The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Valentine's Day gifts can pose a unique challenge. 

Depending on the recipient (or how long you've been seeing them), the traditional gifts of diamonds, surprise trips to Paris on private jets, and nightmarishly huge teddy bears may be a bit too enthusiastic. For those looking for no-pressure Valentine's Day gifts, humor is the guiding light. And for anyone looking for a unique keepsake, you can't go wrong with something funny either.

Below are a few of the most clever — but still useful — gifts you'll find on the internet. Your recipient will feel cared for, and you won't have to poll friends last-minute to find a companion for an all-expenses-paid couples vacation to the Bahamas either. 

Below are 36 funny Valentine's Day gifts to give this year:

Some of these gifts may not arrive in time for Valentine's Day, but many are available with two-day shipping, so don't stress too hard about your last-minute shopping — just remember that the sooner you order, the better your chances of a timely arrival.

SEE ALSO: 27 sweet Valentine's Day gifts you can get on Amazon

Snoop Dogg's first-ever cookbook: 'From Crook to Cook'

From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from Tha Boss Dogg’s Kitchen By Snoop Dogg, available on Urban Outfitters, $24.95

Snoop Dogg's first cookbook is a new household treasure, featuring 50 of his favorite recipes from baked mac and cheese to filet mignon. 

A shower wine glass holder

Sipski Shower Wine Glass Holder, available on Urban Outfitters, $18

A shower holder for a glass of wine is one of the most unique — and oddly thoughtful — gifts you can give, especially for anyone whose ideal night includes a bath bomb. 

A double-headed sweater

Double-Header Sweater, available on Zulily, $39.99

A true nightmare, but one joke they'll probably appreciate. 

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Your home has a big impact on your quality of life, and mitigating those small daily annoyances you experience around the house can vastly improve your time spent there.
• I asked my Insider Picks colleagues what the best purchases they ever made for their apartments were. Find all 21 below.
• Find more smart home devices we love here.

Whether it sounds hyperbolic or superficial, your home has a drastic impact on your quality of life. The little inconveniences and annoyances you learn to live around become a fixture from day to day, and, over time, become too much a part of your life.

That’s why we’re all so willing to spend the money on exorbitant rents, resilient plants, and smart home features. We want our home to be peaceful, comforting, and useful.

In my own self-interest, I crowdsourced from my colleagues on the Insider Picks team to find out what they consider the best purchases they ever made for their own apartments. Below, you’ll find the 21 we’d call the best and most important home purchases we’ve yet made, in case any might help you too:

Below are 21 of the best apartment purchases we ever made:

Smart lights

Philips Hue White Ambiance Smart Bulb Starter Kit, $120, available at Amazon

I'm a pretty low-maintenance person, but the one luxury I'd buy over and over again is this set of $120 smart bulbs. They have over 50,000 shades of white light to play with for the perfect atmosphere, and they work with a pre-set schedule, timers, and smart assistants like Amazon's Alexa. I always have the ideal light for whatever I want to do and enjoy at home (reading, relaxing, movie-watching, etc.). I wake up to warm, pseudo-natural light naturally every morning before my alarm, and fall asleep naturally before my bedtime because I've timed the lights to decrease from bright to mellow half an hour before I'd like to fall asleep. They may be the best and most unexpected improvement to my quality of life at home that I've ever made.

And even though they're ridiculously expensive upfront, you're mostly paying for the smart bridge which can control up to 50 smart lights. Replacements are comparatively much cheaper.— Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

A streaming stick

Amazon Fire TV Stick, $49.99, available at Amazon

Whether they’re all your own or you’re mooching off a friend or family member, having access to a handful of streaming services is the norm nowadays. The Fire TV Stick provides an easy-to-navigate “home base” for your Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, and other streaming accounts. As a small device, it’s easy to take it on the go, too, so you can continue enjoying shows and movies on big screens wherever you have a TV. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

Vacuum storage bags

SpaceSaver Premium Reusable Vacuum Storage Bags, $25.49, available at Amazon

I've said it before, but these cheap vacuum bags are the best space-saving hack I've figured out yet for a small apartment. I fill the bags with seasonal or sentimental clothes (like big puffy jackets or nostalgic college T-shirts) and use a vacuum to suck out the air to a fraction of their typical size. They can be stacked inside empty suitcases to maximize your storage even more (or even used to travel if you're checking and don't mind more weight). — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

• Dark chocolate is thought to have many health benefits. Even Scarlett Johansson's personal trainers recommend eating it before a workout.
• Jacques Torres is the co-owner of Jacques Torres Chocolate and a master chocolatier.
• He explains the chemical reaction that happens in our gut when we eat dark chocolate and how it affects the rest of the body. 
• WATCH NEXT: Fewer Americans are celebrating Valentine's Day, yet we're expected to spend a record-breaking $20.7 billion on gifts

Join the conversation about this story »

TheInsider Picksteam writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. 

Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best bargains for you to shop in one convenient place. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out our coupons page.

1. Save up to 25% on last-minute Groupons for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is only two days away and if you don't already have plans set in place, you'll want to figure that out today. Groupon can help you celebrate love however you'd like with deals on couples massages, dinners, chocolate covered strawberries and more. Simply use the promo code "SAVE" at checkout to get up to 25% off. Keep in mind that most Groupons are activated and available for use 24 hours after purchase, so if you want to use it on Valentine's Day, buy it now. For more deals and coupons on Groupon, check out our coupons page here.

Shop the Groupon sale now.

2. Buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and get a free Galaxy Tab A

Compared to the Note 8, the new Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has a longer-lasting battery, twice as much storage space, and faster speeds for streaming. Right now you can buy the unlocked phone on Amazon in three colors and two storage sizes. As an added bonus for Deal of the Day, you'll receive a free 10.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab A Tablet with your purchase.

Shop all Samsung Galaxy Note 9s on Amazon here.

3. Save $10 on a personalized and custom-built pillow from Pluto Pillow

Everyone has a different definition of comfort, which is why Pluto Pillow makes custom pillows to suit your needs. Rather than going through the trial and error process with other pillow brands, Pluto personalizes your pillow with data collected from a short quiz about your comfort preferences. From now until February 18, you can save $10 on a custom Pluto Pillow by using the promo code "PRES10" at checkout. One Insider Picks reporter tested the Pluto Pillow and found it to be much better than the pillows from other mattress startups she's tried. You can read her full review here.

Create your own Pluto Pillow now, $75 (Originally $85) [You save $10]

4. Save 30% on heels and boots at Sarah Flint

Founded in 2013, Sarah Flint quickly found its way into high-end stores and became a top favorite among many celebrities. Now through February 20, you can automatically save 30% on select styles. Sarah Flint only goes on sale twice a year, so if you're interested in buying a stylish pair of shoes for yourself or as a gift, now is one of your only chances to save. One Insider Picks reporter reviewed the Emma heels and was happy with the overall quality. Read her full review here.

Shop the Sarah Flint semi-annual sale now.

5. Save up to 50% on outdoor gear and apparel at REI

You probably have all the winter gear you need for the rest season already, but REI is having a sale so big you won't want to pass it up. To making room for new spring styles, the brand is selling outdoor winter gear and apparel for up to 50% off. The sale includes clothing, outerwear, footwear, essential camping gear, and more. Whether you actually do need something for this current season or you're planning to hold it for next winter, the deals are worth shopping. 

Shop the REI sale now.

6. Save 20% on mattresses at Brooklyn Bedding

Buying a mattress in the store (and figuring out how to get it home) is not fun. Luckily, online mattress startup Brooklyn Bedding makes getting a new bed easier than ever — and it's surprisingly affordable. Today only, you can save 20% on any mattress by using the promo code "WINTER20" at checkout. With a 120-night sleep trial and free returns on all of its mattresses, you'll never get stuck with a bed you don't love.

Shop the Brooklyn Bedding sale now.

7. Save an extra 40% on sale styles at Cole Haan

In a market where hundreds of footwear brands are vying for your attention, Cole Haan has claimed its place at the top by creating good-looking shoes you actually want to wear without sacrificing comfort. They can sometimes be a bit pricey, but now through February 15, you can save an extra 40% on sale styles by using the promo code "EXTRA40" at checkout. In addition to shoes for men and women, the sale also includes outerwear, bags, and other accessories.

Shop the Cole Haan sale now.

8. Save up to $210 on a Leesa Mattress and get two free pillows

If you've been putting off buying a new mattress for a while, this Presidents' Day is the time to buy one. Popular online mattress startup Leesa is having an impressive sale with 15% off mattresses. The deal takes $160 off the original Leesa mattress and $210 off the newer Sapira Hybrid mattress. Regardless of which mattress you choose, you'll also receive two free pillows valued at $75 each. 

Shop all Leesa deals now.

Join the conversation about this story »

• The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World still standing, which was acknowledged when thenew seven wonders of the world were introduced in 2007.
• I recently fulfilled a childhood dream to visit the archeological site, as well as many of Egypt's other pyramids, during a trip to the Middle East.
• While I saw countless photos of the pyramid before visiting, they don't do justice to just how impressive it is in person. 
• The key to a good visit is having a solid tour guide, knowing what scams you might encounter beforehand, and leaving enough time to see everything you want to see. I wish I had split my tour into two days.

There are few monuments in the world as iconic as the Pyramids of Giza, a necropolis that dates back nearly 5,000 years.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World still standing, which was acknowledged when the new seven wonders of the world were introduced in 2007.

As a history buff, I've read more books about ancient Egypt and seen more photos and videos of the pyramids than I can remember. I even made a diorama of the Giza complex for a project in middle school.

Upon arriving in Giza in December, I caught my first glimpse of the pyramids, a sight I had been waiting to see since childhood. I fully expected to be disappointed. How could it ever measure up to the pyramids of my childhood dreams?

But the pyramids are there, and they are very real and very big. Seeing them for the first time induces the distinct feeling of vertigo.

I took a full day to visit as many of Egypt's 138 discovered pyramids as possible, including the Pyramids of Giza, as well as the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the Pyramid of Unas, the Bent Pyramid, and the Red Pyramid.

The experience was unforgettable, for both good and bad reasons. Here's what it was like:

SEE ALSO: I flew 6 hours in EgyptAir economy class and it showed me even the most basic flag carrier can be better than most American airlines

DON'T MISS: I visited the top of the tallest building in the world, and it was a colossal waste of time

To take full advantage of the Pyramids of Giza, I stayed as close as I could get. I booked a room with a balcony at the Pyramid Loft Guesthouse. Seeing the pyramids for the first time in daylight when I woke up induced a distinct feeling of vertigo. It's shocking. They're real!

Breakfast was included with my room at the guesthouse. It was a tasty mix of Egyptian salads, baladi bread, falafel, and ful medames, an Egyptian dish of spiced cooked fava beans.

At 9 a.m., my tour guide picked me up. As I walked out, I got a view of Giza life. Many tourists complain about how close the pyramids are to the city, but I think it makes it more special. As Abrahim, the manager of the guesthouse said to me, "It's kind of amazing that many of our livelihoods are tied to something built 5,000 years ago."

• The Academy Awards are more polarizing than ever, after suffering their worst ratings in recorded history last year, and battling controversies ranging from #OscarsSoWhite, to the popular Oscar category, to the drama surrounding Kevin Hart.
• And that's not just how the public feels. Some inside Hollywood believe the show is at a dire crossroads.
• Business Insider spoke to past Oscar show producers, Academy voters, and producers of other live TV shows to investigate what has gone wrong. 
• The 91st Academy Awards air February 24 on ABC.

Since 1929, the Academy Awards ceremony has been the biggest night in Hollywood. But do you really care anymore?

It feels like the Oscars are at a dire crossroads, from the telecast's sagging ratings to its lack of diversity — which was pushed front-and-center by #OscarsSoWhite in 2015 — to this year's hosting drama, and the stripping of categories from the live broadcast.

But some within Hollywood believe their big night has been on life support for some time.

Business Insider spoke to past Oscar show producers, Academy voters, and award show pundits to learn about the numerous attempts over the last two decades to make the Oscars telecast more modern. Despite these attempts, the show always seems to revert back to its more traditional form, and many in the industry think that's a terrible trend.

"The show needs to change," Bill Mechanic, an Oscar-nominated producer who resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' board of governors last year, told Business Insider. "But not in a way that it's watered down in terms of its artistic measurement, in fact, that should be preserved."

Here we investigate what has gone wrong with the Academy Awards and what needs to be fixed.

Where new ideas go to die

The last time the Oscars didn’t have a host was in 1989, and that year will forever be known for having the worst opening in the show’s history: an 11 minute-plus musical number that followed Snow White as she navigated through different eras of Hollywood and all its glamour. It ended with her doing a duet with — wait for it — Rob Lowe. 

The backlash was immediate, including Disney suing the Academy for using the likeness of Snow White, and changed the course of the Oscar show forever. A review committee was formed to audit the show from top to bottom, leading to former DGA president Gil Cates producing the show the following year. He brought on Billy Crystal to host, which led to the Oscars' golden years. Cates, who died in 2011, produced the show a record 14 times, including the 70th Academy Awards in 1998 when "Titanic" won best picture, and the show was seen by over 57 million viewers, the most watched in history.

Everything surrounding the 2019 Oscars makes it feel like the show is facing another moment when change is needed. But it can’t seem to get out of its own way.

Following the record-low ratings of last year’s show, the Academy’s attempt to rebound has been crippled by bad publicity.

When word hit in August that a popular movie category at the Oscars was being considered, the outrage came from both the public and the industry. Then in early DecemberKevin Hart walked away from hosting this year’s show following an uproar over his past homophobic remarks, leaving the evening without a host. That was followed by a short-lived attempt to control the show's run time by cutting out some of the performances from the best song nominees, and a new plan, announced Monday, to give out some technical awards during commercial breaks.

The relegation of some awards to commercial breaks has angered many in Hollywood.

"To be at the show and your award not to be worthy, I think it’s somewhat insulting," Lili Fini Zanuck, who produced the 72nd Oscars in 2000 with her husband Richard D. Zanuck (the two produced best picture winner "Driving Miss Daisy"), told Business Insider regarding the decision to not televise live all 24 award categories.

This kind of erratic maneuvering by the Academy is exactly the reason Bill Mechanic resigned from its board of governors last year. 

In a strongly worded farewell letter that Variety got its hands on, Mechanic — a former Fox executive, producer of the 82nd Oscars in 2010, and producer of best-picture nominee “Hacksaw Ridge” — said they had “failed to move the Oscars into the modern age.” He said the show was “long and boring” and that over the past decade, the Academy had “nominated so many smaller independent films that the Oscars feel like they should be handed out in a tent.”

“All my criticisms of when I quit the board are still valid,” Mechanic told Business Insider recently. “The simplest thing about the Academy, which is what got me riled up, is you have the best artists working, period, and that the membership is not being used to the degree that it should be is, to me, wrong ... Every idea should be considered.”

And ideas to make the ceremony more appealing to watch are brought up every year, they usually just don't stick.

Several former Oscar show producers told Business Insider that suggestions for something like a popular Oscar category, or limiting the number of awards presented during the live telecast, aren’t new. They have been kicked around within the Academy for over a decade. But the fact that those ideas are now at the point of serious consideration shows the severity of the situation the telecast is in. 

Zanuck recalled the effort to make the show look modern in the year she and her husband were at the controls in 2000. 

“I felt that it was a television show and the live audience was somewhat irrelevant, because they were there mostly as nominees,” she said. “What I wanted to do was make it a broadcast. And to do that you had to look at these other shows that were working at the time, like the MTV Movie Awards and Video Awards. They weren't only interesting but had a speed and a pacing to them.”

So the Zanucks ditched the old Hollywood sets of previous Oscars and dressed the stage with 35-foot columns consisting of HD monitors stacked atop each other. Throughout the night, the screens would show clips from previous Oscar shows as the presenters took the stage. And instead of a live orchestra playing music through the show, the Zanucks had a pop music score. They also gave the viewers at home a deeper look inside the show by cutting to shots of what was going on backstage.

It seemed to work.

The show, hosted by Crystal, took in close to 47 million viewers, a bump from the 46 million that watched it the year before when “Shakespeare in Love” shocked the world and won best picture over "Saving Private Ryan." In fact, it was the highest-rated show in this millennium. The Zanucks seemed to have updated the show in a way that still celebrated its history but was more engaging for viewers watching at home.

But, outside of the brief shots of the backstage, many of the things done at the 72nd Oscars were not used again.

“They needed to continue to build on this idea I had that it’s a TV show,” Zanuck said. “After we did our year they went back to old sets, something from the 1920s, that was just taking you somewhere you had already been. The fact that it became old fashioned again didn’t help. There was no freshness to it.”

Mechanic said he had his own popular Oscar idea the year he and producer-director Adam Shankman (“What Men Want”) did the Oscars in 2010. He wanted to have a selection of movies nominated for a viewers' choice Oscar. People at home would vote during the show. But he said it “fell on deaf ears.”

“A lot of people in the Academy don’t want to change anything and I think they are wrong not from a purist standpoint but from an entertainment standpoint,” Mechanic said. 

No host is the best thing that could have happened

Since the Academy is so resistant to change, the Oscars not having a host might be great for this year's telecast, since it forces everyone involved to get out of their comfort zone. 

“If you book presenters properly and they are big enough stars, you don’t need a host,” said Jeff Margolis, who directed the Oscars telecast eight times, many of them in the show’s glory days alongside Cates.

And Margolis knows a little something about doing the show without a host. The first ever Oscars he directed was in 1989, the last time the show didn’t have one. Though that show was infamous because of the Snow White opening, Margolis believes what Allan Carr, that year’s producer, did right was booking interesting presenters. 

“Allan called it, ‘couples, companions, and compadres,’” Margolis said about how they put together the presenters. “And it really worked.” 

The show featured presenters ranging from hot “it” couples of the time (Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith) to legendary duos from the movies (“Vertigo” stars Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak). 

Shankman, who produced the 82nd Oscars with Mechanic, pulled off the rare two-person-hosted show with Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin (the show was one of the highest-rated in the last decade). But his favorite moment didn't involve the hosts.

“My year we had Robert Downey Jr. and Tina Fey present original screenplay, and I could have watched them all night, they weren’t the hosts,” he said.

Producers who have done major live TV shows other than the Oscars agreed that the lack of a host isn’t a big deal.

“People don’t like a host doing shtick anymore,” Ron Basile, a producer at AEG Ehrlich, the production company of veteran Grammys producer Kenneth Ehrlich, told Business Insider.

And Ian Stewart — who has worked on everything from the 2012 Olympics opening ceremonies, to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show — believes in today’s world it’s less about finding the right host and more about crafting viral content that can spread on social media.

“I certainly have a check list on my productions of what are the 10 viral moments that we would hope to facilitate,” he said. “I think it’s up to us to create those viral moments.”

Is it time to disrupt the bloated award season?

With some changes coming to this year's Oscars, and some of the biggest blockbusters of the year nominated for best picture (“Black Panther,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “A Star Is Born”), the telecast could be headed for a rebound year.

But even if the 91st Oscars are produced in a way that keeps viewers engaged, there’s still the issue of the time of year the ceremony takes place, which many believe is hurting the show.

Since the start of the Oscars almost a century ago, many other award shows have sprung up around it.

Read more: The 21 biggest Oscar upsets of all time, ranked

There are around 14 award ceremonies before the Oscars, from the ones televised (Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, Critics Choice Awards, Independent Spirit Awards) to the many more that aren’t (Gotham Awards, National Society of Film Critics Awards, Producers Guild, Directors Guild, Screenwriters Guild). And because of social media and the horse-race coverage of the Oscars lead-up, many are burnt out by the time the big night arrives.

“I love movies, and I’m in the business, and I’m even tired of seeing Hollywood pat themselves on the back so many times,” one Academy voter said.

Many in the Academy believe the Oscars need to happen earlier. The theory: to bring viewer intrigue back to the show, it should no longer be the final act of award season.

“The cannibalization of the specialness of the evening is probably, in my opinion, been the single worst thing for the Oscars,” Shankman said.

And this isn’t just a recent issue. Shankman recalled how obsessed everyone on the team was about every aspect of all the award shows leading up to their Oscars in 2010, so they wouldn't repeat anything that happened previously in an award show.

“We had a giant board with all the shows that happened before the Oscars,” he said. “We were just staring at it and it looked like we were in a bookie’s office. It had flow charts, who was walking out and presenting what. We were tracking who was showing up at each awards show. I looked at Bill and was like, ‘How are we going to make this feel special?’”

In the dog-eat-dog world that is Hollywood, many feel the biggest dog needs to own the turf better. And it seems the Academy has finally caught on. In 2020, the Oscars will air on February 9, marking the earliest the show has ever been presented. But some think it should be in January.

“The problem with doing that is voters will not have had enough of a chance to see the movies, and it would essentially be declaring war on all these other shows,” The Hollywood Reporter award columnist Scott Feinberg said.

Read more: Here's the complete list of the 2019 Oscar nominations

“They are going to make everybody else fit in a smaller window,” Gold Derby managing editor Chris Beachum said. “These non-televised events, they all rely on that evening being a big moneymaker for themselves — selling programs, advertisements, tables. They can't afford to give up that night. So now you're going to cause all of these award shows to fit into a much smaller window.”

Some aren’t as compassionate about this potential dilemma to award season.

“The Academy should push everybody out of business in terms of the awards,” Mechanic said. “There’s one award that matters and that’s the only thing to protect. There’s nothing else that matters.”

ABC has more control of the show than ever before

When it comes to the Oscars, there’s no way to satisfy everyone.

As Margolis put it, “From the fade up from black to the fade out at the end, everybody is looking for something to hate during that show.”

But despite all the negative reviews posted the following day, and complaints that go viral, that show is still a huge moneymaker for ABC, and the top TV event of the year besides the Super Bowl.

The network, which in 2016 extended its contract to air the Oscars through 2028, has consistently raised the cost of the ad spots that run during the telecast. In 2017, it was $1.91 million per 30-second spot; last year, it was $2 million; and this year, $3 million. 

It’s a phenomenon that’s going on with all live "must-see" TV: ratings are sliding, but brands still believe it's worth being there.

“If you're a sponsor and you're trying to reach any kind of mass appeal, you sort of grab at the platforms that can still do that," CNN media critic Brian Lowry said. "The Oscars is in the same way that sports have an advantage, if you are really into the Oscars, you don't want to DVR it and watch the next day. I wouldn't be surprised to see Netflix, Amazon, or HBO ponying up for some ads during the Oscars because to launch your new spring shows it's going to be one of the last big platforms to reach a lot of people."

But ABC is now doing more than just selling ads.

The network is through standing back and letting the Academy have full control of the show, which is how it had been for decades. One of the stipulations in the 2016 contract extension was that ABC now has more say in key creative aspects of the show. The choice of host and producer is now a discussion between ABC and the Academy (though the Academy has final say). This is why in the last two years you’ve seen a lot more ABC/Disney elements on the show, like Jimmy Kimmel hosting and using Disney titles in his stunts.

Sources told Business Insider that for years ABC has wanted the show to only be three hours long, so coming off a year that had the worst ratings ever, it's safe to say the network has more leverage than ever when it comes to run time.

Read more: The 15 Oscar best-picture winners that made the most money at the US box office

“There is going to come a time when ABC expects the Academy to continue to deliver the product that they thought they were buying,” Feinberg said. “So far since that contract was extended I don’t think they can be all that pleased by what they’ve got.”

“This has to be said, nobody does this show to fail,” Shankman said. “Everybody goes in wanting desperately to do the best job that they can and to honor the evening and to honor the people that are involved. Even the years that have been lowest in the ratings, there have been wonderful parts of the show."

But it is hard to balance all the forces at play: ratings, artistic integrity, tradition, freshness. Often what you end up with is a show that satisfies no one.

“The show has stopped being what it’s supposed to be, which is a way to acknowledge each other,” Zanuck said. “That’s why it started as a dinner. No one was worried about what someone in Oklahoma thought. When it sounds like you need some gimmick to get people to watch, it’s so desperate and I think in a lot of ways that desperate feeling is what’s going to take it all down. The show has to get its integrity back. Winning an Oscar has got to mean something. If it keeps with these gasping for air moves, I don’t know where it can go.”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did not respond to Business Insider's numerous requests to comment for this story.

SEE ALSO: The 10 worst movies to win the best picture Oscar — and what should have won

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Roger Stone explains what Trump has in common with Richard Nixon

• Dogs are the most popular pet for a president to have during his time in the White House. 
• Despite the longtime presidential tradition, President Donald Trump has yet to bring a dog into the White House, saying after two years in office that he would feel "a little phony doing so." 

Dogs have been the most popular pet for a president to have during his time in the White House — 30 of the 44 presidents have had at least one dog in the West Wing.

The first to have had a dog during his presidency was George Washington, while Barack Obama most recently had two dogs during his presidency.

So far, President Donald Trump has yet to have a pet since entering the White House, and shows no sign of changing his pet ownership status, making him the most recent president to not have a dog in the White House since William McKinley over 100 years ago.

Here are 25 photos of some of the most adorable and well-known canines to grace the Oval Office.

SEE ALSO: These dogs had the time of their lives meeting Meghan Markle and Prince Harry — and the pictures are melting people's hearts

SEE ALSO: Here's what every president's signature looks like

Grover Cleveland's cocker spaniel named Gallagher had a brown coat and ears of "inconvenient length."

Source: America Comes Alive

Warren Harding's terrier, named Laddie Boy, was six months old when he moved into the White House.

Source: America Comes Alive

Calvin Coolidge's collie Rob Roy was named after the popular cocktail.

Source: Presidential Pet Museum

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• High-quality whey protein powders have a taste you can tolerate, pack in maximum protein with minimal extras, and they work well in beverages and baked goods.
• The Cellucor Whey Protein Isolate & Concentrate Blend Powder is our top pick because it mixes smoothly, tastes great, and only costs three cents per gram of protein.

Whether you are a picky eater, athlete, elderly, or just want to suppress your appetite, boosting your protein intake can help keep your muscles healthy and increase your muscle mass. Whey protein powder is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to add protein to your diet.

Whey protein comes from the liquid left over from the cheesemaking process. This liquid is dried into a powder. Since whey is basically the gross, acrid part of milk, the best supplement companies then introduce flavors and sweeteners to the powder while keeping fat, calories, and carbohydrates to a minimum.

There are three main types of whey protein:

• Whey protein concentrate (WPC): This is a concentrated protein that keeps more of the nutrients.
• Whey protein isolate (WPI): This is similar to WPC, but most of the carbohydrates, fat, and fat-soluble vitamins have been removed so the powder has a higher percentage of protein.
• Whey protein hydrolysate (WPH): WPH is considered "pre-digested" since it breaks down peptides — the building blocks of proteins — to help with quicker absorption.

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein is about a gram for every three pounds of body weight. So, if you weigh 180 pounds, that would equate to 60 grams of protein per day. Experts suggest taking up to twice that can still produce benefits. However, before you significantly up your protein intake, you should check with your healthcare professional since people with certain maladies, such as calcium deficiencies or low blood pressure, could experience adverse effects from whey protein.

We recommend buying the whey protein powder you like through Amazon's "Subscribe & Save" program if possible since it can save you up to 15%. At any time, you can cancel your subscription. My favorite part about this program is that it automates ordering products that I have to replenish regularly. For instance, if you take a serving of protein powder every day and there are 30 servings in a container, you can have a new tub delivered every month without lifting a finger.

All of the prices quoted in this guide are based on the current price for the most popular flavor and size of the powder. Prices are subject to change, and you can cut the cost of some powders by choosing to subscribe.

To figure out the cost per serving on your own, take the product's price and divide it by the number of servings in the container. Since the amount of protein per serving varies by brand, it's also useful to look at the cost per gram of protein. This is easy to calculate by dividing the cost per serving (as calculated above) by the number of grams of protein per serving.

While researching the best whey protein powders, we looked at hundreds of expert and buyer reviews and ratings of dozens of brands. Our guide features powders that have a taste you can stomach, a high protein content, and minimal fat, carbs, and calories.

Here are the best whey protein powders you can buy:

• Best whey protein powder overall: Cellucor Whey Protein Isolate & Concentrate Blend Powder
• Best grass-fed whey protein powder: Legion Whey+ Isolate Protein Powder
• Best tasting whey protein powder: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder
• Best fat-free whey protein powder: Myprotein Impact Whey Isolate Protein
• Best digestion-friendly whey protein powder: Dymatize ISO 100 Whey Protein Powder

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best whey protein powder overall

Why you'll love it: If you’re looking for a powder that mixes easily and tastes great, Cellucor Whey Protein Isolate & Concentrate Blend Powder is one of the best and most affordable options.

The Cellucor Whey Protein Isolate & Concentrate Blend Powdernot only tastes good and has 24 grams of protein per serving, but it’s also the most affordable option in our guide at 71.4 cents per serving and 3 cents per gram of protein. Each serving also only has 1.5 grams of fat, 4 grams of carbs, and 120 calories.

There are seven flavors to choose from, including whipped vanilla, molten chocolate, and cinnamon swirl. Cellucor recommends mixing two scoops with five to six ounces of your preferred beverage, but you can adjust the amount of liquid to fit your tastes. The company also suggests mixing the powder with yogurt, oatmeal, and pancakes.

The Wirecutter recommends the Cellucor Cor-Performance Whey because it did well in the site's taste tests. The reviewer notes that the texture is smooth, thick, and foamy. BarBend's reviewer found it mixed easily, tasted great, and was relatively inexpensive. However, he did note that there is a fair amount of sodium (130 mg) and didn’t like that it has sucralose, an artificial sweetener.

More than 1,000 Amazon buyers have left positive reviews of the Cellucor Cor-Performance Whey. JW, the most helpful reviewer, has tried several different protein powders, and this is his favorite. He enjoys the taste of cinnamon swirl and found it was excellent in waffles and lattes. JW notes that the smooth consistency is unparalleled by other brands.

Many other buyers call this the best protein powder they’ve tried. One commenter said the protein was able to help boost her muscle growth and after-workout recovery.

Pros: Great taste, affordable, mixes smoothly, 24 grams of protein per serving, excellent for baking

Cons: 130 mg of sodium per serving, contains artificial sweeteners

Buy the Cellucor Whey Protein Isolate & Concentrate Blend Powder (Whipped Vanilla – 70 Servings) on Amazon for $47.49 or $49.99

The best grass-fed whey protein powder

Why you'll love it: Legion Whey+ Isolate Protein Powder is made with milk from grass-fed cows raised on small Irish dairy farms and has minimal added ingredients.

One 30-gram serving of Legion Whey+ Isolate Protein Powder gives you 22 grams of protein, while only adding 100 calories, one gram of fat, and three grams of carbs to your daily total.

There is no sugar in this powder. Instead, it’s sweetened with Stevia, a plant-based sugar substitute that is generally considered healthier than artificial sweeteners. The powder is also free of antibiotics, hormones, and GMOs. If you’re not satisfied for any reason, Legion Athletics offers a full refund within 90 days of your purchase date.

Very Well Fit recommends the Legion Athletics Whey+ Protein Powder because in its tests the consistency of the mix was excellent, and the reviewer didn’t experience any aftertaste. However, she did note that she wished the flavor was a bit stronger.

Best Pre-Workout for Women also complained about how this powder tasted, but the reviewer still recommends it because of the small ingredient list and the high protein content. 

About 85% of the people who reviewed the Legion Athletics Whey+ Protein Powder on Amazon gave it five stars. The most common comment from buyers is that they appreciate how few calories are in it and that there’s no sugar. Many buyers of the chocolate peanut butter flavor say that they like the taste. They say it’s similar to chocolate milk with telltale protein notes to it. One reviewer appreciated that it was a healthy way to satisfy her chocolate cravings.

Comments about the price are all over the board suggesting that it regularly fluctuates. So, keep your eye out for good deals. Currently, it’s the most expensive option in our guide at $1.76 per serving and 7.6 cents per gram of protein.

Pros: Grass-fed, mixes well, no sugar, low-calorie, 90-day money-back guarantee, lactose-free

Cons: Expensive, complaints of unsatisfying taste, 180 mg of sodium per serving

Buy the Legion Whey+ Isolate Protein Powder (Chocolate Peanut Butter – 30 Servings) on Amazon for $47.47 or $49.97

The best tasting whey protein powder

Why you'll love it: The Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder packs 24 grams of protein into each serving and is one of the better-tasting powders according to experts and buyers.

The Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powdergets its sweetness from a little bit of sugar (1 gram per serving) and acesulfame potassium, which is an artificial sweetener also known as Ace-K.

Each serving has 120 calories, a gram of fat, three grams of carbs, and most importantly 24 grams of protein. At 78.2 cents per serving and 3.3 cents per gram of protein, this is one of the most affordable options on our list. Optimum Nutrition has also curated a number of recipes in which you can use the powder.

The Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey is The Wirecutter’s top pick for whey protein powders. The reviewer found the powder met safety and accuracy criteria, had a pleasant texture, and tasted the best of the 10 powders in her taste test. Her main complaints are that you have to dig the scoop out of the container and the taste is a bit sweet. Several other expert sites also recommend this brand, including BarBend, NutriProtein Supplement, and USA Home Gym.

More than 13,000 people have left four- or five-star reviews of the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey on Amazon. There are several buyers who say this is the best protein they’ve ever tried. However, there are numerous complaints that the formula has changed recently.

The most helpful reviewer, in a review from over two years ago, pointed out that the blend of digestive enzymes was replaced by ingredients like salt and the artificial sweetener sucralose. Another buyer in a more recent review argued that the formula has not changed for double rich chocolate (and the label backs this up). Yet, he does warn against flavors like cake batter, ice cream, and banana.

Pros: Tastes good, relatively affordable, safe ingredients

Cons: Complaints about the formula changing, contains an artificial sweetener

Buy the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder (Double Rich Chocolate – 5 Pounds) on Amazon for $55.04 or $57.94

• LoveSync is a device that lets you, with the push of a button, silently and "anonymously" indicate to your partner that you're in the mood for sex.
• A fundraising campaign for LoveSync launched Monday on Kickstarter, and the device has already raised more than half of its $7,500 goal.
• People on social media are roasting the button for its purpose of "summoning" your partner and intent to replace audible consent for sex.

Amazon pioneered the idea of miniature buttons that people press to quickly order household staples like laundry detergent and potato chips. Now, a startup has a button for couples to request another household essential: sex.

On Monday, a Kickstarter campaign introduced the world to LoveSync buttons, designed to help partners signal when they're in the mood for sex.

LoveSync buttons come in a set — one for each person's bedside table — so you can press it when you want to indicate to your partner that you want to have sex. If both partners tap their buttons in the same 15-minute "consensus window," both buttons will glow green, and you'll know the other person is horny too.

Though it's only a Kickstarter concept at this point, the LoveSync button aims for the elegant design of an Apple product or a Nest thermostat, with "CNC machined steel housing" and a "capacitive touch sensor."

The device, the Kickstarter campaign says, is designed to "take the luck out of getting lucky" so you can "make your move with confidence" — so you don't have to risk initiating sex and getting rejected.

LoveSync's launch on Kickstarter wasn't met with entirely positive reactions on social media. People on Twitter skewered several features of the device, as well as its description.

The video on LoveSync's campaign page says you can push the button "anonymously" — which is puzzling, considering the buttons are advertised as being for a couple.

People also criticized LoveSync's high price, versus simply asking your partner for sex. The Kickstarter campaign says a set of the LoveSync buttons will cost $57 (unless you nab an early-bird price).

Some also drew similarities between LoveSync and the "nut button" meme, which emerged online in 2016.

The founders are a Cleveland couple named Ryan and Jenn Cmich, who said in a promo video that they lost the "joys of romance" after being married for about 15 years. The buttons, they said, are a solution to an "age-old problem," allowing you to "get your LoveSync on."

As of Tuesday, LoveSync had 84 backers, who had pledged more than $4,000.

LoveSync has until March 13 to reach its $7,500 goal, and the campaign says backers will get their LoveSync buttons in August if it's successful.

SEE ALSO: Here's the complete timeline of the feud between Jeff Bezos and the National Enquirer, including the ties to President Trump

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• Anna Wintour is editor-in-chief of Vogue and artistic director at Condé Nast.
• While she has a reputation for being an intimidating and demanding boss, her influence on the fashion industry has been noticeable since her very first cover at American Vogue. 
• Her net worth has been estimated to be as much as $35 million. 

The semi-annual chaos that is New York Fashion Week is under way, and designers and fashionistas are deep in preparation mode. 

Perhaps no one knows the ins and outs of Fashion Week better than Anna Wintour, longtime editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine and artistic director at Condé Nast. Donning her trademark black Chanel sunglasses and perfectly styled bob, Wintour has been a fashion-show fixture for decades. 

With a reported annual salary of $2 million and an estimated net worth of $35 million, Wintour leads the kind of lifestyle any fashionista would envy.  

SEE ALSO: What the sole heiress to the In-N-Out empire and one of the US's youngest billionaires' life is really like

Anna Wintour is the editor-in-chief of Vogue and artistic director of Condé Nast, Vogue's publishing company.

Source: Vogue

She's widely known as "the most influential figure in fashion."

Source: Business of Fashion

Her late father, Charles Wintour, was the editor of the London Evening Standard for nearly 20 years. He's said to be one of the greatest and most influential journalists "in the second half of the 20th century."

Source: The Independent, The Guardian

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• The Ring Video Doorbell 2 ($199) gives homeowners a real-time video view from their front door whether they're in a room down the hall or across the country.
• The doorbell has security features including infrared night vision recording and an automatic motion detection setting.
• Ring doorbells can be paired with Amazon's Alexa, sending you alerts and letting you use the two-way talk function through the speaker.

You can buy a perfectly decent DIY doorbell for less than twenty bucks. So why would you spend ten times that much for a $199 Ring Video Doorbell 2?

The short answer is because Ring doorbells are beyond perfectly decent. In fact, if you value the peace of mind that comes with protection against package thieves, deterrence for burglars, and the knowledge that your family got home safe yet again, a Ring Video Doorbell is actually closer to perfect than decent.

Also, assuming you're using the battery-powered option, it takes about five minutes to install the doorbell and pair it with an app on your phone through which you'll be able to monitor the home from anywhere. $199 and five minutes' time — not bad, really. But let's take a closer look. 

The basics of the Ring Video Doorbell: 

A Ring doorbell is always on the lookout. When you open its app, you get instant access to the camera's broad field of view, and in 1080 high-definition video, no less. You can program the Ring to alert you and display its video feed when someone rings the doorbell, or even when someone merely draws near to the door thanks to the motion control feature. (Its sensitivity can be customized so don't worry about lots of false alarms.)

After sunset, the camera uses infrared night vision to keep watch. And with the optional addition of the Ring Protection Plus program, which costs $10 a month, the video captured by your Ring is recorded and saved and can even be shared with others.

How two-way talk works from anywhere:

Lots of doorbells have a two-way talk intercom; that type of feature had been available for decades. But with the Ring, you can make use of two-way talk from anywhere you have Wi-Fi signal or cell service.

So whether you just don't feel like getting off the couch and walking down the hall when a deliveryman rings the bell ("Just leave it on the porch please, thanks!") or you have detected a potential thief thanks to a motion detection alert sent to your phone even though you're in Albuquerque on a business trip ("Hey buddy, I see you there and you're on recorded video. Maybe leave without breaking into my house?") you can dialogue with anyone near your front door. (For the record, I'm assuming you don't live in Albuquerque — if you do, pretend I said Cleveland.)

The two-way talk function is also a great way for your kids to let you know they got home safe and are headed inside.

Installing a Ring Video Doorbell 2:

If you're going with the battery-controlled option, then installing a Ring will take you about three minutes. A couple of screws and you're done. Then spend one minute getting the app downloaded and open and a couple more minutes getting it set up and paired with the hardware.

If you go with the hardwired setup, you'll never have to change the batteries, but you will need a bit of electrical know-how or you'll need to hire an electrician. And if you want to hear the doorbell without always being tied to your phone or tablet or the Alexa speaker, you can also connect independent chimes that Ring sells separately.

The (few) drawbacks:

As noted, a Ring Video Doorbell 2 costs nearly $200, which is far from cheap. And to make meaningful use of its fine functions like stored video recordings, you really will need to pay for a monthly service, though at least a basic one is available for just $3 monthly.

Without either Ring Protect Basic or Ring Protect Plus (Plus comes with 24/7 professional security monitoring), you don't have access to past video. What's worse is that the Ring considers any video not opened in its app within five seconds of an alert to be past, so unless you're quick on the draw, you'll rarely even get to make use of the video function when someone comes near or rings the bell itself.

Is the Ring Video doorbell worth it?

Yes, yes it is. But just consider the base cost $235 ($199 purchase price plus $3/month for a year) and know you'll spend at least $36 annually thereafter.

Pros: Connects homeowner to live video feed from anywhere, remote two-way talk feature, 1080 HD video with infrared night vision.

Cons: Requires paid subscription for proper access to all features.

Get a Ring Video Doorbell 2 from Amazon for $199

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• Nicole Wegman is the founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a company that designs and sells customized engagement rings ranging from $10,000 to well into the six figures.
• Wegman told Business Insider there are two main ways to spot a fake or synthetic diamond.
• If the stone has too much rainbow reflection or if it just seems dull, it's probably not a real diamond.
• The easiest way to see the difference is to hold it next to a real diamond, Wegman says.

Nobody wants to get duped by a fake — especially when it comes to diamonds.

Nicole Wegman, founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a company that designs and sells customized engagement rings ranging from $10,000 to well into the six figures, says diamond experts "can tell immediately" if a diamond is fake.

But for those who aren't jewelers or diamond experts, there are two telltale signs that you're looking at a fake diamond.

"Usually there's too much rainbow reflection coming out of a fake diamond," Wegman told Business Insider. "It should be white flashing back at you. A little bit of rainbow."

The second tip-off will be the lack of brilliance.

"They usually feel a little dead," Wegman said. "They just don't have the liveliness and the brilliance that you get from a real diamond. I think the easiest way to see the difference is to hold it next to a real diamond. If you have it side by side with a real diamond, you're going to be like, 'There is something just weird about this stone. Something's off.'"

Taylor Lanore, a diamond expert and Ring Concierge's PR director, said you can also sometimes see a "seam" within the stone that will indicate it's not a true diamond.

Of course, Wegman said, you can always bring a questionable stone into a jeweler and they'll be able to tell you "in two seconds" whether it's real or not.

DON'T MISS: A woman who sells 6-figure engagement rings through Instagram says there's a big misconception about the 4 C's of buying diamonds

SEE ALSO: Kay, Zales, and Jared are hurting after sluggish holiday sales — and it may be the latest sign that millennials are turning the diamond business upside down

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Maelove is a radically affordable skin-care line priced entirely under $30 and founded by MIT grads.
• Their cult-favorite $28 vitamin c serum (which consumers have pointed out is very similar to SkinCeuticals' $166 version) put the company on the map, and is prone to frequent sellouts. 
• I've tried four products from Maelove: the Day Eraser ($18.95), the Glow Maker ($28), the One Cream ($27.95), and the Eye Enhancer ($27.95). Across the board, they're each hero products — and they're unbelievably affordable.
• I try lots of skin-care products for my job at Insider Picks, and Maelove is the startup I am most excited about.
• Try the line here. The company also has a 100 day, 100% money-back guarantee. 

It doesn't take long in a Sephora to realize that luxury skin care is not affordable. Tubs of La Mer go for $325, and there's an $80 Peter Thomas Roth mask with pure 24-karat gold inside of it. 

But, if you know where to look, you can get luxury skin-care products made in the same premium cosmetics labs for a fraction of the cost. 

Take Maelove, for instance. The company was founded by MIT grads (skin-care obsessives, brain and cancer researchers, and chemical engineers) to democratize high-end skin care. Formulas are based more firmly in exhaustive research than the farm-to-face movement, and each product in the line is listed under $30.

It's remarkably cheap.

If I could only buy skin care from one line for the rest of my life, this is the one that I would pick. The products work well, they're not expensive, and the startup hasn't been wrong yet. Like the loophole of buying Differin gel rather than Differin cream to save $200, Maelove is one way to save hundreds on the essentials without making any concessions when it comes to what goes into the products themselves. 

How Maelove made good skin care cheap:

Longtime skin-care obsessive Jackie Kim wanted to make skin care more accessible, and co-founders and friends Brad and Rishi were looking for ways to apply artificial intelligence techniques to unexpected industries. Skin care — with its glamour, subterfuge, and markups — seemed like a natural fit.

The team recruited friends from all disciplines — cancer and brain researchers, chemical engineers, lawyers, and medical doctors — to hone in on the research without the baggage of preconceived notions.

They leveraged artificial-intelligence techniques to scan millions of self-reported product reviews to determine which ingredients correlated with success, and which to avoid. From there, Kim applied a similar approach to securing a partnership with one of the world's best cosmetics labs by cold-calling hundreds of people who worked at luxury brands she admired, following up with the tiny percentage that responded, and eventually getting enough insight from a handful of respondents to make real inroads.

By selling online in a no-frills, direct-to-consumer marketplace and using primarily word-of-mouth press, the company keeps costs low without cutting corners on the product. 

What to buy:

The Glow Maker ($28)is a vitamin c serum that brightens your complexion, evens tone, and lightens dark spots. It's lightweight and sinks in quickly and completely without leaving any tacky residue. And while vitamin c serums can be drying, Maelove's iteration has a botanical blend and hyaluronic acid (which can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water) to prevent it.

Consumers have been quick to note the Glow Maker has a very similar ingredient list to the multi-award-winning C E Ferulic Serum ($166), despite being more than $130 cheaper. You can find a full review here, including a side-by-side breakdown of the ingredient lists. 

The One Cream ($27.95)is an everyday moisturizer that will deeply hydrate without clogging pores. It's good for all skin types, and it goes on lightweight and absorbs quickly and completely. When I'm not testing another cream, this is the one I prefer — there's never any irritation to my sensitive skin, and it deals with dry patches well. You can find a full review here.

The Eye Enhancer ($27.95)hydrates, tightens, and brightens the delicate skin around your eyes. A little goes a long way, and it absorbs into the skin for an all-day brightness and de-puffing boost. Cold-pressed Robusta Coffee seed extract, which is full of antioxidants and polypehnols, reduces water retention and puffiness, and a botanical complex soothes the thin, sensitive skin around your eyes.

The Day Eraser ($18.95)is a thicker, more oily cousin to a great micellar water. Maelove went through over 90 product iterations before landing on this one. It's a two-in-one makeup remover and face cleanser that respects the skin's natural moisture barrier and doesn't leave it feeling stripped or dry. It can remove waterproof makeup and still leave skin feeling smooth and hydrated. Unlike most oil cleansers, it shouldn't leave a film behind or clog up pores. Personally, I use it as a makeup remover and a pre-cleanser before applying my face wash. It's gentle, silky, and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin.

And while I haven't personally tried theNight Renewer ($27.95), it has nearly 400 reviews and a five-star composite rating. After years of research, the company was able to make a Glycolic Acid cream that was safe and effective for sensitive skin. It improves skin texture, fades dark spots, and diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores. This formula also has 10% medical-grade AHA, a blend of soothing ingredients, and Hyaluronic Acid for hydration.

The bottom line:

This radically affordable luxury skin-care line is the real deal. Maelove makes both some of the best and the cheapest skin-care products that I've found. And while I don't often get to stick to my own skin-care routine as a product reviewer, I've surprised myself by preferring to use the cheaper Maelove products over luxury skin care I often test for work. 

I recommend Maelove to everyone who asks me for recommendations for a new everyday go-to product because it works for all skin types and doesn't cost much, but skin care is also a notoriously subjective experience. What works for me may not work for you — even a skin care line built to cater to every skin type. Luckily, Maelove has a 100-day, 100% money-back guarantee, so you're not risking much if you want to give it a try yourself.  

Shop Maelove here

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• Some high-end hotels are making a move towards "lean luxury" with smaller room sizes and fewer amenities, Quartzy reported.
• While the change is driven in part by cost-consciousness, another factor propelling the change is Instagram: Simple designs photograph well.
• The trend is complemented by other luxury hotels — such as the $1 billion Burj Al Arab in Dubai— that are still offering expansive rooms and lavish amenities to their wealthy guests.

There's a new look among some luxury hotels, and it's a whole lot smaller — and barer — than it used to be.

It's part of a move towards "lean luxury," Quartzy's Rosie Spinks wrote, and while the pared-down room sizes and simplified amenities are cost-conscious decisions, there's also another factor at play in the change.

"By cutting back on both the size of the rooms ... and some of the more costly amenities of a traditional luxury hotel, hospitality companies can offer better locations, a design-led sensibility with higher quality materials, and an altogether elevated experience — for a pretty damn reasonable price," Spinks reported. "They also tend to look way better on Instagram."

Read more: Luxury hotels around the world have private rooms that are so elite they're not even listed online — and some are available only via email booking

The goal with lean luxury hotels, Spinks continued, is to be "far more functional and user-experience-oriented than a standard grand hotel room."

Instagram is changing the look of luxury

The effect Instagram is having on luxury hotels isn't all that surprising when you consider the way it's changed the way people, many of them millennials, travel at large. As Robb Report previously reported, people are planning trips around the world specifically for Instagram photos; similarly, some previously under-the-radar destinations — like the now-famous blue city in Morocco— are suddenly seeing upticks in tourism because they are so Instagram-friendly.

Spinks writes that "clean lines, minimal fussiness, and functional design lead the ethos" when it comes to the look of lean luxury hotels. Much like the NYC penthouse that was designed specifically as a backdrop for Instagram influencers, hotels are being designed with photography at top of mind.

And in an era where Instagram exposure can bring in enough traction that a luxe hotel in Switzerland was able to entirely eliminate its marketing budget, it's a logical point for hotels to turn their focus towards.

One such hotel featuring pared-down room aesthetics is Arlo Hotel, a microhotel in SoHo, NYC. Business Insider's Katie Warren visited the hotel in 2018 and found that the careful design of the 150-square-foot rooms kept them from feeling cramped.

"The rooms were definitely small, but for someone who doesn't plan to spend much time in their hotel room and isn't traveling with multiple large pieces of luggage, I think it would be a fun and memorable place to stay," she wrote. Despite its diminutive room sizes, though, the hotel is still on the expensive side: Room rates start around $330, compared to the NYC average of $216.

The other end of the luxury hotel spectrum

That's not to say that over-the-top amenities are disappearing from hotels at large. Lean luxury hotels aren't necessarily replacing the traditional luxury hotel — instead, they're opening up a new type of aesthetic on the other end of the spectrum.

Some hotels are pivoting towards customized amenities that personalize a guest's stay, primarily in the form of hotel staff remembering guests' food, drink, and product preferences, and delivering those upon the guest's arrival.

Read more: I stayed at 'the most luxurious hotel in the world,' and the most luxurious thing about it leaves the walls of gold and 'pillow menu' in the dust

Others are still leaning into the traditional vision of luxury and all its over-the-top trappings. In December, Business Insider's Harrison Jacobs visited the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, a $1 billion hotel that's been described as the best hotel in the world and "the world's first seven-star hotel." Every room in the hotel, he wrote, is a duplex suite that comes with a butler, an extensive mini bar, fresh fruit upon arrival, and a luxe mattress that can cost up to $15,000.

"I've stayed at many five-star hotels at this point," Jacobs wrote. "The Burj is undoubtedly a class above them all."

SEE ALSO: I stayed at New York’s most iconic luxury hotel that charges up to $50,000 a night and was once owned by Donald Trump

NOW READ: These are the most extravagant hotel amenities money can buy

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• It might taste delicious, but eating raw cookie dough really can make you sick.
• In 2009, Nestlé had to recall 3.6 million packages of its refrigerated cookie dough after nearly 80 people got food poisoning from E. coli lurking in the raw flour.
• Raw eggs can be contaminated with salmonella, which cause 79,000 foodborne illnesses and 30 deaths in the US every year, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
• If you can't go on without eating cookie dough, try some alternatives like edible dough and dessert hummus. 

Following is a transcript of the video:

Licking the spoon is the best part of baking cookies. But it's a bad idea. Because eating raw cookie dough really can make you sick, and not just because it contains raw eggs.

In 2009, over 77 people across 30 states got food poisoning after eating prepackaged raw cookie dough. Many experienced vomiting and bloody diarrhea, and some had severe kidney damage. In the end, Nestlé had to recall 3.6 million packages of its refrigerated cookie dough. And in 2016, another group got sick after eating raw homemade cookie dough made from General Mills products.

But despite what you'd expect, the culprit wasn't salmonella in the eggs. It was a shiga toxin-producing E. coli in the flour, the same type that sometimes finds its way into romaine lettuce and hamburger meat. In fact, the CDC estimates it's responsible for 265,000 illnesses, 3,600 hospitalizations, and 30 deaths in the United States every year.

Now, normally E. coli likes to bunker down in moist places. That's why scientists were surprised when it turned up in flour. And even today, it's a mystery as to how the E. coli got there in the first place, or how it survived in the flour's dry environment. The problem is that the bacteria could have infiltrated the flour during any step of the manufacturing process. It might have snuck onto the wheat from animal poop, or jumped to the flour from a contaminated processing equipment. There's really no way to know for sure. Now, just to be clear, although flour was the culprit in this case, raw eggs can still be just as dangerous. In fact, the FDA estimates that every year contaminated eggs cause 79,000 food-borne illnesses and 30 deaths in the United States. With that in mind, the CDC warns against eating any raw cookie dough.

But, there's good news. Although, yes, there's a risk your cookie dough is contaminated, it's a pretty minimal one. Many bakers, for example, taste test all the time, no worse for wear. Plus, a study found that over half of college students ate unbaked cookie dough, and they lived to tell the tale.

Even better, the risk is lower today than ever before, at least when it comes to store-bought varieties. Because, after the 2009 outbreak, companies like Nestlé and Pillsbury have started including heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs in their dough. By heating flour to 71 degrees Celsius, you kill off any E. coli. And the pasteurization process heats eggs just enough to kill off bacteria without cooking the egg. Heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs also explain why the sort of cookie dough you find in ice cream is harmless. But if you insist on making your chocolate chip cookies from scratch, there's a DIY way to sterilize your own ingredients: bake the cookie! It'll still taste good.

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• T3's Whirl Trio ($250) is like a "Transformer" curling iron. It comes with a base and three interchangeable wands for everything from big bombshell waves to tighter curls.
• It's a favorite of celebrity stylists and an Allure Best of Beauty Award winner every year from 2015-2017.
• If you use hot tools often, and you don't just stick to one style, the T3 Whirl Trio could help you save money and space. 
• If you'll only use one barrel size, you can get the base for $80 and your preferred barrel size instead of the set.
• T3 also makes a hot tool that makes your hair look like a salon blowout without the blow dryer. Find my review with pictures here.

As I've shouted into the void of the internet may times before, I was not born with the kind of smooth, air-dry-perfect hair that doesn't require hot tools.

This means that a generous portion of my shoe-box NYC room is dedicated to a basket of hot tools — some for curling, some for straightening, and one that mimics a salon blowout without the finesse (and double-jointed arms) needed to wield a blow dryer and round brush at the same time. 

But, in an effort to pare down the cords and junkyard products, I decided to try the celebrity favorite and three-time Allure Best of Beauty winner: the T3 Whirl Trio. 

If you're unfamiliar, the T3 Whirl is kind of like the "Transformer" of curling irons. You get one universal base, and you can twist and lock different size curling barrels — from tight curls to big bombshell waves — onto it to cater to whatever look you're going for. It saves on the storage space of tons of different clunky metal tools in your room or gym bag, and you'll likely save some money buying it as a system rather than separate tools. 

T3 technically makes seven barrel options, but most people opt for the T3 Whirl Trio ($250, Sephora). It comes with the universal base and three interchangeable barrels (one-inch Straight Barrel, 1.25-inch to .75-inch Tapered Barrel, 1.5-inch Straight Barrel) alongside a heat protecting glove and a storage tote.

In person, it's much smaller than you'd expect. I'm used to hot tools taking up as much space as my forearm, but the T3 Whirl Trio appendages are much more manageable. Plus, the length is a bit more hospitable to the organizational containers you're already likely to have on hand.

As always with beauty products, the functionality is key and the (very pretty) appearance is a bonus. 

Using the T3 Whirl Trio was exceptionally easy. Each barrel locks on and pops off with a simple twist and pull, and the tools themselves heat up quickly (within a minute). T3's signature Tourmaline SinglePass radial technology means there's always even and consistent heat, and that makes the process more efficient — meaning fewer damaging second passes on sections. The T3 Tourmaline and ceramic seal the cuticle to produce that salon-level shine, and five heat settings adjust for any hair type or condition. There's also a two-year warranty.

You can find a video of T3's lead stylist walking you through how to use the device here, though it'll probably be intuitive if you've used hot tools before. Separate your hair into smaller and more manageable chunks, wrap a section around the hot tool (preferably using the included protective glove) and move on to the next section. 

My only warning is to make sure the hot tools are cooled before trying to remove them from the base. 

For about as much storage space as a shoe box, you'll be able to meet pretty much any hairstyle need you want. But if you're not sure you need all three, or you can't imagine dropping $250 on hot tools — no matter how convenient — you can get the base for $80 and your preferred barrel size. 

Allin all, they're all solid hot tools— like all the T3 products I've tried — and they take up minimal space hidden underneath the sink. The option to hold onto one universal base for multiple curling irons helped me cut down on storage space, save a little money on multiple tools, and each gave me more shine and less damage than a slew of alternatives. If you're looking for a versatile curling iron, and you like T3, you're probably going to like this set. 

Shop the T3 Whirl Trio Interchangeable Styling Wand Set, from $250, on Sephora, Ulta, and Anthropologie

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• Contacting a third-party seller on Amazon is relatively easy once you know where to go.
• Prime-eligible items will be redirected to Amazon's customer service.
• Here's what you need to know to get in touch with a seller on Amazon.

You place an order on Amazon through a third-party seller and then something happens.

Maybe you realize you ordered the wrong size dog sweater, or maybe you just realized that it doesn't have the right kind of closure and you're hoping they might be able to do a custom version that works better for your pup. (Hey, no judgement.)

Or maybe you have an issue that's somehow completely unrelated to a dog. That's fine, too.

In situations like these, it's best to contact the seller.

How to contact a third-party seller on Amazon

If your item was eligible for Amazon Prime, Amazon customer service will handle any issues. Otherwise, here's a full rundown of how to get in touch:

1. Log into your account.

2. Click on "orders," located in the top right corner of the screen.

3. Find the order you want to contact the seller about and copy the product name or ASIN/ISBN. You'll need it later.

4. Under the name of the item, you'll see "sold by X." Click on the hyperlinked name of the seller. From this section, you can also check out the vendor's return and refund policies.

5. Click the yellow "ask a question" box on the upper right side of the screen. This will launch a new window.

6. You'll then be prompted to fill out two drop-downs:

• • I need assistance with — either an order you placed or an item for sale. When you select "an order I placed," your most recent order will appear on the screen but you can also select a different one by clicking, "choose a different order." From here, you can track your package, return the items or continue with the seller contact process. (Please note that this will change your options for the following drop-down, so it's important to fill these out in order.)
  • Select a subject for your issue. These include options like, "Where's my stuff?" "Cancel order," "Received wrong item," and  "Other question," among others.

7. Click "Write message."

8. Write your message in the above box (this should include the product name or ASIN/ISBN). As Amazon notes: "For your security, please do not include links, email address, credit card numbers, or other personal information in your message. We may automatically remove this information from your message."

9. Click "Send email."

When you communicate this way, your email address is replaced by an auto-generated one provided by Amazon, similar to the way that Craigslist protects its users email addresses.

Amazon asks customers to give the seller two business days to reply, but says that most reply sooner than that. If you ever need to reference your communiques with the seller later on, you can do that by going to your account (under "Accounts and Lists") and clicking on the "Message Center" option. This is also where you'd be able to reply.

An alternate method

If the third-party seller also does their own shipping, there's another method you can use to contact them:

1. Log into your account.
2. Click on "orders," located in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Find your order and click "get help with order."

After you've provided all of the necessary information, Amazon will process your issue and, if necessary, help you contact the seller.

• Read more:

• The best ways to contact Amazon for help when you have a problem with your account

• How to start selling items on Amazon — a step-by-step guide

• How you can use PayPal on Amazon, despite it not being directly accepted

SEE ALSO: How to sign out of Amazon from various devices

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NOW WATCH: We compared the $1,200 MacBook Air with the $500 Surface Go, and the results were a mess

• Instagram users are saying they're suddenly losing massive amounts of followers.
• The major loss of followers has reportedly affected popular accounts of celebrities including Kylie Jenner, Selena Gomez, Cristiano Ronaldo, and the YouTuber James Charles.
• Instagram said in a statement posted to Twitter that it is "aware" of a bug causing such issues and is working to fix the problem "as quickly as possible."
• Some speculated the drop in follower counts was caused by the photo-sharing platform's efforts to curb "inauthentic activity," including the use of third-party apps to amass fake followers.

A bug is causing some Instagram users to see their follower counts drop by thousands, and for some, even by millions.

Instagram users started to notice the major changes to their accounts' follower counts on Tuesday night. Instagram responded in a statement, posted to Twitter, saying it is "aware of an issue" and is trying to solve the problem "as quickly as possible."

Prominent users such as the YouTuber James Charles and the actor Don Benjamin wrote on Twitter late Tuesday night that they had seen their follower counts drop by hundreds of thousands. The Instagram-tracking page on DownDetector, a website that monitors website issues, has been flooded with comments from Instagram users reporting drastic drops in followers.

The social-media consultant Matt Navarra has been keeping track of the "popular accounts" affected. He made a list including some users who have apparently lost more than a million followers, including Kylie Jenner, Cristiano Ronaldo, Justin Bieber, and Selena Gomez.

Many speculated the sudden follower drops were because of Instagram's crackdown on "inauthentic behavior" across the platform. The company said back in November it would be taking steps to target accounts using third-party apps and bots to boost their popularity through fake likes and followers.

Read more: Instagram will soon start cracking down on accounts that use third-party apps to dole out fake likes and followers

Meanwhile, Instagram has denied any sort of "follower purge" taking place and has blamed the sudden change in followers on a bug.

SEE ALSO: Someone created a $57 button that silently lets your partner know you want sex, and the internet is stunned

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NOW WATCH: We compared the $1,200 MacBook Air with the $500 Surface Go, and the results were a mess

• In March I left New York to travel around the world as Business Insider's international correspondent. Over the course of more than six months, I have so far visited 18 countries.
• While I've had some epic adventures, not everything lived up to the hype. Some bucket-list attractions were overpriced, uninspiring, overcrowded, or just plain boring.
• Among the offending attractions: the "most dangerous hike in the world" in China, the Marina Bay Sands mega-hotel featured in "Crazy Rich Asians," and the Greek isle of Mykonos.
• I thought it might be helpful to share which of my recent adventures weren't worth the trouble.
• If you're looking for the things you should do, I have a list of those too.

Let's be honest, some things simply don't live up to the hype.

There's a temptation when going on a big trip abroad to come back singing the praises of everything you did and saw, whether it's a mediocre, all-inclusive island resort or an adrenaline-pumping off-road trip through the desert.

But that muddies the waters. Sometimes, you get to a place, attraction, or activity only to find it overpriced, uninspiring, overcrowded, or just plain boring. If you don't call that out, how do you know some experience you've had really was life-altering?

When I left to travel as Business Insider's international correspondent in March, I knew there would be amazing adventures along the way. I also knew there would be more than a few duds. Among them: the "most dangerous hike in the world" in China, the Marina Bay Sands mega-hotel featured in "Crazy Rich Asians," and the Greek isle of Mykonos.

With 18 countries and nearly a year checked off on the trip so far, I decided it was time to pinpoint my least favorite adventures. Perhaps it'll help you reevaluate an upcoming trip, adjust your expectations for a bucket-list location, or feel less pressure to go see or do that thing that everyone is telling you that you must do.

Here's what they are:

SEE ALSO: From off-roading in China to 22 hours of sunlight in Moscow: the one thing you have to do in 12 countries around the world

In China, I headed to Mount Hua, or Huashan, considered to be one of China's five sacred mountains and one of the most popular tourist attractions and pilgrimage sites for Chinese people. The mountain actually has five main peaks: a North, South, East, West, and Center.

While breathtaking, it's considered to be one of the world's most dangerous places to hike, due in large part to the infamous plank walk located on the mountain's highest peak, South, which has a height of 7,070 feet.

Unfortunately, I never got to the plank walk. The easiest way to get to the mountain's peaks is by cable car. The line was incredibly long. You can't even see the cable car in this picture.

TheInsider Picksteam writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best bargains for you to shop in one convenient place. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out our coupons page.

1. Save up to 30% on sale styles at The North Face

The North Face rarely holds sales, but right now you can save up to 30% on past-season sale styles. Even if you don't need any particular items for the rest of winter, this sale is still worth checking out. You'll likely find plenty of great items to hold on to for next winter, and some (like rain jackets) that'll work just fine for spring. For more deals and coupons for The North Face, check out our coupons page here. 

Shop The North Face's winter sale now. 

2. Buy one, get one free plus an extra 15% off at EyeBuyDirect

Direct-to-consumer eyewear company EyeBuyDirect makes buying prescription glasses online easy and affordable with frames priced as low as $6. This Valentine's Day, the brand is running a buy one, get one free promotion that makes the deals even better. By using the promo code "BOGO" at checkout, you can get your second pair of glasses for free, plus an extra 15% off. Whether you're getting two pairs for yourself or one for you and the other for a loved one, you'll be catching a great deal.

Shop the EyeBuyDirect sale now.

3. Save 10% on Casper Mattresses

As the most popular mattress startup in existence, Casper doesn't need constant promotions to entice buyers; its comfort is all it takes. But this Presidents' Day, the brand is having a sale with 10% off any order including a mattress. Now through February 18, use the promo code "PRES" at checkout to take advantage of the offer. The sale includes the entry-level Essential mattress, the award-winning Casper mattress, and the high-end Wave mattress. 

Shop the Casper sale now.

4. Save up to 60% on Tissot watches at Nordstrom Rack

While Nordstrom Rack always has great deals on apparel, the clearance site also has a plethora of accessories. Right now, Nordstrom Rack is having a flash event on Tissot watches for men and women where you'll find a variety of  timepieces marked down up to 60% off. The sale ends tomorrow, so you'll want to start shopping right now before the best styles sell out (which they're prone to do quickly on Nordstrom Rack). 

Shop the Nordstrom Rack sale now.

5. Save 25% sitewide at TRX Suspension Training

Going to the gym for a workout isn't always possible. Whether you're trying to save money on a gym membership or you're strapped for time during the day, TRX systems can be the solution to having effective training sessions at home or on the go. Now through February 19, you can save 25% sitewide, plus get free shipping. With everything from pull up and dip trainers to kettlebells and apparel, you'll find something for all of your workout needs.

Shop the TRX sale now. 

6. Save $100 on the Arlo Pro 2 HD Security Camera at Best Buy

When trying to protect your home from theft, there's no need to settle for grainy surveillance footage. The Arlo Pro 2 provides full HD 1080p video quality over an easy-to-set-up wireless network. With Alexa integration and a weather-resistant design, you'll be able to use it indoors and outdoors. Today only, you save $100 on the device as a Best Buy deal of the day. For more deals and coupons on Best Buy, check out our coupons page.

Arlo Pro 2 HD Security Camera, $199.99 (Originally $299.99) [You save $100]

7. Save 25% on Valentine's Day flowers at The Bouqs Co.

Valentine's Day is tomorrow, which means today is your last chance to pick out flowers outside of a gas station or convenience store. With a selection of flowers and guaranteed delivery for Valentine's Day, The Bouqs Co. is your best shot at impressing that special someone. Right now, you can also save 25% by using the promo code "VDAY25" at checkout.

Shop The Bouqs Co.'s Valentine's Day sale now.

8. Save up to 75% on home goods at Wayfair

This Presidents' Day, Wayfair is having a huge blowout sale on all its home goods. Now until February 19, you can save up to 75% on thousands of items including mattresses, furniture, lighting, rugs, wall art, kitchen appliances, bathroom fixtures, and much more. Whether you're renovating your entire house or you need something as small as new clothing hangers, you'll find it on sale here.

Shop the Wayfair Presidents' Day sale now. 

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