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

• Bluemercury's M-61 Hydraboost Eye Serum ($72) is the only eye serum I've tried so far that noticeably reduces the appearance of fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles. 
• Its powerful mix of ingredients, which include vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, licorice root extract, and peptides, deliver results in a small package. 
• To find more of our favorite eye serums and creams, check out these guides: The best eye creams you can buy and the best retinol eye cream you can buy.  

Until I met the Hydraboost Eye Serum from Bluemercury's in-house brand, M-61, I had yet to find a product that improved the fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles under my eyes. 

The biggest problem I've encountered with many under-eye products is that if they solved one problem (puffiness, for instance), they faltered in solving the others (fine lines and dark circles) at the same time. 

The M-61 Hydraboost Eye Serum is the first I've tried that targets all three simultaneously and effectively.

If eyes are the window to the soul, then my soul was tired and defeated before using this eye serum. If I don't get enough sleep, I cry, or I'm stressed, the first dead giveaway are my swollen eyes or dark circles. I also smile and laugh easily, so I've always had lines by my eyes (though at least that means you can tell I'm dishing out genuine smiles). 

A few small taps of the M-61's light and bouncy Hydraboost Eye Serum improves the look and feeling of these afflictions, and a tiny pump of the product is really all you need. A combination of key ingredients gives the serum its high-value effectiveness: vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, licorice root extract, and power peptides. 

Both Vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid promote the skin's natural repair process and help fill in those lines around your eyes. Hyaluronic acid is used in one of my favorite skin-care products, Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Gel Cream, which hydrates my skin while making it feel more plump and supple. The same effect applies with this eye serum — the area under my eyes feels tighter, more bouncy, and less dry. 

The licorice root extract diminishes the appearance of dark circles and makes your eyes look brighter, while a trio of peptides (aka the basis of proteins like keratin and collagen) further reduce the appearance of fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness. 

Throw in some aloe vera and the medicinal herb centella asiatica and you have a skin-care product that's as soothing as it is effective. 

Typically with eye products, I'm unsure if they actually worked. Is it just a trick of the light or is my mind just convincing myself that there's a difference? For me, the Hydraboost Eye Serum provided the most clear evidence any eye serum ever has. My lines weren't as pronounced, the puffiness went down, and I looked more alert in the absence of shadows under my eyes. 

Though $70 can seem like a lot to pay for a tiny 0.5 oz. bottle, it's actually on par with brands like Dr. Dennis Gross, Tatcha, and Drunk Elephant. It's certainly more affordable than the $100-$200 bottles from prestige brands, and it works so well that I see no reason to pay more. 

Shop the M-61 Hydraboost Eye Serum for $72 at Bluemercury here

You can also find it at Macy's and Amazon

Join the conversation about this story »

• Ryan Chong, a watch specialist at Christie's Auction House, says there are three main questions you should ask when you're looking to buy a vintage watch.
• The most important question is what kind of condition the watch is in, which includes whether it has all of its original parts as well as its box and paperwork.
• You should also ask to see the service history to see if any original parts have been changed.
• And finally, Chong says, you should ask yourself if you really love the watch, or if you just want to buy it in hopes of making money off it later.

The prestigious Christie's Auction House is known for curating some of the world's finest art, jewels, wines and spirits, and of course, watches. 

I recently visited Christie's at Rockefeller Center in New York City and met one of the auction house's watch specialists, Ryan Chong.

Christie's watches department comprises a global team of 30 people with auction sites in Dubai, Geneva, Hong Kong, and New York. The team sells about $100 million worth of watches each year from luxury brands that include Patek Philippe, Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, Omega, and Audemars Piguet, Chong said. 

The auction house's specialty, though, is vintage watches. 

"Our bread and butter at Christie's, as an auction house, are vintage watches," Chong said at a press event at Christie's. "Those brands, the top three are Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Audemars Piguet."

Anything over 20 years old is considered a vintage watch, he said.

Read more: The top 10 most expensive watches sold by Christie's in 2018, ranked

If you're in the market for a vintage watch, the first thing you should do is find a dealer or a store that has a good reputation, Chong says. Many dealers specialize in a certain brand.

"Work with a specialist, someone who knows vintage watches and what to look for," he said. "Because otherwise, it's a little bit like the Wild West."

Once you have your eye on a particular vintage watch, there are three main questions you should ask before you buy it, Chong told me. 

1. What kind of condition is it in?

"Vintage watches, the main thing with those to look for when purchasing, is condition," Chong said. "Condition trumps everything. That would mean unpolished, all original, with box and papers if possible."

That means the watch should ideally come with its original box and paperwork, which could include the manual, warranty information, and any certificates of authenticity. 

Having those is important "because it helps to back up where [the watch] comes from — where it was born, you could say," Chong said.

2. Is there a service history?

If there's a service history, you'll definitely want to see that, Chong said.

"You want to see if anything has ever been changed in terms of parts, if movement work has been done," Chong said. "Because as I mentioned, the biggest factor in value of vintage watches is condition, and that mostly applies to originality. So if the case is unpolished, if the hands are original, if the dial's been refinished, that could all affect the value."

3. And finally, do you really like it?

Vintage watches can be great investment pieces.

But Chong says you should always buy what you like instead of buying solely for investment purposes.

"Because if you buy for investment purposes and it goes down and you don't like it, then you're stuck with an asset that's decreased in value and that you don't like," Chong told me. "So you've got to make sure you love it."

Buyers are willing to drop some major cash on watches they love at Christie's.

In 2018, the 10 most expensive watches sold at the auction house ranged in price from $566,000 to $3.2 million. The year's most expensive sale was an 18K gold Patek Philippe chronograph watch, signed by Philippe and featuring a perpetual calendar and moon phases, which went for $3,234,905.

SEE ALSO: From a $100 Swatch to a $20,000 Rolex, these are the watches worn by the most powerful people in business and finance

DON'T MISS: There are 3 staples every wine cellar should have, according to an expert at Christie's

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Scientists completed one of the most detailed explorations inside the Great Blue Hole. Here's what they found at the bottom of the giant, mysterious sinkhole.

• UpTop, a New York startup, just unveiled its housing-rental service.
• Renters can use UpTop's service to view listings, apply for apartments, and pay rent.
• Landlords can use UpTop to manage their properties and do background checks on prospective tenants.
• The company just announced that it had raised $5.5 million in seed funding to expand its service.

Landlords and tenants are often at odds, but the creators of UpTop think they've come up with a rental-market service that both groups will love.

Using the New York startup's app, renters can search for apartments, schedule times to view them, apply to rent them, sign leases, and even pay their rent. Landlords can list their properties in UpTop's marketplace and use its property-management service for free.

"It's not just a listing site. It's not just property-management software," Jonathan Foux, UpTop's chief marketing officer, told Business Insider, adding, "We combined it all into one."

CEO Frank Barletta got the idea for UpTop from his experience as a renter, Foux said. In one eight-year period, Barletta moved 10 times and was repeatedly frustrated with the rental experience, he said.

UpTop plans to make money in part by charging a convenience fee when people pay their rent through its service. Depending on what the landlord decides, sometimes renters will pay the fee, and sometimes the landlord will. It also plans to charge landlords for background checks on prospective tenants, something it will offer as an optional service.

The company has only about 1,000 listings so far, but that's because it just started publicizing its service, Foux said. Founded about three years ago, UpTop was until recently testing its offerings in Ithaca, New York.

It plans to soon offer its service in a lot more places. The company announced last week that it had raised $5.5 million in seed funding from KAL Investments. It's used that money to expand its team to 16 people, building out its product and business development teams, Foux said.

Read this:Here's the pitch deck a Virginia startup used to raise $6 million after seven years of bootstrapping its business

Though UpTop is based in Manhattan and is born out of Barletta's experiences in the rental market there, he and his team think the business has much wider appeal.

"This is not just a New York problem," Foux said, adding that it's a countrywide issue, "maybe an international one as well."

Here's the pitch deck UpTop used to raise its seed round:

SEE ALSO: Here's the pitch deck AI startup Skymind just used to scoop up $11.5 million in funding

• Taco Bell is testing a vegetarian menu in its locations in the Dallas, Texas, area. 
• The menu includes two new items: the Vegetarian Crunchwrap Supreme and the Vegetarian Quesarito. 
• "Our goal is to find ways to incorporate more plant-forward options in the future without sacrificing the big, bold flavors and value," Missy Schaaphok, manager of global nutrition and sustainability at Taco Bell, told Business Insider.

Taco Bell is testing a vegetarian menu in its Dallas, Texas, locations. 

The menu will feature two new items — the Vegetarian Crunchwrap Supreme and the Vegetarian Quesarito, both of which are packed with black beans — and the 7-Layer Burrito. Each of the new menu items is American Vegetarian Association-certified. 

Taco Bell has long been known as a vegetarian- and vegan-friendly fast-food chain. According to the chain, its menu already includes 38 vegetarian ingredients, resulting in more than eight million possible combinations. 

But by dedicating a menu entirely to vegetarian items, Taco Bell is putting its meat-free options front and center. 

"Our goal is to find ways to incorporate more plant-forward options in the future without sacrificing the big, bold flavors and value," Missy Schaaphok, manager of global nutrition and sustainability at Taco Bell, told Business Insider. "Our new in-store vegetarian menu being tested in Dallas reflects the same uniquely Taco Bell standards our existing customers know and love, while appealing to other consumers looking to try new food items that appeal to their dietary lifestyle."

Taco Bell sells 350 million vegetarian items a year, Schaaphok said, and about 9% of all items ordered at Taco Bell are either vegetarian or made vegetarian by some type of substitution or removal. 

Taco Bell isn't the first chain to appeal to specific diets with a dedicated menu. In January, Chipotle rolled out new menu items aimed at paleo, Whole30, and keto dieters.

See Taco Bell's new vegetarian menu: 

SEE ALSO: These are the restaurant chains that Gen Z eats at most, according to a survey of more than 1,800 young Americans

The $3.70 Vegetarian Crunchwrap Supreme is a twist on the classic Taco Bell menu item with black beans.

The $3.05 Vegetarian Quesarito also relies on black beans, plus cheese and sauce.

The Vegetarian 7-Layer Burrito costs $3.22.

• Costco has a wide selection of wines under its private Kirkland label.
• Business Insider's retail desk recently did a wine tasting with several Kirkland wines.
• Given that the Costco store in Oceanside, Long Island, didn't have every single Kirkland variety in stock, our tasting wasn't exhaustive.
• Our favorite white wine from Costco at this particular tasting was the Marlborough sauvignon blanc.

Costco's Kirkland label boasts a wide range of wine. And Business Insider's retail section recently sampled a bunch of them during a wine tasting.

I was only able to find seven different bottles in the Costco in Oceanside, Long Island, so it was by no means an exhaustive review of Kirkland varieties. But we did seem to have a clear winner when it came to the four white wines — the Kirkland versions of prosecco, pinot grigio, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc — available.

The Marlborough sauvignon blanc was our favorite pick, and it's a steal at $6.99. Our bottle was of a 2018 vintage. The Kirkland wine is produced through a partnership between Costco and winemaker Tracy Haslam of New Zealand's Ti Point winery. 

Read more: We taste-tested 7 of Costco's Kirkland wines and were blown away by their price and quality. Here's how they ranked from worst to best.

All in all, we weren't just wowed by the low price — this Kirkland boasted a bolder, more even flavor than the competition.

Our tasters described the wine as "spicy," herbaceous," "acidic," and "clean," with undertones of "tart orange," "apple," and "grilled fruit." The Kirkland chardonnay and pinot grigio that we tried had been criticized as being "too sweet," so the tart acidity was a nice surprise.

Everyone who attended the tasting said they'd drink the wine again — except one more lukewarm individual who responded "maybe" to that question — and all of our tasters agreed that it was well worth $6.99.

Do you like Costco wines and have a story to share? Email acain@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: We taste-tested 7 of Costco's Kirkland wines and found this one offered the biggest bang for your buck

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The 3 best holiday gifts for a wine lover — according to a top sommelier

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

• It's likely that I've tried more at-home workout tools than the average person as a result of my job at Insider Picks.
• Below, I rounded up my all-time favorites, plus a bit about why I like them. If you're concerned about versatility, storage space, and convenience, then they may be a fit for you too. 
• Picks include a wide range of gear, from adjustable dumbbells to ankle weights.

For better or worse, I hate being idle. If I’m watching TV, sitting at my office desk, or on the phone catching up with my mom, I’d prefer to be moving. Call it internalized Midwestern sensibility, but repose always feels like a missed opportunity to me.

This, plus my job as a member of the Insider Picks team, has made me the unwitting tester of more at-home exercise gear than any one New Yorker has any right in owning. In all my time researching, testing, and deliberating what gets to stay in my shoe-box apartment, I've also become a much more discerning shopper. 

Below, I've rounded up the eight at-home workout tools I personally believe are most worth the money, and which I use frequently. However, as with any workout, the key to finding the right at-home gear is figuring out what your own needs are, and which recurring roadblocks to staying active you can address with products. For me, my main priorities are storage space, convenience, and the versatility to go from light and mindless workouts that complement a Netflix marathon to very challenging ones.

In general, the simplest tools are the ones that reliably work the best — and they're the ones you'll find yourself picking up most often, which may amount to more effectiveness than what gives you the biggest bang for your buck. There are a few hidden treasures on the internet, camouflaged by cheesy photos of what look like standout gimmicks — but, by and large, the classics are what will age the best.

Below, I'll walk you through my personal favorite at-home products, plus why I like them — and why you may too.

These are the home workout tools I personally love most, and why:

The TRX system

TRX All-In-One Suspension Training System, $149.95

If I could only buy one home gym system, it would be the TRX. It's a portable, highly-effective (not to mention storage- and travel-friendly) workout that was built by a former Navy SEAL as a way to stay in peak physical condition whilst traveling without access to designer gyms. The TRX system turns your body into your own ideal workout tool, and it's now used widely by supermodels, pro athletes, Ivy League college sports teams, and the US army.

You can find more details in a personal review here, but the idea is simple: leverage your body’s weight and a full range of motion to increase its overall flexibility and strength. All you need is a door jam, tree, wall stud, or the rafters in a garage and you can begin using it.

Plus, similar to rolling around in a pool, your range of motion is more fluid and complete, so you can build lean muscle while simultaneously gaining flexibility and mobility — like you would be able to do with yoga and pilates exercises, just a bit more drastically.

There’s also an app to help you find new and challenging workouts (free for 14 days, $4.99 per month or $39.99 for a year after).

Read more

A great jump rope

Rx Jump Rope, $47

Budget option: Survival and Cross Jump Rope, $10

It can be difficult to find room to jump rope in an NYC apartment (there was enough trouble finding room for a nightstand), but I try to use a jump rope as often as possible for a fun, effective workout.

Just jumping rope is one of the best cardio exercises, if not the best, that anyone can do. It torches calories quickly, works your entire body, and a widely-cited study found that 10 minutes of jumping rope is as effective as a 30-minute jog. The Rx Jump Rope ($45) with its multi-directional swivel has been recommended by celebrity trainers, but you could just get this $10 version with over 4,000 five-star reviews.

Read more:

Adjustable dumbbells

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells, $299

They may seem ridiculously expensive, but Bowflex Dumbbells are worth the hype for their versatility and efficacy. It's basically 15 sets of weights combined into one adjustable set, minimizing your costs and storage space considerably.

Each dumbbell can adjust from five to 52.5 pounds (going up in 2.5-pound increments up to the first 25 pounds) with the turn of a dial.

You can find much cheaper dumbbells, but you'll probably need to commit to either one stagnant weight (which may not translate to as many workouts, or which you may outgrow) or buy multiples and deal with the storage.

Read more:

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

• With so many deals on new arrivals and plenty of clearance sales on past-season styles, the beginning of spring is a great time to save on clothes, shoes, tech, and home goods.
• We rounded up more than 20 of the spring sales to shop online below.
• To potentially save more at retailers across the web, you can visit Business Insider Coupons to find up-to-date promo codes for a range of online stores.

Spring is officially here and warmer weather is finally starting to roll into the forecast. And with the shift of seasons comes the transition from cold-weather wardrobe and home essentials to warm-weather favorites. 

You'll find plenty of clearance sales on past-season items happening now, but new arrivals usually mean paying full price. With some searching, though, you can find retailers with impressive spring sales (like the ones we rounded up below). 

Whether you're looking to save on new spring clothing, past-season styles to hold on to for later this year, home goods and organizational tools for spring cleaning, or your just can't pass up a generally great deal when it's presented, you'll want to check out these sales. In addition to clothes and home goods, you'll also find great deals on other items like watches, glasses, mattresses, appliances, tech, and more.

Here are the best spring sales to shop now:

Banana Republic:

• Save 40% off on regular priced items with the promo code "STYLE" at checkout. Shop bananarepublic.gap.com.

Bear Mattress:

• Save $100 on orders of $500 with the promo code "SPRING100" and $200 on orders of $1,200 or more with promo code "SPRING200" at checkout. Shop bearmattress.com.

Best Buy:

• Until April 17, save up to 35% on top appliances. Find additional deals on TVs, computers, and other tech items. Shop bestbuy.com.

The Container Store:

• Save 25% on kitchen and pantry essentials. Shop containerstore.com.

Bonobos:

• Save 20% on new arrivals and sale items using the promo code "ECLIPSE20" at checkout. Shop bonobos.com.

Dockers:

• Save 30% when you spend $75 or more, save 40% when you spend $125 or more with the promo code "THATEASY" at checkout. Shop dockers.com.

East Dane:

• Save up to 70% on sale items. Shop eastdane.com.

EyeBuyDirect:

• Save up to 50% om on prescription glasses. Shop eyebuydirect.com.

Fossil:

• Save up to 40% on watches and accessories. Shop fossil.com.

Gap:

• Save 40% off on regular priced items with the promo code "STYLE" at checkout. Shopgap.com.

GlassesUSA.com:

• Buy one pair of prescription glasses or sunglasses, get one free and save 20% on all contact lenses with code "CONTACTS20" at checkout. Shop glassesusa.com.

Indochino:

• Save up to 60% sitewide. Shop indochino.com.

J.Crew: 

• Save 50% on three styles, 40% on two styles, and 30% on one style using the promo code "SPRING" at checkout. Shop jcrew.com.

Jomashop: 

• Save up to 75% on designer watches. Shop jomashop.com.

L.L.Bean:

• Until April 5, save 25% sitewide using the promo code "BONUS25" at checkout. Shop llbean.com.

Lands' End:

• Save 25% on full-price styles using the promo code "LILY" at checkout. Shop landsend.com.

Leesa Mattress:

• Save 10% on all mattresses and receive a free memory foam pillow. Shop leesa.com.

Mackage:

• Save up to 30% on winter sale styles. Shop mackage.com.

Original Penguin:

• Save 25% sitewide. Shop originalpenguin.com.

Ralph Lauren:

• Save up to 30% on sale styles. Shop ralphlauren.com.

REI:

• Save up to 40% on sale items. Shop rei.com.

Shopbop:

• Save up to 70% off on sale styles. Shop shopbop.com.

Target:

• Save up to 25% patio furniture. Shop target.com.

Tommy John

• Save up to 40% on select items. Shop tommyjohn.com.

TRX:

• Save up to $30 on all suspension trainers. Shop trxtraining.com.

Wayfair:

• Save up to 70% on home goods and decor. Shop wayfair.com.

Join the conversation about this story »

• You can sync your iPhone and iPad with iCloud and a feature called Continuity, which can keep your apps like Messages and Photos synced across iOS devices. 
• By adding the same Gmail, Yahoo, Microsoft Exchange, or IMAP email accounts to both devices, your email will stay in sync as well.
• You can use any productivity suite with cloud storage — like iWork, Google Docs, and Microsoft Office — to keep all of your documents in sync between iPad and iPhone, too.

If you own more than one iOS device — such as an iPhone and an iPad— It doesn't take long to recognize the value in having access to all the same information on all of your devices. Whether you currently have your iPhone or iPad in your hands, for example, it's convenient to have the same email, photos, text messages, and more across devices.

The bad news is that there's no single switch you can throw that keeps your iOS devices perfectly in sync all the time. But the good news is that you can keep a lot of your iOS information in sync between your devices using iCloud and an iOS feature called Continuity.

In fact, because documents and data stay in sync more or less continuously and immediately, you can even start working on something on one device and continue it on the other.

How to keep email in sync between your iPhone and iPad

You can read and respond to the same email messages on your iPad and iPhone, by using iCloud, Exchange, IMAP, or a web-based email account like Gmail. The vast majority of all email accounts fall into these categories, so don't worry too much about not having the right setup.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app.

2. Tap "Passwords and Accounts," and then tap "Add Account."

3. Add an email account and make sure it's properly configured with your username and password.

4. After it's configured, add the same account on your other device.

Yes, you do need to add the accounts manually, but once configured, these accounts will always stay perfectly in sync between the two devices. Note that this won't work for a POP account, though, because in a POP account, all messages are stored locally and iOS can't keep the two devices in sync.

How to keep photos in sync between your iPhone and iPad

If you back up your photos to iCloud, any photo you take on your iPhone will automatically appear on your iPad's Camera Roll (and vice-versa).

1. Open Settings on your iPad.

2. Tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen.

3. Tap "iCloud" and then tap "Photos."

4. On the Photos page, turn on iCloud Photos.

5. Repeat these steps on your iPhone.

After these steps, when you take a picture with the camera on one device, it's immediately uploaded to iCloud and then downloaded to the camera roll on your other device. Beware: deleting the image on either device deletes it on both.

How to keep text messages in sync between your iPhone and iPad

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.

2. Tap "Messages," and then tap "Text Message Forwarding."

3. Find your iPad in the list of devices (it is probably the only one) and turn it on.

4. A verification code might appear on your iPad. If so, enter the number you see on the iPhone.

Now, all of your text messages will remain in sync between the two devices.

How to keep your clipboard in sync to copy and paste between your iPhone and iPad

If you've ever wished you could copy text that appears on your iPad and paste it into an app on your iPhone, wish no longer — now both of your devices can share a common clipboard for seamless copy and pasting.

To enable this feature, you only need to turn on a feature called Handoff. To do that, start with your iPhone and open Settings. Choose "General." Then tap "Handoff" and turn it on. Repeat that on your iPad. After Handoff is turned on, you can copy text on one device and it's immediately available to be pasted on the other device.

How to sync documents between your iPhone and iPad

If you turn on Handoff and let your apps use iCloud, your iPhone and iPad will behave as if they are in sync in many ways. You can also keep documents — like text docs and spreadsheets in sync as well.

If you use Apple's iWork suite (which includes Pages, Numbers, and Keynote), any documents you create are automatically saved to iCloud. That means you can access these docs on both your iPhone and iPad, regardless of which device you created or edited it on.

If you prefer, you can use Google Docs or Microsoft Office. Both of these suites save files to the cloud (Google saves to Google Drive, and Office saves to OneDrive). That means all these files are always "in sync" between your iOS devices.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to backup your iPhone to iCloud or a computer

• How to backup your iPad to iCloud or a computer

• How to hide apps on your iPhone's home screen and search function

• How you can easily delete all the photos on your iPhone at once

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Google unveil Stadia, its new video-game platform that streams across devices without a console

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

• A digital luggage scale is a must for any traveler, particularly those who check baggage or tend to overpack.
• Between its tare function, highly accurate sensors, and an affordable price tag, the Etekcity Digital Hanging Luggage Scale stands out among the rest.

A luggage scale is a handy item to bring along on your travels, especially if you tend to overpack or you're facing restrictive airline policies. As many travelers find, a few extra items here and there can add up quickly. This is especially true if you can't return from a trip without getting souvenirs for your loved ones at home.

Most digital luggage scales provide fast and accurate readings, and they're generally compact and portable enough to slip into a piece of carry-on luggage. In most cases, all you need is a battery or two for operation.

Most luggage scales fall within the range of $9 to $20. Many travelers agree that's a small price to pay, especially when you could end up paying up to $50 or more if your bag is deemed overweight by an airline. There isn't a lot of variation when it comes to the best luggage scales, but subtle differences can help steer you in the direction of one particular scale.

For example, some scales automatically shut off to conserve battery life. A handful of scales are equipped with a low battery indicator. If you know you overpack, you may want to consider a scale with an overweight warning, which is typically generated in the form of an audible beep.

The majority of digital luggage scales have a weight limit of 110 pounds or 50 kilograms. Most also provide readings in both pounds and kilograms, which particularly comes in handy for international travel. Another factor to consider is the overall comfort and strength of the handle. Heavier bags tend to be tougher to lift and can strain both the handle and hook of the scale, especially if you often pack your bags to the brim.

Here are the best luggage scales of 2019:

• Best luggage scale overall: Etekcity Digital Hanging Luggage Scale
• Best multifunction luggage scale: Urbo 3-in-1 Luggage Scale with Built-In Powerbank
• Best luggage scale for overpackers: Travel Smart by Conair Compact Digital Luggage Scale
• Best battery-free luggage scale: Ellessi Luggage Scale
• Best luggage scale for frequent flyers: Tarriss Jetsetter Digital Luggage Scale

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

The best luggage scale overall

Why you’ll love it: The Etekcity Digital Hanging Luggage Scale has a high-accuracy sensor and is FDA-approved for peace of mind.

Generally speaking, most luggage scales will set you back anywhere from $9 to $20. The Etekcity Digital Hanging Luggage Scale falls near the lower end. While it's certainly affordable, this luggage scale stands out the most for its dependable readings and durable construction.

Highly accurate sensors display precise weights in pounds and kilograms. If you need to convert one form of measurement to the other, simply press the "unit" button to get instant temperature readings. This luggage scale has a capacity of up to 110 pounds or 50 kilograms.

Travelers particularly like the tare feature, which allows you to measure objects individually without including the weight of the bag — handy if you're unsure if a heavy object would set your bag over the weight limit. One Amazon reviewer questioned whether the affordable price tag meant less accurate readings, but concluded that the device "does work simply and correctly, and the airline weights for my luggage were within 1 pound of what this little scale said."

One feature you won't find on every luggage scale, especially in this price range, is the ability to read temperatures, available in Fahrenheit or Celsius. The climate sensor keeps track of the surrounding temperature, which is useful if you have delicate or temperature-sensitive items in your suitcase.

Other travelers found the feature helpful when measuring the temperature elsewhere, such as in hotel rooms or waiting outside for a ride. You can check the temperature right on the display screen.

This luggage scale requires one CR2032 coin-sized battery to operate. A low-battery indicator lets you know ahead of time so you're not surprised by a non-functioning scale. In order to preserve battery life, the luggage scale automatically shuts off after 2 minutes of inactivity. Travelers also appreciate the scale's compact and lightweight design.

One user wrote, "As someone who camps a bit (where weight is everything) and who travels a lot (also where weight is everything), it is nice to be able to take a scale along that doesn't really weigh much itself so I can check on my baggage status with confidence." Other travel-friendly features include durable rubber paint and a secure handle.

Pros: Accurate sensors, low-battery indicator, required battery included

Cons: Small handle can make it tricky to balance larger bags for accurate readings, battery life could be better, display difficult to read in sunlight

Buy the Etekcity Digital Hanging Luggage Scale on Amazon for $11.99

The best multifunction luggage scale

Why you’ll love it: The Urbo 3-in-1 Luggage Scale with Built-In Powerbank is like packing three travel-friendly tools in one.

When preparing for travel, it's always best to pack smartly. Sure, a luggage scale is handy, but what if said luggage scale could also double as a portable battery and a flashlight? That's the thinking behind the Urbo 3-in-1 Luggage Scale with Built-In Powerbank.

As a digital luggage scale, the gadget has a maximum weight capacity of 110 pounds or 50 kilograms. It also has an overweight warning, tare, hold, power saver, and low-battery alert functions. The non-slip grip allows for comfortable weighing. A small display indicates weight in either metric or imperial.

While most luggage scales are either left at home before a trip or in the luggage at the hotel, the Urbo 3-in-1 Luggage Scale with Built-In Powerbank is meant to tag along with you. Stuff it inside a backpack or purse, and you'll have a 6,000mAh battery for recharging phones (at least twice), tablets, ebooks, cameras, etc. And for safety, the scale has a built-in 60-lumen LED flashlight for navigating in dark environments. The strap, used for weighing luggage, can be removed.

Because there is a battery, the Urbo 3-in-1 Luggage Scale with Built-In Powerbank is heavier than other luggage scales. Despite the high price, it offers a lot of value — you're getting three products, after all. Good Housekeeping UK said it is "worth investing in" and it loves "its innovative design." The publication noted that it's great for campers, too, but it didn't like its accuracy with heavier luggage.

On Amazon's customer reviews, 84% gave it 5 stars, with an overall average of 4.5 stars. Most customers applaud the product, although some reportedly received defective units.

Pros: Built-in rechargeable battery and flashlight, comfortable grip

Cons: Big and heavy

Buy the Urbo 3-in-1 Luggage Scale with Built-In Powerbank on Amazon for $24.99

The best luggage scale for overpackers

Why you’ll love it: Every bit of weight counts when you're traveling, which is where the Travel Smart by Conair Compact Digital Luggage Scale's audible alert really comes in handy.

This compact digital travel luggage scale is an easy choice if you suffer from a severe case of overpacking. If your bag exceeds the weight limit, it will beep to warn you.

Unlike many other luggage scales, which generally hold up to 110 pounds, this scale has an 80-pound capacity. Of course, if you exceed the general weight limit for most airlines (50 pounds), it won't really matter. There is a digital display that shows weight in either pound or kilogram, and the blue color helps it stand out from the rest.

The simplicity in its operation makes it foolproof. Amazon reviewers found the scale to be small and lightweight. However, while most customers found it to be accurate, a couple didn't. One reviewer recommended adding 1-to-2 pounds as a buffer.

Another Amazon reviewer said the Travel Smart by Conair Compact Digital Luggage Scale was not only useful for international flights but a necessity. "Inter-continent flights have different luggage limits and this allowed us to accurately know what we had and shift things around as needed. Bonus - being able to switch to kilogram right on the scale rather than trying to convert to US pounds in our heads."

The Travel Smart by Conair Compact Digital Luggage Scale is made out of plastic, like most luggage scales. One Amazon customer said the scale felt like it's melting after some use. Overall, 65% of buyers gave it 5 stars, for an average of 4.4 stars. A big complaint is pricing, so if you don't need audible alerts, there are more affordable options.

Pros: Audible overweight alert, pound/kilogram conversion

Cons: Smaller weight capacity, a bit pricey

Buy the Travel Smart by Conair Compact Digital Luggage Scale on Amazon for $19.97

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

• We named Tommy John as the best overall underwear in our men's underwear and women's underwear buying guides.
• For the first time, ever the underwear company is having a spring sale. Right now, you save up to 40% on select items including underwear, undershirts, socks, and activewear.
• To help you shop quickly, we rounded up 12 of the best items on sale at Tommy John.

Founded with the goal of bringing undergarments up to par for modern times, Tommy John has an innovative approach to designing wardrobe essentials like underwear, undershirts, socks, and activewear. Every design is breathable, easy to care for, long-lasting, and extremely comfortable.

Named the best overall in our men's underwear buying guide and women's underwear buying guide,Tommy John has been a huge hit among Insider Picks' reporters, editors, and many of our readers.

While the brand hardly ever has any type of discount or sale, Tommy John is having its first-ever spring sale. For a limited time, you can save up to 40% on select items for men and women. We've found great value in Tommy John at full price, and the reduced prices just sweetened the deal.

As fans of Tommy John, several members of the Insider Picks teams have already begun shopping the sale — and the items are selling out quickly. So, to help you beat most other shoppers to the deals, we rounded up 12 of best styles on sale.

Shop the Tommy John spring sale now.

Check out some of the best products on sale, below: 

Men's Cool Cotton Armory Boxer Brief

Tommy John Cool Cotton Armory Boxer Brief, $19.99 (Originally $31) [You save $11.01]

Women's Cool Cotton Brief

Tommy John Cool Cotton Brief, $14.99 (Originally $22) [You save $7.01]

Men's Cool Cotton Brief 1.0

Tommy John Cool Cotton Brief 1.0, $19.99 (Originally $27) [You save $7.01]

• Facebook Live lets you livestream video using your phone's camera or computer's webcam. To go live on Facebook, just begin to create a new post and tap "Live" or "Live Video."
• You can livestream at any time as long as you have a cellular connection or a WiFi or hardwired connection, and you'll get better video quality with the latter two. 
• You can control who can watch your Facebook Live video, and whether to publish it to your Facebook page after recording is completed.

Facebook Live lets you livestream video anytime and almost anywhere – from home, at work, on vacation, or while walking down the street.

It's a way to talk directly to your friends, or to show something on Facebook in "real time" as it's happening.

You can go live on Facebook from a mobile device or computer. While WiFi or a hardwired connection is recommended for the best video quality, it isn't absolutely needed; you can go "Live" on your phone with just a cellular connection.

How to go live on Facebook from your phone

1. In the new post field, tap "Live" (it's next to a red camera icon). If you prefer, you can tap on "What's on your mind" and then tap "Live Video."

2. If this is your first time, Facebook may ask for permission to use your camera's camera and microphone. If so, grant permission.

3. Select who should be your audience. Tap the downward arrow to the right of "To:" and choose who can see your video – it can be everyone (Public), just your friends, specific groups you belong to, and more. Then tap the X to close this window. (If you want to test Facebook Live without letting anyone see you, you can choose "Only me.")

4. Enter a short description for your video.

5. When you are ready, tap "Start Live Video."

6. After a moment, you should see a red indicator in the corner of the screen labeled "Live," along with indications of anyone who is watching your video.

7. You can use the tools at the bottom of the screen while you are broadcasting. You can add filters to the video, flip to the front-facing camera and back again, and more. If you need additional light, the lightning bolt will brighten the screen, which will reflect off your face for a brighter video. You can also type comments while you broadcast as well.

8. When you are done, tap "Finish."

After broadcasting, you can tap "Share" to post it to your Facebook page, where it will appear with all of your other content. Anyone with permission to view it can watch the complete video. If you don't want to post it, tap "Delete" instead.

How to go live on Facebook from your computer

You can go live from a PC or a Mac as well – as long as you have a webcam connected to your desktop computer or laptop.

1. Go to Facebook in your web browser.

2. In the Create Post section at the top of the screen, click the button with the three dots. Your posting options should enlarge.

3. Click "Live Video."

4. If this is the first time you've tried going live from your computer, you may need to give Facebook permission to use your camera and microphone. Grant permission as needed.

5. You should now see yourself in a video window. On the right, enter a description of your video event, and choose your audience (such as Public, Friends, or a group you belong to).

6. When you're ready, click "Go Live."

7. When your video is done, click "End Live Video."

8. The video will automatically be added to your timeline when you click "Done." If you don't want to publish it, click "Delete Video" instead.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to post a GIF on Facebook as a comment or status

• How to unfriend and unfollow people on Facebook

• How to block and unblock someone on Facebook

• How to change your name on Facebook

SEE ALSO: How to contact Facebook for problems with your account and other issues

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Google unveil Stadia, its new video-game platform that streams across devices without a console

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

• Manduka's GRP Yoga Mat ($98) is built to withstand heavy sweating so you can go to hot yoga without a towel. It took the veteran yoga company three years to create. 
• I am an admittedly sweaty person, and my eternal complaint is that I slip around yoga mats and/or trip over bunched-up towels. 
• I tried the Manduka GRP for a month to see how well it worked. While I'd hold off on calling it perfect, it is by far the best mat that I've found for sweaty yogis.
• I gave away my other mats. To me, this one is definitely worth the $98 investment. 
• Find more options in Insider Picks' buying guide to the best yoga mat you can buy. 

I can't tell you how many times I've left a yoga class — or, hey, even been in the middle of one — when someone has asked me if I am okay. The instructor, the girl to my left, the guy to my right, bystanders cleaning the studio windows. And I don't blame them.

My natural pallor converts to tomato red once we start pulsing, and the nonstop rolls of sweat — in my eyes, dripping into my mat, making it impossible to get a purchase on my own body — concern anyone who's had EMT training or watched a "Grey's Anatomy" episode once on an airplane to worry.

But, fear not, everyone, for I am fine. I may not be having as much fun as you — because I'm too busy digging my taut, exhausted heels into the mat to avoid hydroplaning off of it and into you — but I'll finish this 75-minute hot yoga class without a problem.

Despite the fact that my yoga practice often includes such uncomfortable compromises in the fine print, I loved the rest of it too much to stop going. So, for years, I put up with the slippery mats; stuffy, too-short towels; and butchering certain moves because my tendons were on fire from clinging to a now glass-like surface like Alex Honnold ascending a New Jersey skyscraper. 

Meet the Manduka GRP Mat ($98)

So, you can imagine my excitement — only overshadowed by skepticism — when I heard that Manduka, the company consistently responsible for the industry's best-performing yoga tools, had spent the last three years engineering a yoga mat that could withstand hot yoga without a towel: the GRP Mat.

"Bring the heat. Lose the towel. No matter how much you sweat, the Manduka GRP delivers supreme traction with no slip" the site reads.

The GRP (short for Grip Ride and Performance) is supposedly the ultimate hot yoga mat — and which should also work seamlessly in every other yoga environment.

It retails for $98, and it has some upgrades that make it Manduka's most innovative one to date: The top layer is leather-like for no-slip traction, the rubber core is charcoal-infused to absorb sweat and mitigate odor, and 100% open airflow filters moisture immediately to reduce sweat and bacteria buildup. According to the company, it should get grippier with sweat — an industry paradox — because unlike other closed-cell yoga mats (which is the standard), the GRP is made from open-celled polyurethane, which lets the mat breathe — taking in moisture, and letting it evaporate. 

My experience using the GRP yoga mat

A few things immediately surprised me about the GRP: how thick it is (6mm thick, 5 lbs heavy), and how truly different the top layer feels — very much so like a leather, and unlike the suppleness of a rubber mat. GRP feels more substantial.

Upon unrolling it, I noticed it also had a pretty unpleasant smell. Though, if it worked well, this was nothing that I couldn't forgive, or fix with a deep clean.

In my hot yoga class, there were a few standout moments. One is that when you slap the mat on the floor there is a ring of finality to it — once it lays flat with a "smack" it's not moving. Even in all the classes I've taken to it since that first test, it has never slipped or moved during a class. 

Most importantly, though, the GRP Mat does a fantastic job of absorbing sweat. It's the only yoga mat I've comfortably used without a towel in a hot yoga class, and I was happy enough to toss my other mats in favor of this one. To me, there's no question that it's worth the $98.

It took far longer for me to even see the sweat on my mat (maybe 50-60 minutes into a hot yoga session), and even then it was far more manageable. It was refreshing to be able to attend hot yoga and be completely present — listening to the instructor, challenging myself in my poses, and enjoying transitions rather than slipping around. Over the month and many classes I tested it in, there were points when I started to lose a little traction, but I didn't experience it in most classes — far from the norm.

One thing I'd like to point out is that since it sucks up all the sweat from your body, you should be cleaning the GRP, just like any other mat. Manduka recommends the Everyday Yoga Mat Cleanser ($14) for regular maintenance and, for a deep clean, the Deep Cleaner ($18) every two-four months. Thankfully, an initial cleanse did help me get rid of the smell. 

Sustainability

According to Manduka, the GRP's core and bottom layer are made with sustainably harvested natural tree rubber and manufactured in a sustainable factory in Spain to ensure no toxic emissions are released into the atmosphere. Manduka's ability to keep prices low even with an integration of sustainable materials is one reason we picked their ProLite Yoga Mat as the best overall in our Insider Picks buying guide for yoga mats in January 2019.

Overall

The Manduka GRP isn't perfect, but it is far and away the best yoga mat I've used as a sweaty yogi.

I can get through hot yoga class without a towel, and that's something I've never been able to say before. The secondary concerns like the smell of the mat upon arrival certainly aren't deal breakers for someone who loves yoga but hates how sweat changes their practice. If you like having a light, thin yoga mat — and you're fine with just a mat and a towel in your practice — then you may opt for another mat. But, for me, the GRP has been an exciting discovery. 

All in all, it's a great use of $98, and I'm glad Manduka spent three years creating it. If you're considering the GRP, I'd recommend giving it a shot.

Buy the Manduka GRP Yoga Mat, $98

Join the conversation about this story »

• You can deactivate your Facebook account as an alternative to deleting it; unlike deleting, deactivating your profile will hide it from others but still allow you to come back.
• You can still use Messenger while your account is inactive, but your profile will not show up in searches and will no longer be linked on other people's profiles.
• Facebook will archive your information, and you can easily recover it by logging back in whenever you feel like reactivating the account.

Some want to keep a clean record for future employers while others are merely following their therapist's orders. In any case, there are plenty of reasons to take a break from Facebook.

Before you do something you might regret, though, remember there is a way to deactivate your account without deleting it for good.

Instead of heading straight for the "delete account" page, consider a more temporary alternative. Merely deactivating your Facebook is far less of a commitment than impulsively deleting your account, and losing all your photos, friends, and other virtual memories permanently.

When you deactivate your account, your timeline, pictures, and personal information will be hidden from the public, tucked away safely in Facebook's archive until you feel like returning (if you feel like returning, that is).

Some information — such as private messages and things you've posted on other people's walls — will remain visible. In fact, people with deactivated accounts can still chat on Messenger, according to Facebook. However, your account will not appear in searches and friends will not be able to view your profile while it's inactive.

When you're ready to return, reactivating your account is about as simple as deactivating it. Your profile will be entirely restored upon logging back into Facebook or using your account information to log into another site.

How to deactivate and reactivate your Facebook account

1. Find and click on the upside-down triangle in the top right corner of any Facebook page.

2. Select "Settings" from the drop-down menu.

3. On the "General" page, click on "Manage Account."

4. You'll see a few options under this selection but go ahead and skip to the bottom where it says "Deactivate your account."

5. Once you click "Deactivate your account," Facebook will ask that you enter your password. Once entered, Facebook will prompt you to give a reason for leaving before you confirm the temporary deactivation. Remember, you can come back whenever you choose.

6. If you want to restore your account, simply log back into Facebook or use your Facebook account to log into a third-party app. Facebook will send you a verification code to confirm that it’s really you, so be sure that the email address or mobile number listed on your account is up to date.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to delete your Facebook account on a desktop browser or mobile app

• How to block and unblock someone on Facebook

• How to change your name on Facebook

• How to change your Facebook password to help keep your account secure

SEE ALSO: How to go live on Facebook from your phone or computer

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We tried Louis Vuitton's wireless earbuds to find out if they're worth the $995

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

• Joy, a Walmart-exclusive shaving brand by Gillette, is bringing quality products to and a dose of irreverence to the shaving aisle.
• Joy offers a simple set of women's shaving necessities: the Razor ($9), Glee Shave Mousse ($7), Glee Shave Gel($7), and refill cartridges ($9-$6). 
• We incorporated the products into our own routines and were impressed by their quality, particularly the extra-sharp blades. We also enjoyed the brand's messaging; namely its self-awareness in recognizing that shaving can be annoying, but good razors make it less so.

I've embraced many aspects of my personal care routine to the point where they're almost ritualized. My post-shower time is when I lather on a really hydrating moisturizer, wrap up in a cozy robe, and read a new book. I've found there's no better occasion to throw on a face mask than during a Netflix marathon, and I genuinely like setting aside some extra time in the morning to do a personalized skincare routine.

These personal care practices are more than just for hygiene. Most of us spend so much time of our day putting energy into work, school, other projects, and other people, that it's really nice to slow down and have a moment to actually check in with ourselves. And for that, these health and beauty practices are rituals I am actually excited about.

But the one personal care practice I wouldn't miss? Shaving.

Shaving kind of sucks, and I'm sure many other women would agree. At best, shaving is annoying. At worst, it's actually kind of dangerous — who ever thought trying to go at your legs with a sharp razor while also balancing on a slippery shower floor was a good idea? 

For most girls, we're taught from a young age that our body hair is something we should be ashamed of. At the first sight of leg fuzz, we freeze with embarrassment and beg our parents to let us shave it all off. When I finally got my hands on a razor come my early teenage years, I realized how frustrating the whole shaving thing was. But, I did and still do like having smooth legs, so I've continued do it. Like vacuuming, it's more of a chore than anything else.

Joy, Walmart's new and exclusive women's shaving brand from Gillette, seems to get that. The brand is making affordable but high quality razors, shaving gels and shaving creams, without the excessive "pink tax" or overzealous messaging we've become accustomed to. 

In the wake of direct-to-consumer shaving startups like Flamingo and Billie, Joy is the latest player that's getting real about women's body hair — and making the products we actually want to use to deal with it (if we choose to do anything at all). 

Where many women's shaving brands want to convince you that shaving is an experience you should savor, Joy knows shaving is not anyone's favorite pastime. Instead, Joy gets real, discussing shaving in a way that's frank and irreverent — probably similar to how you would talk about shaving with your friends. Joy's tagline begins, "This razor won't change the world. But it will change your body hair situation."

But of course, messaging is just a small part of what makes a brand worth looking into. To succeed, its product has to be really good too. And, while Joy does boast the cute and colorful packaging I've trained myself to walk right past in the shaving aisle, Joy's products are actually good quality at a good pricepoint. 

As a shaving line, the most important product is probably the razor, which comes in a light pink or teal . Joy's version has five sharp Gillette blades and a Lubrastrip, which work together to give you a clean shave sans irritation. The non-slip grip handle makes it easy to hold, so you don't have to worry about dropping your razor. I was impressed at the close shave, which I credit to the extra sharp blades — my colleague Mara Leighton agreed.

For $8.97 you get the razor handle and two blade refills. A set of four refill blades costs $8.97, while a set of eight refill blades costs even less per blade at $15.97. 

The shaving cream options are the Glee Mousse, a rich consistency in a Summer Lily scent, or the Glee Gel, a lighter, but still thick lather with a fresh Cucumber Aloe fragrance. I've been using the Glee Gel and it definitely is an upgrade from my usual smattering of body lotion, conditioner, or whatever other shower gel I have laying around. At $6.94 for two bottles, these won't set you back much.

Looking at the costs across all of the rest of the shaving products at Walmart, Joy is pretty reasonably priced. And, if you're looking for affordable personal care products anyways, why not go for the ones that look good in your shower if they're at no extra cost to you?

Joy is right — this razor won't change the world, but it will give you a great shave and maybe make you laugh when you read the packaging, which is probably more than you could ever ask for from a razor. 

Shop Joy shaving products at Walmart

Join the conversation about this story »

• A 33-year-old Qantas Airways passenger died under mysterious circumstances on a flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne, Australia, that landed on Sunday, News.com.au reported.
• Friends of Aleisha Tracy said they did not know the cause of her death and were not aware of any medical conditions, according to The Daily Mail.
• Qantas told The Daily Mail that two doctors and members of its cabin crew attempted to save Tracy during the flight, but the airline did not provide additional information about the incident to The Daily Mail, aside from describing it as "tragic."
• A Qantas representative told Business Insider that a passenger received medical attention from two doctors on a flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne and was met by medical personnel after the flight landed, but the representative did not specify if the passenger died.

A 33-year-old Qantas Airways passenger died under mysterious circumstances on a flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne, Australia, that landed on Sunday, News.com.au reported. An autopsy is reportedly scheduled for Tuesday.

Friends of Aleisha Tracy said they did not know the cause of her death and were not aware of any medical conditions, according to The Daily Mail. 

Read more: An Amazon Air plane crashed in February, killing all 3 people on board. Weeks earlier, several pilots said they thought an accident was inevitable.

Tracy died early on during the 16-hour flight, according to The Daily Mail report. Qantas told the publication two doctors and members of its cabin crew attempted to save Tracy during the flight, but the airline did not provide additional information about the incident to The Daily Mail, aside from describing it as "tragic."

A Qantas representative told Business Insider that a passenger received medical attention from two doctors on a flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne and was met by medical personnel after the flight landed, but the representative did not specify if the passenger died.

SEE ALSO: An American cruise-ship passenger reportedly faces up to 10 years in prison in the Cayman Islands after a gun and ammunition were found in her luggage

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch how old tires are retreaded so they can be used again

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

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 Business Insider Coupons.

1. Save $50 when you buy two Google Chromecast 4K Streamers at Best Buy

The Google Chromecast allows you to stream apps like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Pandora, and HBO NOW in crisp 4K Ultra HD quality. With smart-device mirroring and Google Assistant built in, you can easily control what's being played on your Chromecast. As a Best Buy deal of the day, you can save $50 when you buy two. For more deals and promotions at Best Buy, visit Business Insider Coupons here. 

Google Chromecast Ultra HD 4K Streamer Two Pack, $89.98 (Originally $139.98) [You save $50] 

2. Save up to 55% on Madewell clothing at Nordstrom Rack

J.Crew's sister company Madewell is known for having premium women's wardrobe staples at affordable prices. Now, a two-day flash sale at Nordstrom Rack is is giving you even more of a reason to shop its beloved basics. Until April 6, you save up to 55% on Madewell apparel automatically at checkout. The sale includes button-up shirts, jeans, sweaters, dresses, and more. For additional deals and savings at Nordstrom Rack, visit Business Insider Coupons here. 

Shop the Madewell sale at Nordstrom Rack now. 

3. Get $50 off tires at Discount Tire Direct's eBay store

Even though new tires can be very expensive, it's imperative to keep a good set on your car. Discount Tire Direct usually has lower prices than traditional retailers — and you can save even more by shopping on its eBay store. Now through April 11, you can get save $50 on tire orders of $400 or more by using the coupon code "PUMPEDUP" at checkout. Unlike most eBay coupons, which are valid for one-time use, this deal is available for use twice. Whether you have two cars that need tires or a family member wants to use the deal as well, you'll be able to place two separate orders. For more deals and savings on eBay, visit Business Insider Coupons here. 

Shop Discount Tire Direct on eBay now.

4. Save 10% when you buy two or more items at Maelove

Developed by MIT scientists, Maelove is a new but wildly popular skin-care startup. After selling out multiple times, the brand's cult-favorite vitamin C serum is back in stock along with a new line of products including Argan oil, marula oil, face cleanser, and night cream. Right now, you can save 10% when you buy two or more items by using the promo code "TEN" at checkout. You'll want to shop now, as many people are ordering and several products are already sold out following the restock. To learn more about Maelove's skin-care line, read reporter Mara Leighton's review here.

Shop the Maelove sale now.

5. Save up to 75% on designer watches at Jomashop

If the high retail prices of watches found at jewelry stores have kept you from buying your dream watch, Jomashop is where you'll want to shop. The site has a variety of watches from top brands like Hamilton, Omega, Breitling Seiko, Tag Heuer, and more — all at heavily reduced prices. As part of the brand's current spring sale, you can save up 75% on watches. And to make those deals even better, you can get free one-day shipping with the promo code "FASTSHIP" at checkout. 

Shop the Jomashop sale now. 

6. Save up to 50% thousands of brand name shoes at Zappos

With a massive inventory of shoes, Zappos is a great place to find your next pair of sneakers, dress shoes, heels, sandals, or any other style you can think of. Right now, the on-sale shoe section features more than 22,000 items from all of your favorite brands marked down up to 50% off. Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance, Vans, Crocs, UGG, and ASICS are just some of the brands you'll find. For more deals and savings at Zappos, visit Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Zappos sale section now.

7. Save $30 on all suspension trainers at TRX

Since going to the gym every day isn't always possible, TRX systems are designed to help you get in an effective workout from anywhere. TRX suspension trainers allow you to use your own body weight in strength training and fat-burning exercises. During the current TRX sale, you can save $30 on all suspension trainers, plus get free shipping on all orders.

Shop the TRX Suspension sale now. 

8. Save up to 20% on mattresses and bedding at Leesa

On average, humans spend one-third of their lives sleeping, so it's important to make your bed as comfortable as possible. Luckily, Leesa, the company behind the best mattress we've reviewed, is having a huge sale where the more you spend, the more you save. For a limited time, you can save 10% on orders of $500 or more, 15% on orders of $1,000 or more, and 20% on orders of $2,000 or more. In addition to mattresses, the brand also sells bed frames and foundations, sheets, and pillows. Whether you only need a mattress or an entire bed setup, you'll be able to save on it at Leesa.

Shop the Leesa buy more save more sale now. 

Join the conversation about this story »

Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express both offer free access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges whenever flying with the airline.
• Both are considered premium cards, but other than Sky Club access, they have differing perks, benefits, and rewards.
• The Platinum Card is likely the best for most people, but hardcore Delta loyalists might find enough value in the Delta Reserve to make that card worth getting.
• LIMITED TIME: Until April 3, the Delta Reserve is offering 75,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) when you open a new card and spend $5,000 in the first three months. Apply here »

The American Express Platinum Card and the Delta Reserve Credit Card (also from AmEx) have a lot in common. They both have high annual fees putting them squarely in the "premium" card space, they both get you access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges when you fly Delta, and they're both issued by American Express.

The fact that both get you access to Delta Sky Clubs means that people often look at the two cards as relatively interchangeable. However, the two cards are actually pretty different. Here's what to consider when deciding between the two.

Both cards have generous welcome offers

The Platinum Card has a standard welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on the card in your first three months.

The Delta Reserve normally offers around 40,000 Delta SkyMiles when you meet a minimum spend requirement. However, Delta is currently running a promotion across its three main credit cards. Until April 3, you can get 75,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) when you open a Delta Reserve and spend $5,000 in three months. At the absolute lowest redemption value, 75,000 SkyMiles are still worth $750 — and you can likely stretch them for a much better value.

The Platinum card actually beats the Reserve for earning points on Delta flights

The Platinum Card earns a whopping 5x points on flights purchased directly from an airline, or from AmEx Travel services. It earns 1x points on everything else.

AmEx Membership Rewards points can be transferred to a handful of airline frequent flyer partners, including Delta.

That means that the Platinum Card actually beats the Delta Reserve for earning on Delta flights — the Reserve only offers 2x points per dollar spent on Delta, and 1x point on everything else. There are a few different ways to use those points, but the best option is often to transfer them to one of around 20 frequent flyer and hotel loyalty partners — including Delta. 

The Platinum card offers more extensive lounge access

Both the AmEx Platinum Card and the Delta Reserve Card offer access to Delta Sky Club lounges, as long as the cardholder is flying with Delta that day.

However, the Platinum Card also offers access to AmEx's network of Centurion Lounges. There are currently eight locations in the US, one in Hong Kong, and five more set to open this year and next, with more likely on the way. While these lounges can sometimes get a bit crowded — AmEx has recently expanded several locations to better-handle their popularity — they offer ample seating, fast Wi-Fi, complimentary meals, cocktails, and coffee, and snacks.

The Platinum Card also comes with a complimentary membership in Priority Pass, a network of more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world, including 60-70 in the US (lounges occasionally join or leave the program). Several other cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, also include this.

There are also 11 international AmEx-branded lounges you can access as a Platinum cardholder, including in Mumbai, Delhi, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Sydney, and, most recently announced, Melbourne.

Then, there are a handful of other random lounges, including ones that fall under the Plaza Premium, Air Space, and Escapes brands — these number more than 50.

Overall, the Platinum Card's lounge access is significantly more extensive — if you prioritize the greatest access, don't always fly Delta, and want to enjoy Centurion Lounges, the Platinum Card is the best option. However, if you only fly Delta and mainly visit airports with Sky Clubs, the Reserve should suffice.

Both cards offer in-flight perks

One of the Platinum Card's benefits is up to $200 each calendar year in airline fee credits. Each year, you choose one US airline for the credits to apply. Then, anytime you use your card for things like on-board food or drinks, upgrades to extra leg-room seats, checked bags, lounge passes for guests, or other expenses, the credit will be automatically applied.

The Delta Reserve offers a handful of direct benefits anytime you fly Delta. You'll get one free checked bag for each person on the cardholder's reservation (up to nine people total), priority boarding so you can settle in sooner and snag space in the overhead compartments, a 20% discount in the form of a statement credit on Delta in-flight purchases, and no foreign-transaction fees.

The Reserve also offers a potentially big, rarely discussed perk for Delta Medallion, or elite, frequent flyers.

Delta Medallion flyers are eligible for complimentary, space-available upgrades to first class and Delta One on flights within the US and the region, including Mexico and Central America, and extra-legroom seats on international flights.

Upgrades clear in hierarchical order based on a number of factors, including each passenger's Medallion status level, the original fare class they booked, and a few other factors. The first tiebreaker for people with the same Medallion level and fare class: whether they hold the Delta Reserve card. Reserve cardholders will be prioritized over those without. If there's only one seat left and two members are still tied and both have the Reserve, it continues down the list of tiebreakers.

For travelers who fly a lot and frequently find themselves one or two upgrade-list spots away from getting that first-class seat, holding the Reserve can be extremely valuable.

Both cards have high annual fees

As premium cards, both the AmEx Platinum and the Delta Reserve have high annual fees, but the benefits may make up for them.

The AmEx Platinum's fee is $550. However, this is offset by up to $200 in airline fee credits each calendar year, up to $200 in Uber credits each cardmember year, up to $100 in shopping credits each year, and benefits like lounge access and rewards. When you factor in the statement credits, the annual fee is virtually wiped out, making it a positive value for any user who can use the full credits.

The Delta Reserve's fee is $450. It doesn't have comparable annual credits, but the benefits like lounge access and upgrade priority makes the fee worthwhile for some.

The Reserve offers an MQD waiver and bonus MQMs

Each level of Delta Medallion frequent flyer status requires you to have flown and spent a certain amount with the airline. Medallion Qualification Miles, or MQMs, are earned based on how many miles you fly with Delta (or partner airlines). The first level of Medallion status, Silver, requires 25,000 MQMs. Medallion Qualification Dollars, or MQDs, are based on how much you've spent. In most cases, MQDs are earned based on the ticket price paid, excluding taxes and fees that can make up a significant portion of the ticket. Silver Medallion requires 3,000 MQDs.

When you have the Delta Reserve (or the mid-tier Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express), and you spend $25,000 in a calendar year, you'll be waived from the coming year's MQD requirement for any Medallion level except for the highest (Diamond).

If you have the Reserve and spend another $5,000, for a total of $30,000 in a calendar year, you'll get a bonus of 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 redeemable SkyMiles.

As an airline-agnostic card, the AmEx Platinum Card doesn't offer anything comparable. However, only big spenders and frequent Delta flyers who wouldn't otherwise qualify for the next level of status can make use of this benefit.

Platinum also offers hotel benefits, PreCheck, and Global Entry

The Platinum Cardcomes with complimentary Gold-level elite status in both the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs. If you stay at hotels even a few nights a year, these benefits can be extremely valuable — especially because Hilton Honors Gold status entitles you to free breakfast, which can save a lot of money each morning.

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry (which comes with PreCheck) are absolute musts for just about any traveler. Once you enroll, you can use special lanes to breeze through airport security — you won't have to remove shoes and light coats, and you can leave your laptop in your bag. With Global Entry, you can use a fast lane when you return to the US from abroad, which makes clearing immigration and customs easy and quick. The programs cost $85-$100, and American Express will provide an up-to-$100 credit for that fee every four years (memberships are valid for five years).

AmEx also offers Platinum Cardmembers access to the AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts program. When you book participating hotels through AmEx Travel (there are nearly 1,000 worldwide), you'll enjoy valuable perks including room upgrades, free breakfast, late checkout, free Wi-Fi, and a unique amenity at each hotel, like a credit to use at on-property spas or restaurants.

Reserve also offers a free annual companion pass for domestic flights

Each year on your Delta Reserve cardmember anniversary, you'll get a complimentary domestic companion pass, good for a first class or main cabin round-trip within the continental US.

A companion pass is essentially a buy-one-get-one-free coupon. When you book flight for yourself anywhere within the continental US, you can get a second ticket for free, other than minimal taxes and fees. The Platinum Delta SkyMiles card also comes with a companion pass, although that one is only good for economy flights.

Bottom line: Both cards are useful if you fly Delta

Both cards come with useful benefits for anyone who flies Delta. Which card is better ultimately comes down to personal preference and your own travel habits.

Learn more about the AmEx Platinum Card from Insider Picks' partner The Points Guy.

Learn more about the Delta Reserve AmEx card from Insider Picks' partner The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: The best credit card rewards, bonuses, and benefits of 2019

Join the conversation about this story »

• If you love Insider Inc.'s news coverage, but you can't or don't want to download the official Business Insider app, consider adding shortcuts to our mobile websites on your iPhone or iPad's home screen.
• Website shortcuts are an easy, lightweight alternative to official apps.
• Creating a shortcut to Business Insider or INSIDER's mobile homepage takes less than a minute, and offers a speedy way to access our site.

Business Insider's official app, available for free on the App Store, is a great way to stay connected with Business Insider's news coverage.

But if you don't have the storage space for another app, or if you're just looking for a quick way to access both Business Insider and INSIDER's mobile websites, consider adding link shortcuts to both Insider Inc. homepages on your iPhone or iPad's home screen.

One tap on a shortcut icon will open up Business Insider or INSIDER in its own Safari browser window, giving you easy access to all the day's headlines from either site. 

Creating a website shortcut takes less than a minute, and can be done with virtually any page on the internet.

How to add a Business Insider or INSIDER website shortcut to your iPhone or iPad's home screen

1. Open Safari, and navigate to Business Insider or INSIDER's homepage.

2. On the bar at the bottom of your screen, press the Share icon — it looks like a box with an upwards-pointing arrow coming out of it.

3. This will open a large menu with many different options. At the bottom of the menu, slide the gray icons to the left until you find "Add to Home Screen." Its icon will be a rounded square with a plus sign inside.

4. Press the "Add to Home Screen" icon.

5. Decide what you'd like our website shortcut to be called on your Home Screen. It offers "Business Insider" by default, but you can change it to anything you'd like, such as "BI," or even just "News."

6. Press "Add" at the top of the screen. The website shortcut will be immediately added to the first free space it can find on your Home Screen.

And with that, you've just created a quick, lightweight shortcut to our homepage. Simply tap it to open Business Insider or INSIDER's homepage in its own independent browser, complete with all the functions of the regular mobile site.

You can follow same process to create a website shortcut for nearly any page on the internet. You can also move ordelete the shortcut like any other app.

Read more coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to sync your iPhone and iPad with your email, photos, text messages, and more

• How to move apps and create app folders on any iPhone model

• How to stop robocalls and other spam calls from reaching your iPhone

• How to print a file from your iPhone or iPad in a few easy steps

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Physicists have discovered that rotating black holes might serve as portals for hyperspace travel

• Beats just unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, which are truly wireless headphones just like Apple's AirPods.
• The debut comes after Apple released a new pair of AirPods in March that offer the option for wireless charging and "Hey Siri" support.
• Here's a look at how the two new headphones compare.

Coming on the heels of Apple's second-generation AirPods announcement, Beats has announced a new pair of wireless earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro. They're launching in May and will cost $250.

Like the latest AirPods, the Powerbeats Pro run on Apple's H1 chip which enables faster pairing with devices. And while the two headphones bear some similarities, the pricier Powerbeats are a more premium choice that have more to offer when it comes to custom fitting options and audio quality. 

Here's how the AirPods and the Powerbeats Pro wireless headphones compare: 

SEE ALSO: Your AirPods are probably disgusting — here's how to clean them

The Powerbeats Pro have a much different design than Apple's AirPods that includes hooks meant to be wrapped around the wearer's ear.

Like many wireless headphones, the Powerbeats Pro feature ear hooks to allow for a snug and secure fit. The hooks are also adjustable. 

AirPods, comparatively, look very similar to the wired EarPods that come included with every iPhone — minus the cable.

The Powerbeats Pro also come in four different color options, which include Black, Ivory, Moss, and Navy.

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission is under fire for its handling of a lawsuit against Britax Child Safety, a UK-based manufacturer of strollers, high chairs, and car seats.
• The Washington Post reported that, from 2012, the CPSC has received 200 reports of "spontaneous failure of the stroller wheel" in Britax's BOB jogging strollers.
• Over 100 adults and children reportedly suffered injuries from these accidents, including broken bones, facial lacerations, and ruined teeth.
• But, according to the Post, President Donald Trump's appointees on the CPSC voted to give the manufacturer a settlement instead of advocating for a recall.
• In a statement to Business Insider, Buerkle called the Post's report "misleading." 

Kaye previously told ABC that, under Republican leadership, the CPSC would do "an abrupt 180-degree on safety." The Washington Post reported that, under acting chairwoman Buerkle's leadership, "the number of public recalls fell to its lowest level in a decade" in 2018. 

Buerkle called the Post's report "misleading" in a statement sent to Business Insider, and add that, "Comments by former commissioners or others do not change the facts."

"CPSC has implemented tough new mandatory standards for nursery products in recent years, required independent third party testing for children's products and increased staffing at US ports in an effort to protect consumers," a CPSC spokesperson said to Business Insider. "When firms make products that meet safety standards, this results in fewer recalls."

But Cowles told Business Insider that Buerkle typically focuses more on "educating" consumers rather than cracking down on companies. Cowles added that protecting children from harmful products "should be above politics."

"What parents really need is that — when they go out to buy a product that they'll use to care for their child, whether it's a crib, stroller, high chair, or a toy — that someone's made sure it's safe before it gets into their home," Cowles said. "And if it's found to be unsafe, they need someone to make the effort to get it out of their home."

Here's the full statement from the CPSC Chair Ann Marie Buerkle: 

The Washington Post article concerning the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s settlement with Britax is misleading. Comments by former commissioners or others do not change the facts. 

The safety agenda of this important agency has remained the same — to seek the best solution in the shortest amount of time to help prevent unreasonable risks of harm to consumers. In this case, the diligent career staff of our agency negotiated and agreed to a settlement with Britax and recommended it to the Commission. The Commission approved the settlement upon the staff’s recommendation, keeping in mind the agency’s experience in valuing a settlement much sooner than a prolonged, protracted, and uncertain lawsuit.

Any attempt by individuals to spin the story otherwise is misleading and a disservice to our agency experts and all their efforts to find a solution that would improve consumer safety as quickly as possible.

The Britax settlement advances consumer safety. I urge those who own the strollers to take part in Britax’s education and  information campaign. Consumers can find the many options being offered by Britax at cpsc.gov or the BOBGear website.

Have you ever encountered a dangerous product? Email acain@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: Tyson is recalling 69,000 pounds of chicken strips after customers complained they contained metal

DON'T MISS: A food-poisoning expert reveals 8 things he refuses to eat — including uncooked flour

SEE ALSO: General Mills is recalling Gold Medal flour that may have been contaminated with salmonella

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Yes, this is a giant baby stroller for adults — here's the next time you can see it live