• I don't enjoy shopping, but I do still have opinions about and want control over what I wear. I love personal styling services because they choose clothing for me while taking into consideration my style and preferences. 
• I tried one called Dailylook, which used my personal Style Profile, a proprietary algorithm, and a full-time stylist to send me a box of clothing it thinks I'll like.
• On the spectrum of personal styling services, Dailylook is on the more premium end. The styling fee is $40 per month, clothing starts at $60 per item, and some standout brands include Mara Hoffman, Maison Scotch, and Badgley Mischka. 
• The cost is worth it — it's highly likely you'll find something you love (I ended up keeping three of my pieces), and the convenience is unparalleled. 

Though I write about products every single day, I'm actually not a huge shopper in my personal life. Shopping for clothing in particular tires me out, and after a couple hours of sifting through racks and sweating profusely in small dressing rooms, I'm ready to grab a drink and call it a day. 

Personal styling services were basically made for shopping haters like me. Online shopping by myself, while much more convenient, can still be overwhelming. But I wouldn't want to forego shopping altogether and just wear a T-shirt and jeans every day.

An online service such as Dailylook is the best solution for someone who simultaneously doesn't enjoy shopping, has an opinion about her personal style, and wants to have some say and control over her wardrobe.

The premium clothing subscription box, which is delivered monthly, contains clothing pieces that are curated based on the user's body shape, lifestyle, and aesthetic preferences. Dailylook uses a mix of proprietary algorithms and human stylists to curate these picks, and it's a system that works really well — its customers receive something they like and purchase it 80% of the time. 

Dailylook's team is ultra-efficient about its operations: each month, its buying team has a given budget to buy just the right amount and assortment of merchandise to service its clients. As founder Brian Ree points out, this process "is not all that different from having your own personal stylist go out with a budget and do your shopping offline for you. [But] it takes almost all of the hard work, logistics, and guess-work out of shopping for yourself." 

Why Dailylook is different

You've probably heard about other services like Stitch Fix or Trunk Club that sell the same idea. Dailylook distinguishes itself with premium brands like Mara Hoffman and Badgley Mischka, and the use of full-time stylists. At other personal styling services, it's common for stylists to be part-time or ad-hoc hires, which does offer stylists more flexibility, but may prevent them from fully understanding and engaging with the brand.

Dailylook's stylists are always interacting with clothing and clients from the brand, giving them the opportunity to develop genuine relationships with customers. While the online platform is still a degree of separation that prevents the service from being fully human and personal, this intentional use of full-time stylists injects life into an otherwise algorithm-heavy service. 

How Dailylook works

I went through the process of ordering and tried a Dailylook box for myself. Here's what the process looks like: 

1.  Fill out your Style Profile. 

Like all other personal styling services, Dailylook needs to learn more about you first. It asks standard questions like your clothing sizes, favorite brands that you currently wear, what areas of your body you want to show off or keep covered, and your budget for each type of clothing. The more detailed you are with your responses, the better your Dailylook stylist will be able to pick out clothes for you. 

Afterwards, you can browse the "New Looks" section on the site, which is filled with completed outfits that you can favorite. Your favorites will further help your stylist figure out your tastes. 

2. Receive your box at the door. 

All your clothes come in a blue gift box, which I thought was a nice touch and made the shipment feel like a special treat. It comes with a bag with a prepaid return shipping label for all the clothes you decide not to keep. 

3. Try on everything and decide what you want to keep. 

The styling fee for each box is $40, which can be used as credit towards any clothing piece you decide to keep. 

I received 12 pieces total in my box. They included pants, tops, dresses, and jumpsuits, and I ended up keeping three items — a light cami for casual summer days, a comfortable and stretchy jumpsuit that could be dressed up or down, and a bright pink dress that would look excellent at weddings and cocktail hours. 

Overall, the fit of all the pieces were spot-on, and there were no major discrepancies between what my Style Profile relayed and the pieces I received. Compared to a service like Rent the Runway, which encourages taking risks on ultra-trendy pieces, Dailylook is better for finding quality investment pieces that you'll wear often (especially considering you're paying to own them). 

Each item in the box will cost at least $60, so keep that price in mind as you consider trying Dailylook. If you have a lower budget, we recommend trying Stitch Fix or Trunk Club— their offerings start at $25 each. The merchandise comes from a mix of premium brands and Dailylook's own in-house brands. 

4. Keep your favorites, and send back everything you didn't love. 

You have five days after delivery to try everything and send back your returns.

Since my box included some heavier and thicker pieces like a sweater and jeans, it was a bit of squeeze trying to fit all my returns into the provided bag. I wish the bag were bigger, but the company advised me that I could also return everything in the blue box instead. 

Make sure also to give your feedback online. Dailylook says 50% of its business is based off of user feedback. 

5. Rinse and repeat. 

By default, you're scheduled for one personal styling box a month. However, you can skip a month, change your delivery date, pause your subscription, or cancel your subscription whenever you want. You can also change your stylist if you feel like your current one isn't a match. 

Is Dailylook right for you?

If you like owning stylish clothes from premium brands, but don't want to put in the work of shopping for said clothes, you're the ideal candidate for Dailylook. The process of filling out your Style Profile doesn't take long, and you have a generous amount of time to try out the clothing in your own home. It's easy and convenient to use because you can control when you want to receive your box, plus you're never married to the stylist you're paired with. 

Use code "ITRIEDIT20" to receive $20 off your first Dailylook order here 

Join the conversation about this story »

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.

• Most of us love the look of a summer glow, but we know that laying out in the can lead to more than just burns, and can be pretty damaging to our skin in the long term.
• That's why, when it comes to getting the look of a natural glow, I rely on the Tan Luxe The Body Illuminating Self Tan Drops ($59). A bottle is pricey, but it lasts for a really long time. 
• These liquid drops are mixed into your favorite moisturizer for a tan that's gradual, buildable, and customized to your preferences. Plus, it's an easy to use and a safer alternative to the real deal.

I still remember my first self-tanner faux pas. It was in high school, and with shorts season approaching, I was dabbling in Jergen's Natural Glow in an attempt to add some sort of color to my fair skin. Much to my chagrin, that color turned out to be orange, and it manifested itself in a big triangle on a patch of dry skin on my left leg — only to be publicly pointed out by a fitness instructor. Memories. 

I've had a lot of bad experiences with self-tanner and I'm sure many others have the same complaints — the color doesn't blend well, smells funky, and leaves unnatural streaks on the skin's surface. Then again, I've had even worse experiences with natural tanning methods (aka the sun) and I know my pale pals can agree — a summer glow is not worth the excruciating pain of a peeling sunburn. 

That's why, since I discovered these tinted bronzing drops from Tan Luxe, there's been no turning back to my old ways.

The brand makes fuss-free products that let you get a healthy, sun-kissed glow sans sunshine. Tan Luxe has a host of products that help you create a natural-looking tan, and though I haven't used them all, I can say with confidence that I love using The Body Illuminating Self Tan Drops ($59). Like many of my best purchases at Sephora, it was an impulse buy that turned into a lasting love story. 

What are The Body self-tanner drops?

Many self-tanners take a one-size-fits-all approach, but understandably, when you use a product that isn't really made for your skin tone, your skin may not look so natural. Tan Luxe offers a tailor-made approach to tanning with potent, liquid self-tan drops that you mix into your favorite moisturizer for an effortless glow that feels just right for your skin tone.

The Body self-tan drops come in two colors: light/medium and medium/dark. Although I have pretty fair skin, I bought the medium/dark (only because the lighter version was sold out), but I haven't had any issues with it being too dark. Since you control the depth of the color, I think you can get away with using either color of the drops — just go lighter on the number of drops if you're nervous about the color being too dark. 

In terms of the formulation, the drops are made with good-for-your-skin ingredients like raspberry seed oil, Vitamin E and aloe vera, and made without harmful ingredients like synthetic dyes, sulfates, and other concerning chemicals that may be lurking in your skincare products. 

How to use the drops

You can mix the drops into moisturizer and apply all over your body or go body part by body part. Either method should work fine, just be cognizant of how many drops you're using — if you're just doing one leg at a time, you probably won't need as many drops as if you were planning on doing your whole body at once.

The buildable color makes these perfect for getting a natural glow all-year round. When your skin is lighter, go lighter on the drops. When you want something dramatic, mix away! Based on the guide provided by the brand, two to three drops is recommended for a radiant glow, and up to 12 drops can be added for a fully bronzed look.

While this is intended for your body (Tan Luxe has a formulation made just for the face), in an attempt to get my money's worth I've thrown it on my face, too, and thought it looked pretty good — just make sure to use more sparsely when it comes to the face, especially if you have sensitive skin. And make sure to wash your hands when you're done — or you may be stuck with a temporary case of carrot hands.

I like to use about two drops per body part for a nice, gradual tan. I mix it in with a lot of lotion — this helps ensure your skin is moisturized and prevents streaks. In the end, I'm left with a natural-looking tan with just the slightest shimmer. 

While the idea of spending $60 on a self-tanner may sound frivolous, it's the safest way to get a sun-kissed glow and that's something I feel pretty good about. They also last a really long time. 

Get the Tan Luxe The Body Illuminating Self Tan Drops, $59, available at Sephora and Ulta

Join the conversation about this story »

• Adrian Shepherd is a British productivity consultant who's lived and worked in Japan for the past 24 years.
• We're often our own worst enemies when it comes to productivity, he says. 
• When you say you'll do it later, or you work better at night, you're lying to yourself. Instead, tackle those things now. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

I started out my career as a teacher in Japan. Then I became an entrepreneur. Today, I'm a productivity consultant.

Over the past 30 years, I've worked with CEOs, executives, doctors, teachers, athletes, kids, and even a Supreme Court judge. Having worked with such an array of people in different walks of life was a real eye-opener. What I learned is that we have a lot more in common that we realize.

When it comes to productivity, too often we're our own worst enemies. We love to tell ourselves lies that hold us back from achieving our true potential.

The following are the ten most common I've been told over and over again.

SEE ALSO: Spending 15 to 20 minutes a day intensely worrying can lower your overall stress and bring you peace. This is how to do it right.

1. I’ll do it later

Sure, sure. I've been guilty of this one, just ask my wife. I'm sure many of you can relate. If we can do it now, then do it. It's essentially the concept of Brian Tracy's bestselling book, "Eat That Frog" which talks about tackling the thing you like least, first. Don't put off what you can do now.

2. I work better at night

Nice try. The truth is most of us aren't as effective at night. The daily grind takes a mental toll on all of us. When we head home for the day, all most of us want to do is put our feet up in front of the TV and enjoy our favorite show. Work? Forget it. And word to the wise, night time is when we're most susceptible to persuasion, so be careful.

3. That doesn’t matter

It all matters. Never overlook the small things. Every big thing is simply made up of lots of little things. In James Clear's bestselling book, "Atomic Habits," he talks about managing the little things; the big things take care of themselves. 

4. It doesn’t work

I once heard someone say that the average amount of times people try something is 0.6 times. In other words, most people talk themselves out of even trying it. They believe it won't work for them, so why even bother. Not everything successful people share will work for us. That being said, experience has shown a good deal of them will.

5. I only need five hours sleep

For now, maybe. But the human body needs rest. Navy Seals and unique individuals may be able to perform at peak levels despite only sleeping five hours. Chances are likely that's not us. To operate at peak levels, the human body requires seven to eight hours of rest each night.

6. I’ll skip today and double it up tomorrow

Sounds good, but deep down, most of us know that we really have no intention of actually doing that. We just want an excuse not to do it. 

7. I don’t like to be tied down

Those who don't work from a calendar tend to say that it stresses them out. The problem is that not working from a schedule is recipe for disaster, especially in our age of information overload. Use a calendar.

8. I worked hard so I did a good job

Good results usually come from hard work, but the two are part and parcel. A lot of people believe that they worked hard, therefore they deserve to be paid for their work. Unfortunately, companies aren't really paying you for the work you do, but the results you bring. It's possible for two people to work the same amount of time and end up with completely different results. Work hard, yes indeed. But remember, it's the results, not the time, that really counts.

9. I’m good at multitasking

Wrong! Multitasking is merely jumping from one task to another without actually focusing in on any of them. Thinking and analyzing something takes thought. The bigger the problem or issue, the more thinking and focus it needs. Darren Hardy, one of the top productivity experts in the world, lives by what something he calls "a jam session." Ninety minutes devoted to one single topic. That single-minded focus is something the most successful people all have in common.

10. Perfection is the goal

We should all aim for perfection. However, the goal is not perfection. Apple products are considered some of the best around, but even they are constantly updating things. The goal should always be good enough. You can't bat 1.00. In fact, a mere 0.3 batting average for a professional baseball player will earn him millions of dollars. In business, we must learn to delegate, even if the finished product isn't quite what we want. If it's 80% as good, that's good enough.

• As the first and often fleeting interaction that a brand has with a potential customer, its packaging condenses the most important features of the brand and product into an easily digestible form. 
• Visual design has always been a key component of great packaging, but as our time spent online increases and tactile interaction with products decreases, brands are focusing even more heavily on what you see. 
• They're also considering sustainability and accessibility, values that modern shoppers have become less willing to compromise on. 
• The best packaging gives you a crash course about the brand, makes it easy and intuitive to use the product within, and does more good than harm for the environment. We found 18 retail startups making not only memorable products, but also memorable packaging. 

In today's busy, cluttered world, brands have just a few seconds to make an impression. Fail to capture the ounce of attention that makes us linger in front of a product, and they've lost a potential customer. 

Before you even touch the product itself, brands have the opportunity to draw you in with their packaging. If a product is a full-length novel, then its packaging is the condensed, SparkNotes version, helping you decide whether you want to investigate further and commit to a purchase. 

Allen Adamson, an adjunct professor of marketing at NYU Stern and cofounder of consulting firm Metaforce says the purpose of packaging is to "simplify your brand story and value proposition into a telegraphic item," and that strong packaging design has become more relevant, but also more difficult, with the rise of online shopping.

Whereas brands only used to compete in physical store aisles, radio, and TV, they're now up against the vast choice of the internet.

To stand out, they need to tap into basic understandings of human behavior — while also breaking a few of these rules along the way. 

Humans, by nature, are a fickle and simple bunch. We make snap judgments and rely heavily on just a few senses, most notably vision. "Above all, our visual system is primarily drawn to contrast. We process sensory information in relation to the context," says Dr. Matt Johnson, a professor at Hult International Business School whose research focuses on the psychology and neuroscience of consumer behavior. 

"Contrast necessarily means that the competition's packaging needs to be taken into consideration...this is effectively the 'when everyone zigs, you zag' strategy."

Visually, this can mean new and interesting use of color, font, shape, and other features that aren't typical of the product category. The cheery purples and reds used by healthy food delivery service Hungryroot, for example, are a far cry from the green and brown earth tones of many other vegan brands. 

Text and faces also get unique treatment. Johnson explains, "We actually have dedicated, specialized regions of the brain just for processing these types of stimuli. All things being equal, product packaging [that has] faces or easy-to-read text on it will draw in shoppers more so than packages that don't." 

At the same time, we know that text, while helpful for educating the shopper, can sometimes overwhelm. Luckily, other factors can supplement packaging. Emily Page, CEO of product development agency Pearl Resourcing, says, "Online social platforms can educate more intensively in ways that brands can't in stores, minimizing the need for packaging to do all [the] education."

Her favorite example is Bulletproof: "Its packaging by itself doesn't (and couldn't) inform customers fast enough in a retail environment" about the brand's keto, high-performance ethos, but the founder's podcast did the talking so that customers could better recognize its minimalist packaging on a shelf. 

The biggest disruption to packaging design is that many shoppers are now only looking at screens.

"In a 2-D environment," Adamson says, "you've lost that dimension of being able to pick it up and turn it around."

The loss of physical interaction makes things challenging for brands because of two important processes called encoding and the endowment effect, which Johnson describes below: 

When we interact with something, it provides a boost to 'encoding' — the process by which the brain converts experiences into memories. We're much more likely to remember a package we interact with, as opposed to a package we simply looked at.

The longer we hold an object, the more we unconsciously feel like we own it. This leads to the endowment effect: We value an object more once we feel like we own it. And of course if we value it more, we're much likely to want to purchase it.

Online companies that offer try-before-you-buy options, like luxury jewelry brand AUrate or glasses brand Warby Parker, therefore, are on to something. With the chance to feel and inspect the product more closely and away from the distractions of other brands, you might feel a better connection and take a step towards purchase. 

Overall, however, since most companies don't have this service, visuals do matter more than ever. They have to tell you about the brand in a clear, succinct, and interesting way, while also standing out from the visuals of competing brands.

But shoppers aren't only judging a book by its cover. They also want to know what the cover is made of. 

"Packaging is increasingly the intersection of two major trends: e-commerce growth and concerns around climate change." 

So says Mike Newman, CEO of Returnity, a company that custom-designs reusable shipping bags and boxes for brands like Rebag and ThredUp. He notes, "Consumers continue to increase their e-commerce spend. At the same time, they are more aware of and concerned about the resulting packaging waste, resource consumption, and climate change it creates." 

While eco-friendly features like recyclable or compostable packaging "used to be a nice-to-have, it's now a must-have." If a brand over-packages today, they're "incredibly vulnerable to being seen as out of touch," according to Adamson. 

For both companies and shoppers, the pressure to reduce environmental impact at the individual level can feel overwhelming. Small changes, including using eco-friendly packaging, are actually manageable and doable for most people. Beauty and food brands are at the helm of sustainable packaging innovations, from certified B Corps that sell their makeup in refillable compacts to chocolate truffles that come in compostable wrappers. 

As online competition heats up and shoppers expect products and brands they buy to align with their values, packaging is adapting accordingly.

As has always been the case, product packaging should tell a story in a memorable way. Now, it's also counting factors like sustainability and accessibility into that story. 

Below are 18 new brands doing cool things with their packaging

Vinebox

Shop wine at Vinebox here

Vinebox delivers a curated selection of nine single-serving bottles of wine every season. This striking bottle design and size is perfect for sampling and discovering your next favorite wine varietal, but doesn't compromise the actual wine quality. The glasses feature a patented bottling technology that preserves the taste and quality of the wine for up to three years, and they're fully recyclable. 

Act+Acre

Shop haircare at Act+Acre here

Act+Acre's special cold-processing technology captures the full potency of active ingredients, leaving your hair smooth, shiny, and conditioned in less time and with less product. Cofounder Colm Mackin says, "We wanted Act+Acre to be a role model in the category...[to] signal an elevated yet democratic design. Although our products may seem designed purely for aesthetic, function for everyone was our North Star." 

The haircare startup consulted with inclusivity activist Sinead Burke among other experts to create bottles with oft-overlooked details, including a round shape and shorter size that people who don't have full range of motion can still grip, as well as a soft-touch cap coating that can be easily opened, even with one hand. 

Hungryroot

Order healthy food delivery at Hungryroot here

Hungryroot knows that if you open your fridge and are greeted by bright pops of color, you'll be more likely to want to make and eat its healthy foods. It sends the components to make delicious, nutrient-dense dishes like Salmon Brussels Grain Bowls and Pad Thai Fried Rice in packaging that's all recyclable. 

Otherland

Shop candles at Otherland here

While all the traditionally giftable candles tend towards the clean, minimalist, and maybe a little haughty, Otherland (and its Disney-esque logotype) isn't afraid to translate luxury and fantasy into something dreamy, artistic, and adventurous.

It's a beautiful way to package creative scents like Chandelier (champagne, saffron, leather) and Ruby Root (sugarbeets, grass, ginger), which can be bought individually or put together in a three-pack. When you gift a candle, you can select from a variety of messages to adorn the matchbox. 

Halo Top

Shop Halo Top ice cream at Amazon (Prime Fresh) here

Rarely will a dessert as decadent as ice cream display its calorie information prominently, but when your name is Halo Top and you're making entire pints of ice cream with less than 400 calories, of course you'll be proud to put those numbers up front. Its golden "halo" lids hint at the richness of these healthy-ish ice creams, of which you'll devour the whole container without a second thought. 

Wildist

Shop personal care at Wildist here

Wildist's unexpected combinations of effective natural ingredients ("nighttime" toothpaste containing activated charcoal and chamomile, for example) inspired the whimsical packaging design of its toothpaste and natural deodorant.

Creative director Erin Rommel wanted the style "to feel lush and green and fresh, but also to have a little bit of the dark, mysterious side." She explained, "It's not exactly the same aesthetic that our audience has come to associate with modern, online-first brands and there's a risk in that, but it was a risk we were willing to take. We want Wildist to be a brand that outlives current trends."

Branch Basics

Shop cleaning products at Branch Basics here

Rather than sell you cleaning products that are half water, Branch Basics gives you the multi-purpose concentrated cleaner and the empty, reusable, and refillable bottles to "make" your own safe and natural cleaners at home. Depending on the type of surface you intend to clean, you add a different amount of water and concentrate, so you waste less money and resources buying one-use plastic bottles.

Drop Wine

Shop wine at The Drop Wine here

This canned wine company might be called The Drop, but don't worry if you actually drop your red, white, or rosé — it has a handy and secure lock top to prevent spills and leaks. Wherever your party takes you, your can (which equals 1.5 glasses of wine) can travel right along with you. Its Summer Can Club three-month subscription option lets you customize your own 24-pack for just $66 each month. 

Magic Spoon

Shop cereal at Magic Spoon here

You can tell just by looking at most kids breakfast cereals that they're not good for you. Shift your eyes over, however, and you have a row of brands with way too many mentions of bran and fiber to taste good. Magic Spoon is a healthy breakfast cereal that gives you the best of all the worlds: It's low-carb and gluten-free, with 12 grams of protein per serving; it tastes sweet and delicious, like the cereals you grew up eating; and you won't have to miss out on the fun characters and colorful boxes. 

Tuft & Needle

Shop Tuft & Needle mattresses at Amazon here

Tuft & Needle's comfortable and supportive mattresses are made with adaptive foam to offer pressure relief no matter what position you sleep in. But it's not just the mattress that should be great. The company's whole mission is to make shopping for a mattress painless, all the way down to the packaging. 

Tuft & Needle head of product experience Mike Fretto says the mission "informs simple things such as testing [the] orientation of box-handle holes to improve mobility, and it influences experimentation with improved mattress box constructions to make unboxing our product easier."

Like many other online mattresses, Tuft & Needle's comes compressed and rolled up in a box. This "giant burrito" of a packaging solution allows the mattress to be shipped more efficiently without negatively impacting its performance. 

Care/of

Shop vitamins at Care/of here

To ensure its vitamins stay fresh and protected, personalized health startup Care/of covers its daily packs with moisture- and oxygen-resistant film. Until recently, this film wasn't made from renewable ingredients, but as of April 2019, the now-compostable film is made from wood pulp and a fermented blend of corn, cassava root, and sugarcane.

They'll disintegrate within 84 days in a municipal or institutional composting facility, so you can take your convenient daily dose of vitamins and supplements guilt-free. 

Glossier

Shop skincare and makeup at Glossier here

Glossier's Cloud Paint is as light and pillowy as its name suggests. As you squeeze the gel-cream color out of its paint tube container and dab it on your cheeks, you can't help but feel like an artist bringing out your best features. Packaged similarly, the cult-favorite Balm Dotcom also elevates a simple multipurpose balm into something special.  

Oatly

Shop Oatly oat milk at Amazon here

As a small company in 2014 with a limited media budget, Oatly made its packaging its main advertising space, and with great success. Many people instantly spot its blue, brown, and gray containers and playful font peeking out of the fridge of their local coffee shop and breathe a sigh of relief that the precious oat milk is available. The clean packaging reflects the healthy, pure ingredients of the milk, while the spunky illustrations and copy hint that this is no ordinary milk. 

UrbanStems

Shop flowers at UrbanStems here

Despite the beauty lying within, many flower and plant delivery boxes look plain and don't tell much about their contents. UrbanStems, with its floral print gift tote for customers in NYC and DC, is a notable exception. The pretty package even has ribbon handles for easy transport on sidewalks and subway cars. For all other deliveries nationwide, the bouquet comes in a light pink floral print box that keeps the precious cargo protected during transit. 

The Right to Shower

Shop The Right to Shower personal care at Amazon here

Unilever brand The Right to Shower, which is donating 100% of its profits to mobile shower initiatives in 2019, conveys its mission-driven business prominently on its labels through its product names and iconography. The names — Dignity, Hope, Joy, and Strength — reflect the power of a simple shower and what it hopes to bring to hundreds of thousands of homeless Americans with each purchase. In addition, the bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic.

Clare

Shop paint at Clare here

To get over your dread of repainting your house, shop at Clare, whose design strives to associate joy with painting. Founder Nicole Gibbons says, "It was important that every packaging touch point felt thoughtful and special. From our fun 'Hey hue' envelope that our swatches arrive in, to the bright shipping boxes for our paint, and even our collateral, every package our customers receive feels like a bundle of joy arriving at their doorstep." 

On its site, you won't be scrolling for days trying to find the perfect color, and its paint bucket labels are free from unnecessary info, just like the paint is free from unnecessary chemicals and harmful ingredients. 

Asarai

Shop Asarai skincare at Urban Outfitters here

You'll be hard-pressed to miss this bright yellow brand sitting on your bathroom counter. Regardless of your gender and skin type, Asarai is a brand that will make you smile. The 1% for the Planet company only makes six products created with Aussie botanicals, plus a turn key that clamps onto tubes so you don't waste a single bit of its powerful detoxifying mask or its gentle cleanser.

Ethique

Shop Ethique personal care products at Amazon here

There's not a bottle in sight in eco-friendly brand Ethique's line of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Instead, these daily personal care products are made in solid bar form (and with a host of powerful natural ingredients) as a solution to the 80 billion plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles thrown away globally each year. The boxes they come in are made from biodegradable ingredients. 

• The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway line in the world, spanning 5,772 miles (9,289 kilometers) and connecting Moscow to far Eastern Russia.
• On a recent trip to Russia, I spent 50 hours on a Trans-Siberian train from the Siberian city of Novosibirsk to Moscow. The more than 2,000-mile journey crossed four time zones.
• I paid $148 for a second-class ticket to stay in a shared compartment with three other passengers.
• I had to deal with not showering or changing clothes for more than two days, entertaining myself without cell service or Wi-Fi, a cramped and smelly bathroom, mediocre food, and a snoring compartment mate.
• But it was the experience of a lifetime, and I would do it again with a few key changes.
• I expected the train to be filled with tourists, but most of the other passengers seemed to be Russians traveling for work.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway line in the world, running from Moscow, Russia, all the way to Vladivostok, near the border with China.

The legendary railway, which is 5,772 miles long and crosses seven time zones, has become a dream trip for many adventurous travelers. So on a recent trip to Russia, I had to give it a try.

Read more: Photos show what life is like in a Siberian diamond mining town on the edge of the Arctic Circle, which is home to 40,000 people and where the sun is up for 20 hours a day in the summer

I rode the Trans-Siberian Railway from Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia and the third-largest city in Russia, to Moscow. The journey took about 50 hours, so I spent two nights on the train. 

Here's what it was like.

SEE ALSO: Photos show what life is like in a Siberian diamond mining town on the edge of the Arctic Circle, which is home to 40,000 people and where the sun is up for 20 hours a day in the summer

DON'T MISS: I toured a gated estate outside of Moscow that was built by the 'Trump of Russia.' From its golf course to the mansions I was forbidden to photograph, it wasn't hard to see its appeal for the country's billionaires.

With a total length of 5,772 miles, the Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest in the world.

Source: Lonely Planet

It connects Moscow to Vladivostok in far Eastern Russia.

Source: Trans-Siberian Travel Company

The railway took 25 years to build.

Construction on the Trans-Siberian Railway started in 1891 and was completed in 1916.

Builders had to to deal with hostile weather conditions and building train tracks on permafrost and mountainous terrain.

My journey on the Trans-Siberian began in Novosibirsk, a city of 1.6 million people in Siberia.

I'd arrived in Novosibirsk after a three-hour flight from the diamond mining town of Mirny.

Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia and the third-largest in Russia, is about 267 miles (430 kilometers) from the southern border with Kazakhstan.

Before I got on the train, I had to stock up on some essentials for the journey, so I headed to a grocery store right across the street from the train station.

I had read multiple blog posts with recommended packing lists for the Trans-Siberian Railway, so I had a pretty good idea of what I needed.

I bought slippers, bottled water, tea, dried noodles, granola bars, baby food (that was not on the lists; I just like it), chocolate, and what I thought was oatmeal but turned out, unfortunately, to be buckwheat.

I also grabbed some hand sanitizer, tissues, and baby wipes, which I'd read are essentials on the Trans-Siberian railroad.

Terrified that I might miss my train, I arrived at the Novosibirsk train station an hour before my train was scheduled to leave.

The more than 322,900-square-foot station is one of the largest in Russia.

I had some trouble finding the correct platform, but after frantically querying multiple people, "Trans-Siberian?" and getting gestures in the right direction, I eventually found it.

Train attendants were standing outside each train door, checking tickets. I found my carriage, showed my e-ticket to the attendant, and hauled my small yet deceptively heavy suitcase up the steps onto the train. 

The train corridor was narrow. In order for two people to pass, they'd both have to turn to the side.

I looked for my compartment, No. 26, where I was assigned an upper bunk. 

The compartment was a bit smaller than I had expected. I had a second-class ticket, which I'd bought about three weeks in advance for $148.

I'd considered buying a first-class ticket because it wasn't much more expensive, but first-class tickets either weren't available on this train or they were sold out. The website wasn't clear.

I was the last member of my four-person compartment to arrive. The other passengers were three Russian men who appeared to be in their 30s. Later, I would learn they were all in the military and taking the train home from work.

The three men, one of whom was not wearing a shirt (it was hot), looked at me in alarm as I appeared in the doorway of the compartment. 

I waved. "Hello!"

They immediately stood up, greeted me in Russian, and then headed for the door. One of them helped me put my suitcase up above the door, and then all three of them went out and stood in the hallway, apparently to give me my space as I got situated. 

I put my other bag up on the top bunk and then sat down, feeling very hot and wondering if there was air conditioning in this train. After a few minutes, my compartment mates came back in and introduced themselves as Aleksandr, Sergey, and Konstantin. 

The bunks in our compartment were a little wider than half the size of a twin bed. Near the door, small ladders unfolded to allow the upper bank passenger to climb up. Even with the ladder, clambering up to my bunk wasn't particularly easy or graceful. I hoped I wouldn't have to pee in the middle of the night.

There didn't seem to be any clear etiquette for whether I should be able to sit on the bottom bunk — as it was someone's bed — but my three Russian friends made it clear I could sit there whenever I wanted.

After the train got moving, the air conditioning kicked on, although it wasn't very strong.

The bottom bunks each had a power outlet.

The upper bunks only had USB ports, but that was fine with me, as I only really needed to charge my phone.

A pillow and blanket were waiting for me on my bunk when I got on the train, and about an hour in, the attendant came around and handed out pillow cases, sheets, and duvet covers.

The mattress was about three inches thick and reasonably comfortable.

The attendant also handed out a hygiene kit that included a pair of flimsy blue slippers, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a wet wipe.

I already had all of these things with me, but it was good to know I had back-ups.

Next to the bathroom was a garbage bag and chute.

The bag was emptied and replaced regularly.

The bathroom was cramped and far from luxurious.

When I flushed, I saw the the contents of the toilet fall directly onto the tracks rushing by below.

The unspoken rule was that toilet paper should be thrown in the trash instead of in the toilet, but not everyone abided by that. 

The sink was tiny, maybe slightly larger than an airplane sink. The first time I used it, I squirted soap all over my hands and then tried to turn the red knob. Nothing happened. Assuming it was broken, I rubbed the soap off my hands with a paper towel and went back to the compartment.

I alerted my three new Russian friends that the bathroom sink was broken. With an amused look on his face, Aleksandr shook his head and gestured for me to follow him back to the bathroom. As it turned out, to turn on the sink you had to push up on a small lever jutting out from right underneath the faucet, which did not seem obvious at all.

While the bathroom was bare-bones, it was cleaned regularly and remained stocked with toilet paper, hand soap, and paper towels throughout my 50-hour journey.

In the middle of the hallway was a power outlet and a sign listing all the stops on the way to Moscow, including the exact time of the stop and how long the train would sit at the station.

In the smaller towns, stops were often only two to five minutes long, just enough time for some passengers to get on and off.

Other stops were up to 40 minutes.

I wore my trusty mint-green slippers throughout my entire journey on the train. They were convenient because I could easily slip them off to climb up on my bunk, and back on when I went to the bathroom or for a stroll in the corridor.

I also wore the same clothes the whole time.

Gross? Yes. But I didn't want to change clothes in the cramped bathroom — partially in fear that the train would jolt and I'd fall into the toilet — and as nobody else seemed to change clothes in my compartment, I didn't want to be the weird American exposing myself to everyone.

At the other end of the train car from the bathroom was the most underrated part of the train journey: the samovar, or hot water kettle.

The samovar has an endless supply of hot water for tea, noodles, instant coffee, or whatever your heart desires.

Throughout my journey, I drank more tea than I ever had in my life — mainly because I was bored — but also because I didn't feel like I'd brought enough drinking water. (I brought three liters.)

As luck would have it, toward the end of my time on the train, a few hours before I got to Moscow, I learned there was a faucet for drinking water near the attendant's compartment.

I was most excited for the scenery I would see on my train journey.

After we left Novosibirsk, the landscape turned into picturesque, gently rolling hills and forests.

Here and there we passed small towns and villages.

Siberia is home to about 36 million people, or roughly 25% of Russia's population, according to multilingual Russian publication Russia Beyond.

Almost every house I saw had a garden in the backyard.

At about 6:30 p.m., an hour and a half after I'd boarded the train, the attendant came around to take orders for dinner.

At first, I politely declined because I had eaten just before I got on the train. It was also because I'd heard the Trans-Siberian train food was overpriced and mediocre, but I did plan on trying it at some point.

But Aleksandr, Sergey, and Konstantin seemed concerned and told me — via Google Translate — that it was included in the price of my ticket, which I didn't know. I went ahead and ordered the chicken dish because that's what everybody else ordered. (The other option was beef.) It came with a type of buckwheat, which I learned is a popular Russian dish called grechka.

The food was indeed mediocre. It was hot, but the chicken didn't have much flavor and the grechka was even more tasteless. I subsisted on snacks and instant noodles for the rest of my journey.

Dinner also came with an additional little box with a water bottle, some packaged salami, a cookie that was something like an Oreo knockoff, and plastic utensils.

The salami actually wasn't bad, but the fake Oreo did not appeal to me. I meant to try it later, but it must have gotten thrown away at some point. 

While we ate, I chatted with my three new friends through Google Translate. I'd read that I wouldn't have cell phone service on most of the train journey — nor Wi-Fi — so I downloaded the offline version of Google Translate for Russian. It ended up being a lifesaver.

Through our Google Translate conversation, I learned that Aleksandr, Sergey, and Konstantin would only be on the train with me for about eight hours. They were getting off at Omsk, where they lived, at about 1:00 a.m.

I told them I had just come from Yakutia and they seemed shocked, although Alexander said his uncle lives there.

One of the first things they asked me was: "Why did you not take a plane to Moscow?"

I tried to explain that it was for the adventure! The experience! They didn't get it.

I drank some tea with water from the trusty samovar down the hall.

The tea mug is made up of a traditional Russian metal tea-glass holder called a podstakannik, which used to be seen in taverns but is now primarily used on long-distance trains. 

After a day of airplanes, taxis, and making sure I made it on the train, I was glad to have some time to relax on my bunk. There wasn't quite enough room for me to comfortably sit up, so I laid down against my pillow to read.

I didn't plan on going to bed early, but the gentle rocking of the train was unexpectedly soothing, and I was soon asleep. 

I woke up at about 12:30 p.m. when my bunkmates got up and started packing up their things. At 1:00 p.m., the train stopped in Omsk, where they were to get off. We said our goodbyes and then I promptly went back to sleep for another seven hours or so.

That being said, I'm not really sure how long it was because the time zone changed sometime in the night.

When I woke up the next morning, I had three new traveling companions in my compartment, all Russian: two middle-aged sisters traveling together and a middle-aged man traveling by himself. I said hello and then ate a granola bar for breakfast while reading (what else?) Anna Karenina.

Later, I briefly chatted with my three new companions, mostly via Google Translate, although the man and one of the women spoke a little English.

"You're not afraid to travel in Russia alone?" one of the sisters asked me.

I shrugged and said, "Not really."

"Because we are," she said. "Russia is a dangerous place."

The man said it would be better to travel on the train with a friend, and I thought he was probably right, although more for the company than for safety. I never felt unsafe on the train.

I went to check out the dining car, which I'd heard was only two cars over.

I didn't plan to eat in the dining car, because I'd read that the food was overpriced and not very good. If it was anything like the chicken-and-buckwheat meal I'd been served the night before, I wasn't too keen to try it. 

The dining car was nothing fancy.

I tried to sit down at one of the tables and read my book, but I was sternly ushered out by one of the train staff, so I deduced that you had to actually order something in order to hang out there.

Beer and wine were sold at the small bar.

A quick glance at a menu showed me that I could get the same chicken-and-buckwheat meal from the night before in the dining car. Most of the dishes were some combination of beef, fish, potatoes, cabbage, and buckwheat.

Most of the main dishes were between 600 and 800 rubles, or about $9 to $12, which I found to be relatively pricey. Most of my meals in Russia so far, even in Moscow, had cost between $5 and $8.

The two sisters and the man were on the train with me for about 18 hours total, I believe, but time seemed to have lost all meaning at that point.

In Yekaterinburg, a city about 27 hours from Moscow, many people got on and off the train.

A tour group of about 10 people arrived in my car in Yekaterinburg, and to my surprise, they were all English-speakers, some from Australia, some from the UK, others from Canada.

I had yet another set of new compartment buddies, this time an Australian couple named Ian and Astrid who appeared to be in their 60s, and a Russian woman named Marina, who told me via Google Translate that she was 60 years old, retired and living in Moscow, and receives a pension of 1,000 rubles (about $15) per month.

After my first night on the train, I was desperately wishing for a shower. Some Trans-Siberian trains have showers in their first-class cars, but as far as I knew, my train didn't even have a first-class car.

Each morning and evening, I gave myself a wet-wipe bath and brushed my teeth in the bathroom. It helped a little, but I still felt gross for the majority of the trip.

My second day on the train dragged by. It didn't help that we crossed four time zones, so it felt like I was going back in time even as I wished for it to move faster.

I spent some time talking to the Australian couple, Ian and Astrid. It was nice to be able to talk to someone after so many hours of Google Translate-only communication. I learned that they lived on a farm near Brisbane and were two weeks into a 10-week trip across China, Mongolia, Russia, and Europe.

I spent a lot of time on my favorite pastime: pacing up and down the corridor drinking tea.

It was a way to get a tiny bit of much-needed movement, and I got a glimpse into the other compartments.

Each compartment was like a peek into a distinct little world. In one, a woman was lying down reading. In another, a family was eating ham sandwiches and drinking tea out of the same mug I was.

I also napped a lot.

Thanks to our train attendant, a middle-aged blonde woman who wore a long, light-blue dress and glasses, the carriage stayed clean throughout the journey.

Every few hours, it seemed, she would vacuum the hallway and the individual compartments, clean the bathroom, empty the trash, and wipe down various surfaces in the hallway.

She would also meticulously straighten the pink-and-white striped rug that spanned the length of the train car.

The scenery eventually got pretty monotonous. Yes, it was beautiful — all greenery, trees, wildflowers, and sunshine. But there wasn't much variety.

The second afternoon, there was a brief thunderstorm, which an exciting change of pace. But then back to trees and sunshine.

But every once in a while, the trees would open up and I'd get a glimpse of something new, like a sparkling river.

People were floating down the river and camping and swimming on its banks.

We passed some cute riverfront houses.

I wondered how much they would cost and who lived there.

I didn't sleep as well my second night on the train as I had the first night because Marina snored louder than anyone I've ever heard, and Astrid complained about the snoring louder than anyone I'd ever heard.

A little over six hours before the end of the journey, we had one of our final stops in the town of Danilov, a little over 200 miles (333 kilometers) from Moscow.

A couple of small shops at the station were selling cookies, chips, sandwiches, ice cream, and other snacks.

Local women were selling fresh strawberries and cherries on the other side of the train station gate.

I didn't buy any.

After more than 40 hours on a train with little physical activity, I didn't have much of an appetite.

A few stray dogs were hanging out on the platform, soaking up the sunshine as well as attention from train passengers.

The last six hours were uneventful. I read a little bit, slept a little bit, and dreamed about sleeping in a real bed.

Just before 5 p.m., we arrived in Moscow right on schedule, 50 hours after we'd departed Novosibirsk.

I had never been so happy to get off a train before, but at the same time, I was sad it was over. 

It was my first time riding a sleeper train, and getting to travel more than 2,000 miles on one across Russia was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

By the time I got back to Moscow, my 50-hour train journey had spanned more than 2,000 miles across four time zones.

Compared to the rush and constant movement of the other 10 days I spent in Russia, the weekend on the Trans-Siberian was a welcome chance to relax, catch up on sleep, read, and just be alone with my thoughts.

Chatting with locals who were absolutely perplexed as to why I would take the Trans-Siberian for fun was an added bonus.

Although the train ride was far from luxurious, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again with a few key changes. An obvious one is that it would be more enjoyable traveling with a friend (or three friends so we could have a compartment to ourselves).

I would also bring a better variety of snacks. The Australian couple brought some meat, cheese, and bread to make sandwiches, as well as some fruit. My granola bars and dried noodles got old very quickly. 

And finally, I would try to choose a route with more varied scenery if possible — or time my naps better. At one point, the Australian couple told me we passed through the Ural Mountains and got some stunning mountain views. I, of course, was napping. 

• Glenn and Eva Dubin, a billionaire couple with deep ties to Jeffrey Epstein, received a massage recommendation from the financier years ago, according to interviews and police records reviewed by Business Insider. 
• Epstein hired one masseuse as an assistant when she was 23, before she received her massage therapy license. She gave Epstein erotic massages and massaged his close friends and assistants, as well as the Dubins on at least one occasion. 
• The Dubins said they did not recall the massage, and a source said there was no erotic component. The couple, who remained friendly with Epstein after he went to jail on charges including soliciting a minor for prostitution, reiterated that had they known of the new allegations against the disgraced financier, they would have cut off contact. 
• The masseuse says she "massaged many of Epstein's friends" while she worked for him, but that none of them expected any sexual favors.

In 2003, a young college student was recruited to answer phones and run errands for financier Jeffrey Epstein in Palm Beach. 

The job turned into much more, including massages for Epstein and a referral to massage at least one billionaire couple, according to a police report from January 2006. The massages for Epstein, she told police, became sexual.

Over the course of the Palm Beach Police Department's investigation into the now-disgraced sex offender, which ended in a secretive 2008 plea deal, investigators spoke with Johanna Sjoberg. Her story offers a window into how Epstein's network functioned, from the way he found girls and women to service his needs to how some of them connected with his rich and famous friends.

See more:Hedge-fund giant Glenn Dubin and his wife, Eva, told Jeffrey Epstein's probation officer they were '100% comfortable' with the sex offender around their kids. New documents show the extent of the billionaire couple's relationship with Epstein.

On a referral from Epstein, for example, Sjoberg gave at least one massage to Glenn and Eva Dubin, the billionaire couple with longtime ties to Epstein that they now say they regret.  

The Dubin's patronage, at Epstein's recommendation, of a masseuse who had given him erotic massages has not been previously reported. She gave a statement to police in 2006 and later spoke to the Daily Mail in 2007, and Business Insider has confirmed details of her story. A lawyer for Epstein did not respond to a request for comment. 

Now a hair stylist, Sjoberg told police she met Epstein in 2003, when she was 23, according to the 2006 report. She said she was approached on the campus of Palm Beach Atlantic University, the private Christian college she attended, by longtime Epstein friend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was looking for assistants for Epstein's Palm Beach house.

Sjoberg took the part-time job and began providing massages to Epstein before she received her massage therapy license, which public records indicate was issued in November 2003. She also massaged Epstein paramour Nadia Marcinkova and his assistant Sarah Kellen, according to the police statement. 

She told police that Epstein turned some of the massages into sexual encounters:

He would instruct her to rub his nipples as he masturbated himself. [She] stated she felt 'grossed' about the behavior but as she was getting paid, she just continued. [She] also advised she would on occasion perform the massages naked. Epstein would on occasion, utilize the vibrator/massager on her vagina area when she performed the massages. Sjoberg explained that Epstein never exposed himself to her.

Epstein paid her and "took care of" her college tuition, in addition to renting a car for her for a week, according to the police statement. She later told the Daily Mail that Epstein also covered the down payment on her home and paid for her to become a masseuse and hair stylist. (She told the Daily Mail that she met Epstein in 2001, when she was 21 —two years earlier than in her account to police investigators.)

'Nothing inappropriate is being alleged'

Epstein referred Sjoberg to at least one other client, she told the Palm Beach police in January 2006.

"Epstein also recommended her to another client who resides at Breakers Row in Palm Beach area," the police report of her interview says. "The client she was referred to was 'Glenn' unknown last name, and his wife, who she provided a massages to [sic]."

Business Insider has confirmed that the Glenn referred to in the statement was Glenn Dubin, who had a house with a Breakers Row address until 2012, according to public records. Sjoberg gave Dubin and his wife at least one massage.

See more:Private-equity guru Leon Black's family foundation is scrambling to distance itself from sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein, but it's raising more questions

It's unclear when the massage took place, and there was no erotic component, Sjoberg told Business Insider. 

"I massaged many of Epstein's friends when I worked for him, because I was a talented licensed massage therapist," Sjoberg said. "To me Glenn was just another person on the table. There was never any other expectation by his friends. If something inappropriate happened I would have a memory of it."

"The Dubins have no recollection of this person or event but regardless, nothing inappropriate is being alleged," a spokeswoman for the couple said. "Any suggestion to the contrary is highly irresponsible and completely inaccurate."

The Dubins' relationship with Epstein dates back to the 1980s, when Epstein and Eva Dubin—then Eva Andersson—dated, and continued after he went to jail in 2008 for charges including procuring a minor for prostitution.

Business Insider reported last month that Eva Dubin emailed Epstein's probation officer in 2009 ahead of hosting a large Thanksgiving meal, saying the couple was "100% comfortable" with Epstein around their children, including their then-teenage daughter.

Epstein and the Dubins have financial ties as well as personal ones. Epstein was a "longtime investor" in Highbridge Capital, the hedge fund Glenn Dubin founded in the 1990s, according to an affidavit Dubin submitted in a court case in 2010. And both men were investors in a fund run by D.B. Zwirn, a former Highbridge Capital employee. According to Vanity Fair, Epstein "arranged" the sale of Highbridge to JPMorgan Chase, and Epstein made a $75 million investment in a fund run by another former Highbridge portfolio manager at Dubin's recommendation. 

Epstein and the Dubins were also philanthropically intertwined. In 2009, Epstein sought to make a donation to Eva Dubin's breast cancer charity, the Dubin Breast Center of the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai. In order to avoid public scrutiny over a donation from a registered sex offender, he made the donation through another charity established by Eva Dubin, the Celina Dubin United Fund, which in turn donated about $26,600 to the breast-cancer group from 2010 through 2012, according to tax records.

The Dubins said they are "horrified" by last month's federal charges against Epstein, which accused the money manager of running a sex trafficking ring in Florida and New York for years involving girls as young as 14.

"Had they been aware of the vile and unspeakable conduct described in these new allegations, they would have cut off all ties and certainly never have allowed their children to be in his presence," the Dubins said through a spokeswoman, noting that they thought Epstein had rehabilitated himself and "deserved a second chance." 

Other finance links

The Dubins aren't the only high-profile family to come under recent scrutiny for their Epstein ties.

Private equity titan Leon Black, who co-founded Apollo Global Management, continues to face criticism for his lack of transparency around his social, financial, and philanthropic links to Epstein. Weeks after Business Insider and other outlets reported various ties to Epstein, Black said in memos to employees and investors that Apollo never did business with Epstein. 

He countered a Bloomberg report that said he allowed Epstein to pitch his services to Apollo executives. Black did acknowledge that he donated money Epstein's charities and vice versa. He has yet to explain why he donated $10 million to an Epstein-run foundation in 2015, years after the money manager was released from jail.

See more:Billionaire private-equity guru Leon Black is reaching out to Apollo investors about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

He also has not yet provided amended tax returns to confirm that he and his wife removed Epstein as director of their family foundation in 2007. Epstein's name appeared on tax documents through 2012 in what the Blacks' spokeswoman said was a clerical error.

Epstein also reportedly funneled dozens of wealthy clients to James 'Jes' Staley when he led JPMorgan's wealth management business. Staley is now CEO of Barclays.  

Do you have a story to share about Epstein or the Dubins?
Contact this reporter via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 (646) 768-1627 using a non-work phone, email at mmorris@businessinsider.com, or Twitter DM at @MeghanEMorris.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• VSCO girls are taking over the internet, according to Lauren Strapagiel of BuzzFeed News.
• The VSCO girl is defined by her natural appearance, Brandy Melville crop tops, scrunchies, and being rich enough to afford trendy high-end items for the VSCO girl uniform, reported Strapagiel.
• The internet loves to hate on the VSCO girl, according to Freya Drohan for Cosmopolitan.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Forget YouTube creators, Instagram influencers, and fashion bloggers.

There's a new persona taking over social media— the VSCO girl, reported Lauren Strapagiel of BuzzFeed News.

VSCO girls are identifiable by their appearance, according to Strapagiel. They wear Brandy Melville, Birkenstocks, puka shell necklaces, scrunchies, and a Fjällräven backpack (which retail starting at $80) along with natural makeup and beach-wave hair — a contrast to the contoured faces and lip fillers of Instagram influencers, she wrote.

They also have money to buy the trend's high-end staples, Strapagiel added. The VSCO girl gets her name from the photo editing VSCO app, but she's easy to spot on Instagram or IRL (in real life), too. She can be the girl on the street, but she can also be a popular influencer, like Emma Chamberlain.

"Normally when you're talking about a VSCO girl, it is predominantly people who are white and very skinny and they own all these big name brands," Caiti DeCort, a 15-year-old YouTuber, told Strapagiel. "So typically it's associated with being rich."

Read more: A woman who pays Instagrammers and YouTubers for brands like Cosmo and Esquire says people who make the most money as influencers all have the same background

And the internet loves to hate on the VSCO girl.

"She's grown up online and is pretty accustomed to the internet's hypercritical gaze," wrote Freya Drohan for Cosmopolitan. "But while her vibe is care-free and nonchalant, the internet's reaction to her is anything but."

From YouTube takedowns on the aesthetic to sarcastic VSCO girl tutorials, this new social media-identity has been endlessly ridiculed online, reported Drohan, who points out the irony — the ridicule often comes from "young female content creators who look just like the archetypical girl they're trying to mock."

The VSCO girl is part of one of the many communities carving out a niche in social media. Consider mukbang YouTubers, who share videos of themselves ingesting massive quantities of food. There's also the rise of virtual influencers— computer-generated social media marketers designed by companies to attract followers and likes. And that's not to mention the "murfers," a term coined by Carina Chocano of Vanity Fair to refer to the surfing Instagram "mamas" of Byron Bay, Australia.

SEE ALSO: There's new competition in town for influencers who can rake in as much as $1 million per Instagram post — and it isn't even human

DON'T MISS: A 25-year-old YouTuber quit her job and now makes 6 figures recording herself eating, and it's a trend more and more influencers are cashing in on

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Bruce Willis' island mansion just sold for $27 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.
• Located in Turks and Caicos, the estate features a five-bedroom mansion and two smaller guest villas.
• It's the second-most expensive home sale in Turks and Caicos history.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

Bruce Willis sold his Turks and Caicos mansion for $27 million— $6 million less than its original $33 million price tag.

But even with the price cut, it's still the second-most expensive home sale in the country's history, coming second to a property that sold for $27.5 million in 2016.

The 11-bedroom, 13.5-bath estate isn't the only celebrity home to hit the market this year.  A Beverly Hills mansion once owned by Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt was listed this past May for $49 million.

Read more: Step inside the most expensive home for sale in the Seattle area — a $45 million waterfront mansion that's minutes from Bill Gates' house and once housed a $317 million art collection

The Caribbean estate sits on nine acres of property and includes a five-bedroom main house along with two guest villas. It also has access to a private beach, a nearby resort, and an onsite pirate-themed playground.

Keep reading for a complete look at the Parrot Cay residence.

SEE ALSO: Inside one of the oldest and most expensive mansions in Charleston, which is selling for $15 million and was once owned by Abraham Lincoln's granddaughter

DON'T MISS: Former NFL quarterback Joe Montana's California estate is on the market at a 41% price cut — and it comes with an equestrian facility and a shooting range. Here's a look inside.

Located on the exclusive Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos ...

Source: Google Maps

... the home can be reached via a short flight from Miami, along with a 35-minute boat ride to reach the property.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate, Robb Report

Known as "The Residence," the complex includes a main house with five bedrooms, along with two three-bedroom guest villas.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

Actor Bruce Willis purchased the property in 2000, and the massive compound was completed by 2004. The property also includes access to the nearby COMO Parrot Cay resort.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate, The Wall Street Journal

Located on the property's 1,000 feet of private beach, the main house is the center attraction.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

Like the rest of the estate, the main house was renovated in 2018. The compound sits on nine acres of property.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

The living room includes plenty of sofa seating ...

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

... along with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that lead out to the patio.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

The modern kitchen offers new appliances and clean, white countertops.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

The bedrooms, which feature hardwood floors, can be found upstairs ...

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

... and at least one of the bedrooms has balcony views of the Atlantic Ocean from the third floor.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

The all-white master suite — complete with a canopy-covered bed under a lofted ceiling — takes up the entire second floor of the main house.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate, Robb Report

Though all bathrooms include frameless mirrors and modern light fixtures, each differs slightly. One bathroom is decorated with blue, brick-patterned tiles ...

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

Bathrooms include minimalist, freestanding bathtubs, and one also has an outdoor shower.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

The estate boasts an additional 17,000 square feet of outdoor deck space, including lounge seating, a pool, and a dining table.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

"The Residence" also features a pirate ship playground for young visitors.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

Each of the two guest villas also features its own private pool, along with three separate bedrooms.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate, Robb Report

A sectional couch faces the outdoor dining area ...

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

... while a smaller round table for four is located inside.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

While the villas are smaller than the main house, they still include a full kitchen ...

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

... and each bedroom faces the ocean.

Source: Sotheby's International Real Estate

• If you didn't feel like hopping on a train, plane, or car to a new, unexplored destination before now, you will after reading one of these 18 travel books. 
• Their eye-catching photographs, romantic descriptions, and useful travel tips will inspire you to pack your bags and book a ticket ASAP. 
• The books cover domestic and international adventures alike, advising you on the can't-miss things to do and eat. 

Surrounded by beautiful Instagram feeds, bite-sized travel clips, and deep-dive shows focusing on one country or even one city, we're reminded again and again that there's a world outside our immediate purview. 

Before the TV and internet, books were a prime way to learn about the unexplored places a walk, drive, or plane ride away from us. Even though their use and popularity has been usurped by that of online travel guides, we still think books are a useful, tactile, and romantic way to gather travel inspiration. 

More than a simple coffee table decoration to flip through carelessly, travel books offer both aesthetic and functional appeal. Alongside full-page photographic spreads, you'll learn more about the histories, stories, things to do, and dishes to eat in different destinations around the world. 

These 18 travel books are full of so many interesting, exciting, and unique ideas that you'll feel like you have no choice but to transform from armchair traveler to real-life traveler. If you need help or inspiration to figure out where to travel next, read one of the books below. 

Captions are provided by Amazon and edited for grammar and length.

For the outdoor explorer: '100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do' by Joe Yogerst

Buy it here >>

National Geographic turns to the United States' and Canada's most pristine and adventure-filled national, state, and city parks with 5,000 ideas for the ultimate vacation. Showcasing the best experiences, both obvious and unexpected, each entry in this robust guide provides an overview of the park, detailed travel advice, fascinating facts, insider knowledge about wildlife, and expert tips for hiking, biking, camping, and exploring. 

For the international foodie: 'Lonely Planet's Ultimate Eats' by Lonely Planet Food

Buy it here >>

The world's top 500 food experiences — ranked. We asked the planet's top chefs, food writers and our food-obsessed authors to name their favorite, most authentic gastronomic encounters. The result is a journey to Mozambique for piri-piri chicken, Japan for bullet train bento boxes, San Sebastian pintxos bars, and a further 497 of the most exciting eateries anywhere on Earth.

"Ultimate Eats" is the follow-up to the best-selling "Ultimate Travel" and is a must-own bucket list for foodies and those who love to travel. You'll discover the planet’s most thrilling and famous culinary experiences, the culture behind each one, what makes them so special, and why the experience is so much more than what’s in the plate, bowl or glass in front of you.

For the young traveler thinking about going solo: 'The Solo Travel Handbook' by Lonely Planet

Buy it here >>

Don't let the idea of travelling alone stop you from living out your dreams. Packed with tips and advice for before and during your travels, "The Solo Travel Handbook" gives you the confidence and know-how to explore the world on your own, whether you're planning a once-in-a-lifetime adventure or short city break.

Developed with Lonely Planet's expert travel writers, it explains how and why individual travel is such a valuable and rewarding experience. It also ranks the best destinations for road-tripping, food, nightlife, culture, island escapes and more, as well as how to fund your travels while you're away.

For the traveler who only has time to read one book: 'Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders' by Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras, and Ella Morton

Buy it here >>

Inspiring equal parts wonder and wanderlust, "Atlas Obscura" celebrates over 700 of the strangest and most curious places in the world.

Created by Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras and Ella Morton, "Atlas Obscura" revels in the weird, the unexpected, the overlooked, the hidden and the mysterious. Every page expands our sense of how strange and marvelous the world really is. And, with its compelling descriptions, hundreds of photographs, surprising charts, maps for every region of the world, it will be as appealing to the armchair traveler as the die-hard adventurer.

For the train traveler: 'Amazing Train Journeys' by Lonely Planet

Buy it here >>

Experience 60 of the world's greatest and most unforgettable train journeys, from classic long-distance trips like Western Canada's Rocky Mountaineer and Darwin to Adelaide's The Ghan, to little-known gems on regular commuting lines.

We've always had a soft spot for trains. We know the moment a train pulls out of a station bound for somewhere fantastic is when the adventure truly starts. "Amazing Train Journeys" is the culmination of asking more than 200 travel writers for their absolute favorites recommendations. Some are epic international adventures, others short suburban routes along stunning coastline. There are incredible feats of engineering, trains that snake their way through mountain peaks, and even those that have achieved Unesco World Heritage status.

For the domestic traveler: '1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die' by Patricia Schultz

Buy it here >>

Covering the US and Canada like never before, and for the first time with full-color photographs, here are 1,000 compelling, essential, offbeat, utterly unforgettable places. Pristine beaches and national parks, world-class museums and the Just for Laughs festival, mountain resorts, salmon-rich rivers, scenic byways, the Oyster Bar and the country’s best taco, lush gardens and coastal treks at Point Reyes, rafting the Upper Gauley (if you dare).

And, for every entry, it includes what you need to know about how and when to visit.

For the traveler who thinks they've seen it all: 'Secret Marvels of the World: 360 Extraordinary Places You Never Knew Existed and Where to Find Them' by Lonely Planet

Buy it here >>

Featuring communist bunkers, burning gas craters, and at least one sponge-rock fluorescent grotto built by Polish monks, this book reveals weird and wonderful sights the crowds don't reach.

This packed and fascinating title takes its readers on a journey through the world's lesser-known marvels. Dive into an underworld of the planet's most surprising, fun, perplexing, kitsch and downright bizarre sights, and explore human stories and mysterious happenings that you won't find inside a regular guidebook. From eerie natural wonders to historical oddities and bizarre architecture, this is a travel companion for the incurably curious.

For the geography-obsessed traveler: 'Atlas of the World' by Oxford University Press, Keith Lye, and Wil Tirion

Buy it here >>

The only world atlas updated annually, guaranteeing that users will find the most current geographic information, Oxford's "Atlas of the World" is the most authoritative atlas on the market. Full of crisp, clear cartography of urban areas and virtually uninhabited landscapes around the globe, the "Atlas" is filled with maps of cities and regions at carefully selected scales that give a striking view of the Earth's surface.

It opens with a fascinating look at world statistics, a six-page special on "Land and Maritime Boundaries," and satellite images of earth, including eight-10 stunning new images sourced from NASA's latest Earth Observation Satellite, Landsat 8, launched in 2013.

For the national park pass holder: 'Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 59 Parks' by Becky Lomax

Buy it here >>

Get inspired, get outdoors, and discover the wild beauty of the United States. Inside you'll find coverage of all 59 national parks, from the misty mountains of the east and the redwoods of the west, to the glaciers of Alaska and volcanoes of Hawaii, organized by region, plus the best outdoor adventures in each of these parks. Choose from strategic lists and itineraries, and receive advice for linking multiple parks, interesting stops between them, and nearby attractions and state parks. 

In addition to gorgeous, full-color photos throughout, you'll get a handy keepsake section for your national parks stamps and a detachable fold-out poster map. 

For the hungry roadtripper: 'Roadfood, 10th Edition: An Eater's Guide to More Than 1,000 of the Best Local Hot Spots and Hidden Gems Across America' by Jane and Michael Stern

Buy it here >>

The 40th anniversary edition of "Roadfood" includes 1,000 of America's best local eateries along highways and back roads, with nearly 200 new listings, as well as a brand new design.

Filled with enticing alternatives for chain-weary travelers, "Roadfood" provides descriptions of and directions to (complete with regional maps) the best lobster shacks on the East Coast; the ultimate barbecue joints down South; the most indulgent steak houses in the Midwest; and dozens of top-notch diners, hot-dog stands, ice-cream parlors, and uniquely regional finds in between. Each entry delves into the folkways of a restaurant's locale as well as the dining experience itself, and each is written in the Sterns' entertaining and colorful style. 

For the curious, experiential traveler: 'The Bucket List: 1,000 Adventures Big & Small' by Kath Stathers

Buy it here >>

This invaluable guide to fun, fantastic, and life-affirming activities features an eclectic range of ideas such as self-improvement, sports-related endeavors, natural wonders, cultural experiences, culinary delights, and more. From glassblowing in the Czech Republic to swimming with dolphins in New Zealand, "The Bucket List" is the perfect gift for the passionate traveler — an around-the-world, continent-by-continent listing of beaches, museums, monuments, islands, inns, restaurants, mountains, and more.

For the outdoorsy woman: 'She Explores: Stories of Life-Changing Adventures on the Road and in the Wild' by Gale Straub

Buy it here >>

Beautiful, empowering, and exhilarating, "She Explores" is a spirited celebration of female bravery and courage, and an inspirational companion for any woman who wants to travel the world on her own terms.

Combining breathtaking travel photography with compelling personal narratives, "She Explores" shares the stories of 40 diverse women on unforgettable journeys in nature: women who live out of vans, trucks, and vintage trailers, hiking the wild, cooking meals over campfires, and sleeping under the stars. Women biking through the countryside, embarking on an unknown road trip, or backpacking through the outdoors with their young children in tow.

For the introspective traveler: 'Destination Earth: A New Philosophy of Travel by a World-Traveler' by Nicos Hadjicostis

Buy it here >>

More a guide to travel than a travel guide, "Destination Earth" transforms how you view travel and its relation to life. It also provides a philosophical framework for embarking on more meaningful and purposeful travels, whether it's an around the world journey, or an exploration of a region, or even a city.

"Destination Earth" is the product of the author's unique 6.5-year, continuous around-the-world journey, during which he visited 70 countries on 6 continents and treated the world as if it were a single destination. From Chile and Argentina to Thailand and Japan, it explores the delicate and invisible interconnections of nations and countries, people and cultures, and delves deep into all aspects of travel and its transformational power.

For travelers who let their stomachs lead the way: 'Great American Eating Experiences: Local Specialties, Favorite Restaurants, Food Festivals, Diners, Roadside Stands, and More' by National Geographic

Buy it here >>

Follow the locals to their favorite foods throughout the United States, state by state, with the help of this gorgeously packaged travel planner. Anchored by regional specialties and the best places to sample them, "Great American Eating Experiences" serves up real-deal comfort foods like New Orleans Po' Boys and Chesapeake crab cakes, sprinkled with fun food factoids, food surprises, and more.

For the ambitious road warrior: 'National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways, 5th Edition: The 300 Best Drives in the U.S' by National Geographic

Buy it here >>

The fifth and latest edition provides more than 300 possibilities for spectacular getaways in your local area and throughout the 50 states. Whether you're looking for a short day trip close to home or a several-weeks-long vacation, you'll find a host of ideas in this beautifully illustrated, detail-packed book, which celebrates America's regional diversity, rich history, and jaw-dropping splendor.

Suggested drives include Maine's rocky coastline, the Southeast's mystical swamplands, the Southwest's striking red-rock plateaus, the West's majestic mountains, and many more.

For lovers of Nat Geo: 'Journeys of a Lifetime, Second Edition: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips' by National Geographic

Buy it here >>

Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic's legendary travel writers, this fully updated, 10th anniversary edition of "Journeys of a Lifetime" spans the globe to highlight the best of the world's most celebrated and lesser-known sojourns. Offering a diverse array of possibilities, every continent and possible form of transport is covered, illustrated with glorious color photographs.

With 16 new pages; new destinations like Cartegena, Colombia; and updated information throughout, this timely new edition is the perfect resource for travelers who crave adventurous trips — from trekking the heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to mountain biking in Transylvania — and those searching for more specific experiences.

For anyone looking for a new perspective: 'Overview: A New Perspective of Earth' by Benjamin Grant

Buy it here >>

Inspired by the "Overview Effect" — a sensation that astronauts experience when given the opportunity to look down and view the Earth as a whole — the breathtaking, high definition satellite photographs in "Overview" offer a new way to look at the landscape that we have shaped.

More than 200 images of industry, agriculture, architecture, and nature highlight incredible patterns while also revealing a deeper story about human impact. This extraordinary photographic journey around our planet captures the sense of wonder gained from a new, aerial vantage point and creates a perspective of Earth as it has never been seen before.

For anyone who's considering quitting their day job to travel: 'Not Afraid of the Fall: 114 Days Through 38 Cities in 15 Countries' by Kyle James

Buy it here >>

After purchasing one-way flights from New York City to Paris, Kyle James and his girlfriend Ashley quit their day jobs, planned futures, and daily paradigms to see as much of the world as they could. In 114 days, they trekked across 15 countries and 38 cities with nothing but their backpacks, their smartphones, and each other. 

"Not Afraid of the Fall" is the unvarnished story of their off-the-cuff journey: from cliff-jumping off Croatia's untouched coasts, to bathing with rescued elephants in Thailand; from crashing mopeds on gravelly mountain roads in Santorini, to hitchhiking with strangers in rental cars in Hungary. 

• Amazon has become a one-step ecommerce store that sells anything from books to clothes to groceries, along with more out-there items like tiny homes.
• Under the "live animals" category, merchants sell packs of colorful fish, tank-cleaning snails, and freshwater shrimp.
• Many of these Amazon listings come with strict shipping and ordering guidelines to guarantee that the animals arrive at your house alive.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In the deepest corners of Amazon, you'll find that the ecommerce website can be a place for buying not only run-of-the-mill products like gadgets and clothing, but also more niche items like built-it-yourself tiny homes.

One of the more out-there areas of Amazon includes an entire section for purchasing live animals. Although Amazon's offerings don't extend to any animal bigger than your palm, the e-commerce site has listings for any living creature you'd want in your home's aquarium or pond. 

There are packs of goldfish and koi fish, dozens of species of algae-cleaning snails, and colorful freshwater shrimp. Many of the listings for these live animals come with specific directions about their shipping and handling, to ensure that your mail-order animals are actually alive when they arrive at your door.

Here are some of the live animals that you can buy on Amazon:

SEE ALSO: Amazon sells a $19,000 do-it-yourself tiny-home kit that takes only 2 days to build — here's what it looks like inside

When I first found out that Amazon sold live animals, I was expecting — and hoping — that its offerings would include livestock and farm animals you could have shipped to your home.

However, Amazon's listings for live animals is made up of a smattering of animals that are smaller and better-suited for a household tank or aquarium.

Source: Amazon

Amazon offers various species of fish you can buy in packs of five or six. Depending on what you want, you can get mixed bags of smaller guppies and goldfish, or bigger exotic Butterfly Koi and Sarasa Comet fish.

You can also buy a fish on its own, like a Betta fish, a particularly territorial species that can get aggressive with other fish.

Source: PetMD

There are plenty of listings on Amazon for snails. It seems that many of the snails species sold are meant for tasks like keeping your tank or pond clean, and eating the algae that builds up in it.

Interested in various species of shrimp? Amazon has those, too. Different kinds can serve different purposes: an addition to your aquarium, or food for your other fish already living there.

Source: Amazon

Many of the Amazon listings — but not all — have very particular directions about shipping and handling of live animal packages. Many of the live animals have required overnight shipping and will only go out on certain days, with instructions to be home when your package arrives.

Source: Amazon

Additionally, some of the listings by sellers guarantee your animals arrive at your home alive, and a few promise a refund if that's not the case.

Source: Amazon

As for cost, these animals can be pretty inexpensive — you can purchase snails in bulk on Amazon for less than a dollar each. However, some of the bigger designer fish cost a bit more — one six-pack of koi fish costs $70.

Source: Amazon, Amazon

• The Costco Auto Program allows Costco members to buy discounted cars through participating dealerships.
• The program makes a lot of the hardest parts of buying a car — like research and negotiation — easier.
• But it also limits the customer's options in some areas.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Shopping for a car can be overwhelming.

Even if you know what kind of vehicle you're looking for, you have to decide on the brand, model, and model year you'd like, as well as the dealership you want to use, whether you'd like to buy new or used, and whether you want to buy or lease.

Where do you start your research? Which sources can you trust? What's a reasonable price?

The Costco Auto Program attempts to eliminate some of that uncertainty.

Read more: How to use your Costco membership to rent a car

In the past five years, over 1 million Costco members have purchased a vehicle through the program, which allows members to research and compare vehicles, calculate monthly payments, and get a discount at participating dealerships through the program's website or call center.

While the size of the discount varies based on the vehicle's class, brand, and model, a Costco Auto Program representative told Business Insider in 2018 that the average discount was over $1,000 off a vehicle's average transaction price.

And since the program is available only to its members, Costco has plenty of reasons to vet dealers and salespeople so their customers don't end up feeling tricked and blame Costco.

"We're not just providing leads to dealers — we're creating a referral," Rick Borg, a Costco Auto Program senior executive, told Business Insider in 2018.

Here's how using the Costco Auto Program is different from the average car shopping process.

SEE ALSO: The 25 best-selling new cars, trucks, and SUVs so far in 2019

1. You have to be a Costco member to use the program.

This may sound obvious, but while nonmembers can use some of the program's research tools, only Costco members are eligible to get the discounted price.

2. Multiple strands of research are condensed into one place.

One of the most difficult parts of shopping for a car is figuring out where to start and end your research, especially if you don't read car reviews for fun.

The Costco Auto Program brings reviews, safety ratings, a financial calculator, and a vehicle-comparison tool under one roof.

While it never hurts to compare research from multiple sources, the program's website provides a good place to start.

3. Your choice of dealerships and salespeople is limited.

Borg said Costco works with one dealership per brand in a defined geographic area around a Costco warehouse — and at each participating dealership, only a handful of salespeople are authorized to work with customers shopping through the program.

He said Costco picks dealerships based on prices, customer satisfaction index scores, and reputations on social media. Authorized salespeople are also evaluated based on their customer satisfaction scores and must work at their dealership for at least six months before they are eligible to work with the program.

But the limited number of dealerships and salespeople makes things a little more difficult for customers who don't end up satisfied with the first dealership Costco recommends. While Borg said Costco can point customers to other participating dealerships, they may not be geographically convenient.

4. Costco has already negotiated the price.

Negotiating the price of a car can be intimidating. While the dealership has much of the information — inventory, the dealership or salesperson's proximity to their sales goals, the average discount customers receive — you want to get the lowest possible price.

Borg said Costco takes a holistic approach when negotiating prices with participating dealerships, looking at national and local prices for a model as well as what customers can find through other discount programs.

And since it has a large membership base it can funnel to selected dealers, it has more leverage than any individual shopper.

5. You have a multibillion-dollar company behind you that can help resolve disputes.

If Costco's incredibly generous return policy is any indication, it will bend over backward to retain its members.

Buying a car is a much bigger investment than a grocery trip, and the company doesn't want its members to associate it with a $40,000 purchase they regret.

Borg said that while the company is "fairly selective" about which dealers it works with, it also provides customer support before and after a purchase.

If, for example, a customer finds a scratch on a car immediately after buying it and it falls outside the warranty, Costco can at least serve as a mediator between the customer and dealership.

"Are we going to advocate for members? Absolutely," Borg said.

He added that if a dealership were concerned about who would be responsible for cosmetic damage like that, Costco is "certainly going to step in and have a conversation with the dealer and ask them to do the right thing."

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NOW WATCH: How Area 51 became the center of alien conspiracy theories

• Patagonia's new lighter, more flexible, and Fair Trade Certified update to its Yulex wetsuit line is my new favorite suit.
• Made from 85% (renewable) Yulex rubber, the new, entirely neoprene-free line cuts CO2 emissions from normal wetsuit production by about 80%, making it what might be the most sustainable wetsuit yet.

As of this past week, I'm officially ashamed at how much I've cheaped out on my wetsuit purchases over the years. I always thought to myself: I'm not a commercial diver, nor a professional, world-traveling surfer, and office life only has me in the water so often. Why would I spend over $500 on something I hardly ever get to use? Well, Patagonia's newest Yulex rubber wetsuit line and concern for steady blood flow to my extremities are two very good reasons, or so I've begun to learn and appreciate in my ripe old, comfort-seeking thirties.

There are plenty of great wetsuits on the market: O'Neill, the original wetsuit brand, is still making some of the best out of neoprene, in my opinion, and Xcel has long provided wetsuits for US military forces, which more likely than not speaks for something.

That said, there's a whole slew of reasons you might consider looking elsewhere. Looking into both environmental and social responsibility, Patagonia, as it stands now, is the only wetsuit manufacturer that is Fair Trade Certified and neoprene-free. The Yulex line is predominantly (85%) made from natural rubber that's tapped from hevea trees, which can produce for about thirty years, at the end of which they're mostly felled and made into furniture.

So, while there's still a not insignificant 15% of petroleum-based spandex comprising Yulex suits, it's a far cry from where the wetsuit industry was, say, a mere five years ago.

Patagonia's newest line of Yulex suits, I might add, is also exceptionally well-sealed, and, as a result, toasty as can be, which is exactly what you want in a full suit when you're heading into 49-degree-Fahrenheit surf like I did this past weekend.

Technical specs of the Patagonia R4 Yulex wetsuit

The 49-degree-Fahrenheit water (and 50-degree air) felt so balmy in this wetsuit that I left the zipper (front, chest) unzipped while I was in the surf for over two hours.

Everything on the suit, as well as the gloves and booties, is blind-stitched, taped, and glued, which is the golden standard for the modern wetsuit. I've been wearing and testing Patagonia's Yulex wetsuits for about two years now, and I haven't seen so much as a stitch pop. While this one is new and I've only worn it a couple of times so far, I'd be surprised if it starts to unravel anytime soon. If I do, both you, dear reader, and Patagonia will be among the first to know about it.

Wetsuits are usually measured in thickness by millimeters. For instance, a suit labeled "6/5" means that it measures 6 millimeters thick in the core (chest, shoulders, hips, and back) and 5 millimeters in the extremities (arms and legs). Patagonia, on the other hand, goes for half-millimeter variations that I've found widen the temperature windows in which they'll perform. The lightest-weight wetsuit the brand makes (the R1 Lite) is 2 millimeters thick throughout, which is its only normal wetsuit. The rest of the suits break from the norm: The R1 is a 3.5/2mm suit in place of a 3/2; the R2 is a 4.5/3.5, as opposed to a 4/3, and so on, all the way up to the R5, which is a 6.5/5 made specifically for waters between 32 and 36 degrees Fahrenheit.

The R4 I've been testing is a 5.5/4, or a slightly thicker, warmer adaptation of a "5/4" suit, and that extra half of a millimeter in the core really does make a difference, and my arms and legs are left being that much more limber. It's designed for 38- to 48-degree-Fahrenheit water, which covers me from November or December all the way to early May. I'm used to going from a 4/3 to a 5/4 and maybe even a 6/5 in these temperatures, but I imagine I'll probably still use this R4 (comfortably) for another couple of weeks. That means that this suit has me covered for about half of the year, and my R1, so long as I'm willing to put up with a little discomfort around the colder seasons, covers me from early summer and carries me through the beginning of fall.

The front-zip version of the suit (which I recommend most) comes with a corrosion-proof Salmi zipper, and the zipper, along with the pull-over neck piece, is replaceable (this is often the first thing that goes out on a suit, and the reason back-zip suits tend not to last as long). The suit's Supratex kneepads and cuffs don't seem like anything special, but the ankle cuffs certainly made the hardest part of getting into and out of the suit less of a hassle. The adjustable hood opening with cord lock is a pretty rudimentary piece, but it's worth pointing out that it does work. And the lower-profile tape covering the stitching and seams on the inside of the suit is a nice touch for comfort, as is the now-softer inner lining, thanks to a new weave.

Sizing

Sizing a wetsuit can be tricky business. Fortunately, Patagonia offers sizing charts for its men's and women's wetsuits. Follow these strictly. If you're deciding between two sizes, I suggest going up a size. But keep in mind that everything should be pretty form-fitting, bordering on snug, and you definitely don't want any baggie or bunched-up spots. If you do receive a wetsuit that doesn't fit properly, make sure you take it off immediately (and carefully), and at all costs, do not get it wet or Patagonia probably won't accept it as a return.

My experience using the Patagonia R4 Yulex wetsuit

Once wetsuits get to about 5mm in thickness, I've generally felt like the Michelin Man wearing them, almost completely inflexible. All wetsuits have gotten remarkably better in the past few years, but the newest iteration of what was once a fairly stiff suit by Patagonia now leaves me almost as free as a bird.

How flexible a suit is also (and perhaps more importantly) translates to your dexterity in the water, which is inherently lower than normal in near-frigid temperatures. Add to that a 5-millimeter skin-tight rubber suit, and let the constriction begin. All in all, though, the new Yulex line is "20% stretchier than its previous generation," according to Patagonia. The brand also claims that they're 5% lighter than before, too, and I must say that I felt much more agile in this suit than I generally do in others, which pays off in dividends of higher wave counts and, hopefully, better rides.

Patagonia also went ahead and made its linings softer and the internal tape over the stitching and seams lower profile, which translates to less rashing. I hadn't had any trouble with rashes before, but I find that the softer lining is palpable, and thoroughly appreciated, at least in my experience.

The thing I noticed most while bobbing around in 49-degree seas was how well-sealed the new Yulex suits are. I barely felt any water creep in during my two-and-a-half-hour surf, and the only reason I got out of the water when I did was that my photographer got cold. Fair enough, I figured.

If you do encounter any problems with your suit, Patagonia offers what I'd call a generous warranty, even when it comes to user error.

Tear open your wetsuit with a surfboard fin? The company will fix it for $20. Decide you want a hood on your hoodless suit? $40. That's more or less the cost of the materials with the professional labor tossed in for free; and look around, but you probably won't find that rate of service anywhere on the wetsuit market. Not as far as I know. Patagonia stands behind its products, and this is where the premium that you pay for its gear shows its worth.

Stretching into a wetsuit is an exercise in acrobatics, which, it turns out, is extremely frustrating when you're half-naked and soaking wet in a blizzard. It wasn't snowing on this outing, but it was plenty chilly, and I was relieved to not have to wriggle and writhe into and out of my suit as much as usual.

Caring for your wetsuit

Wetsuit care, regardless of the quality (or price) of your suit, is paramount to it living a long, happy, body-warming life. Here are a few tips:

• Always rinse your suit with fresh water after use, but it doesn't hurt to shake the sand out with a little sea water in the meantime if there's no fresh water at hand.
• Don't hang your wet wetsuit from the collar since the added water weight will stretch it out. Instead, double it over a clothing hanger so the weight is evenly distributed.
• Hang to dry somewhere dry, of course, but also out of the sun (the sun's rays are even more harmful to your suit than they are to you).
• Turn it inside out until it's dry. The last thing you want, especially in winter, is to have to put on a wet wetsuit.
• Once completely dry, hang to store. NEVER fold it, and only roll it when you must (creases will ultimately compromise your suit).
• On occasion, wash it with a wetsuit shampoo like this $13 I found on Amazon.
• Finally, DON'T PEE IN YOUR SUIT. Or, at least try not to. It's hard to overstress how quickly all that ammonia will wear it thin before its rightful time.

The bottom line

This suit, while maybe not the stretchiest suit on the market, is built to last. The Yulex rubber is more durable than the neoprene on a lot of other wetsuits I've worn over the years, and it is perfectly stitched, sealed, and taped, which means that over time, the seams will hold up and prevent water from flushing in and out of your suit.

I've been testing the original Yulex wetsuits for about two years, and I've taken them on trips to Fiji, New Zealand, and beyond, putting them through paces well outside of their job description. I've taken them spearfishing and lobster diving along rocky, wave-lashed shorelines, where more than once I have graced a rock or two. After two years of world travel and blatant misuse, they're in much better shape than my previous surfing wetsuits were; they're not thinning or stretching out, and the seams, tape, and glue have all held tightly.

If these newer, lighter, and stretchier suits are anywhere near as durable as the old line, I won't be holding my breath looking for flaws or failures — at least not anytime soon.

Pros: More flexible than the previous generation, immaculately stitched, sealed, and taped

Cons: Expensive, maybe not quite as flexible as the higher-performance, state-of-the-art neoprene wetsuits

For more information on how to care for and maintain your wetsuit, and for other wetsuit recommendations, check out our full wetsuit buying guide.

Shop the $549 Patagonia R4 Yulex Front-Zip Hooded Full Suit I tried here for men, and here for women.

Shop all men's Patagonia Yulex Wetsuits here. Or shop all women's Patagonia Yulex Wetsuits here.

SEE ALSO: I'm a devout fan of the original Sperry boat shoes, but I've been wearing its new recycled ocean plastic sneakers lately — here's how they stack up

Join the conversation about this story »

• You can easily record audio on your iPhone using its built-in Voice Memos app, and use the same app to edit and share the recordings you've made. 
• You can also download dozens of different third-party recording apps from the iPhone's App Store, which often offer advanced recording and editing features.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Earlier this year, I interviewed the host of a nationally syndicated radio show and podcast (Francis Lam of American Public Media's "The Splendid Table"). We had a two-hour lunch in a restaurant where music and noisy chatter filled the space, yet still I could hear every word he and I had spoken with perfect clarity on the recording I used to help me write a profile on the host.

The recording equipment I used? Nothing more than my iPhone and the Voice Memos app that came preloaded on it.

If you're wondering how to use the Voice Memos app on an iPhone to record notes, meetings, yourself singing in the bathroom, or any other audio, you'll have it mastered in just a few minutes. The app is straightforward and easy to use once you know the few steps.

Just a quick note before we dive in: while the Voice Memos app lets you make surprisingly high quality recordings of the sounds around the phone, what the Voice Memos app won't let you do is record a phone call. But that may be a blessing in disguise, as recording conversations can lead to a litany of legal issues, though there are several quality paid apps you can use to record calls on an iPhone should you need to. 

And for more advanced audio recordings, particularly those geared toward the production of music, podcasts, and the like, you might try Garageband for iPhone, which singer-producer Steve Lacy famously used to record a track for Kendrick Lamar's Grammy-winning 2017 album "DAMN."  

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999 at Best Buy)

How to record audio on iPhone with the Voice Memos app

1. Locate the Voice Memos app, which may be in your phone's Extras folder; it says "Voice Memos" under it and has an image of an audio graph.

2. Launch the app, and note the large red circle at the bottom. When you tap that, a recording will commence at one.

3. To stop recording, tap the red square at the bottom of the phone.

And as far as the basics go, that's it — that's how you record audio on your phone. But there are a few other things to explore within the Voice Memos app.

How to edit and export an audio file on Voice Memos 

To rename a recording, tap the word "New Recording 1" (assuming this is your first) and type in a name.

To add more to your recording after you stopped it, tap the three blue dots beside it, then hit "Edit Recording." Scroll to the end of the timeline, hit "Resume" to recommence the recording. Just be sure you scrolled to the end, or you will be replacing audio rather than adding more to the end. You can also crop the edges of the audio file through  the same "Edit Recording" feature. 

To share an audio recording, exporting it to apps or sending it to others, again tap the three blue dots beside a recording and click "Share..." to open sharing options. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• 'Why won't my iPhone ring?': 7 ways to fix an iPhone when its sound isn't working properly

• How to stop iCloud storage alerts on your iPhone in 5 easy ways

• How to mute the sound on your iPhone by turning on silent mode and lowering the volume

• 7 ways to fix your iPhone when it has no service

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

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: All the ways Amazon is taking over your house

• Royal Caribbean's 228,081-ton Symphony of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship.
• It debuted in 2018.
• The ship has 22 restaurants, 42 bars and lounges, theaters, an ice rink, and a zip line.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

For Royal Caribbean, bigger is better. 

In 2018, the cruise line debuted the world's largest cruise ship, the 228,081-ton Symphony of the Seas, which follows the previous record holder, Royal Caribbean's 226,963-ton Harmony of the Seas. But according to CEO Michael Bayley, a ship's size is a function of the company's desire to pack enough dining, entertainment, and lodging options to make all of its passengers happy — not a goal in itself.

Read more:The 10 best large cruise ships

"When we set out to design ships originally in the concept phase, we don't get caught up in size. We really get caught up in concept and what we're trying to deliver," he said in a 2018 interview with Business Insider.

At 1,188 feet long and over 215 feet wide, the Symphony of the Seas has a wide variety of food and entertainment options, including 22 restaurants, 42 bars and lounges, theaters, an ice rink, and a zip line.

Here's a look inside the world's largest cruise ship.

SEE ALSO: Here's how you can use your Costco membership to book a cruise

The Symphony of the Seas can hold up to 6,680 passengers.

The ship took three years to build.

Customers can choose from 2,759 rooms.

Including the 1,346-square-foot Ultimate Family Suite.

Passengers have access to 24 pools, whirlpools, surf simulators, and waterslides.

This is the top of the Ultimate Abyss, which sends riders down a 92-foot drop.

Splashaway Bay is a playground-water park hybrid.

Hot tubs are available for those who want to relax.

As is the Vitality at Sea Spa.

The boat is divided into seven "neighborhoods." The Central Park neighborhood holds over 20,700 plants.

At the Bionic Bar, robot bartenders serve passengers drinks.

There are 22 restaurants, including the Alice in Wonderland-inspired Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine.

The ship has two, 43-foot-tall rock climbing walls.

And a zip-line that hangs from the ninth deck.

There's a candy store, if you want to indulge your sweet tooth.

The ship has multiple theaters and an ice-skating rink where passengers can watch a variety of shows.

Symphony of the Seas debuted in 2018.

Have you worked on a cruise ship? Do you have a story to share? Email this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com.

• Read more:
• The 10 large cruise ships with the nicest cabins
• The hardest job on a cruise ship can lead to blindness and burned skin from dangerous chemicals, according to a lawyer who represents cruise ship workers
• The 10 best large cruise ships for people who love food
• 7 of the most luxurious cruise cabins in the world

• Business Insider has selected the 30 leaders under 40 who are working to transform US healthcare.
• The list includes scientists, doctors, and entrepreneurs fighting to make US healthcare better for everyone. 
• Among the honorees are a physicist tackling cancer, a lawyer who guides startups, and a pharmacist changing how patients are cared for. Click here to see the full list.
• This is a preview of the full list, which is available exclusively to BI Prime subscribers.

Healthcare in the US costs more than anywhere else in the world.

For our money, we do get cutting-edge drugs and medical tech. But Americans still die younger than people in other wealthy countries, and healthcare remains out of reach for many.

Meet the people fighting to make the $3.5 trillion US healthcare system better for everyone. They're looking to big data to fight diseases, bringing care to more people in innovative ways, and using new technologies to develop cures.

For that work, they've been named to Business Insider's list of the 30 leaders under 40 who are working to transform US healthcare.

Click here to see the full list of the young leaders who are transforming US healthcare.

As we selected the list, we were looking for doctors, scientists, executives, and entrepreneurs who are dedicating themselves to improving the way we take care of patients and keeping people healthy.

The 30 people below were selected from hundreds of nominations, based on their potential to improve healthcare. The list is arranged alphabetically.

Click here to meet the top young leaders transforming the future of healthcare.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: An animated map shows every total solar eclipse around the world until 2040

• Actor Matthew Perry has listed his Los Angeles penthouse for $35 million.
• Perry bought the home back in 2017 for $20 million, according to Money.
• He spent the past two years renovating it with the help of architect Scott Joyce and interior designer LM Pagano, according to the listing.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Actor Matthew Perry, a co-star of the sitcom Friends, has listed his Los Angeles penthouse for $35 million.

Penthouse 40, also known as the "Mansion in the Sky," sits on the 40th floor of The Century — a 42-story, luxury condominium in downtown Los Angeles. It's currently the most expensive condo for sale in the city, according to Forbes.

Read more:Former NFL quarterback Joe Montana's California estate is on the market at a 41% price cut — and it comes with an equestrian facility and a shooting range. Here's a look inside.

According to Money, Perry bought the penthouse in 2017 for $20 million and, with the help of architect Scott Joyce and interior designer LM Pagano, transformed the home's interior over the past two years.

The 9,290-square-foot penthouse has four bedrooms, eight bathrooms, four terraces, a screening room, and a master suite with a lounge area and fireplace, according to the listing.

The tower boasts amenities including a pool, a spa, a gym, a full-service restaurant, a screening room, and four acres of gardens.

Keep reading for a look inside.

SEE ALSO: Step inside the tallest building in Singapore, where the country's most expensive penthouse just sold for $54.2 million and a 39th-floor infinity pool looks out over the city

DON'T MISS: The home where the infamous Charles Manson murders took place is on the market for $1.98 million, and the listing agent says it has 'spectacular' views

Matthew Perry, co-star of the beloved American sitcom "Friends," bought Penthouse 40 in 2017 for $20 million.

Source: Money

Perry listed the home for $35 million. The penthouse is located in downtown Los Angeles and is about 20 minutes from Santa Monica by car.

Source: Google Maps

It spans 9,290 square feet ...

Source: Holcomb Petersen

... and sits on the 40th floor of The Century — a 42-story condominium.

Source: Holcomb Petersen

The master bedroom, along with its panoramic views of the city, features a lounge area with a fireplace.

Source: Holcomb Petersen

Perry, with the help of architect Scott Joyce and interior designer LM Pagano, transformed the home's interior over the past two years.

Source: Holcomb Petersen

Amenities include a spacious screening room ...

Source: Holcomb Petersen

... and four outdoor terraces that boast views of the city's skyline.

Source: Holcomb Petersen

• Modern backpacking tents need to be lightweight, durable, easy to set up, and provided plenty of shelter from inclement weather.
• That's exactly what you'll get from the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2, a tent that is spacious, comfortable, and built for the backcountry. 

Whether you're just spending a single night in the backcountry or weeks hiking the Appalachian Trail, having the right tent is crucial to both your comfort and safety. The tent you bring with you not only provides a place to rest each night, it also serves as your shelter from wind, rain, cold temperatures, and even snow. In short, it is one of the most important pieces of gear that you'll bring with you, which is why it is so important to choose the right one. 

A good backpacking tent should be spacious enough to comfortably accommodate everyone who will be sleeping inside it each night, with perhaps a little extra space to spare. Multiple entrances and exits add a nice level of convenience when it comes to getting in and out, while gear vestibules provide a handy place to store your pack, boots, and other items. It doesn't hurt if the tent is easy to set up and take down either, with the option to add a rain-fly should the weather take a turn for the worse. 

As with most modern outdoor gear, weight is always a serious consideration. Today's tents are lighter and more compact than ever before, although sometimes that means making compromises elsewhere that may make carrying a few extra ounces well worth it. Ultimately it is up to the backpacker to decide where the line between comfort and weight-savings lies, but often a tent gains durability and performance without adding much in the way of weight. 

Outdoor gear manufacturers have turned tent design into an art form, which means there are a number of outstanding models to choose from. If you're having difficulty deciding which tent is right for you, we've come with some suggestions that could help.

Here are the best backpacking tents you can buy:

• Best backpacking tent overall: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2
• Best budget backpacking tent: REI Co-Op Passage 2
• Best family backpacking tent: Marmot Tungsten 4-Person Tent
• Best four-season backpacking tent: Black Diamond Eldorado
• Best ultralight backpacking tent: Nemo Hornet 2
• Best tent for couples: MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2

Updated on 08/06/2019 by Les Shu: Updated product options, prices, links, and formatting. Added REI Co-Op Passage 2, Marmot Tungsten 4-Person Tent, and Black Diamond Eldorado. Added related guide on the Best Men's Backpacking Packs You Can Buy.

The best backpacking tent overall

With its spacious interior, large double doors, and quick set-up, there is a lot to love about the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 tent. Throw in an overall weight that is approaching ultralight levels, and good stability even in strong winds and you have a backpacking tent that is simply tough to beat. 

Straddling the line between a traditional and an ultralight tent, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 offers the best of both worlds. With a trail weight that drops below 3 pounds, it is extremely light yet still offers plenty of interior space, doors on both sides, and large vestibules for protecting your gear. It is also quick and easy to set up and does a good job of maintaining its structure even in a strong breeze. 

The Copper Spur HV UL 2 doesn't take up much room in your backpack either, with the tent, poles, and included rain-fly packing down to an impressively small size. That means you can carry a smaller pack or bring a few extra amenities along on your backpacking excursion. 

While this is a fantastic tent in just about every way, reviewers still found a few concerns. For instance, Clever Hiker felt that the lightweight materials used in the Copper Spur's construction weren't as durable as some other models on the market. Backpackers may also find themselves with a bit of sticker shock as well, with the tent's $450 price tag putting it outside the budget of many campers. 

Still, with its combination of weight, size, and ease of use, this the best backpacking tent available at the moment. If you have the extra cash in your budget, this is the tent you'll want with you on your backcountry adventures. 

Pros: Lightweight, roomy, outstanding weight-to-space ratio, two doors, large vestibules, good performance in inclement weather

Cons: Lightweight material isn't the most durable as competing models, pricey

The best budget backpacking tent

The REI Co-Op Passage 2 is a sturdy, well designed, and feature-packed tent that won't cost you an arm and a leg. 

Designed to save cash, not ounces, the REI Passage 2 is a high-quality option for backpackers who don't have a lot of money to spend on their tent. In fact, this model costs a fraction of what most other shelters on the market do, and yet it still manages to offer solid performance and great value. 

As you would expect, the Passage 2 features two doors and two gear storage vestibules. It also comes equipped with mesh vents near the top that help keep condensation to a minimum and ceiling storage pockets for stashing important items. Add in very durable fabrics and a full-coverage rain-fly, and you have a backcountry shelter that meets the needs of most backpackers without the large price tag.

Most reviewers laud the Passage 2 for its easy, straightforward set-up process that is quick and efficient. That comes in handy when you arrive at the campsite late or are trying to set up your tent ahead of an impending rainstorm. Others appreciate its simple, but effective design that provides enough interior space to prevent it from feeling too crowded. 

Weight seems to be the biggest drawback of this tent, which is considerably higher than the more expensive tents that it competes with. Clocking in at nearly 5 pounds, it is on the heavy side, even for bargain models. If you can get past that number, however, it is a very good tent for the price. 

Pros: Extremely affordable, roomy, easy to set-up, good backpacking tent for beginners and experienced campers alike

Cons: Heavier than most other two-person models in its class

The best family backpacking tent

The Marmot Tungsten 4-Person Tent is roomy, affordable, and easy to set up. Plus, it has enough amenities to keep the whole family happy and yet still finds a way to remain relatively lightweight at the same time. 

Finding the right tent for a multiperson backpacking outing isn't always easy, which is why many campers elect to bring two smaller shelters instead. But for those families who prefer sleeping under the same roof, the Marmot Tungsten 4-Person Tent is a great option.

Built from the ground-up to maximize space, the Tungsten features near-vertical walls that allow for a higher level of interior volume and an interior height of 52 inches. In fact, the tent's clips work in conjunction with its poles to generate as much space as possible without compromising stability. As a result, this model is roomier than you might first expect, while still managing to somehow provide a cozy environment at the same time.

Despite its size however, the Tungsten 4P model isn't overly heavy for a tent designed for four. It clocks in with a weight that is a shade under 8 pounds, which is impressive for a shelter that can comfortably sleep four. When not in use, the tent breaks down to a very manageable size too, allowing it to be easily transported.

Other nice features include a built-in clip for hanging a lantern, interior pockets for storing essential gear, and two doors, as well as two vestibules. Marmot even created a color-coded system for its poles, clips, and fly that makes it a breeze to set this tent up. The Tungsten even comes with a footprint to help protects its floor and keep moisture at bay too. 

The Tungsten scores big points for handling foul weather exceptionally well. With the fly installed, it is nearly impervious to rain and the structure of the tent holds up well even in gusty winds. The fabrics used in its construction are fairly breathable as well, which helps to reduce the amount of condensation that builds up overnight. 

Make no mistake, there are lighter four-person tents on the market, but the Marmot Tungsten's blend of durability, features, weight, and price make it a wise choice for backpacking families. 

Pros: Very spacious, easy to set up, durable, full-featured tent for the backpacking family, storage pockets, lantern loop, comes with both a footprint and fly, relatively lightweight for a tent of this size.

Cons: A bit on the heavy and bulky side, included stakes seem to be on the smaller size, the floor and vestibule are a bit smaller than some of the competition

The best four-season backpacking tent

Incredibly durable and surprisingly light, the Black Diamond Eldorado is a four-season tent that is built to survive in the coldest conditions imaginable and keep you safe and warm in the process. 

When it comes to picking a tent for winter camping, failure is not an option. Four-season models have to be able to survive high winds, cold temperatures, and blowing snow or they run the risk of endangering the person inside. Thankfully, the Black Diamond Eldorado is about as durable as they come, even when camping in the coldest, harshest season of them all. 

Usually, increased durability means heavier tents, but the Eldorado is fairly lightweight for a four-season model. It weighs just 4.5 pounds, which is excellent for a shelter designed for use in the winter or on mountaineering expeditions. It is also quick and easy to set-up as well, allowing users to escape the elements in a hurry if the need arises. 

Some of Eldorado's strengths have also been perceived as weaknesses by some. For instance, while many backpackers and climbers love the level of heat retention that this tent provides, others have found it to lack good ventilation. That can lead to stuffy, stale air on the inside, particularly when used in warmer temperatures. 

Similarly, the tent's compact design allows it to pack down surprisingly small for a four-season model. However, its interior space can feel a bit cramped with two people and all of their gear. Other tents in its class and price range may offer extra space with additional room to spread out. That can be very useful if you find yourself tent-bound for an extended period of time. 

When you factor in the cost, performance, weight, and durability, the Black Diamond Eldorado is extremely tough to beat. As four-season shelters go, it is a top-notch offering that won't weigh you down or empty your wallet.

Pros: Very lightweight for a four-season tent, shrugs off wind and snow with ease, quick and simple set-up, outstanding build quality, compact design that saves space in your pack.

Cons: Doesn't offer the best ventilation on the market, cramped for two people and their gear.

The best ultralight backpacking tent

If you fancy ultralight backpacking, you'll swoon over the Nemo Hornet 2's minuscule 2-pound-and-5-ounce packed weight and its extremely easy setup system.

A brand of camping in its own right, ultralight backpacking takes a wholly different approach to spending time on the trail — one concerned with packing as little weight as possible. When it comes to the proper ultralight tent, no one does it better than Nemo and its Hornet 2 tent.

With a packed weight of just 2 pounds and 5 ounces, the Hornet is as light as it gets and packs lighter than almost anything else you'll bring along for the trip — save a pair of socks or some underwear. It even comes with an innovative stuff sack that allows you to split the contents of the tents between two bags, further reducing its overall weight.

Thankfully, the Hornet's light weight doesn't mean it lacks in other areas. For starters, it still comes standard with two side doors and vestibules, meaning you'll have multiple access points and areas to store excess gear — like almost every pick on this list.

By designing it to use triangulated guyouts, Nemo was able to avoid the interior feely overly cramped. Instead, its 28 square feet of floor area provides more than enough space for a single backpacker and, if need be, a cozy setup for two.

Setup takes only minutes due in large part to its single hubbed pole that features ball-and-socket tips. Its DAC aluminum poles also weight lighter than any pole setup on the market yet maintain a high level of durability — even if you're consistently packing the tent for three-season use. Whether you're fully invested in the ultralight movement or not, Nemo's Hornet is the best way to reduce weight without reducing comfort. — Rick Stella

Pros: Packed weight of just 2 pounds and 5 ounces, triangulated guyouts offer more interior space, easy set up and takedown, divvy stuff sack makes it easy to fit in a backpack, and its extremely durable aluminum poles are some of the lightest on the market

Cons: Tends to leak during rain storms

The best backpacking tent for couples

With more headroom and elbow space than most backpacking tents, MSR's Hubba Hubba NX 2 sleeps two backpackers with ease (as if the name didn't already allude to that). 

Backpacking is best done with friends and sometimes, those friends also happen to be your significant other. But when packing light is the name of the game, strapping on a cumbersome two-person tent isn't exactly ideal. Enter MSR's Hubba Hubba NX 2, a backpacking tent designed specifically for couples — if the name didn't already give that away.

To accomplish this, MSR designed the Hubba Hubba to feature an innovative pole configuration which increases headroom and elbow space, giving both partners ample room to cozy up for the night without feeling cramped or cooped up. This added space doesn't do much to its packed weight, either, as it weighs just 3 pounds and 13 ounces. While it is heavier than Nemo's Hornet and the Big Agnes Copper Spur, it won't break your back if you need to haul it for hours on end.

Despite its unique pole configuration, setting up the Hubba Hubba still only takes a few minutes as its color-coded design makes it incredibly easy to simply align the poles to the hubs. For camping in wetter climates (or when that out-of-nowhere rainstorm hits), the tent features two of MSR's patented StayDry doors, which guide water away from the doors when they're open — assuring the interior (and your gear) stays dry.

Not only is this a feature we've tested and can attest to its efficiency, but there exist a number of similar customer reviews via REI's site that echo the same experience. So many tents have issues with waterproofing but MSR gets it right with the Hubba Hubba.

When breaking down the tent, it packs into an incredibly compact compression bag that's perfect for fitting inside a backpacking pack, or securely fastening to the outside. As mentioned above, its light weight proves perfect for trips calling for several hours of hiking each day. If you're looking for a dependable backpacking tent capable of comfortably sleeping you and your partner, the Hubba Hubba is for you. — Rick Stella

Pros: Sleeps two people comfortably by providing increased headroom and elbow space, weighs just over three pounds, StayDry doors keep rain from entering the tent and away from gear, easy to set up and take down, and its compression sack makes it easy to stow

Cons: Doesn't provide much warmth in colder temperatures

Check out our other camping gear guides

The best men's backpacking backpacks you can buy

Backpacking is a fun but grueling outdoor activity, yet it doesn't always have to be. With the right equipment, a multiday trip into the backcountry could feel like a literal walk in the park. Achieving this starts with purchasing the right backpack. Finding the right pack for your needs isn't always an easy process. With so many on the market, it's difficult to know which are best suited to the type of backpacking you prefer. To help, we've tested an array of backpacking packs and narrowed them down to what we feel are the best on the market.

• Best men's backpacking backpack overall: Osprey Atmos AG 65
• Best men's backpacking backpack for short trips: REI Co-op Traverse 35
• Best men's backpacking backpack for durability: Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest Pack
• Best men's backpacking backpack for heavy cargo: Gregory Paragon 58
• Best suspension system men's backpacking backpack: Arc'teryx Bora AR 50

The best tents you can buy for your next adventure

With a good tent, you can always feel at home, even when you're actually miles from civilization and a few thousand feet up in the mountains. Here are our picks for the best:

• Best overall: Mountainsmith Morrison EVO 2 Person tent
• Best for mountaineering: ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3 Person Tent
• Best for the whole family: Coleman Evanston Screened 6 Person Tent
• Best for a budget: Flytop Outdoor Backpacking 2 Person Tent
• Best solo: Luxe Tempo Breeze 1 Single Person Tent

The best sleeping bags you can buy

A sleeping bag is more than a matter of comfort. In extreme circumstances, having the right sleeping bag can be a matter of life and death. But that's no reason not to find one that's nice and cozy, too. The Hyke & Byke Quandary 15 Degree sleeping bag is warm and comfortable, lightweight and compactable, and it won't break the bank. Here are our best picks for the best sleeping bags you can buy:

• Best overall: Hyke & Byke Quandary 15 Degree sleeping bag
• Best for extreme cold: Mountain Hardware Lamina Z Bonfire
• Best for a budget: Coleman North Rim Extreme Weather
• Best for casual comfort: Teton Sports Fahrenheit
• Best for couples: Sleepingo Double Sleeping Bag

The best camping cookware you can buy

A great set of camping cookware brings the comfort of the kitchen to the campsite. The Gear4U Camping Cookware Mess Kit is our top pick because it contains 13 useful items that tuck together into one compact package weighing just 1.3 pounds.

• Best overall: Gear4U Camping Cookware Mess Kit 
• Best affordable set: MalloMe 10-Piece Cookware Mess Kit 
• Best light set: HealthPro Titanium Camping Cookware Set 
• Best for one: Stansport 360 Stainless Steel Mess Kit 
• Best for boiling water: Terra Hiker Camping

• We use acronyms all the time, and in some cases, we don't even realize we're using them.
• You may not know, for example, that Taser stands for "Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle."
• Other examples include "radar" and "snafu."
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

Acronyms show up everywhere in our everyday language, from ASAP to BYOB, JFK to ROY G. BIV.

But sometimes, an acronym is so natural-sounding that we forget it even stands for anything in the first place.

That's certainly the case for Taser — invented in 1974, Taser stands for "Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle," an homage to a fictional character from the early 1900s. The word caught on and eventually gave us the verb "tase," meaning to fire a Taser at someone.

Read on for 11 words most people have no idea actually stand for something.

SEE ALSO: 27 fascinating maps that show how Americans speak English differently across the US

Laser is an acronym describing how the technology works.

Laser stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation."

Lasers were invented in 1960, but the first use of the term came one year earlier, when physicist Gordon Gould coined it for a paper about the technology.

'Taser' comes from the name of a science-fiction book character.

Tasers sound like an invention taken from science fiction, and as it turns out, the name of the device actually was.

The weapon was invented in 1974 by NASA researcher Jack Cover, and when it was time to give his device a name, he found inspiration in Tom Swift, the title character from a series of adventure books about a teenage inventor from the early 1900s. In one of the books, Swift invented an "electric rifle" that could shoot bolts of electricity and was powerful enough to bring down an elephant.

Cover did have to employ some creativity with the word "Taser" — the books never actually reveal Tom Swift's middle name, but Cover added it to ease the pronunciation.

The 'BASE' in BASE jumping describes the objects people jump from.

For thrill-seekers, BASE jumping is one of the most adrenaline-filled activities out there.

"BASE" is an acronym describing the types of objects the risk-taking parachuters jump from: building, antenna, span (like a bridge or steel beam) and Earth (like a cliff).

CAPTCHA pays homage to an early computer pioneer.

Anyone who's used a computer is probably familiar with CAPTCHAs, the little tests on some webpages that require you to answer a math problem or type a word to prove that you're  human.

But you may not be aware that the word actually stands for something — it's a "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart."

Turing tests, devised by computer pioneer Alan Turing, are used to judge how convincingly a computer can participate in natural human conversations, so it's fitting the inventors of CAPTCHA gave it a shout-out in their acronym. Of course, it's no accident that the name sounds just like "capture," making this word an example of a "contrived acronym."

CARE packages were originally the idea of a humanitarian group.

A care package is a package of goodies and comfort items you send to someone who's gone away, like a college student or a child at a sleepaway camp.

But before the idea of a care package was mainstream, it belonged to CARE, the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe, a humanitarian group founded shortly after World War II ended in 1945.

With permission from the US government, CARE sent packages of leftover military provisions to starving Europeans. Everyday Americans soon started to sponsor the packages, which contained items like corned beef, margarine, fruit preserves, and chocolate.

CARE eventually expanded its geographic scope, and today, its name stands for the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere.

Pakistan is an acronym for the five regions it comprised.

One of the most surprising acronyms is the name of a country that's frequently in the news: Pakistan.

The name Pakistan was coined in 1933, 14 years before the country gained independence from British rule, by an activist named Choudhary Rahmat Ali. In a pamphlet called "Now or Never," Rahmat Ali advocated the establishment of a state called PAKSTAN comprising the 30 million Muslims in five northern regions of India: Punjab, Afghan province, Kashmir, Sind, and Baluchistan.

By combining the the first letter of the first four regions and the ending of Baluchistan, Rahmat Ali came up with PAKSTAN (he added an "I" in the middle to ease the pronunciation). Conveniently, Pakistan literally translates to "land of the pure" in Urdu and Persian.

The Navy SEALs are named after the environments they operate in.

The Navy SEALs are the highly secretive and selective military group that carries out special operations.

The SEALs got their name because they operate in all environments — Sea, Air, and Land.

Radar technology was developed so that militaries could use radio waves to detect objects like ships and airplanes from long distances.

Although the idea for radar had been around since at least the 1880s, it wasn't until the buildup to World War II that the technology was perfected. In the early 1940s, the US Navy coined the word "radar," standing for "Radio Direction and Ranging" or "Radio Detection and Ranging."

Scuba describes the device divers use to breathe underwater

The "scuba" in scuba diving stands for "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus."

The word was coined in 1952 by Christian Lambertsen, an American scientist who designed a form of the underwater-breathing technology in the 1940s.

SNAFU has a military origin as well.

Like many of the other acronyms on this list, "snafu" has a military background as well.

The colorful expression meaning a chaotic or messy situation first arose in the 1940s as US military jargon. Snafu stands for "Situation Normal: All F---ed Up," although the profanity-averse sometimes change it to "fouled up."

ZIP Codes were a plan to improve US postal zones.

ZIP Codes aren't just named that way because they help our mail get delivered faster. It actually stands for something — Zone Improvement Plan.

ZIP Codes were the work of Robert Moon, a postal inspector who in 1944 proposed that the US Postal Service assign three-digit codes to zones across the country.

The postal service adopted his idea in 1963, but not before adding two more digits to make the five-digit ZIP Codes we recognize today.

• Read more:
• This map shows the most commonly spoken language in every US state, excluding English and Spanish
• 9 famous brand acronyms you never knew the meaning of
• These are the most 'annoying' slang words, according to Americans
• These are the 10 most confusing words in the English language

• Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently reflected on his early career in a tweet that said: "So much drama & good times too!"
• The tweet was in response to a post about the early years of his career that described how he got his start in Silicon Valley.
• In the tweet, Musk suggested that the story of his early career "may be worth a book one day."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

With a net worth of $22.5 billion, Tesla CEO Elon Musk ranks at number 39 on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. But when he arrived in North America at the age of 17, he had just $2,000, a backpack, and a suitcase full of books, he tweeted last June when reflecting on his early career.

On August 5, Musk looked back on this time period yet again in a tweet responding to a story about how he got his start in Silicon Valley."So much drama & good times too!" he tweeted in response to the story, which was published by Clean Technica. He added that it "may be worth a book one day" in the tweet, but suggested that publishing a book would likely come at the expense of the work he's doing at SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink.

Musk, who is from South Africa, moved to Canada in 1989, where his family lived in a small rent-controlled apartment in Toronto. Musk's mother, model and nutritionist Maye Musk, worked five jobs to make ends meet at the time, as she told Business Insider back in 2015. 

Musk eventually went on to found his first company Zip2 with his brother Kimbal in 1996, as Clean Technica points out, which they sold to Compaq for roughly $300 million in 1999. That money was used to create the company that eventually became PayPal, as CNBC notes. 

Read more: A year after selling to Amazon for $1 billion, the chief inventor of the Ring video doorbell explains how he's bringing his entrepreneurial spirit to the online retailer

Musk didn't always know that he wanted to lead a company, but he knew he wanted to create things, as he told Kevin Rose in an interview from 2012.

"At one point, I thought inventing stuff or creating things would be a cool thing to do," he said. "But I wasn't really sure if that meant starting a company, or whether that meant working for a company that made cool stuff."

If Musk does one day publish a book about his life, it wouldn't be the first. Journalist Ashlee Vance published a biography about the Tesla and SpaceX CEO in 2015 called "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future." 

SEE ALSO: A 12-year Google veteran who rose up through the ranks shares the simple advice she would give to her 25-year-old self

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