scientists studying people who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods — like factory-made chicken nuggets, granola bars packed in plastic wrappers, and carbonated soft drinks — are discovering that people who rely on these foods regularly have higher rates of some deadly diseases.

What's more, those people also tend to pop more food in their mouths on a regular basis than they would on a fresher diet. A groundbreaking 2019 study from the National Institutes of Health found that people who were fed ultra-processed meals for just two weeks ate 500 more calories each day and gained more weight than they did when offered the same amount of nutrients from less processed food.

"There really is a causal relationship between ultra-processed foods and how many calories people choose to eat," lead researcher Kevin Hall told Business Insider in May. 

Other researchers have connected packaged and ready-made foods with more cancer cases of all kinds and more early deaths.

Processed breakfast cereal and other refined grains.

The risks: Weight gain.

Refined grains are found in items like white breads, pasta, rice, breakfast cereals, and baked goods like muffins. Although these foods may seem like deliciously simple meal choices, they are often sugary and processed.

And importantly, none of them are whole grains. Instead, they've been stripped of their outer shells: the germ and the bran that provide fiber, vitamins, protein, and fat. 

Instead of starting the day with sugary cereal, many dietitians and nutrition experts suggest having a cup of plain Greek yogurt topped with nuts and berries. That will give your body healthy fat, protein, and fiber to keep you full.

Alcohol, be it beer, wine, or liquor.

The risks: Cancer and weight gain.

One problem with drinking is that the ethyl alcohol in boozy beverages irritates tissues, making them more susceptible to damage from carcinogens.

Heavy drinkers are more likely to experience long-term health issues — a 2018 study found that drinking higher quantities of alcohol is associated with an increased risk of developing all kinds of cancers.

Since most alcoholic drinks are also high in sugar, that can compound the detrimental effects and lead to weight gain over time.

Like most things, however, drinking in moderation is associated with minimal health risks (and maybe even a few benefits), so don't sweat it if you enjoy a beer or glass of wine on occasion.

Poisonous fungi.

The risks: Intense discomfort, hallucinations, and death.

It almost goes without saying, but there are a few things that border on edible that you should never, ever eat. That includes mold growing on leftovers in your fridge and poisonous mushrooms like the death cap and autumn skullcap (and, of course, your coworker's lunch in the office fridge). 

But in general, most foods are fine to eat occasionally, particularly if you stay aware of health risks and build your diet around fresh produce, healthy fats, and unrefined whole grains.

• You probably know Le Creuset for its beautiful, well-crafted, and versatile enamel Dutch ovens. It created its first one in 1925, and still makes all of its Dutch ovens in the same foundry in France. 
• Its cookware is expensive, but not without reason. Le Creuset's products last for years (if not generations), are made with distinct attention to detail, and come in many eye-catching colors. 
• We've used seven of its products, including its signature enamel cast iron Dutch oven, oven-ready stoneware, and non-stick cookware. 
• Below, you'll find our reviews of a variety of Le Creuset products, along with a history of the company and how it became one of the most coveted cookware brands in the world.

Though startups like Made In are making headway against traditional kitchen brands, there are some decades-old names that home cooks may never let go of.

Topping registry and gift lists everywhere, these legacy brands have been wished for, raved about, and passed down from generation to generation. For good reason — their products help to make your grandmother's famous chocolate chip cookies as well as your newfangled (her words, not yours) quinoa cacao bites.

French cookware company Le Creuset is one such name, representing the height of craftsmanship and style, and accordingly, price. Its enamel cast iron Dutch ovens are widely considered the best in the industry, which is why many people are willing to commit to the $200+ investment and few ever regret it.

You can't miss them in a kitchen. They're the smooth and glossy, weighty and substantial, brightly colored centerpiece of a shelf, stove, or countertop, and after cooking with them, you're unlikely to ever forget them. Basically, Le Creuset is the rare brand that's really as good as everyone says it is. The experience is kind of like going to your first SoulCycle class — you enter a cynic, but you emerge (hopefully less sweaty) a zealous convert. 

A brief history of Le Creuset — then and now

Le Creuset was created in 1925 by two Belgian industrialists, one who specialized in casting and the other in enameling. After meeting at the Brussels Fair, they created a foundry in Fresnoy-le-Grand, an area in northern France located along a major trade route. 

The cast iron cocotte, also known as a French oven or an enameled Dutch oven, was their first product. Its Flame color, a Le Creuset signature, is said to have been modeled after the vibrant orange hue of molten cast iron inside a crucible ("le creuset" in French). 

The cocotte was a groundbreaking product at the time because it made the kitchen staple of cast iron cookware both more functional and beautiful. It was something that home cooks could rely on every time to perform at high levels and also an aesthetically pleasing piece that looked good on stove tops and dining tables. Based on Le Creuset's enduring success, it looks like our tastes haven't changed much. 

After World War II, as competitors flocked to steel and aluminum to make their cookware, Le Creuset doubled down on its enameled cast iron efforts, expanding into a range of other pieces and experimenting with exciting new colors. Today, you can shop its iconic Dutch oven alongside specialty cookware like woks and Moroccan tagines, bakeware like casserole dishes, and dinnerware. 

How to shop Le Creuset cookware and what to buy

Enameled cast ironwas and will remain Le Creuset's specialty. Its slow heat distribution and strong heat retention make it great for medium and low-heat cooking, from slow-cooking meats to roasting vegetables to baking rich desserts. The smooth interior encourages beautiful, delicious caramelization, plus it prevents sticking and is easy to clean. This material is safe to use on all heat sources, including electric, gas, induction, outdoor grill, and oven. Whether you're a first-time Le Creuset buyer or expanding a decades-old collection, this versatile, high-performing cookware is the main one to shop. All cast iron pieces are made in the original French foundry and each is hand-inspected by 15 people. They come with a limited lifetime warranty. 

Stonewareis best for baking tasks. It heats uniformly to create that coveted golden-brown crust while making sure that everything inside is cooked evenly, and it releases food easily. All stoneware pieces come with a limited 10-year warranty. 

Nonstickis a newer venture for Le Creuset, and a nicer-quality upgrade from the nonstick stuff you've used before. Compared to cast iron, these aluminum-core products heat up quickly. All nonstick pieces come with a limited lifetime warranty. 

Where to shop Le Creuset

Le Creuset's full lineup of products is available on its website, where you can get free shipping on all orders, find recipes and events, and start a gift registry (through MyRegistry.com). It's easiest to shop all of Le Creuset's gorgeous colors and special limited-stock or limited-edition collections on the company's website. 

However, you can also find sales and exclusive colors at specialty retailers like Williams-Sonoma, Sur La Table, and Crate & Barrel, and department stores like Nordstrom and Macy's. It's available at Amazon as well. It might be more convenient to buy Le Creuset at those places if you shop there frequently. 

Putting Le Creuset cookware to the test

Three of us tested the cookware types I mentioned above — enameled cast iron, stoneware, and nonstick — to put the nearly 100-year-old company to the test. While this was my first experience cooking with Le Creuset, my editors have been using their pieces for years and can attest to the durability and wear of their cookware. 

Below, learn more about what it's like to cook with Le Creuset, from the classic Dutch Oven to the lesser-known Grill Pan. 

Shop Le Creuset cookware here: Le Creuset, Williams-Sonoma, Sur La Table, Crate & Barrel, Nordstrom, Macy's, Amazon

Round Dutch Oven

Round Dutch Oven (5.5-Quart), $350, available at: Le Creuset | Amazon | Williams-Sonoma | Nordstrom 

We used it to cook: beef stroganoff, broccoli and sausage orzo skillet, chicken pot hotdish, and so much more. 

Why we love it:The 5.5-quart version of the popular Le Creuset Dutch oven isn't cheap at $350, but it's the cornerstone of my kitchen; it offers a lot of versatility, a durable design, and crucially, even heat distribution. I use it to cook easy, one-pot meals on most weeknights — everything from beef stroganoff to spring peas and asparagus risotto to a broccoli and sausage orzo skillet. —Ellen Hoffman, director of content strategy

I use a 4.5-quart version of this Dutch Oven, the same one that had previously belonged to my former boss' wife. She and I would swap recipes through her husband, delivering muffins and breakfast bars and favorite recipes to each other via his briefcase. At a holiday party at their home one year, she gifted me one of her Le Creuset pots along with her matching frying pan. She gave it to me because she was growing partial to her Staub Dutch oven and didn't need so many in the house, but it was still one of the kindest gifts I've ever received. I love cooking in it and especially using it to serve stews, sauces, and orzo during dinner parties. —Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

Signature Lite Grill Pan

Signature Lite Grill Pan, $180, available at: Le Creuset | Williams-Sonoma

We used it to cook: grilled summer squash phyllo pie, Beyond Meat sausages

Why we love it: When I'm too lazy to fire up the grill on our rooftop (so, most of the time), I opt for this stovetop grill pan. It gives my veggies and meat substitutes the perfect grill marks, and it's easy to move around on the burner if there's a hot or cool spot (which happens with square-shaped pans). I've been grilling lots of summer squash on it lately, and there's something so satisfying about turning it over to see those little charred and caramelized bits. The surface is relatively non-stick, so food comes up cleanly as your flipping it, and wipes off easily as you're scrubbing it later.  —Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

Mini Cocottes

Mini Cocottes, $100, available at: Le Creuset | Amazon | Nordstrom

We used it to cook: single-serving/app-sized mac and cheese, veggies, baked eggs, apple pie

Why we love it: These are hands down the most adorable pieces of cookware I own. The mini versions of the brand's classic cocotte are perfect for serving personal desserts, side dishes, and snacks like nuts or candy. They're made from stoneware, so they're best used in the oven — in most cases, on a baking tray and uncovered. The set I got came with a cookbook filled with recipes optimized for tiny portions, but if you're comfortable with experimentation, I can see the potential to get really creative (and cute) with these mini cocottes. —Connie Chen, reporter

Square Dish

Square Dish, $50, available at: Le Creuset | Amazon | Bed Bath & Beyond

We used it to cook:fudgy vegan brownies, roasted apricots with coconut sugar, cornbread, and a million other things

Why we love it: I've had this square dish for about three years now, and it's one of the most-used dishes in my kitchen. I bake quick-breads and brownies in it, use it to roast veggies at high temperatures, and even make pot pies with fluffy, crispy drop biscuit crust. The coating on the stoneware is so glossy and smooth that it's always easy to clean — mine has been through hell and back and still looks as new as it did the very first day I got it.  —Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

Nonstick Saute Pan

Nonstick Saute Pan, $145, available at: Le Creuset 

We used it to cook: vegetarian "meat" sauce, garlicky zucchini noodles

Why we love it: I have a lot of  nonstick pans, but I threw two of them out after I cooked with this one for the first time. The nonstick coating is above and beyond what I've experienced before — it took about three seconds to wash the pot I cooked this sauce in because there was absolutely nothing sticking to it. Not only that, but it provided fast, even heat throughout, and the walls of the pan are just high enough that you can use it as a saucepan and saute pan interchangeably. It's an excellent value for $145 — I use it all the time. —Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

Braiser

Nonstick Saute Pan, $145, available at: Le Creuset 

We used it to cook: lemon thyme chicken thighs, rigatoni and chicken with vodka sauce (family recipe), and lots of other bigger, saucy pasta dishes

Why we love it: This pan is the perfect size for the kinds of one-pot, saucy pasta dishes I make all the time. It's super wide and deep enough that I don't have to worry about adding too much liquid and having the contents spill over the sides. It's also great for cooking meats and veggies since, like I said, there's plenty of surface area so everything has room to get nice and crispy. —Ellen Hoffman, director of content strategy

Rectangular Casserole

Rectangular Casserole, $110, available at: Le Creuset | Amazon

We used it to cook: Enchiladas, lasagna, pasta casseroles

Why we love it: The depth of this 3.5-quart casserole dish is ideal for any recipes that call for layering, and the stoneware construction ensures every layer, whether sweet or savory, heats evenly and comes out of the oven piping hot. Though you might think the enamel would be too delicate to touch with a knife, rest assured you can slice into your casserole worry-free. I do wish the handles were slotted so I'd feel safer carrying it out of the oven, so just be extra careful about not dropping your hard work on the ground. —Connie Chen, reporter

• When you're trying to beat the summer heat outdoors, a glass of lemonade at the pool works great, but beating the heat indoors works best with an electric fan.
• The best electric fan is the Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator fan, as it provides a great mix of versatility, airflow, and quiet operation. 

Most people love summer, but there are three little things that make it rough: Excessive heat, the stinky sweat that heat causes, and nasty tan lines. You wear high socks one time while mowing the lawn, and you have to live down the bad tan line all summer.

Fortunately, the best electric fans can help you with the first two problems. Electric fans move a volume of air around your body, allowing you to feel cooler and sweat less. When a larger fan moves air, it circulates the air throughout a room, eliminating hot spots and cold spots.

Electric fans have been around for decades, but that doesn't mean they've stood still, just spinning their wheels … or blades. Even a simple home appliance like an electric fan has seen impressive gains in function and performance over recent years. With all of the available designs, finding a fan that can meet your specific needs has never been easier.

We've rounded up the best electric fans you can buy for any room or need. We've included highly rated normal fans, tower styles, personal ones, and other special fan designs. 

If you're in the market for an air conditioner, too, you should check out our guide to the best window ACs on Insider Picks.

Here are our picks for the best electric fans you can buy:

• Best fan overall: Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator Fan 
• Best quiet tower fan: Rowenta Fresh 180 Tower Fan
• Best affordable tower fan: Seville Classics Ultra Slimline Tower Fan
• Best tabletop clip fan: Avalon Convertible Table-Top and Clip Fan
• Best quiet fan: Rowenta VU5670 Turbo Silence Oscillating Fan
• Best high-end fan: Dyson Air Multiplier AM06 Table Fan

Updated on 07/02/2019 by Les Shu: Updated selections, prices, links, and formatting.

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best window air conditioners you can buy

SEE ALSO: The best USB desk fans you can buy

The best electric fan overall

The Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator fan sets itself apart from the crowd with multiple airflow settings and a small footprint.

For a versatile electric fan, the Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator earns high marks. It works in a number of different situations and locations, so it should fit almost everyone's needs. The fan is small enough to set on a desk and keep you cool as a personal fan, but the Vornado 660 has enough power at the highest setting to circulate the air properly in a large room, too.

It only measures about 15 x 13.5 x 12 inches, so it can fit just about anywhere. Don't let its small size fool you, though. This fan is small but mighty. It can cool just about any room quickly with its blades. 

Expert reviewers echo that point. Gizmodo's review (via The Wirecutter) says the Vornado fan delivers a high level of air circulation power for its small size. The Boing Boing review praises the power and points out that it offers four air speed settings. The fan's 6-foot-long power cord also frees you up to place the fan in multiple locations. Keep in mind that this fan is not new, but it's a tried-and-trusted model.

One Amazon buyer loves that the Vornado 660 runs silently on the lowest power setting while delivering an impressive level of airflow at the highest power setting (if you don't mind a bit of noise). Noise is really the only downside, as it is noisier than some of our other picks. 

Most buyers seem to agree that the Vornado fan is more than powerful enough to cool large or small spaces, and expert reviewers consistently praise this fan. It is pricey, but it's a worthwhile investment for a powerful fan that's built to work in a variety of situations.

Vornado backs the fan with a five-year warranty.

Pros: Four power settings to precisely adjust airflow, small footprint versus some fans of equal power, 6-foot power cord, silent operation on low setting, available in black or white

Cons: High price point, noisy on high setting

Buy the Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator Fan on Amazon for $99.99

The best quiet tower fan

The Rowenta Fresh 180 Tower Fan is quiet and it has a timer, remote control, and an auto-shutoff feature so you don't waste electricity while you stay cool.

It can be hard to get to sleep when your fan is whirring away in the corner. If you've ever wanted to chuck your pillow at the fan and silence it forever, you need Rowenta's Fresh 180 Tower Fan. Not only is it super quiet and slim enough to tuck away in a corner, but it also oscillates 180 degrees, as 3 airspeed settings, and a bunch of energy-saving features like auto-shutoff, a timer, and a remote control.

We tested this Rowenta Fresh 180 Tower Fan in a New York City apartment during a brief spell of 90-degree weather. It was the perfect size to cool our bedroom, but it was equally adept at cooling our large living and dining room area. In comparison with other fans we've tested, Rowenta's Tower fan was much quieter and we liked all the energy-saving features.

On the top of the fan, you'll see a LED screen that shows you the ambient room temperature, so you can see the impact the fan's air circulation has on the room's temperature if you're curious. You can also adjust the airspeed, set the timer, and turn on Auto mode or the oscillation feature.

If you're using this fan in your bedroom to lull you to sleep when it's hot out, you can set a timer so it will turn off after 1, 2, 4, or 8 hours when you've finally fallen asleep (hopefully). The Rowenta fan also has a 12-hour auto-shutoff feature to save you energy and worry if you forget to turn the fan off before you leave home.

It also comes with a remote control, which makes it easy to turn the fan on and off without leaving your bed or couch. Since it's powered by a watch battery, the remote should last a good amount of time. The fan itself has a cord in the base that plugs into an outlet. It's fairly long and it retracts into the fan's base when you're done.

Although it's a bit expensive, we think this Rowenta Tower Fan is worth it for the extra features and it's incredibly quiet operation — even on high-speed settings. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Quiet, slim, easy to store, auto shutoff, oscillation, remote control, timer mode, shows ambient temperature, multiple speeds

Cons: Expensive

Buy the Rowenta Fresh 180 Tower Fan on Amazon for $129.95 (originally $139.99)

The best affordable tower fan

The Seville Classics Ultra Slimline Tower Fan offers great airflow and an attractive tower fan design for an affordable price.

One of the most common complaints we all have about electric fans is noise. Sure, almost any electric fan can move a lot of air. However, it may sound like a fleet of airplanes have invaded your home when your old box fan gets going on the high setting.

If you need a quiet fan that also moves a decent amount of air, the Seville Classics Ultra Slimline Tower Fan is a terrific option. It may not be quite as quiet as some of Rowenta's fans, but it's much more affordable. The fan oscillates 75 degrees, has a timer, and features four speed settings, one of which is the eco setting for energy savings.

It's not the quietest fan you can buy period, but it is much quieter than your average box fan. Your Best Digs says that although the Seville tower fan runs a little noisier than other tower fans, its noise is not a deal-breaker because of its strong airflow performance. If you do need a quieter fan, you should consider one of Rowenta's super quiet fans (see the next slide).

Another plus is the helpful remote control unit that comes with the fan. You can adjust the fan speed without having to leave your perch on the couch. This Seville fan is available in either 17- or 40-inch models, as well as in black or white shells. It should look decent in any room, and it's less ostentatious than a big box fan.

One Amazon buyer praises the Seville Classics Ultra Slimline for its quiet performance and good air movement. The most common complaint among owners is that it has a short lifespan. However, if you take good care of it, it should last at least a few years.

Pros: Nice looking tower design, outperforms other tower fans in terms of airflow, runs much quieter than most blade style fans, offers a reasonably good price point, available in black or white shell colors

Cons: Longevity is an issue, runs a little louder than other tower-style fans

Buy the Seville Classics Ultra Slimline Oscillating Tower Fan on Amazon for $26.46 (17-inch) or $59.99 (40-inch)

The best quiet oscillating fan

The cool Rowenta VU5670 Turbo Silence Oscillating Fan is so quiet you may not even know it's running. Plus, you can get it in a smaller, 12-inch table-top size.

The Rowenta VU5670 Turbo Silence Oscillating Fan looks undeniably cool, but it's also one of the quietest and most impressive oscillating fans you can buy. Rowenta says that while it's running, this fan only emits 35 decibels of sound; a quiet library is rated at 40 decibels. It so whisper-quiet that you may not even know it's running. 

Even though it's so quiet, this fan is also really effective at cooling a room and circulating the air. The fan's head measures 16 inches in diameter and it has five blades. Those blades can run at five different settings, too, including a night mode that's extra quiet so you can sleep in peace without the endless whirring of the fan keeping you up all night.

The control panel is easy to use, so you can set the speed, start an eight-hour timer, or enter energy-saving mode, which slows your fan down to the optimal setting so you don't run up your electric bill. You also get a remote control, so you can turn it on and off without leaving your bed or couch.

If you don't want to spend $100 on the big one or you just prefer small fans, Rowenta has a 12-inch table-top version. We tried the 12-inch Silence Extreme table fan, and we loved it. The smaller version is made for use on a table or windowsill, making it perfect for use in smaller spaces like a bedroom or office.

It has three standard speed settings, a Turbo Boost feature (for even stronger airflow), and oscillation. Based on our experience with the smaller version, we can confidently say that fan is super quiet and effective at cooling a bedroom without interrupting sleep. The larger size is equally quiet and even more effective if you need to cool a larger space. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Wide angle of oscillating movement, oscillates vertically as well as horizontally, pedestal design offers 16 inches of height difference, sturdy base keeps fan steady, good looking fan, five speed settings

Cons: Grill may rust in high-humidity environments, high price point

Buy the Rowenta VU5670 Turbo Silence Oscillating Fan on Amazon for $123.31 (originally $133.94) 

Buy the 12-inch Rowenta Silence Extreme Table Fan at Bed Bath & Beyond for $79.99

The best personal electric fan

If you want a little fan that works well for personal use in multiple locations, the Avalon Convertible Table-Top and Clip Fan is the one for you.

Most clip-on products carry a stigma of geekdom with them. Clip-on necktie? Geeky. Sunglasses that clip over your prescription glasses? Really geeky. Clip-on electric fan? It may look geeky, but the Avalon Convertible Table-Top and Clip Fan works so well that you'll put up with any sarcastic comments sent your way. Plus, you have the option of reconfiguring your Avalon fan to make it a small tabletop fan with a base, no clip required.

In its review, Bustle review appreciates the strong clip on the Avalon Convertible fan because the clip will hold the fan sturdily on the side of a desk or back of a chair. You can even adjust the angle of the fan housing to ensure the proper direction of the airflow.

Whether you need a fan at your workspace during the day, near your bedside at night, or anywhere in between, this fan can give you the cool breeze you need. One Amazon buyer loves using the Avalon Clip fan in the bathroom to avoid sweating while applying makeup. However, another Amazon shopper disliked the excessive noise this little fan generates, so it may not be the best bedside fan.

The plastic 6-inch Avalon Convertible Table-Top and Clip fan is available in white, blue, or black at an extremely low price point. It offers two operational speed settings, too, which isn't too shabby for a tiny fan.

Check out our other favorite desk fans in our guide on the best USB fans you can buy.

Pros: Extremely low price, versatile fan with a clip or a base, sturdy clip keeps fan in place, three different color options, two speed settings, works well as a personal fan in numerous locations

Cons: No option to run from battery, noisy

Buy the Avalon Convertible Table-Top and Clip Fan on Amazon for $9.99-$13.65 (price varies by color)

The best premium electric fan

If you think traditional fans are ugly, the stylistic Dyson Air Multiplier AM06 Table Fan looks nothing like a blade fan, yet it delivers very good airflow.

If you want your fan to not look like a fan, the Dyson Air Multiplier AM06 Table Fan fits the bill. This device contains a cylindrical pedestal with a ring on it that generates the airflow, but with no blades in sight, making it safe to use around kids. The Dyson fans are available in three stylish color combinations: black and nickel, black and iron, blue and black, and white and silver.

In its review, The Telegraph highlights the limited noise level of the AM06 versus some older Dyson fans, as well as the sleep timer that allows for between 15 minutes and nine hours of operation before an automatic shut-off. Trusted Reviews loves the sophisticated look of this fan, although the design does collect dust.

CNET likes the look and operational performance of the Dyson AM06, but the reviewer points out that its extremely high price point is a significant downside. However, some people are converted once they actually use the fan. One Amazon buyer was leery of spending so much for this fan but ended up being very pleased with the AM06's performance.

A few Amazon customers mentioned that the Dyson fan developed a grinding noise after several weeks of operation. Additionally, the AM06 doesn't offer a heater option as did its predecessor, the AM05, so it's less versatile.

Even so, if the budget allows and you want a high-end fan that looks like a piece of modern art, this is the fan for you.

Note: This model has been discontinued, however, it is still widely available and a fan we continue to recommend. We will be looking at Dyson's newer options to see if one is a worthy successor.

Pros: AM06's design looks nothing like a traditional fan, quiet operation, three sharp-looking color combinations, sleep timer available, 10 different airflow settings, good performance levels

Cons: Very high price point, collects dust during operation, no heater option as in Dyson AM05

Buy the Dyson Air Multiplier AM06 Table Fan on Amazon for $284.68

Buy it at Bed Bath & Beyond for $299.99

• These Fourth of July mattress sales include hundreds of dollars off the best mattresses from online startups and popular brands.
• On top of that, some of these mattresses come with freebies like pillows, weighted blankets, and sheets.
• Below, you'll find 17 companies holding sales, along with links to our reviews of their mattresses where applicable. 
• For more Fourth of July savings, check out our comprehensive list of sales.

Mattress companies like Casper, Leesa, Helix, and more are pulling out the stops this holiday to give you hundreds of dollars off popular mattresses, along with freebies like sheets, pillows, and shipping.

Now is probably the last time to save this big on a mattress until Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so we're showing you where to shop to take advantage of great deals. We've vetted many of the mattresses (and pillows and sheets) on the list ourselves and included links to those reviews for your reference.

If you're interested in learning more about some of the companies we list below, these guides will help you out:

• The best mattresses you can buy
• The best mattresses for side sleepers
• The best mattresses for back pain
• The best foam mattresses
• The best air mattresses
• The best mattress toppers
• The best mattress protectors

SEE ALSO: All the best Fourth of July sales we know of so far — on mattresses, appliances, clothes, and more

Leesa

Shop Leesa's Fourth of July sale here

Take 18% off your entire order, plus get two free pillows when your order includes a mattress.

Read more about Leesa from the Insider Picks team:

• Leesa mattress review
• Leesa Hybrid (formerly known as Sapira) mattress review
• Leesa adjustable bed frame review
• Leesa pillow review

Casper

Shop Casper's Fourth of July sale here

Now through July 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT, take 10% off any order with a mattress with code "STRIPES" at checkout. 

Read more about Casper from the Insider Picks team:

• Casper mattress review
• Casper Wave mattress review
• Casper sheets review
• Casper pillow review
• Casper dog bed review
• Casper adjustable bed frame review

Helix

Shop Helix's Fourth of July sale here

Take $100 off + two free Dream Pillows when you spend $600+ with code "FOURTH100".

Take $150 off + two free Dream Pillows when you spend $1,250+ with code "FOURTH150".

Take $200 off + two free Dream Pillows when you spend $1,750+ with code "FOURTH200".

Read more about Helix from the Insider Picks team:

• Helix mattress review
• Helix pillow review

Bear

Shop Bear's Fourth of July sale here

Get 20% off sitewide and two free Cloud Pillows with your mattress purchase when the code "JULY20" is applied at checkout. 

Read more about Bear from the Insider Picks team:

• Bear mattress review
• Bear Hybrid mattress review

Purple

Shop Purple's Fourth of July sale here

Save 10% on any order with a mattress while supplies last. 

Read more about Purple from the Insider Picks team:

• Purple mattress review
• Purple adjustable bed frame review

Boll & Branch

Shop Boll & Branch's Fourth of July sale here

Now through July 7, save 20% on the Boll & Branch Mattress and all other bedding products.

Tuft & Needle

Shop Tuft & Needle's Fourth of July sale here

Now through July 7, take $150 any Mint Mattress and get two free pillows with your mattress purchase.

Read more about Tuft & Needlefrom the Insider Picks team:

• Tuft & Needle beanbag chair review
• Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress review

Nectar Sleep

Eight

Shop Eight's Fourth of July sale here

Now through July 8, get a free weighted Gravity Blanket (valued at $300) with the purchase of any Pod mattress.

Read more about Eight from the Insider Picks team:

• Eight smart mattress review

Avocado

Shop Avocado's Fourth of July sale here

Now through July 8:

Take $175 off mattresses with code "ORGANIC175" and an additional $50 off for verified military and veterans.

Tale $150 off a mattress + bed frame combo with code "BED150". 

Get 2 free pillows with a mattress purchase with code "2FREEPILLOWS".

Layla

Shop Layla's Fourth of July sale here

Save $125 on a Layla mattress and get two free pillows.

DreamCloud

Shop Dreamcloud's Fourth of July sale here

For a limited time, take $200 off the Dreamcloud mattress.

Read more about Dreamcloud from the Insider Picks team:

• Dreamcloud mattress review

PlushBeds

Shop PlushBeds' Fourth of July sale here

Now through July 4, take $1,200 off all organic latex mattresses and get $450 worth of free bedding.

Brooklyn Bedding

Shop Brooklyn Bedding's Fourth of July sale here

Now through July 4, take 25% off sitewide with the code "INDEPENDENCE25" at checkout.

Eco Terra

Shop Eco Terra's Fourth of July sale here

Now through July 4, save $150 on all natural mattresses with the code "USA150" at checkout.

Tempur-Pedic

Shop Tempur-Pedic's Fourth of July sale here

Save $500 on any TEMPUR-breeze mattress.

Allswell

Shop Allswell's Fourth of July sale here

Now through July 6, save 15% on mattresses and bedding with the promo code "FIREWORKS" at checkout.

• Clay masks are an easy way to give your skin a boost without getting regular facials.
• They can clear out pores, removing dirt and oil that can lead to acne.
• Our top pick is the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask because it's a super affordable and all-natural mask that deep cleans your pores.

Clay masks can help clear pores, brighten complexions, and improve skin textures. And they just so happen to be one of the easiest ways to give your skin a little TLC without shelling out a ton of money at the spa. Perhaps best of all, you can actually see results in a matter of minutes.

But with the overwhelming amount of masks out there, finding the right one for your skin can be daunting. So we did the research to find the best reviewed clay masks you can buy. Whether you're looking for a detoxifying mask or one that helps brighten, these are the clay masks to keep on your radar.

Here are the best clay masks to buy in 2019:

• The best clay mask overall: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask
• The best detoxifying clay mask: Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack Mask
• The best brightening clay mask: Tarte Tight & Bright Clay Multi-Mask
• The best exfoliating clay mask: L'Oréal Paris Pure Clay Exfoliate & Refine Mask
• The best hydrating clay mask: Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask

Updated 7/2/19 by Jada Wong: Updated copy, formatting, links, prices, and swapped in Tarte Tight & Bright Clay Multi-Mask as our best brightening clay mask pick.

Keep reading to learn more about our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best eyelash curlers you can buy

The best clay mask overall

The Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask is a cult classic because it visibly heals, detoxifies, and smoothes out your skin.

The Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask is a 100% natural calcium bentonite clay powder that you can mix with apple cider vinegar or water to create a mask. Its natural detoxifying powers have made it a firm favorite among beauty bloggers, industry insiders, and celebrities like Mindy Kaling.

Known as the "World's Most Powerful Facial," the mask is made with bentonite clay from Death Valley, California, where it's sun-dried for up to six months. It's used to help clear acne, and blackheads, as well as for tightening skin. The all-natural mask features no additives, fragrances, or animal products.

The mask lived up to the hype when tested by the Insider team, with both testers saying they noticed a difference in their skin after just one use of the pulsating mask. It's one of the highest rated beauty products on Amazon with a 4.4-star rating from more than 16,000 reviewers — more than 11,860 of those were full 5 star ratings. A lot of buyers even uploaded before and after photos of their skin, showing off amazing results.

While having to mix the mask yourself was inconvenient for some, most reviewers think the mask is more than worth the price, as you can buy a one-pound jar for less than $10 and customize how much or little you use each time.

Pros: Deep cleans skin, tightens pores, affordable, can be mixed with water or apple cider vinegar

Cons: Have to mix it yourself, can be messy 

Buy Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask from Amazon for $10.95 (originally $9.29)

The best detoxifying clay mask

The Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack Mask will leave your skin looking cleaner and clearer without drying it out.

Most of Glossier's products have cult followings — the Mega Greens Galaxy Pack Mask being one of them. It has consistently been one of the most popular products since the line's launch thanks to its main ingredient — a creamy white kaolin clay that draw out impurities.

The mask also features vitamin-rich leafy green phytonutrients and superfruit antioxidants that help protect your complexion against skin damage. The avocado oil and aloe hydrate intensely and prevents skin from drying out as the mask dries.

Editors from Allure said that the mask made their skin look "brighter, smoother, and more awake." It also has a 4.3 out of 5-star rating on Influenster with many of the 1,600+ commenters saying it's "super gentle yet effective."

Some reviewers did mention that it caused their skin to be red for a short time after washing off the mask. 

Pros: Helps clear out pores, smoothes complexion, moisturizing

Cons: Can leave skin red after washing off

Buy Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack Mask for $22

The best brightening clay mask

Tarte Tight & Bright Clay Multi-Mask has two compartments — one side brightens while the other clears out and tightens pores. 

$40 might be pricey for a clay mask you'd wash off in 10 minutes, but Tarte's Tight & Bright Clay Multi-Mask has two different formulas for a whole host of skin-care benefits.

The purple side is made with Amazonian clay to draw out dirt, oil, and grime from clogged pores that can lead to acne and blackheads. It also gently exfoliates but has jojoba, sweet almond, and avocado oils that keep the mask from drying out or being harsh on your skin.

The gold side (which justifies a $40 selfie, IMO) has Amazonian clay as well but also hyaluronic acid to bring moisture and life back to your skin. You can multimask and use both at the same time on different parts of your face, or use them back to back. 

The mask is so effective at cleaning out pores, tightening skin, and revitalizing your complexion that Allure calls it "yoga for your pores." And shoppers agree — the 2-in-1 mask holds a 4.3 out of 5-stars on Influenster with more than 12,700 reviews.— Jada Wong

Pros: 2-in-1 mask, cleans and exfoliates pores, brightening, hydrating  

Cons: Still expensive 

Buy Tarte Tight & Bright Clay Multi-Mask from Sephora for $40

The best exfoliating clay mask

If you're in the market for an affordable mask that unclogs and tightens pores while exfoliating away dead skin cells, try the L'Oréal Paris Pure Clay Exfoliate & Refine Mask.

The L'Oréal Paris Pure Clay Exfoliate & Refine Mask is one of five masks in L'Oréal Paris's line of clay masks. While all five are highly rated, we love the Exfoliate and Refine mask because it tackles clogged skin by removing dead skin cells, dirt, and oil.

This mask is made with three different clays — kaolinite, montmorillonite, and ghassoul — as well as red algae extract that helps refine and tighten pores in less than 10 minutes. 

Reviewers on Amazon and Influenster have given this mask excellent ratings, with many reviewers reporting that the mask leaves their skin feeling soft and exfoliated. One Amazon buyer said, "I'm in love with this mask. It really tight and shrinks pores. You can see it working as it dries — it pulls up all the blackheads."

Some people did report that the mask had a really strong scent that was off-putting to some 

Pros: Affordable, exfoliating, helps minimizes pores, smoothes skin

Cons: Potential strong smell

Buy L'Oréal Paris Pure Clay Exfoliate & Refine Mask from Amazon for $6.17 (originally $9.99)

The best hydrating clay mask

For a luxurious mask that purifies skin while hydrating it, try the Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask.

Celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury is known for giving her clients dewy, plump-looking skin. One of her main secrets is using the Goddess Skin Clay Mask from her eponymous brand prior to applying makeup.

The mask is made with Spanish clay that naturally absorbs excess oil without stripping it of all its moisture. It also features rosehip oil for hydration, and frangipani flower extract to calm skin — and add a lovely floral scent. Tilbury's patented peptide complex also helps improve skin elasticity and boosts collagen.

The mask boasts that it "lifts, smooths, brightens and tightens pores for BABY skin," and buyers agree. One Nordstrom shopper said, "Best best mask. It purifies the skin so beautifully leaves a skin dewy soft like a baby skin, as other face masks it doesn't dries up the face. In love with this mask."

Editors are impressed with the results too, though everyone does agree that it's pricier than other options at $55 a tube. 

Pros: Hydrating, leaves skin looking glowy, tightens pores, purifies

Cons: Expensive

Buy Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask from Nordstrom for $55

Check out our other great skin-care guides

The best exfoliators you can buy for any skin type or budget

Whether you're new to the exfoliation game or a seasoned skin-care pro, Glossier's Solution is the exfoliator you should be reaching for. Its powerful mix of acids dissolves dead skin cells and improves your complexion, giving your face a gorgeous glow.

Here are the best makeup removers you can buy:

• Best overall: Glossier's Solution
• Best drugstore exfoliator: Simple Kind to Skin Smoothing Facial Scrub
• Best exfoliator for daily use: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
• Best exfoliator for sensitive skin: Juara Radiance Enzyme Scrub
• Best exfoliator for uneven skin tone: Ole Henriksen Transforming Walnut Scrub

The best makeup remover you can buy

It's good for your skin to remove makeup every night, but it can be a pain without the right makeup remover.

We've done our research and tested the best makeup removers on the market to come up our top recommendations. Whether you're a devout double cleanser or prefer removing makeup on the fly, there's something on this list for everyone.

Here are the best makeup removers you can buy:

• Best overall: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
  
• Best cleansing oil: Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
  
• Best cleansing oil solid: Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original
• Best foaming cleanser: Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash
• Best cleansing wipes: Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Cloths
• Best milk cleanser: Avène Eau Thermale Gentle Milk Cleanser

• Prime Book Box subscribers receive a box of carefully curated kids books monthly, every two months, or every three months.
• The service saves customers up to 40% off the list price of the books, which are delivered free through the Amazon Prime program.
• The service offers book selections tailored to babies and young toddlers, kids ages 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12 years old.
• As an early Amazon Prime Day deal (Prime Day officially kicks off July 15-16), Prime members who are new to Prime Book Box can get 30% off their first box (just $13.99 instead of $19.99). 

You're already an Amazon Prime member, right? Ok good.

And do you have kids? Yes?

Do you hope to foster a love of reading in those kids of yours? Ok great!

Now, final question: Is inspiring said love of reading worth $19.99 a month to you? Spectacular. You're the perfect household to sign up for Amazon's new Prime Book Box book delivery service for babies and kids.

If you want to leave the selection of the books that will be delivered to your kids in the capable hands of Amazon's editors, you can probably complete the sign-up process in the same amount of time you've spent reading this article thus far. But in case you want a bit more information about the program, let's go a bit deeper here:

To sign up for a Prime Book Box subscription, you will indeed already need to be a Prime member. If you're not, well, that's an added expense, but just think of all the free shipping, TV and movie streaming, and music benefits that come along with it (and dozens of other perks too).

The monthly price of a Prime Book Box is just $19.99, and you can choose to have books delivered monthly, every other month, or every three months. (So that's $239.88, $119.94, or $79.96 annually, for the record.) Members save up to 40% off the list price of books by using the Book Box, which includes four board books for kids through age 2 and comes with two hardcover books for kids in each of the other three age categories.

Parents can look through a list of books selected by Amazon's editors and choose the books that will be included in each box, but I recommend you leave the curating in the hands of the company's accomplished editors. According to the Prime Book Box page itself:

Each box features books our customers love and our Amazon book editors couldn't forget. Our editors read thousands of books every year to find selections your reader will enjoy again and again. You'll discover new releases, classics, and hidden gems tailored to your reader's age.

If your family's experience is anything like mine so far, that's not just marketing copy, it's accurate.

The two books included in our preschool-aged son's first box immediately became part of our standard bedtime operating procedure, and as far as we can tell, our nine-month-old daughter loves her board books, though that may be more of a tactile and teething thing, to be honest. I'll ask her once she can talk.

It's little surprise Amazon managed to launch such a successful program, of course. The behemoth of a company has its roots as an online bookstore (do you even remember that? It was all about books back in the day! Now it's... everything) and it's pretty good at the whole delivery thing, too. Staffing up with editors who select excellent books was the last piece of the puzzle for this affordable, elegantly simple book subscription program that just might play a major role in helping your kids grow up loving books.

Sign up for the Prime Book Box subscription for babies and kids for $19.99 per month (with an active Amazon Prime membership)

Not an Amazon Prime member yet? Sign up for a free 30-day trial membership here

Join the conversation about this story »

• In an effort to compete with Amazon, Target's Deal Days will be the retailer's biggest sale of the summer, taking place on July 15 and 16, the same dates as Prime Day. 
• Shoppers can find great deals on hundreds of thousands of products across a range of categories — no membership required. When Target releases deals, we'll be highlighting them and comparing prices to Amazon.
• Target is also offering same-day shipping and in-store pickup options, as well as even more deals for Target REDcard holders.
• Keep reading for everything you need to know about Target Deal Days, and stay up to date on the best Prime Day 2019 deals happening on Amazon. 

In an effort to compete with Amazon, Target is one of many retailers holding a major summer sale on July 15-16, the exact same dates as Amazon Prime Day.

The retailer's sale will be called Deal Days, and will offer major savings on hundreds of thousands of deals on best-selling national and Target-exclusive brands. The sale will be available for anyone to shop, no membership required.

We don't know any of the deals yet, but we have a feeling we'll be seeing similar deals as we do on Prime Day — think tech, kitchen and home gadgets, apparel, and more. 

We'll continue to update this article as we find out more information, but for now, here's all you need to know about Target Deal Days:

How do I access the deals?

Anyone can shop Target Deal Days. There's no membership required, so all you have to do is head over to the Target site and get to shopping.

As always, if you have a Target REDcard, you can save an extra 5% on your purchase. 

How do I get my purchases?

One of the most compelling (at least, in my opinion) features of an Amazon Prime membership is free two-day shipping. For Deal Days, Target is offering a lot of affordable and convenient shipping options that rival Amazon's, without the cost of a membership. Here are all the quick and easy ways you can get your purchases from Target Deal Days:

• Order online and have your items shopped for, and delivered right to your doorstep in hours, with Shipt.
• Select Order Pickup at checkout and have your purchases ready for you at your local Target within an hour. 
• Use the Target app to place your order and select Drive Up at checkout. Target team members will deliver the order right to your car in minutes. 
• Get free 2-day shipping on most items when you use your Target REDcard or when you spend $35 or more. 

What will be on sale?

No deals are live yet, but we're hoping to see savings on products that are popular on Prime Day, like the Instant Pot and Eufy Robovac. Additionally, we think Target will be slashing prices on pieces from some of its most popular exclusive brands and collections, like home decor and accessories from Hearth & Hand, cookware and dinnerware from Cravings by Chrissy Teigen, and grocery essentials from Simply Balanced.

• Amazon Prime Day is coming up on July 15-16, and we've been tracking all the best early deals you can already get your hands on.
• Though most people tend to shop deals on tech devices, school supplies, and larger appliances, I prefer to use Prime Day to stock up on toilet paper. 
• Read on for my hot take, or head straight to our roundup of the best deals Prime Day 2019 has to offer.

Last year on Prime Day, I went to sleep early and woke up at 3 a.m. to start covering all the best sales and deals. 

As you can probably imagine, I didn't get much of a chance to sit back and shop or stalk Lightning deals. Instead, I had one single objective — to buy as much toilet paper as I could fit in my storage closet and bathroom.

I truly believe that there aren't enough people who take advantage of the other side of Prime Day. With tech devices, TVs, phones, and speakers beating out home necessities as the most wanted and purchased items of Prime Days past, it's obvious that people know this is a great time to shop for bigger ticket items.

But with so many deals on household goods, why aren't more people stocking up on the basics?

I understand people living in metropolitan areas are starved for space, but if I can figure out where to hold six months worth of toilet paper in my small Brooklyn apartment, so can you. Put the rolls inside of your suitcases. Add a roll holder in your bathroom. Whatever space you can make, I highly recommend that you make it — you'll be thanking me the next 40-something times your roll runs out. 

I suggest bookmarking your favorite kind now and checking back when Prime Day rolls around on July 15-16. And, of course, make sure your Prime membership is up-to-date so you can take advantage of the deals. 

Shop all toilet paper on Amazon

Become a Prime member with a 30-day free trial

Check out all of our Amazon Prime Day coverage:

• Everything you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2019
• When is Amazon Prime Day? Mark your calendar for July 15-16
• How did Amazon Prime Day come to be?
• Here's how to successfully get a Lightning Deal during Amazon Prime Day 2019
• Is Amazon Prime worth it? Here are 31 Prime benefits that go beyond free 2-day shipping
• The best Prime Day deals that you can get right now

Join the conversation about this story »

• Billionaires are successful because they're nonconformists with individualist tendencies, according to Rafael Badziag in his book "The Billion Dollar Secret."
• This strength is also their weakness, Badziag said — billionaires shouldn't favor individualism over cooperation.
• Billionaires also shouldn't avoid asking for help or advice, as those kinds of tendencies can become a major limitation.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Sometimes strengths and weaknesses can look a whole lot alike.

Just take a look at billionaires. Rafael Badziag, an entrepreneur and expert in the psychology of entrepreneurship, spent five years conducting face-to-face interviews with 21 self-made billionaire entrepreneurs around the world (defined as those with a net worth of at least $1 billion) and researching their lives and companies. He found that the same characteristics that make them successful can also have a potential downside.

"Billionaires are nonconformists who demonstrate individualism at an early age when they break more than a few rules," Badziag wrote in his book, "The Billion Dollar Secret: 20 Principles of Billionaire Wealth and Success." "Over the years they learn to trust their instincts and go against the grain, even when everyone around them thinks they are out of their minds and advise them against taking chances."

He added: "Knowing when to make the leap versus when to run in the opposite direction often means the difference between bankruptcy and billions."

Read more: An entrepreneur who spent 5 years interviewing 21 self-made billionaires asked every single one how they made their first million dollars — here's what they said

It's billionaires' independent thinking and reliance on their own judgment that propelled them to success in the first place, but there's a flip side, he said — individualism shouldn't come at the cost of cooperation.

For example, billionaire Brian Kim Beom-Su, founder of South Korea's No. 1 gaming company, Hangame, told Badziag that passing up an opportunity to partner with a competitor was one of his biggest career mistakes. Hangame struggled to stay at the top, but Beom-Su said the company may have performed better if he had been open to collaboration.

Dr. Greg Reid, who interviewed 100 of the world's wealthiest people, found that partnering with competitors is one trick the super-rich use to get to the top and stay there.

"What can you do to partner with your competitors and improve the image of your industry?" he wrote in an article for Business Insider.

Billionaires also shouldn't avoid seeking help or advice when needed — it "may lead to making simple mistakes or being overwhelmed with the amount of work on your hands" and become a major limitation, according to Badziag.

SEE ALSO: An entrepreneur who interviewed 21 billionaires says the key difference between them and millionaires is how they answer a simple question about money

DON'T MISS: An entrepreneur who interviewed 21 billionaires says the same 6 habits helped make all of them successful

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How $100,000 custom pool tables are made for celebrities like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift

• Celebrity talent manager Scooter Braun works with Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato.
• Braun purchased Big Machine Label Group for $300 million and now owns Taylor Swift's masters, according to The Wall Street Journal.
• Swift called the situation her "worst case scenario" in a June 30 Tumblr post.  
• The former party promoter has an estimated net worth of $400 million, according to Fox Business.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It is Taylor Swift's "worse case scenario" to have Hollywood talent manager Scooter Braun control her catalog, she wrote on Tumblr June 30, but plenty of other stars including Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Karlie Kloss are happy to let him control their careers.

After signing Bieber in 2008, Braun became "the defining music executive of the social media era, known for aggressive online cross-promotion between clients," according to The New York Times. Braun's acquisition of Taylor Swift's former record label is only his latest move to transform his company, SB Projects, into one of the most powerful forces in Hollywood.

Read more: The fabulous life of Dr. Dre, one of the wealthiest men in hip-hop, who has a $770 million fortune and has owned a sprawling network of glitzy LA mansions

Keep reading to learn about the rise of Scooter Braun.

SEE ALSO: 5 Hollywood celebrities who became billionaires and are vastly more rich than their peers

DON'T MISS: The fabulous life of Dr. Dre, one of the wealthiest men in hip-hop, who has a $770 million fortune and has owned a sprawling network of glitzy LA mansions

Scott “Scooter” Braun, 38, is a native of Stratford, Ontario.

Braun attended Emory University, where he sold fake IDs as a side hustle, according to The Washington Post.

Braun also worked as a party promoter before discovering Justin Bieber, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Braun began his career in Hollywood as Justin Bieber's manager.

Braun approached Bieber after seeing videos of 13-year-old Bieber singing R&B songs on YouTube in 2008, according to The Washington Post. Bieber's mother, Pattie Mallette, told The New York Times in 2009 that Braun "tracked down Justin's school, calling board members, imploring them to contact [her]."

As Bieber's career took off, so did Braun's. 

Braun has since become a major player in pop music.

In addition to Bieber, Braun also manages the careers of Ariana Grande, Zac Brown Band, Tori Kelly, Karlie Kloss, Carly Rae Jepsen, The Black Eyed Peas, and J. Balvin. Braun has "broken more new artists than any other music executive in the last decade," he says on his personal website.

Braun also heads Schoolboy Records label and has a joint venture with Usher, Raymond-Braun Media Group.

Braun has also dabbled in investing.

Braun has stakes in Uber, Spotify, Songza, Casper, Waze, and Pinterest through his company SB Projects, according to his personal website.

Braun has a net worth of $400 million, Fox Business reported, citing Celebrity Net Worth.

In May, Demi Lovato announced that she had joined Braun's roster of clients.

"Dreams came true today for me," Lovato wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of her and Braun. "Couldn't be happier, inspired and excited to begin this next chapter with you Scooter!!! Thank you for believing in me and for being apart of this new journey. Let's DO THIS!!!!!!"

Braun is married to Yael Cohen, the founder of F*** Cancer.

"I saw [a video of] her TEDx talk," Braun told Architectural Digest about her 2010 lecture on F*** Cancer, "and I just really wanted to meet her."

The guests at their 2014 wedding included Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen, Sophia Bush, Tom Hanks, and Rita Wilson, Business Insider previously reported.

The pair has two sons, according to Architectural Digest.

Braun and Cohen split their time between two California homes.

The pair spends most of their time at their house in Los Angeles' Brentwood neighborhood. On the advice of friends Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, they also purchased a second home in Montecito, according to Architectural Digest. Braun said he and Cohen were visiting DeGeneres and de Rossi's Montecito home when DeGeneres and de Rossi surprised Braun and Cohen with a meeting with a broker.

Braun also does a lot of charity work.

Braun serves on the board of F*** Cancer, and his companies have "granted more wishes for Make-A-Wish than any other organization in the history of the foundation," he says on his personal website.

On June 30, Braun announced that his Ithaca Holdings LLC would acquire Big Machine Label Group LLC.

In the $300 million purchase, Braun gained control of the masters of Taylor Swift's six previous albums, though Swift herself signed a contract with Republic Records in 2018, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Nashville-based label's current artists include Sheryl Crow, Lady Antebellum, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, and Florida Georgia Line.

Taylor Swift criticized the deal on Tumblr, calling Braun's ownership of her catalog her "worst case scenario."

Swift said in a Tumblr post that she had been the victim of "incessant, manipulative bullying" by Braun for years. She accused him of orchestrating a music video by Kanye West that depicted her naked, as well as of releasing a recorded phone call with West in 2016. 

Swift wrote that she repeatedly asked to purchase her masters, but was never given the opportunity by Big Machine. She also said that she knew they would eventually be sold along with the rest of Big Machine, but wrote that "never in [her] worst nightmares" did she think Braun would purchase them.

Big Machine signed 15-year-old Taylor Swift as its first artist in 2005, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

Braun maintains a close relationship with Bieber, who defended him against Swift's accusations on Instagram.

"Scooter has had your back since the days you graciously let me open up for you.!" Bieber wrote on Instagram. "I'm sure Scooter and i would love to talk to you and resolve any conflict, pain or or any feelings that need to be addressed."

We rounded up the eight best sales and deals happening online today, with savings on Bonobos clothes, Greats sneakers, Casper mattresses, and L.L.Bean outdoor gear. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out Business Insider Coupons. This list includes Sponsored Products that have been suggested by Casper and that also meet our editorial criteria in terms of quality and value.*

1. Save an extra 30% on markdowns at Bonobos

With the ethos of a startup and the backing of a large corporation (Walmart), Bonobos is currently the fastest growing menswear brand out there. This Fourth of July, the brand is having a huge sale with an extra 30% on sale styles using promo code "BOOM" at checkout. The sale includes button-up shirts, chinos, shorts, activewear, and much more. Visit Business Insider Coupons for more deals and savings at Bonobos.

Shop the Bonobos sale now. 

2. Save 17.76% sitewide at Greats

Founded in Brooklyn and made in Italy, Greats is a direct-to-consumer sneaker startup that makes high-end sneakers without the high-end price. This Independence Day, the brand is making its prices even better with a sitewide sale. Now through July 7, you can save 17.76% (get it?) on everything by using the promo code "FIREWORKS" at checkout. 

Shop the Greats sale now. 

3. Save 10% on any mattress order at Casper

Casper, the leading mattress-in-a-box startup, is celebrating the Fourth of July with a sale on bedroom essentials. Now through July 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can save 10% on any order that includes a mattress by using the promo code "STRIPES" at checkout. In addition to mattresses, the Casper also has sheets, pillows, blankets, bed frames, and more. This is a great chance to make your bedroom a lot comfier, while saving money in the process. Visit Business Insider Coupons for more deals and savings at Casper.

*Sponsored by Casper

Shop the Casper sale now. 

4. Save 20% on your order at L.L.Bean

From barbecues to fireworks, the Fourth of July is almost entirely celebrated outside — and L.L.Bean is making sure you save on all the outdoor gear you need for the holiday and the rest of summer. Now through July 4, you can save 20% on your order with the promo code "JULY4" at checkout. The code can be applied to both full-price and sale styles, so you'll save on whatever you decide to buy. Visit Business Insider Coupons for more deals and savings at L.L.Bean.

Shop the L.L.Bean sale now. 

5. Save 30% sitewide and get a free shaker bottle at Orgain

Orgain is an organic alternative to artificial and genetically-modified nutrition supplements. The brand has a wide range of products that can be used for weight loss, strength gain, meal replacements, or daily nutrition. Now through July 5, you can save 30% sitewide by using the promo code "JULY4" at checkout. Plus, you'll also receive a free shaker bottle while supplies last. The shaker bottle will not appear in your cart, but it will ship automatically with your order.

Shop the Orgain sale now. 

6. Save an extra 20% on thousands of items at Macy's

This Fourth of July, you can save an extra 20% on thousands of items at Macy's by using the promo code "FOURTH" at checkout. With the discount, you'll save up to 60% on apparel, shoes, home goods, appliances, tech, and more. Visit Business Insider Coupons for more of the latest deals and savings at Macy's.

Shop the Macy's sale now. 

7. Save up to 65% on select styles at M.Gemi

Direct-to-consumer Italian footwear startup M.Gemi is holding its semi-annual sale right now. For a limited time, you can save up to 65% on select styles for women and men. The sale includes sandals, flats, dress shoes, loafers, leather sneakers, and more. Check out our review of M.Gemi's classic loafer here.

Shop the M.Gemi sale now.

8. Save big on TVs, smartphones, tablets, and more at Best Buy

This Fourth of July, Best Buy is having sitewide deals on all of the electronics you could want or need. Some of the many deals include up to $500 off select Samsung TVs, up to 40% off appliances, $300 off the Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+, or Note 9, and up to $200 off select iPad Pro models. The sale ends July 6. Visit Business Insider Coupons for more deals and savings at Best Buy. 

Shop the Best Buy sale now. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Nxivm leader Keith Raniere has been convicted. Here's what happened inside his sex-slave ring that recruited actresses and two billionaire heiresses.

• Bookbub is a daily email blast of discounts on books and authors you've indicated interest in.
• They work with all major book publishers and thousands of indie authors, so you should find a good portion of what you like. You can even set it to filter for where you prefer to buy your books.
• Past deals included "Girl on the Train" for $1.99, "Gone Girl" for $2.99, "Go Set a Watchman" for $3.99, and "Game of Thrones" for $1.99.
• Check out a walkthrough of the experience below. Or, sign up here and fill out your own profile for customized deals.

The convenience of reading on your phone or tablet or assorted e-readers cannot be overstated: It goes with you everywhere, a thousand books feels just as heavy as one, and it takes up a minuscule amount of storage. You may even save money by buying ebooks.

But if you're a particularly voracious reader, you might find that you are not really saving that much — it's easier to read them in e-book form, so you're reading more of them. And buying more of them. You might find that you max out on credits in whatever book app you use before the credit period is up. And then what do you do? Buy more paperbacks and negate all the benefits of investing in e-reading?

BookBub is one thing you should know about — it's a daily email blast of discounts on best-sellers that makes e-reading more affordable without putting any of the research responsibility on you. All the benefits of hours of daily price-checking without the hours.

After five years, it's the largest ebook daily deals service. If you're already one of their 10 million subscribers, I don't need to tell you how great it is.

Here's how it works:

1. Enter your email address.

2. Click on the categories that you like to read, so the editorial team will know what deals to send your way. There are over 30 options.

3. Select your preferred retailers, so they can not only send you books that you'll like, but send you books that you'll like sold in the format that you need.

4. Choose authors to follow. They work with all major book publishers and thousands of indie authors. So if you select your favorites, you'll be the first to know when they run a deal or release a new book.

5. Verify your account. Double check your email address and create a password.

6. Continue to deals to see what's available for you right after you sign up. If you want to de-select a category because you're seeing too much of it, you can update your preferences. For instance, I de-selected Women's Fiction after realizing the recommendations rarely fit my interests. 

7. From there, you'll get daily emails of deals on books/authors you care about straight to your inbox that you'd likely never find on your own. 

Here's an example of one such daily BookBub email I received:

As you can see, you can save up to 90% on e-books by shopping from this newsletter. And don't worry, you won't be getting spammed with thousands of even-loosely-related deals that will clutter up your inbox and force you to do the research you thought you were avoiding by using this anyway. The BookBub editors handpick the deals that get sent out every day, so you get one email with carefully curated, high-quality discounted books you'd actually care about. Only 10-20% of what is submitted to BookBub actually makes it into the email.

Some of the discounts they've had in the past were "Girl on the Train" for $1.99, "Gone Girl" for $2.99, "Go Set a Watchman" for $3.99, and "Game of Thrones" for $1.99.

They might not always be a perfect match for you, but it takes about 15 seconds to scan. You can also bookmark books you want to read (as well as the ones you have) to improve the accuracy of their suggestions. Or you can browse the limited-time deals on your own.

Here's an example of an email I received about new releases/authors I had opted for notifications about: 

If you want to be more involved, you can also share and explore recommendations from the BookBub community.

All in all, BookBub is a great way to keep an eye on discounted prices for e-books you want to read and authors you already love without having to do any of the homework yourself. If you love the convenience of online reading but not the price, it's probably worth trying out. And if not, it's simple enough to unsubscribe or archive it. 

Sign up for your free BookBub newsletter here.

Join the conversation about this story »

• America has a multitude of regional accents that have evolved from numerous waves of immigration throughout US history.
• When you're traveling to another part of the US, it might be surprising to hear how different the locals sound.
• For instance, a New Yorker will likely speak the same English language in a completely different accent from a native Texan.
• So how did Americans get so many distinctive accents? In the video above, we break down the origins of just a few common American accents.

Following is a transcript of the video.

The United States has countless accents. But, where did they all come from? American accents have been evolving for hundreds of years. And while Americans sound very different today, here's where some of those iconic accents got their start.

New England

Let's start with New England, which was one of the first US regions to develop its own American English accent. Today, a speaker from New England might say, "Were you gonna plagiarize the whole thing for us? You have any thoughts of your own on this matter? Is that your thing; you come into a bar and read some obscure passage and pretend...you pawn it off as your own?"

New York

For such a geographically small area, New York City certainly has a bunch of distinctive accents. But in general, its accents evolved from a mixture of its Dutch and English roots and numerous waves of immigration.

A modern speaker from New York probably won't sound like what you hear in movies like "Hey, I'm walking here! I'm walking here!"

They're more likely to say "Deep dish pizza is not not only better than New York pizza, it's not pizza."

Delaware River Valley

New York's New Jersian and Pennsylvanian neighbors sounded quite different.

Nowadays, someone from Philly might say "We're a regular family. We watch Philly jawn on TV. We go down to the Jersey Shore. But when we want great hoagies, discount prices on beer, and a great atmosphere we go to Lee's Hoagies in Horsham, PA."

Southern Coast

Let's take a look at what went on down south.

The southern coast of the United States has a variety of different accents. One example is Southern coastal white. "What concerns me about the American press is this endless...endless attempt to label the guy some kind of kook."

African American

Other southern dialects preserved some of the original remnants to this day. "They come over here and get oysters and clam and go fishing because they're right down the road. They're right in Brunswick or Savannah or Jacksonville.

Much later, a wave of African Americans migrated from the American South to urban centers in the North, mixing their accents together. "Being a kid from New York City, I mean from Brooklyn. And my aunt — God bless her soul — she used to always take me to The Rockettes — you know, the Easter show and the Christmas show."

Appalachians

The Ulster-Scots had a significant influence on many American dialects in the South and West. Most of the original accent has disappeared, and today, an American from Tennessee might sound like this. "Now, I am just who I am. I'm not always nice. I choose to be good. I choose to have a good attitude because I want people to know. I am a girl with many colors."

Midwest

As the Appalachian settlers headed west, their accents joined with speech patterns from the North.

The Midwest has many diverse accents. Today, a speaker from the Great Lakes might say "I was born in the middle of the century in the middle of the country; a classic baby boomer."

Or more famously, "We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses."

While another from Wisconsin/Minnesota/the Dakotas might say "If either of these men draw, I'm gonna be forced to shoot some people, and I don't want to do that."

Texas

Down in Texas, a very distinct accent developed. The famous Texan accent we know from movies like "They shot and killed a state senator named Bibs in Waco, Texas." has started to level out. Visitors to big cities like Houston might be surprised to hear something more like "Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to beautifully capture the profundity of deep southern culture."

California

Last but not least is the West Coast, which had a very different mix of immigrants compared to the East Coast. California doesn't come close to having one, distinct accent. A modern-day speaker might sound like "We woke up the next morning on his actual birthday. And I told him I wanted to take him somewhere to lunch for his birthday." or "What's so powerful about this novel is everyone has their own interpretation to these characters."

These are just a handful of American accents...and they're still evolving as we speak. We'll have to check back in a century or so from now to see what happens next.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This video was originally published on June 18, 2018.

Join the conversation about this story »

• Lisa K. Lippman has sold over $1 billion worth of real estate over the past four years.
• She represents multimillion-dollar clients across Manhattan.
• Lippman recently told Business Insider about she considers to be the biggest challenges of her job.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Working in the real-estate industry can have its ups and downs. 

Business Insider spoke with top Manhattan real-estate broker Lisa K. Lippman to get her take on the biggest challenges of the job. 

Lippman is a broker at the luxury real-estate firm Brown Harris Stevens, where she was the No. 1 broker in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In the past four years, she has sold over $1 billion worth of real estate and was named the No.4 broker in Manhattan by The Wall Street Journal in 2016. 

Read more:17 real-estate agents reveal the worst parts of their jobs

And while Lippman represents multimillion-dollar clients across Manhattan, her days are far from smooth. Here's what she considers to be the biggest challenges of the job: 

Explaining to sellers that they may lose money

Lippman told Business Insider that since the luxury market is no longer a seller's market, a lot of sellers have to come to terms with the fact that their properties are no longer valued at the same prices they were a few years ago. 

"In this market, the biggest challenge is explaining to sellers that they may lose money on their property or at the very least make a lot less than they imagined a few years ago," Lippman told Business Insider in an email.

Convincing clients that marketing isn't the problem

Lippman says that when dealing with a property that isn't selling, clients often blame the agent's marketing efforts. However, Lippman explained it has nothing to do with marketing and everything to do with the property being overpriced. 

"The truth is, that if a property is marketed with great photographs, a clear floorplan, is on all the major websites, and the listing broker does broker open houses and e-blasts, and still no one calls to see it, or not enough people do, then the listing is overpriced," Lippman told Business Insider. "No amount of marketing will coax buyers in to see a property they deem overpriced. Sellers can get very frustrated by this."

There is just too much inventory

Lippman explained that if and when a property gets an offer, sellers have to act fast or the buyer will move on to another option. In order to prevent losing a potential buyer, sellers have to engage — as long as the offer is reasonable. 

"It's often hard to explain to a seller that their property does not have the same cache as before, or at least that people have so many second and third choices!" Lippman told Business Insider. 

Read more:An NYC broker who has sold over $1 billion of luxury real estate in the past 4 years and works 16-hour days says she uses 3 simple tricks to stay organized

The challenges Lippman lists are just a few of the many real-estate agents face on a daily basis. Business Insider's Katie Warren previously reported that many real-estate agents say that managing clients' unrealistic expectations can be the hardest part of the job.

Other challenges real estate agents struggle with are having to be available 24/7, dealing with endless emails, having mistrustful clients, and inconsistent income.

SEE ALSO: An NYC broker who has sold over $1 billion of luxury real-estate says her wealthy clients are used to first-class travel service — and it's impacting which amenities they look for in their homes

DON'T MISS: 11 things that make a home unsellable, according to real-estate agents

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NOW WATCH: Mount Everest is not the hardest mountain to climb — here's what makes K2 so much worse

• Mark Zuckerberg owns an enormous amount of land on a Hawaiian island.
• He reportedly paid $100 million for multiple properties along the North Shore of Kaua'i back in 2014, and another $45 million for additional property in 2017.
• In 2016, Zuckerberg sparked controversy by building a six-foot wall around the property and was then embroiled in a land dispute after he reportedly teamed up with a member of a native Hawaiian family to file suits to force land sales.
• The Facebook CEO ultimately backed out.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It's no secret that Mark Zuckerberg values his privacy.

The Facebook billionaire has multiple homes — he most recently purchased a $22 million secluded estate in Lake Tahoe— but one of his properties in particular is as controversial as it is beautiful.

Back in 2014, Zuckerberg purchased a 750-acre property on the North Shore of the Hawaiian island of Kaua'i, Forbes confirmed. The purchase includes two separate parcels: the Kahu'aina Plantation, a 357-acre former sugarcane plantation, and Pila'a Beach, a 393-acre property with a white-sand beach.

Zuckerberg paid a reported $100 million for both properties, though a source told Forbes at the time that he plans to build just one home, and has since spent another $45 million to purchase additional land on the island.

Take a look:

Madeline Stone contributed to an earlier version of this article.

The Kahu’aina Plantation is located on 357 acres of land in Kilauea, Hawaii.

It includes 2,500 feet of white-sand beach.

Source: Kahu'aina Plantation

It also has a working organic farm with a variety of crops, including ginger, turmeric, and papaya.

Source: Kahu'aina Plantation

According to the property's promotional materials, the plantation was approved for up to 80 homes, though Zuckerberg reportedly plans to build only one when he purchased the property. It doesn't get much more private than that.

Source: Kahu'aina Plantation

The house, under construction as of May 2018, will be a two bedroom, 6,100 square feet home, all according to the Kaua'i's newspaper The Garden Island.

Construction plans include a separate garage complex and administration building, featuring a security headquarters and keycard-access offices, The Garden Island reported.

Zuckerberg is known to go to great lengths to secure his privacy. In 2013, he bought four houses adjacent to his Palo Alto home to prevent nosy neighbors from moving in. The Kahu’aina Plantation feels isolated and exclusive.

Source: San Jose Mercury News

According to Forbes, Zuckerberg has bought as many as two dozen landlocked parcels on the plantation. The rights to those parcels are known as "kuleanas."

Source: Forbes

He reportedly paid $66 million just to assemble this 357-acre parcel.

Source: Pacific Business News

And it's absolutely gorgeous.

Zuckerberg also paid $49.8 million for an 89.2% stake of Pila'a Beach, an isolated oceanfront property adjacent to the plantation.

The 393-acre parcel had not been publicly listed.

The beach is difficult to access, with a half-mile trail that leads down to the shore. The beach is open to the public, and the piece of land that Zuckerberg purchased is situated a bit further back from the shoreline.

All told, the Facebook billionaire owns roughly 750 acres of property on this isolated stretch of Hawaiian beach.

Which became embroiled in a land dispute involving a native Hawaiian family, who partially owned four parcels (2 acres) of the land, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Wall Street journal reported that in 2016, Zuckerberg teamed up with one of the family members to file suits to force land sales, but ultimately backed out after receiving backlash. Gizmodo reported that this family member, Carlos Andrade, ended up winning all four of the parcels at auction in June for $2 million.

Zuckerberg spent $45 million on 89 more acres of land in 2017, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Now check out the homes and estates owned by the wealthiest people in tech.

MOGUL MANSIONS: From Elon Musk to Jeff Bezos, here are the homes and estates owned by the wealthiest people in tech »

Thinking about taking a cross-country road trip?

Researcher Randy Olson figured out the ideal route around the 48 contiguous states. Olson used a genetic algorithm to calculate the shortest distances between 50 national landmarks.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This video was originally published on May 18, 2015. 

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• A good air conditioner can help make those hot summers much more bearable.
• The LG LW8016ER Air Conditioner is the best window AC you can buy, with its three cooling speeds and built-in dehumidifier.

When it's hot outside, sometimes you need a little help cooling your home down. As such, it might be time to start looking for a new window-mounted air conditioner to keep your home nice and cool, so that you don't roast over the summer months.

Of course, there are a ton of window air conditioners to choose from, and they're not all worth buying. Some are simply lower quality and won't last as long as others that are better-built and more energy-efficient.

There are a number of things to consider when you're buying a window air conditioner, and you'll want to think about them before you buy to ensure that you get the best quality. For starters, you'll want to consider the air conditioner's BTU – or "British Thermal Unit." The higher the number here, the better the unit will be able to remove heat from the room. But a higher BTU also means it will likely consume a little more energy.

How big of a BTU rating do you need for your room?

Check out the list below to figure out the BTU rating you'll need depending on how large your room is. Figures are courtesy of Lowes.

• 150 to 350 sq ft: 5,000 to 8,000 BTU
• 350 to 550 sq ft: 8,000 to 12,000 BTU
• 550 to 1,050 sq ft: 12,000 to 18,500 BTU
• 1,050 to 1,600 sq ft: 18,500 to 25,000 BTU

You'll also want to think about the air conditioner's energy efficiency rating, noise level, and how large it is. After all, if it's too big, it may not fit in the space you have designated for it.

These are the best window air conditioners you can buy:

• Best AC overall: LG LW8016ER Air Conditioner 
• Best AC in multiple sizes: Friedrich Chill Series CP08G10B Window Air Conditioner
• Best quiet(er) AC: Frigidaire Quiet Temp 115V Air Conditioner
• Best 15,000 BTU AC: LG LW1516ER Air Conditioner
• Best smart AC for large rooms: LG 115V Dual Inverter Smart Window Air Conditioner — (14,000 BTU, 18,000 BTU, 22,000 BTU)
• Best 5,000 BTU AC for small rooms: hOmelabs Window Air Conditioner
• Best hack to make your AC smart: Belkin WeMo Mini Smart Plug
• Our full guide to the best electric fans
• Our full guide to the best portable air conditioners 

Updated on 07/03/2019 by Les Shu: Updated selections, prices, links, and formatting. Added additional smart plug options that we've successfully tested with air conditioners.

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks and a foolproof way to make your AC smart.

SEE ALSO: The best electric fans you can buy

The best window air conditioner overall

The LG LW8016ER window AC can cool a 340-square-foot room, has energy-saving features, and offers plenty of settings for those who want control.

LG is a bit of a powerhouse in the window air conditioner space. Our previous top pick was an LG air conditioner, and so is our new one — the LG LW8016ER AC.

This air conditioner has an 8,000 BTU rating, and LG says it'll cool a room up to 340 square feet in size, which should be more than enough for most people. LG says that the AC can dehumidify a room by up to 2.2 pints per hour. In other words, not only does this AC make the room cooler, but it takes some of the stickiness out of it, too.

Some air conditioners only have two settings — on and off. Thankfully, you have a little more control with the LG window AC. You'll get three cooling speeds and three fan speeds, so you don't have to go from 0-60 right away. On top of that, there's an energy-saving setting, so if you don't mind the AC taking a bit longer to cool the room, you'll save some energy.

According to reviews, the air conditioner is even quieter than most window ACs, so while it's probably not the quietest appliance you'll use, it's better than your average AC. The main downside is still the noise. If you want a truly quiet air conditioner, you'll want to keep looking, and perhaps be willing to spend a little more cash. Still, the experts at Wirecutter also recommend this AC. — Christian de Looper

Note: There is now a model with Wi-Fi capability, which lets you remotely control the AC from your phone. However, we have not yet tested this feature.

Pros: Inexpensive, rated for large rooms, energy-saving (Energy Star rating)

Cons: Still loud, despite being quieter than some

Buy the 8,000-BTU LG LW8016ER on Amazon for $273.01 (originally $309.99)

The best window AC in multiple sizes

The Friedrich Chill Series Window Air Conditioner comes in several different sizes with BTU ratings that run from 5,200 to 24,000 BTU.

The Friedrich Chill Series CP08G10B Window Air Conditioner ranges in BTU rating from 5,200 to 24,000 BTU, so you can find the perfect one for your room size, whether it's 150 square feet or 1,400 square feet.

In terms of control, you get a 24-hour timer so you can program run times and four-way air-flow control. The unit comes with a remote control so you don't have to get up every time you want to change the temperature or fan setting. 

Like many window ACs today, Friedrich's is Energy Star compliant. It's a relatively quiet AC, though not as quiet as some of our other picks. You won't get smart features or a ton of settings, either, but the price is great at nearly every BTU rating, so it's worth it. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Many different BTU ratings, affordable, Energy Star rating, 24-hour timer, remote control

Cons: Not as quiet as some

Buy the Friedrich Chill Series CP08G10B Window Air Conditioner on Amazon for $347.25 to $929 (price varies by BTU rating)

The best window air conditioner with quiet(er) operation

The Frigidaire Gallery Quiet Temp 115V 8,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner runs slightly quieter than others, making it great for your bedroom.

If you want a slightly quieter AC for your bedroom, Frigidaire's Gallery Quiet Temp AC is a great option. It's an 8,000-BTU AC, so it can cool rooms up to 350-sq. ft., which should be more than enough for most bedrooms.

Frigidaire says it runs at 44 decibels, though the Wirecutter pegged it at 54 decibels during its tests. The reviewers were fast to point out that it's still 6 to 8 decibels quieter than every other AC they tested. Frigidaire's AC also has a Sleep Mode that's meant to minimize sound while keeping you at a comfortable temperature for sleep.

The AC is also an Energy Star product, so it should help you save electricity and money in the long run if you use the Energy Saver mode. The included remote control makes it easy to adjust the temperature, change the fan speed, and set timers. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Quieter operation, 8,000 BTU is good for a large room, effective cooling, remote control

Cons: On the pricey side

Buy the Frigidaire Gallery Quiet Temp 115V 8,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner at Walmart for $379.99

The best window air conditioner with 15,000 BTUs

The LG LW1516ER Air Conditioner doesn't just offer great cooling modes and a high-quality dehumidifier, it's also able to cool big rooms with up to 15,000 BTU.

If you're looking for something better suited to large rooms, the LG LW1516ER might be the better option for you (think of it as the big brother to our overall pick). The LG LW1516ER a 15,000-BTU AC that can theoretically cool rooms up to 800 sq. ft., which is larger than many city apartments. But it's well-suited for large living rooms or even a studio apartment.

This unit offers three cooling settings, a remote control, an energy-saving mode, and a 24-hour timer so you should be able to set it to perfectly suit your needs. It's also able to dehumidify a room up to 4 pints per hour, which is ideal for larger rooms. It even offers an auto-restart feature in the event of a power failure.

Of course, being capable of cooling large rooms means the unit itself is also larger. It'll sit in at 26-inches wide, almost 27-inches deep, and almost 17-inches high. It might seem expensive, but for a 15,000-BTU AC, it's actually reasonable. — Christian de Looper

Pros: Able to cool large rooms, not too expensive, high-capacity dehumidifier

Cons: A little bulky

Buy the LG LW1516ER Air Conditioner from the Home Depot for $469.00

The best smart window AC for large rooms

The LG 115V Dual Inverter Smart Window Air Conditioner is quiet, energy-efficient, easy to set up, and connects to your Wi-Fi for smart features like app and voice control.

The LG 115V Dual Inverter Smart Window Air Conditioner comes in sizes ranging from 14,000 BTU to 22,000 BTU, so it's powerful enough to cool rooms ranging in size from 800 square feet to about 1,200 square feet. If you live in a one-bedroom apartment or a studio, it can cool your entire living space.

LG's AC has an Energy Star rating for efficiency, so it should help lower your electricity bill by about 25%, too. The unit has four cooling and fan speeds, as well as an Auto Cool function that optimizes cooling in your space. It has a 24-hour timer, so you can have a set schedule for when you want your AC to turn on and off. 

Even though it's a big, high-powered AC, the LG is shockingly quiet, thanks to Lo-Decibel Operation, which brings the noise level down to 43 dB.

In addition to coming in large capacities, this AC can connect to your Wi-Fi to enable smart features like remote app control and voice commands if you use the Google Assistant or Amazon's Alexa. There's also a normal remote control and buttons on the interface if you don't want to get into the techy features. 

As a tech geek, I really liked being able to turn my AC on with a simple voice command or with a tap in the app. It worked consistently and was easy to set up on my home Wi-Fi network in the app in a matter of minutes. We used it on some of the hottest summer days and it worked perfectly, cooling our entire apartment.

The 14,000 BTU unit that we tested measures 23.62 by 20.67 by 24.80 inches, so it is a very large AC. It barely fit inside our window, so be sure to measure before you buy. The 18,000 and 22,000 BTU units are even larger. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Smart features, remote app control, Wi-Fi connected, quiet, sleek-looking, comes in three BTU levels for large rooms

Cons: Expensive, large, only suitable for large rooms

Buy the 14,000 BTU unit at Home Depot for $489

Buy the 18,000 BTU unit at Home Depot for $609

Buy the 22,000 BTU unit at Home Depot for $659

The best window air conditioner for less than $150

The 5,000 BTU hOmeLabs Window Air Conditioner is easy to use and great for smaller rooms, but the best thing about it is that it costs only $170.

Looking for a great air conditioner on a budget? Don't worry – there are still some great options out there, and the 5,000-BTU hOmelabs Window Air Conditioner will only set you back $170, which is much cheaper than any of the other units on this list.

Not only is it affordable, but it will still offer some excellent features. For example, the hOmeLabs AC offers two cooling settings, seven fan speeds, and two-way airflow. It's best for small rooms of about 150 square feet in size, since it is a 5,000 BTU unit.

While it may have fewer settings and features than some others, the features it does have are easier to control – on the front you'll find two mechanical rotary controls, which means you won't have to learn any complicated user interface or different button combinations.

Of course, there are downsides to going for a cheaper unit – the air conditioner isn't really capable of handling larger rooms, and it doesn't have as many cooling settings as others. Still, when it comes to value-for-money, this is one of the best out there. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Affordable, easy to use

Cons: Won't suit larger rooms, fewer cooling settings than some others

Buy the hOmeLabs 5,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner on Amazon for $169.99

Want a smart AC? Buy this smart plug and turn any of our picks into a smart AC

Just plug any AC into a Wi-Fi smart plug, and you can turn it on or off with your voice or a timer.

If you want a smart AC, don't spend the extra money to buy one. Just get a smart plug like Belkin's WeMo Mini. It costs less than $25 and makes any device you plug into (not just your AC) smart. It does require that you have a home Wi-Fi network set up.

Once you have your AC plugged into it, you can control it remotely with the app and set schedules for when you want your AC to turn on and off. The smart plug also supports Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, so if you have one or two of those digital assistants at home, you can control your AC with your voice.

Even if you don't have a schedule set up, it's nice to be able to turn on the AC an hour before you get home, for example.

Best of all, when AC season is over, you can use the plug with anything else — lights, a curling iron, a toaster, what have you. Some of these plugs can even monitor energy usage.

Belkin isn't the only manufacturer that makes smart plugs. We've had success connecting an AC to various smart plug brands, including the iHome ISP6, PureGear PureSwitch, and the new (as of June 2019) SmartThings Wi-Fi Smart Plug from Samsung, which costs less than $20. We tested all of these with great success, although it may require two attempts during the set-up process. Otherwise, all of these plugs were easy to set up and able to turn our AC on and off. However, you should make sure the smart plug you buy is capable of supporting an AC's voltage.  — Malarie Gokey and Les Shu

Pros: Voice control, supports Alexa, Google Assistant, and/or HomeKit (most smart plugs support Alexa and Google Assistant), app control, makes anything smart, schedule turn on and off

Cons: Some apps are more modern than others, set-up may require two or more attempts

Buy the Belkin WeMo Mini Smart Plug on Amazon for $23.62 (originally $34.99)

Buy the iHome ISP6 from Best Buy for $29.99

Buy the PureGear PureSwitch on Amazon for $43.98

Buy the Samsung SmartThings Wi-Fi Smart Plug from Best Buy for $17.99

Check out our guide to the best portable ACs

The best portable air conditioners you can buy