The INSIDER Summary:

• We rounded up products that will improve your cooking skills.
• Examples include a good chef's knife, a wooden cutting board, an Instant Pot, a cast iron skillet, a kitchen scale, an immersion blender, kitchen scissors, and a citrus juicer.

Being a good cook doesn't only take skill; it also takes the right tools.

We rounded up some of the best products for improving anyone's cooking abilities.

From a Dutch oven to an avocado slicer, here are the items that both aspiring chefs and pros should have in their kitchen.

Chef's knife

A quality chef's knife is crucial when it comes to any prep work in the kitchen.

Investing in a good, sharp knife is worth it, since you'll be using it all the time. Plus the sharper the knife, the more safe it is.

J.A. Henckels International Classic 8-inch Chef's Knife, $54.95

Wooden cutting board

Although they're cheaper, plastic cutting boards are known to be a breeding ground for germs, which is why you should splurge and go with a wooden cutting board instead.

Having a clean and sturdy surface to prep food is essential for any cook.

Square End Grain Cutting Board, $49.95

Kitchen scale

Instead of messing with measuring cups, buy a digital kitchen scale. It will be more accurate and you won't need to waste time with conversions.

Digital Kitchen Scale by Zerla, $11.99

Angelina Jolie is an icon. Not only is she an incredibly talented actress and director, she's also an outspoken activist, a caring mother of six, and a savvy businesswoman.

Not to mention she's got a killer sense of fashion. 

While she may get a round of applause from fashion critics every time she steps onto a red carpet these days, style wasn't always her strong suit. Remember when she wore a vial of blood around her neck?

However, she's seamlessly transitioned from grungy bad girl to classy lady. Now in her 40s, she's one of the most elegant women in Hollywood.

Keep scrolling to see how her style has evolved. 

Jolie accepted her first Oscar in a look that loosely resembled Vampira.

In her early days, Jolie favored black dresses and minimal makeup.

She also had an affinity for long, satin gowns. She wore this one at the 2001 Golden Globes.

When you're in the hot seat, there's a good chance that your interviewer will turn the tables at some point and ask, "Do you have any questions for me?"

When you have the floor, you'll want to take full advantage of the opportunity to show that you've done your homework and determine if the job is a good fit.

But it's imperative that you put just as much thought into what you ask as you do your responses to their questions. That's because your queries may reflect your knowledge of the company, work ethic, level of professionalism, and interest in the role.

"In the first interview, you'll want to be sure to ask the right questions. Ask about the job and company; not questions that can come off as self-serving and give the impression you may not be a team player or be willing to give 100%," Amy Hoover, president of the job board Talent Zoo, tells Business Insider.

"The sole purpose of the interview is to determine if you are a good fit for the company, and if it's a good fit for you," she says. "All the other issues and concerns should be addressed during negotiations after the job offer has been made."

Here are 23 questions you'll want to avoid during the first job interview, as they may do more harm than good:

SEE ALSO: 32 brilliant questions to ask at the end of every job interview

DON'T MISS: 16 interview mistakes people think will cost them the job — but won't

'What does your company do?'

Questions like this will make you look unprepared. To avoid that, never ask anything that can easily be answered with a Google search.

'What will my salary be?'

Hold off on the money talk.

"Candidates have to walk a thin line between gathering information they need about a company and assuming they are going to get the position," Jesse Siegal, a senior managing director at The Execu|Search Group staffing firm, tells Business Insider.

Asking about money too early in the process sends the message that you're arrogant and rude.

'What are the hours?'

Asking this question betrays a punch-the-clock mentality. It's better to go over details like this once you have the job in hand.

As Uber has faced a series of crises, it's been steadily losing top executives. 

Since February, the ride-hailing company has lost its president and its heads of communications, finance, product, and its self-driving car division. In all, nine of its most senior executives have headed out the door — all for different reasons.

As Uber faces challenges on all fronts in 2017, here's who has left the company and who (if anyone) has stepped in to fill their roles:

SEE ALSO: The 30 highest-paid CEOs in tech

Jeff Jones, former president of ridesharing

Departure: March 19

Replacement: None. Uber is searching for a COO instead.

When the company announced Jones' hire in August 2016, Kalanick lauded him for his experience as a Target's chief marketing officer and was excited about what he would bring to the ride-hailing giant. Jones' role as president meant he was in charge of all of Uber's operations, marketing, and customer support around the globe.

But Jones ended up leaving after less than a year at the company. In a statement sent to Recode, Jones said he was leaving because "the beliefs and approach to leadership that have guided my career are inconsistent with what I saw and experienced at Uber."

Rachel Whetstone, former SVP of Global Policy and Communications

Departure: April 11

Replacement: Jill Hazelbaker

Whetstone joined Uber in 2015 from Google. As soon as she started, she revamped Uber's communications strategy and attempted to rein in Uber's free-wheeling cities, which had caused more than a few PR problems.

But Whetstone quit suddenly in April amid a torrent of negative headlines for the company. "I joined Uber because I love the product—and that love is as strong today as it was when I booked my very first ride six years ago," Whetstone said in her farewell statement. 

Gautam Gupta, former Head of Finance

Departure: July (announced on May 31)

Replacement: Uber is searching for a CFO with public company experience. Its temporary finance chief is Prabir Adarkar, who also serves as its head of strategic finance.

Gupta had run Uber's finances since the departure of its last CFO in 2015, but the company never officially gave him the CFO title. Gupta joined Uber from Goldman Sachs more than four years ago. He'll be leaving in July to join a startup in an unrelated field, where he'll serve as COO.

The INSIDER Summary

• Mexico's cuisine goes beyond tacos and nachos.
• From sweet treats like churros to savory tamales, Mexico City is food heaven for hungry tourists. 

To call Mexican food one of the world’s great cuisines is an understatement. At this point in history, it’s been exported to places as far flung as Bali, India, and Australia, and nearly every city in the United States has its go-to Mexican joint. But Mexico is a big place and sampling all of its culinary traditions in one visit would be impossible. Luckily, Mexico City exists -- and it happens to be one of our favorite cities in the world. Heed our advice and head there right now to get your fill of all of the crave-worthy awesomeness being grilled up streetside or served in hyper-buzzy restaurants like Pujol, where reserving a table is a feat in its own right. What follows is by no means exhaustive -- there are too many cultures and traditions in this massive metropolis to cover the eating habits of even a fraction of the locals. So what can we guarantee? If you consider these recommendations, you definitely won’t come home hungry. 

Chilaquiles

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To visit Mexico City and fail to indulge in this most iconic of dishes is tantamount to a cardinal sin. Known as the ultimate killer of hangovers, chilaquiles taste just fine to us regardless of the time of day (or how hard one partied the night before). Chilaquiles are almost like deconstructed nachos. The best take extra-crispy tortilla chips and sauté them with red or green salsa and crema fresca. This indulgent mix is then topped with cheese, onions, more crema, and eggs or chicken. You can find this dish almost everywhere, from the quaint cafes of Condesa to the cafeterias of the Centro, like El Cardenal. In fact, Mexico City even has its fair share of chilaquiles-only joints -- look no further than perennially popular Chilakillers for proof.

Tacos

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You can find these ubiquitous delights on nearly every corner of the capital city, though don’t expect to snack on the hard-shell sodium-bombs you grew up eating on taco night in the States. Mexican tacos come on small, warm soft-shell corn tortillas and pack a lot more flavor than just salt. Each is topped with any manner of grilled, stewed, or roasted meats, plus a wide array of salsas (look out for the pureed avocado-based green sauce for a real mouth-pleaser). This concoction is then garnished with everything from radishes to beans and fresh cilantro. Vegetarians be warned: Aside from the city's few vegan taco stands (check out Roma’s perpetually busy Por Siempre Vegana Taqueria), make-it-my-way orders are discouraged and most stands lack any substantial meat-free options.

Tamales

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Keep your ears peeled to find this street-food delight. Tamale vendors in Mexico City generally make their rounds in any given "colonia" (or neighborhood) on bikes rigged with crates holding tall barrels of this steamed breakfast dish. So how will you know it’s them? A pre-recorded jingle of sorts often blares from their bike-mounted speakers on loop, letting those nearby know about the particular "tamales oaxaqueñas" that they’re selling. Step up and spend very few pesos on what is one of Mexico’s most recognizable dishes: corn meal that’s steamed inside of a corn husk until it reaches a dense, polenta-like consistency. They're most frequently stuffed with chicken or "rajas" (poblano chilies and cheese). 

Despite surging home prices across the US, it's still possible to snag something affordable in a great city.

As evidenced by U.S. News & World Report's latest ranking of the best places to live in America, the top cities for settling down tout a strong job market, low cost of living, high quality of life, and affordable housing to boot.

To find out which of the top-50 best places to live have home costs on par with the national median listing price, we filtered the ranking for cities where the median home costs $250,000 or less.

Below, check out the top-25 cities and their median home prices.

SEE ALSO: The 50 best places to live in America

DON'T MISS: Home prices are soaring — here's how much the average home costs in the 15 most popular big cities

25. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Population: 1,318,408

Median home price: $149,646

Quality of life: 6.1

Value: 7.5

Oklahoma City's warm weather and low housing prices make it an up-and-coming place to live. Due to a recent inundation of millennials, the city now brims with energy, creativity, and new ideas, according to a local expert.

"The community's greatest asset is its people," he said. "The community is tight-knit, willing to offer a friendly hello, and ever aware that their city is really a small town at heart."

24. Tampa, Florida

Population: 2,888,458

Median home price: $170,495

Quality of life: 6.6

Value: 5

Tampa's laid-back atmosphere, warm weather, and barrage of entertainment options make it feel like a trip to paradise. "Living in the Tampa Bay is like being on vacation all year," said a local expert.

Tampa hasn't been overtaken by tourists, however. It retains several niche communities, including a strong Cuban influence in historic Ybor City, formerly known as the "cigar capital of the world."

23. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Population: 558,198

Median home price: $83,500

Quality of life: 7.1

Value: 7.5

Located on the banks of the Susquehanna River and the foothills of the Appalachian Trail, Harrisburg offers residents unlimited access to the outdoors. Many are employed by the state and federal government in Harrisburg, but there's also several large private-sector companies that are top employers, including Hershey's, Rite Aid, and D&H Distributing.

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

There are tons of unexpected camping accessories that will improve your time spent in the great outdoors that won't bulk up your backpack or break the bank.

Below, eight camping essentials you didn't think to pack, but should, that you can buy for $50 or less.

DON'T MISS: This new outdoor clothing company donates 2% of its yearly revenue to ending poverty

Solar-powered lights

Instead of using your smartphone's flashlight — and draining its battery in the process — pick up these inflatable lights from MPOWERED. They're solar-powered, so they'll charge during the day and shine at night.

MPOWERD Luci Outdoor 2.0, $19.95

A coffee brewer

Don't want to forgo your morning coffee? This gadget from Primula makes it possible to brew a delicious cup of Joe at your campsite.

Primula Single Serve Coffee Brew Buddy, $6.36

A wash bag

Packing as few clothes as possible is one of the easiest ways to lighten the load. And thanks to Scrubba's revolutionary wash bag, you can clean the few clothes you do bring on your camping trip virtually anywhere.

Scrubba Portable Laundry System Wash Bag, $42.44

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

Unlikely as it may seem, the vinyl revival is a real thing; after falling out of favor in the late 80s, vinyl has become the physical format of choice for younger listeners.

Putting together a turntable setup that will give you a great listening experience without breaking the bank is challenging. The three components that I've recommended below will sound great, especially at an entry-level price.

My first advice is always to ask friends or relatives if they have speakers, an amplifier, or turntable that they never got rid of. Not only will you save money, but you'll save them some space. 

If you are starting from scratch, though, these components will ensure that you have a great listening experience. 

DON'T MISS: Here’s the one accessory every record owner should get to protect their vinyls

SEE ALSO: 36 records that deserve a place in any vinyl collection

READ THIS: I tried out the perfect subscription box for record lovers

A turntable

I've been playing records for 12 years, and in that time I've used a lot of turntables.

Vintage, budget, audiophile — you name it. The U-Turn is the first budget turntable I've ever tried that really impressed me. It's well constructed and upgradeable, and it sounds great. Unless you're taking things to an audiophile extreme, the quality of your turntable setup will not be bottlenecked by one of these. 

You can read my full thoughts on this turntable here, but there are only a couple of downsides to it in my opinion. The first is the lack of a cue lever, so you'll have to manually pick up and place the needle onto a certain song, which is only annoying if you want to listen to a particular song instead of an entire album.

The other is the lack of a built-in preamp; but that's kind of a non-issue because they took the money they would've spent on one and put it into the table. This is the only budget turntable I'd recommend to anyone starting their record collection, or wants to enjoy theirs more.

U-Turn Orbit (Basic), $179

A preamp

Most turntables require a preamp to work; it amplifies the signal put out by the turntable to an acceptable volume. 

There are a ton out there — vintage, modern, solid state and tube — and they can get very, very expensive. Trust me. Pro-Ject is a reputable audio-component maker, and this preamp has everything you'll need to get great sound, including a built-in spot for your ground cable.

Pro-Ject Phono Box E Phonograph Preamp, $60.19

Powered speakers

In this setup, the turntable gets connected to the preamp's inputs, and the preamp's outputs are connected to a pair of powered speakers. The alternative is to buy a pair of passive speakers and a stereo receiver. 

I've had both types of setups over the years, and my ears have always preferred this style. The only weird thing to get over is the fact that you control this audio setup's volume through a knob on the speakers. Once you get over that, it's smooth sailing.

People generally like this pair of Edifer speakers, some have even used them in their turntable setups. They have two audio inputs, so you can use them with your turntable, but also attach your computer or phone to them to play your digital music. You could even get fancy and buy this adapter, turning them into a pair of Bluetooth speakers.

Edifier Powered Bookshelf Speakers, $99.99

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

Grilling is one of my favorite pastimes.

There are very few things that bring me more joy than putting beers in a cooler, burgers on the grill, and inviting some friends over for a barbecue.

Yet with those joys comes a price: At the end of the day, you have to clean the grill, which can be quite the endeavor.

Enter: the Grillbot, which is essentially a Roomba for your grill.

I put the Grillbot to the test on my family grill that had not gotten the care and attention it deserved for years. You can check out the results below; suffice to say I was impressed with them. 

SEE ALSO: This $15 grill brush has more 5-star reviews on Amazon than any other — here's why

At first glance, the Roomba comparison is easy to see. With three rotating brushes, the Grillbot is designed to bounce around your grill and scrape away grime.

This is my grill back home. While I was once an avid, every-other-day griller, when I left for college and my grilling became more sporadic, I gave up trying to keep my grill clean.

This was the result of my cleaning negligence. Full disclosure: I thought I had set the Grillbot up for failure. This is at least two years worth of grime and residue — it would truly be a test for the Grillbot. I set the timer for the max setting, closed the lid, and prayed.

Cycling is a great-looking sport. The scenery alone draws millions of television viewers during the Tour de France. Sixty-one percent of people in a French survey said the gorgeous images shown were a major reason for tuning in to watch the Tour, whereas just 32% said it was the actual racing, as reported in "The Economics of Professional Road Cycling."

The folks at Microsoft and Volvox Labs have taken the beauty of cycling to the next level. In May they teamed up with North America's biggest bicycle race, the Amgen Tour of California, and used Microsoft's Kinect technology to photograph cyclists while they were racing. The results? Amazingly cool motion-activated images.

"A custom rig was made for the Kinect cameras, specifically for outdoor use to photograph and capture the 3D motion of the cyclists," Microsoft said. "Together with laser scans, the Kinect output was used to give the final images a surprising and beautiful perspective."

"The goal was to give fans a new, artistic, perspective of the race. Rendered prints will be accessible for the fans as high-resolution posters, as a desktop, mobile device wallpaper and to save and share with friends."

Learn more about the tech here, and check out some of the images below, along with a related video:

SEE ALSO: The coolest high and low tech at the Tour de France

Before fidget spinners took the world by storm, there was the Fidget Cube. The original became one of the highest grossing products on Kickstarter, raising nearly $6.5 million, and kicked off the current trend of small plastic toys designed entirely for your restless fingers to play with. 

I found out about the Fidget Cube in late 2016, after the Kickstarter fundraising period was already over. I knew I would have to wait at least a month or two to receive my cube, but I didn't want one of the knockoff versions that were flooding Amazon. I ponied up the $22 that Antsy Labs demanded on its website, and got ready for a long wait. When it finally came in late April — after months of delays — I couldn't wait to explore the wonders that awaited me with the six unique sides of the cube.

However, I soon learned that not all sides of a fidget cube are created equal. Some facets of the fidget's blocky physique are clearly superior to others, and after months of testing I have determined exactly which is the best of all. 

Here are all six sides of the Fidget Cube, ranked from worst to best. 

*This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author.

SEE ALSO: 'Eff. These. Spinners:' Teachers 'hate' the hottest toy in the US — and now schools are banning them

6. Breathe

This side of the cube — which is meant to mimic the feel of a worry stone — makes me want 1/6th of my money back. It's supposed to be relaxing to run your thumb back and forth along the groove, but I just find myself noticing how much of my hand sweat collects on the vinyl surface of the cube. 

5. Flip

This is the Andrew Bynum of Fidget Cube sides. There's so much promise and all the tools are there, but it never lived up to its potential. There's barely any give when you press down on it, and it feels weak and hollow.

I want this side of the cube to succeed, I really do. In a perfect world, I'd be clicking this all day long. But as it stands, I'd rather just flick a light switch. 

4. Glide

If it weren't for the clicker squandering away its potential, Glide would be the second-worst Fidget Cube side. It feels a lot like the analog stick on the Nintendo 3DS, which is to say that it's pretty underwhelming. It turns out that analog sticks aren't very fun to push around when they aren't controlling a digital character on a screen. 

Who knew?

Walmart, the single largest employer in America with 2.3 million employees worldwide, has come under fire for its attendance policy.

Based on conversations with Walmart employees and results of a survey of more than 1,000 current and former
Walmart employees, worker advocacy group A Better Balance issued a report Thursday claiming the retailer has punished its workers for taking sick days and time off to care for loved ones and violated a number of worker-protection laws including the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

"Walmart should fully comply with the law so that no one is illegally punished for a disability-related absence or for taking care of themselves or a loved one with a serious medical condition," Dina Bakst, founder and president of A Better Balance, the advocacy group that prepared the report, told the New York Times.

Among the complaints A Better Balance received, employees have said they're afraid to call out sick, they've been penalized and even fired after taking sick time, and they face financial ruin as a result.

Randy Hargrove, a spokesperson for Walmart, issued a statement to Business Insider in response to the report:

"Like any company, we have an attendance policy that helps ensure our customers are being taken care of and that our associates are protected from regularly having to cover other's work duties. This policy requires that all of our hourly store associates be on time and work their scheduled shifts and manages against excessive absences.

"We understand associates may have to miss work on occasion and we have processes in place to assist them. This includes legally protected and authorized absences, such as medical-related accommodation, FMLA leave, pregnancy and bereavement, that are not counted against our attendance policy. Associates may request a leave of absence or other reasonable accommodation at any time by talking with any salaried member of management or an HR representative. Each associate's circumstance is addressed individually, in compliance with company policy and the law.

"We have countless Walmart associates who successfully partnered with the company to authorize their absences from work. We believe we have the right training measures in place to help communicate our attendance, disability, and pregnancy policies to our associates."

Keep reading for more detail on some of the key points and quotes of the report:

'I just don't call out sick anymore at all.'

"I've called in sick I think three times last winter, but each time I've been told I've just ‘lost points' (of which I have no idea what that means nor how to tell how many ‘points' I have). Therefore, I think I must be getting close to the ‘limit of points' so I just don't call out sick anymore at all. For all I know, I might have a week of paid sick leave, however no one will show me how to see how many hours I actually have, so I act like I have none left. . . It's very easy to use them up too quickly, thus I won't use any more until I have an explanation."

—An anonymous employee from California 

According to the report, many employees are only permitted to access Walmart's internal computer system that details employee policies, the Wire, while they are on the clock (sometimes with a manager hovering nearby), and they are told that their use of the Wire is logged by Walmart.

'I passed out at work. They sent me to the hospital. The next day, they fired me for it.'

"My daughter was having seizures, I had to take time off to monitor her. They counted it against me. I passed out at work. They sent me to the hospital. The next day, they fired me for it. Walmart is a joke. People have lives outside of work, we get sick, we have children, things happen, and Walmart literally covers NOTHING."

—An anonymous employee from Ohio

The report says that Walmart uses a point system to discipline workers, and too many points results in firing. Walmart reportedly gives workers disciplinary points for any absence they consider unauthorized, and working less than half of a scheduled shift is considered an absence.

'The front manager then said that they wouldn't accept the doctor's note from the hospital ...'

"I got into a car wreck on my way to work and was sent by ambulance to the hospital. I had two fractured ribs and a concussion. I reached a manager from the hospital, who said it would be ok, and I came into work the next day with wrapped ribs and a concussion. The front manager then said that they wouldn't accept the doctor's note from the hospital, and they fired me for missing that day."

—An anonymous employee from Oklahoma

If an employee does not call in to report an absences at least an hour in advance, they receive four points, the report says.

Tesla is often the first company that comes to mind when thinking of electric cars. But, there are a lot of other players set to profit from the growing electric car market.

In a note to investors, UBS breaks down the seven companies set to soar as electric cars grow in popularity. The financial services company said the electric car industry is at an "inflection point" as the cost of ownership for electric cars reaches parity with tradition, internal combustion engines in 2018.

General Motors just released its 2017 Chevy Bolt, an affordable electric car marketed to the masses. The Bolt beat Tesla's Model 3 to market, as the electric car company plans to start shipping its affordable sedan later this year or early next.

GM is just one example of a company primed for launch. Read below to find out who else UBS analysts think are good bets, including a target price and an expected P/E multiple for each company.

Maxim Integrated Products (MXIM)

Sector: Semis

Current Price: $48.34

Target Price: $48.00 

Expected 2018 P/E: 20x

Click here for a live chart.

Albemarle (ALB)

Sector: Chemicals

Current Price: $113.44

Target Price: $112.00

Expected 2018 P/E: 22x

Click here for a live chart...

Lear Corporation (LEA)

Sector: Auto Supplies

Current Price: $150.92

Target Price: $158.00

Expected 2018 P/E: 9x

Click here for a live chart...

On Thursday, one of my colleagues threw my phone out of a fourth-floor window.

I hadn't done anything to provoke him — in fact, I asked him to. I was testing out the new Nokia 3310, and wanted to see if it could live up to the indestructible reputation of its predecessor.

The original Nokia 3310, launched in 2000, was a classic of its time. This was long before the smartphone era. There was no camera, no Wifi, not even a colour screen. But it was massive hit, and sold 126 million units worldwide.

Nokia has now relaunched the cult phone. It has been given a facelift, had a camera added, and stuffed with a swathe of extra features, and sells for £49.99. (But don't worry, Snake's still there.) But is it any good? And more importantly, is it as tough as its predecessor? 

Read on to see what Business Insider thought of the Nokia 3310 — and how it fared after being thrown out a window...

First up, here's the original Nokia 3310. Now 17 years old, objectively, it's not great.

Earlier this year, the smartphone world was sent into a frenzy when the news leaked that HMD Global was releasing a new Nokia phone that would use the 3310 brand.

And then in May, it finally launched!

We also attended the London launch and you can click here to read more about it, if that's your jam »

Life can get stressful and tiring, so the popularity of spas in the UK comes as no surprise.

However, while many of us treat ourselves to a massage, facial, or pedicure on occasion, some people are enjoying much more extravgant — and frankly bizarre — treatments.

Along with our own research, Business Insider teamed up with members-only luxury booking site Secret Escapes to find out where you can get the most unique — and often the most expensive — spa treatments in the UK.

From a 23 carat gold facial to a vampire facelift — involving actual blood — scroll down to see 9 of the most extravagant spa treatments money can buy you in the UK.

Be hit with a bunch of stick at London's Russian Spa Club.

Thanks to the fragrant and herbal infusions that are poured onto the hot "banya" oven stones, this room is significantly steamier than your conventional sauna.

Reaching temperatures up to 70°C, the high levels of steam will cause you to sweat — and detoxify — like you’ve never sweat before. Next up, you’ll be treated to the "Parenie"— a traditional and invigorating thermal treatment using venik — a leafy and wonderfully fragrant bundle of birch, oak, or eucalyptus twigs that releases essential oils.

Here you’ll lie down, and experience gently being hit, stroked, and fanned with steaming hot venik which boosts blood circulation, relieves tension, and (supposedly) lowers stress levels.

This unique session ends off with a dip into an ice-cold plunge pool, improving circulation, closing your pores and toning your newly rejuvenated skin. It might sound like a mild form of torture, but it’s one of Russia’s oldest and most popular traditions, with celebs flocking to get their next fix of twisted twig therapy. 

Price:£28.

Find out more here.

Enjoy a bloody vampire facelift at The London Cosmetic Clinic.

Brought into the limelight by Kim Kardashian, Vampire Face Treatments, otherwise known as Dracula Therapy, are when blood is drawn from your own body (like an arm), spun in a centrifuge to separate out the platelets, and then injected straight back into your face.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) works on the basis that the body’s own natural healing powers can hinder and even reverse the aging process — a revolutionary and somewhat disturbing therapy that places growth factors in the very place you want your skin repaired and rejuvenated.

When the platelet plasma is injected into your face, the growth factors basically stimulate other cells surrounding the area, plumping them up and causing them to increase in volume. The platelet plasma sends out signals to other cells, telling them to rush forward to that spot — thus reducing wrinkles and fine lines in the skin. This weirdly wonderful therapy can be used around the eyes, mouth and nose, back of the hands, and is even used to treat scars.

Price:£999 for the full face.

Find out more here.

Take part in a bootcamp for your face at London's FaceGym.

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Believe it or not, there is now even a gym for your face. Apty named FaceGym, it offers a "ScreenFace" FaceCamp made up of face workouts and nutritious food "aimed at people who are always switched on and constantly texting,"according to the Daily Mail.

It targets forehead creases, tired eyes, jaw tension, and tight neck muscles through "holistic and hand massage techniques, the latest in advanced aestethic technology such as Cryo, Laser, Radio Frequency, Ultrasound and EMS current paired with our organic custom blended skincare and potions from our range of Dr Branded products." Each plan also includes supplements from GP Nutrition.

Price: Available on request.

Find out more here.

Over the past several years, we've seen a rise in private companies valued at more than a billion dollars — the so-called "unicorns."

But when too many startups became unicorns, a new class of startups emerged: "decacorns," companies valued at over $10 billion.

These are the Ubers and Airbnbs of the world, the startups that steadfastly remain private companies as they seek more millions in funding at higher and higher valuations.

Following are the US startups valued at more than $10 billion.

SEE ALSO: The 17 tech companies that lobby the government the most

8. Dropbox

Valuation: $10 billion

CEO Drew Houston

Dropbox reached its $10 billion valuation in 2014 after a $617 million funding round. Since then, the company has shifted its focus to business customers, launching Dropbox Enterprise last year.

The company began to cut back on lavish spending an employee perks in 2016, something that was costing the company $25,000 per year per employee. While Dropbox doesn't disclose its financials, it's reported to have generated more than $500 million in revenue last year. CEO Drew Houston said in June that the company is free cash flow positive now, which is a milestone for a fast-growth tech company.

Various reports have pegged a Dropbox IPO as taking place sometime in 2017.

7. Pinterest

Valuation: $11 billion

CEO Ben Silbermann

In May 2015, Pinterest raised a $533 million Series G funding round from investors like Andreessen Horowitz, First Mark, and Goldman Sachs, bumping the New York-based company's valuation up to $11 billion. 

The virtual discovery and pinning platform has more than 175 million monthly active users, over half of whom are international. The company has expanded its focus in recent months to overseas markets like the UK, France, Germany, Japan, and Brazil, and has doubled down on increasing the advertising on its platform. Last August, Pinterest acquired online bookmarking service Instapaper.

Rumors swirled throughout 2016 that Pinterest was on the brink of going public, and in October, the company named its first chief financial officer, a signal that Pinterest could be inching closer to an IPO. 

6. SpaceX

Valuation:$12 billion

CEO Elon Musk

After raising a $1 billion funding round from Fidelity and Google in January 2015, Elon Musk's SpaceX reached a $12 billion valuation.

Less than a year later, SpaceX made history when it launched its Falcon 9 rocket into space, dropped off a satellite, then landed back on the ground safely. The success of the launch and landing proved it was possible to reuse expensive rockets, rather than letting them fall into the ocean.

But 2016 was a more challenging year for the company. In September, a SpaceX rocket exploded during a launch-pad test, destroying a satellite Facebook intended to lease. SpaceX has since delayed the debut of another, more powerful rocket system — the Falcon Heavy — and delayed launches crewed by NASA astronauts until 2018. 

File-sharing service Dropbox has four offices across the US, including New York City, San Fransisco, and Seattle — but nothing is quite like the Austin, Texas location.

With cowhide rugs and antler chandeliers, the design team from lauckgroup created a special office environment that Austin Dropboxers, as they call themselves, could call their second home. A full-service cafe, gym, music room, and the dog-friendly policy also helps create a unique work environment. 

We recently chatted with Rusty Pierce, the office manager, and Aaron Limonthas, account manager and diversity lead, of the Austin location to hear more about what it's like to work there. A tour of the space, below.

SEE ALSO: Here's what it looks like from the top of 9 of New York's most exclusive buildings

The Austin offices opened in 2015, when the company had reported $400 million in revenue. This year, the company announced that it's on a $1 billion revenue run rate.

Source: CNBC, Business Insider

The Austin offices are located in the heart of downtown, and take up two and half floors, or 29,500 square feet.

However they're currently expanding — adding a whole new floor to the space as more people are hired within the sales and operations teams.

What's better than your favorite Starbucks drink? The one you can't have, of course.

And that's exactly what they're serving up at the newly-opened Starbucks at Blizzard Entertainment headquarters in Irvine, California.

Blizzard is the company behind hits like "World of Warcraft,""Diablo,""Hearthstone," and "Overwatch"— games beloved by millions of people, full of distinct characters who inhabit rich fantasy worlds.  

Blizzard is also home to a new Starbucks that's only accessible by employees, and it's serving up exclusive drinks based on some of Blizzard's games, characters, and concepts. While the Starbucks is off limits for non-employees, a new Instagram account from the store showcases what you could get there if you were able to go. 

Check it out: 

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk loves video games — these are his favorites

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Looks like a normal enough Starbucks, right?

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But if you look a bit closer you'll see that it's got some unique features:

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Here's hoping you're big into "EPIC" drinks, as that's what this private Starbucks is all about. This custom drink is detailed as, "Passion tea, some raspberry and vanilla topped off with soy milk for a refreshing EPIC twist on a classic!"

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The sun is shining, the days are longer, and it's finally warm enough that the bold among us are starting to bust out those cargo shorts. That can only mean one thing: Beach season is coming. 

But as fun as excursions to the Hamptons and Nantucket can be, these ritzy summer enclaves can also sap your entire vacation fund in a hot minute if you're not careful. 

And perhaps you're looking for a permanent fix for your ocean-air addiction? If you're not palling around with millionaires and billionaires, you might as well forget about buying property in those exclusive destinations.

But if you look beyond the traditional summer hot spots, your dream of owning a sun-drenched cottage within spitting distance of the ocean spray may not be so far-fetched. 

Realtor.com dug through its database to find some scenic beachfront locales that are far more affordable for the average American and that won't have you ruing the fact that you never amassed a fortune on Wall Street.

They limited their scope to beach cities with populations between 1,000 to 100,000 and that had at least 30 properties on the market. And to ensure some geographic diversity, Realtor.com capped its list to two towns per state separated by at least 30 miles. 

Read on for the 10 most affordable beach towns to buy a home in — each of which has a median home price below $250,000.

SEE ALSO: The salary you need to earn to buy a home right now in 19 of the most expensive housing markets in America

SEE ALSO: 21 of the most affordable zip codes to raise a family in the US

10. North Bend, Oregon

Population: 9,543

Median home price: $239,000

9. Ocean Shores, Washington

Population: 5,628

Median home price: $232,500

8. Daytona Beach, Florida

Population: 63,011

Median home price: $199,900

Since 2007, Google Street View has taken panoramic shots of over 5 million miles of roads, covering 45 countries and about 3,000 cities around the world.

Canadian artist and filmmaker Jon Rafman has spent many hours culling through these images. He takes screenshots of the best ones and displays them on his blog. (Though, he never reveals their location.) Called "9-Eyes," his Tumblr is named after the nine cameras that Google's Street View cars use.

The photos portray how weird and beautiful the world looks. Take a look at some of our favorites.

Caroline Moss contributed to a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: Google's Madrid office has been raided by Spanish authorities

Rafman searches through Google Street View's archives for hours, he told The New York Times.

Source: The New York Times

In order to find the most interesting images, he's been mining through Google's footage for years. He says he enjoys being a "virtual explorer."

The photos he collects are taken all over the world.