• McDonald's uploaded unretouched photos of food to its website alongside retouched photos — and the difference, in some cases, is shocking.
• The fast-food chain made tweaks like beefing up meat, smoothing out imperfections, and correcting colors. 
• Customers have long criticized McDonald's for serving menu items that don't match the chain's advertising. 

For years, customers have complained that McDonald's food doesn't match its advertising. One reason for the discrepancy is actually hidden in plain sight.

Business Insider has discovered that if you look at the details of many of the photos on McDonald's website, there is literally a layer called "retouched." Turning the layer on and off reveals what the already-stylized menu items looked like in the photo shoot — and what they look like after a round of Photoshop.

McDonald's has previously gotten in hot water for advertising foods that don't look like what's actually on the menu. In 2012, McDonald's Canada let a video crew record the hours of work that goes into a McDonald's photo shoot dedicated to making the food look good.

Even after beautifying the burgers, however, it seems there is another round of corrections to be made — and McDonald's blatantly included the fixes on its website.

McDonald's didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. 

Here are the captivating differences between original and retouched photos on McDonald's site.

SEE ALSO: Taco Bell is taking aim at McDonald's with $1 fries — and they're like nothing else in the fast-food industry

If you look closely at the downloaded McDonald's photos, you can see the "retouched" layer.

The iconic Big Mac required some retouching efforts.

The sausage biscuit is one of the most shocking transformations. It takes five rounds of fixes to take the biscuit from looking squashed to standing tall.

Success doesn't happen by accident.

To prove it, look no further than some of the most powerful people in business: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, COO Sheryl Sandberg, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and billionaire investor Mark Cuban.

We compiled some of these leaders' best habits — and one bad one, for good measure — to help understand how they got where they are today.

Read for the best and worst habits of these successful people:

SEE ALSO: 15 habits of self-made millionaires, from a man who spent 5 years studying rich people

DON'T MISS: 9 things rich people do and don't do every day

Mark Zuckerberg is famously frugal

Mark Zuckerberg is worth more than $50 billion, but he certainly doesn't flaunt it.

Although he could afford any car he wanted, Zuckerberg drives a black Volkswagen GTI with a manual transmission worth $30,000.

He married his wife Priscilla Chan in their backyard, and on their honeymoon in Italy, the two were seen eating at a McDonald's.

And then there's his famous uniform of a gray T-shirt and jeans. It's not quite as frugal as it looks — each T-shirt reportedly costs upwards of $300— but it's still considerably less expensive than the wardrobes of some of his billionaire peers.

Zuckerberg sets challenges for himself

Zuckerberg has made an annual tradition of setting a challenge for himself to complete in the coming year.

His previous challenges have included running a mile every day, reading a new book every two weeks, learning Mandarin, and building an AI for his home.

But he has at least one bad habit: The first thing he does every morning is check his phone

Zuckerberg routinely checks Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp first thing in the morning.

You might excuse the CEO, seeing as he owns the company behind the apps, but even Zuckerberg acknowledges it's a bad habit.

"It's a pretty sad situation, to be honest,"he said in a Facebook Live Q&A. "I have contacts and I can't see very well. And before I put my contacts in I often look to see what is going on Facebook.

"I'm very near-sighted," he added, gesturing that he has to hold the phone close to his face.

• Lexus premiered its new luxury concept car, the Lexus LF-1 Limitless, earlier this month at the Detroit auto show. 
• The car was designed by CALTY Design Research in California, with innovation and luxury in mind.
• With features like hands-free driving and a concierge-like navigation system, the LF-1 Limitless pushes the boundaries of what's possible in a crossover vehicle. 

As its name suggests, the Lexus LF-1 Limitless has endless possibilities. 

The concept car could be powered by gas, hybrid, or full-electric, with Lexus setting its sights on its entire collection being all-electric or electric-optional by 2025.

Designed at CALTY Design Research in California, the LF-1 Limitless does away with analog knobs and distracting features,  controlled entirely by haptic technology and motion sensors. With individual control consoles and concierge assistance within reach of the driver and all passengers, the LF-1 Limitless is designed with a luxurious yet practical ride in mind.

“The LF-1 Limitless concept incorporates imaginative technology while creating a strong emotional connection by improving the human experience for the driver and passengers,” said CALTY Design Research President Kevin Hunter in a statement. Boasting innovative self-driving technology and concierge assistance, here's a closer look at the future of luxury crossovers. 

SEE ALSO: The 7 most extravagant car interiors in the world

The concept LF-1 Limitless was designed to show off unrestricted, luxurious innovation.

With an exaggerated dash-to-axle ratio, it looks and feels more like a luxury sports car than a crossover.

With 22-inch wheels, a low roofline, and elevated ride height, the crossover is designed to combine performance and practicality.

The grille features a three dimensional design with colors developed in-house by CALTY.

The grille uses LED lighting instead of chrome, taking the classic Lexus spindle grille to the next level.

Alexis Sánchez swapped London for life in Manchester when he transferred from Arsenal and signed a £350,000-per-week contract at Manchester United this month.

The 29-year-old forward is taking little time to settle into his new city as he has reportedly viewed a £2 million mansion near Altrincham, according to the Daily Mail, which is south west of Manchester city centre.

Complete with a piano room, a fully stocked bar, and a garden perfect for a few games of football, scroll down for a look inside the home that has caught the attention of new United forward Alexis Sánchez.

SEE ALSO: Inside Arsenal star Mesut Özil's £10 million home, which is decked out in Turkish marble and boasts a massive Yeezy Boost collection

After leaving north London club Arsenal for Manchester United earlier this month, 29-year-old Alexis has reportedly visited a £2 million property near Altrincham. Having signed a contract worth £18.2 million a year, this means it would take Sanchez just six weeks to pay for the property in full.

Sources:Rightmove and Goal.com.

The mansion is in between Altrincham and Manchester Airport, which is an eight mile (or 25 minute drive) from United's stadium at Old Trafford.

The 5-bedroom house has a huge garden, a gymnasium, and a three-car garage that has plenty of room for his £150,000 Bentley.

Sources:Rightmove and Daily Mail.

• Some of today's most famous actors and singers once lived together while they were starting out.
• Celebrities like Lauren Graham and Connie Britton shared a place while trying to make it in the business.
• Some stars like Justin Long and Jonah Hill weren't quite compatible as roommates. 

Sometimes we need a reminder that even celebrities struggled to pay their bills at one point in their lives. While it’s hard to picture people like Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling living anywhere other than sprawling Hollywood mansions with infinity pools and marble flooring, in reality, they had to work their way up the ladder just like we all do— and that often means splitting the rent.

Plenty of struggling actors and singers shack up with other aspiring artists to save cash. There, we imagine they live the typical roommate life: eating ramen, throwing together mismatched furniture, and pinching pennies wherever they can. After all, everyone’s got to start somewhere — even when you eventually reach the pinnacle life of luxury and glamour.

Ahead, take a peek at 20 celebrities who you might be surprised to learn were once roommates.

Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling

As kids, Timberlake and Gosling were as thick as thieves. They lived together in the early '90s when Gosling lived with Timberlake's family for six months as the two shot "The All-New Mickey Mouse Club." Of course, they were bound to get into some trouble.

"We used to do terrible things. We thought we were so cool," Timberlake told Ellen DeGeneres in October 2011. "We stole a golf cart."

Raven Symone and Lindsay Lohan

After becoming friends during a "Vanity Fair" cover shoot, Lohan and Symone decided to room together. However, in an interview with "Us Weekly," the "That's So Raven" actress revealed that the situation wasn't the typical roommate experience.

"She paid rent, and she was there probably three times," Symone said. "She had her clothes in the apartment we were supposed to live in together."

Jax Taylor and Channing Tatum

It might seem like an odd pairing, but the "Magic Mike" star and "Vanderpump Rules" cast member are indeed former roommates. The Bravo personality opened up about the experience on "Watch What Happens Live," saying, "he was my first roommate in New York when I first started modeling."

The 2018 Golden Raspberry Award nominations may have singled out some bad films, but they’ve missed out on some truly terrible movies in favor of populist box office bombs. The Razzie noms were led by Transformers: The Last Knight led the nominations with Fifty Shades Darker not far behind, with the other Worst Picture nominees including Baywatch, The Emoji Movie, and The Mummy. In something of a surprise, Jennifer Lawrence was nominated for a Worst Actress Razzie for her role in Darren Aronofsky’s mother!

In recent years, there’s been something of a backlash against the Razzies by many in film culture, and for good reason. They tend to only ever “reward” one very specific kind of movie: a relatively high-budgeted studio movie that earned bad reviews and/or bombed severely at the box office, to the point where it earned scorn from the general public prior to its release. That’s certainly the case with this year’s nominees. Three of the Best Picture nominees – Baywatch, The Mummy and Transformers – were high-profile summer blockbusters that fell short of expectations. The Emoji Movie and Fifty Shades weren’t cheap either and, crucially, both critically reviled, and not in any controversial way. All of these are movies that are safe to ridicule and hate.

The other problem is, the Razzies tend to make bad judgments. Lawrence’s nomination for mother! makes little sense, divided as the reaction to that film was, Lawrence’s performance was far from the problem, ditto for Dakota Johnson’s turn in Fifty Shades Darker, as Johnson’s acting was one of the few aspects of that film that worked.

This thud of a landing is only amplified when there are considerably better reasons to ridicule famous figures in the entertainment industry than their having merely appeared in a movie that was a financial failure. And there was, of course, plenty of bad, unsuccessful films that were released in 2017. Here are a few that may have been more deserving of your scorn than the actual Razzie nominations.

"Justice League"

The November DCEU film, in the version in which it was released, was a tonal disaster, attempting to mash together the styles of two directors – Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon – whose sensibilities just don’t fit together. Cursed with one of the worst villains in the history of superhero movies and that whole business involving Henry Cavill’s CGI-removed mustache, Justice League lost Warner Brothers a great deal of money, killed a lot of the goodwill from the summer’s Wonder Woman, and left DCEU die-hards clamoring for the release of a director’s cut that almost certainly doesn’t exist.

"The Snowman"

This thriller, filmed in Norway, directed by Tomas Alfredson (of Let the Right One In and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and starring Michael Fassbender, got brutal reviews upon its U.S. release in October, with various elements – a serial killer using snowmen as a repeated motif, a hero named “Detective Harry Hole” – that could have been unintentionally funny if the film had played them that day. Wasting a cast that included Rebecca Ferguson, Toby Jones, Val Kilmer and J.K. Simmons, The Snowman might have been a laughingstock sort of film, but it made so little of an impression that it was quickly forgotten.

"Suburbicon"

Director George Clooney’s Suburbicon, based on an old unproduced screenplay by Joel and Ethan Coen, showed mostly that that screenplay had remained unproduced for a reason. Starring Matt Damon in quite possibly the worst performance of his career, the film was a failed satire of 1950s urban conformity, also starring Julianne Moore in a confusing dual role and Oscar Isaac and other noted actors wasted in small roles. The main plot – involving a home invasion and other crimes – is bad, and the mostly disconnected subplot, about racial terrorism, is even worse, in that it fails to give the African-American characters names or, in some cases, even speaking lines.

• Land Rover Classic is bringing back the venerable Defender off-road for a limited run of 150 cars.
• The Land Rover Defender Works V8 70th Edition is in celebration of the brand's 70th birthday.
• The Defender is powered by a 400 horsepower, 5.0 liter V8.
• The smaller Defender 90 starts at £150,000 ($212,000).

On January 29, 2016, the last Defender off-roader rolled out of Land Rover's factory in Solihull, England, ending 67 years of continuous production.

And as far as we were concerned, that was the end of the line for the iconic Land Rover.

Until now.

This month, Land Rover Classic, the brand's heritage department announced it will resurrect the Defender for a very limited engagement to celebrate Land Rover's 70th birthday.

Hence the name; Land Rover Defender Works V8 70th Edition.

And you better act fast. Just 150 lucky Land Rover enthusiasts will be able to get their hands on one.

The Defender Works V8 is available for sale in the United Kingdom as well as the Middle East and North Africa. It is also available for import into Europe on an individual basis. 

Unfortunately, the Defender won't be sold here in the US. 

Here's a closer look at this very special Land Rover Defender.

SEE ALSO: Take a look inside the largest Lamborghini dealership in the world

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The Land Rover Defender is one of the most iconic vehicles in automotive history. Some version of the off-road remained in production from 1948 until 2016.

Now, it's back with V8 power. According to Land Rover, it's an homage to Series III Stage 1 V8 model from 1979.

Under the hood is a 400 horsepower, 5.0 liter, naturally aspirated V8 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Apple's $350 HomePod smart speaker is finally available to pre-order starting today.

The device will start shipping in two weeks, on February 9. You can buy a HomePod in black or white.

Apple products tend to be fantastic, polished pieces of tech, but there are plenty of reasons you should pass on Apple's speaker, at least for now. Take a look:

SEE ALSO: There's a reason to be wary of Apple's HomePod, and it has everything to do with Siri

Two of its biggest features won't be ready until "later this year."

When Apple unveiled the HomePod late last year, it advertised the ability to pair two HomePods together to create stereo sound, where the HomePods actually detect and communicate with each other to create a balanced sound throughout your living space. It also advertised the HomePod's support for AirPlay 2, which lets you play the same music, or different songs, in different rooms.

Unfortunately, neither of these features will be available at launch. If these features are important to you, it might be worth waiting until these features finally become available to make your HomePod purchase. By then, you might even be able to find the device on sale.

The voice controls only works with Apple Music. And the paid version at that.

If you, like millions of others, use Spotify to stream all your music, you'll be out of luck with the HomePod. You won't be able to ask Siri to play any of your Spotify music; you can, however, beam Spotify to your HomePod through your phone, like you would with any other Bluetooth speaker. Still, this is a notable limitation when HomePod's competitors, Google's Home and Amazon's Echo, both let you stream various music services and interact with them through voice commands, and even set them as the default app for music requests.

Apple's HomePod only has built-in support for voice commands for one music service — Apple Music — and it only supports the paid version. So, get ready to pay an extra $10 per month if you want to listen to music on your HomePod the way Apple intended.

$350 for a smart speaker is exorbitant, especially compared to the competition.

Apple makes just one version of HomePod, which costs $350.

Amazon, meanwhile, sells a family of similar smart speakers at an array of prices:

Amazon Echo Dot - $50
Amazon Echo - $100
Amazon Echo Spot - $130
Amazon Tap - $130
Amazon Echo Plus - $150
Amazon Echo Look - $200
Amazon Echo Show - $230

Google also sells its Home family of smart speakers at a similar range of prices:

Google Home Mini - $50
Google Home - $130
Google Home Max - $400

The Sonos One smart speaker, which works with both Alexa and Google Assistants, costs $250 — but Sonos is running a promotion where you can get two Sonos One speakers for $350, which is the price of one HomePod.

Compared to the most popular speakers, Apple's HomePod is the second-most expensive on this list; only Google's Home Max is more expensive. And considering how so many of these devices have near-identical features, it's very difficult to justify $350 on a smart speaker unless you truly prefer Apple's ecosystem over the openness of the other speakers.

• Automakers revealed a number of flashy concept cars at CES and the Detroit auto show in January.
• While concept cars don't always become production models, they can give us a sense of what car companies are planning for the future.
• This year's concept cars reveal the industry is still preparing for a future of electric and self-driving vehicles.

We haven't even reached February, and we've already seen a number of flashy concept cars revealed at CES and the Detroit auto show.

While concept cars don't always turn into production models, they can give consumers a sense of where the auto industry is heading. If this latest batch of concept cars is any indication, car companies are planning for a future of electric and self-driving cars.

Take a look at our favorite concepts released this year so far.

SEE ALSO: The coolest things I saw at the Detroit auto show

1. Byton all-electric SUV

The Chinese startup Byton revealed an all-electric SUV concept at CES. Though it won't be identical to the production version (Byton said the concept represents about 85% of it) that is scheduled for release in 2019, it gives us a pretty good sense of what the final product will look like.

Byton calls the SUV a "smart intuitive vehicle"

The car's features may include face recognition technology, cameras in place of side mirrors, voice and gesture controls, and self-driving capabilities.

2. Infiniti Q Inspiration

Nissan showed off the Q Inspiration concept for its Infiniti at the Detroit auto show. While there's no projected release date for the car, Nissan later said almost every Infiniti released after 2021 will be electrified.

• Pregnant women can struggle to find clothes that feel comfortable.
• Leggings, which can be a maternity essential, can be especially difficult to find.
• These leggings are a pregnant woman’s best bets.

When pregnant, it can be difficult to find clothes that fit well, feel comfortable, and that you feel good wearing. Not all of us can have a maternity wardrobe like Kate Middleton's, unfortunately.

And while leggings can seem like an easy solution, they can actually be particularly challenging for pregnant women.

Luckily, there are some good options out there for women who want to wear leggings throughout their pregnancy, either while working out or not.

Keep scrolling to see some of the best maternity leggings you can wear during and/or after pregnancy.

Ingrid & Isabel Seamless Belly Leggings

If you take a quick scan of online mom-to-be message boards regarding maternity leggings, chances are you'll see women raving about Ingrid & Isabel.

A writer at Parenting wrote a post while pregnant in which she said that these Seamless Belly Leggings were her favorite maternity leggings of all. Not only do they look nice, but they're comfortable too.

You can also fold down the belly panel, making them comfortable for all kinds of looks at all stages of pregnancy — and for those first few months after giving birth, too.

Ingrid & Isabel Seamless Belly Leggings, $48 >

Ingrid & Isabel Active Maternity Capri Pants with Crossover Panel

Not only does Ingrid & Isabel make great lounge-wear leggings, the brand also makes active leggings that pregnant women swear by.

At $78, the Active Maternity Capri Pants with Crossover Panel are definitely an investment, but if you're looking for leggings that you can wear for workouts during and after your pregnancy (as well as during and after any potential future pregnancies), these leggings are worth the price tag.

Bonus: these leggings also support your back, which is critical for pregnant women.

Ingrid & Isabel Active Maternity Capri Pants with Crossover Panel, $78 >

Gap Maternity Pure Body Low-Rise Leggings

Gap has a variety of maternity leggings that pregnant women will love. For those who don't want bottoms that go up over the belly, Gap's Pure Body Low-Rise Leggings fit underneath your bump.

Gap Maternity Pure Body Low-Rise Leggings, $24 >

• Shake Shack's new grilled chicken club sandwich is being rolled out nationwide after being tested in Brooklyn, New York locations.
• It'll be available for a limited time starting Friday.
• The sandwich is decent, but the chicken itself leaves something to be desired.

Shake Shack has a new grilled chicken sandwich in its lineup.

The "Griddled Chick'n Club" is a decidedly healthy item for a chain that serves cheese fries, hot dogs, and double cheeseburgers. Of course, this isn't the first chicken item on Shake Shack's menu — that honor goes to the deliciously crispy and near-perfect Chick'n Shack fried-chicken sandwich.

The sandwich will be rolled out nationally, excluding airport and stadium locations, for a limited time starting Friday. But is it as good as the rest of the chain's chicken? We grabbed one from a Brooklyn Shake Shack to find out. 

SEE ALSO: We tried everything on McDonald's new value menu — here's the definitive ranking

Right off the bat, the smell is intoxicating. The smoky aroma of bacon dominates the senses — always a good thing.

The sandwich follows Shake Shack tradition and is embraced by the chain's dense, ever-so-lightly sweet, potato bun. It's a rare bun that goes with nearly any sandwich, and this bun is one of them. It's even good with Shake Shack's breakfast sandwiches.

Let's look at the mechanics. It's a simply constructed sandwich — a club is a club is a club, and simplicity is a good thing here. The tomatoes are firm and vibrant, which is no surprise given Shake Shack's creed of quality ingredients and sourcing.

Every time I tell one of my friends I've never been to Olive Garden, I get a similar response: something along the lines of horror and shock.

So I finally decided to give the Italian American chain a try.

Keep scrolling to read about my first experience at the restaurant.

Olive Garden has two locations in NYC.

I ate at the Times Square location. The multi-story restaurant offers great views of the bustling square below.

When I walked in, I was greeted by the hostess and then had to take an escalator up to the top floor.

Apple's latest major product is now available to purchase: It's called HomePod, and it's unlike anything Apple has done before.

It's a speaker, yes, but it's also a home assistant powered by Siri. It's Apple's equivalent of the Amazon Echo or the Google Home — but mixed with a bit of the Sonos home speaker concept.

Apple CEO Tim Cook says HomePod, which ships February 9, is Apple's attempt to "reinvent home music." But what makes it different from the competition? And at $350, why would someone spend the extra money for HomePod?

Here are the best answers we've found:

SEE ALSO: Apple's new HomePod sounds way better than the Amazon Echo

DON'T MISS: 3 reasons Apple's new smart-home speaker falls short of the competition

If you're familiar with Amazon's Echo and Google's Home, you're familiar with the HomePod.

In other words, "HomePod is a combination speaker/microphone that both plays music and responds to your voice requests." 

—In the case of Amazon Echo, a digital voice assistant named Alexa powers the experience.

—In the case of Google Home, a digital voice assistant named Google Assistant powers the experience.

—In the case of Apple's HomePod, Siri powers the experience.

Siri can play music, tell you the weather, and even command various connected devices in your home.

What makes HomePod different from the competition? In short: Apple stuff.

Are you an Apple Music subscriber? HomePod is probably perfect for you. And that's because Apple's subscription music service doesn't really work with Amazon Echo or Google Home.

Sure, you could connect to the Echo or the Home as Bluetooth devices, but that stinks. You want to be able to speak with these devices and for them to play music that you requested. If you want to do that with Apple Music, HomePod is your only real choice.

On the flip side, HomePod does work with music services other than Apple Music — but only through Apple's Airplay 2 functionality. Think of it like Bluetooth with a different name; you can play music from any service that supports Airplay 2 through your phone.

Unfortunately, AirPlay 2 won't arrive on the HomePod until "later this year"— and when it's available, you can't just say, "Hey Siri, play Kendrick Lamar on Spotify." Voice control will work only if you're using Apple services, which is a tremendous bummer. You basically have to be all-in on Apple's ecosystem — Apple Music, iTunes — to make use of HomePod.

Apple is selling HomePod as a fantastic speaker first and foremost.

The speaker aspect of HomePod is at the forefront of Apple's marketing. When the device was introduced last summer at Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC, the first thing that Apple's SVP of marketing Phil Schiller spoke about was audio quality. 

More directly: Apple seems to be targeting folks who buy stuff like Sonos speakers rather than folks who buy devices like the Amazon Echo. 

"The speaker delivers the deepest and cleanest bass possible, with low distortion," Apple's PR says. Beyond deep bass, a set of seven tweeters sits in a ring — facing outward — in the base of the HomePod, providing what Apple calls "well-balanced smooth timbre." That's important, as tweeters output the high end of songs (the treble) while woofers output the low end of songs (the bass) — HomePod has speakers handling the entire spectrum of sound.

The world is a very diverse place, but if there's one thing that women all over the globe have in common it's that we want to look and feel beautiful inside and out. However, the definition of beauty is different in every culture, and women everywhere have their own secrets and rituals for achieving their desired look.

Here, we take a look at beauty lessons to be learned the world over, from French girl chic to renowned Asian skin care.

Somalia: Embrace multitasking beauty

There are only so many hours in a day, so women in Somalia have found a way to squeeze in their beauty rituals: They wear face masks and hair treatments around the house as they cook, tend the kids and do other chores. The typical face mask is a homemade concoction that blends the spices turmeric and qasil with water. In their hair, they apply henna for natural color.

Japan: Slap yourself silly

You don't need to handle your skin with kid gloves. In Japan, women apply moisturizers, serums, and more with vigor: They slap on facial products to stimulate circulation and to avoid tugging on skin with rubbing motions. In fact, American beauty mogul Elizabeth Arden followed this technique, using spoon-like utensils to slap product onto the skin.

Scandinavia: Saunas are your friend

Heating things up in a sauna is the secret beauty weapon of women in Scandinavian countries. They believe the treatment helps detoxify the body of impurities and view it as part of an overall healthy lifestyle that promotes natural beauty. Plus, it's a nice warm escape from the chilly climate.

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

The Insider Pick:

• The best mixing bowls are light enough for easy use, clean up effortlessly, and are designed to last. The Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls are our top pick because they're perfect for mixing and can even double as food storage containers, thanks to the tight-fitting lids.

The only way to truly appreciate the magnificence of a good mixing bowl is to try to perform a simple task — like making cookies, tossing a salad, or mixing up some pancake batter — without one. You might be able to get the job done, but it won’t be pretty. Perhaps, you just experienced such a situation and that’s what brought you here. Welcome. We’re here to help.

One of the key considerations when buying mixing bowls is what they are made out of. The most popular options are stainless steel, glass, and plastic. I use stainless steel bowls in my kitchen because they are versatile, lightweight, incredibly durable (I’ve had the same set for more than a decade), and cost-effective. I recently used mine to create a double boiler for making béarnaise sauce.

Glass is popular because it does not affect the texture, color, or taste of the food. And, depending on the brand, glass bowls are oven and microwave safe. The downside to glass is that it is much more susceptible to breaking and weighs much more than metal or plastic.

Plastic is great because it’s virtually unbreakable, lightweight, and cheap. But, plastic has a tendency to absorb strong odors and stain. Plus, you generally don’t want plastic to come in contact with hot surfaces or ingredients because it could melt or possibly leach chemicals.

Finally, there are also ceramic (prone to chipping), copper (expensive), wooden (too porous), and silicone (retains odors) mixing bowls that all have their plusses and minuses. However, we did not find any mixing bowls made from these materials that fit our buying guide’s quality standards. That may change as we update this guide in the future. If you’d like to learn more about these materials, The Spruce has an excellent rundown of their pros and cons.

In our search for the best mixing bowls, we looked at dozens of different alternatives. Based on what buyers and experts had to say, we narrowed our list to five excellent products that exhibit a track record of strong performance, ease of use, and durability.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls are our top pick and why you might also like the OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set, the Vollrath Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl, the Pyrex 8 Piece Smart Essentials Bowl Set, and the Sagler Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls.

SEE ALSO: The best KitchenAid mixers you can buy

The best mixing bowls overall

Why you'll love it: If you are looking for a set of mixing bowls that can double as food storage, consider the Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls.

The Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls set comes with three high-quality stainless steel bowls with plastic, tight-fitting lids. The large bowl holds 5 quarts of ingredients, has a diameter of just over 10 inches and a height of almost 5.5 inches. The medium bowl is 3 quarts with a diameter of about 8.5 inches and a height of around 4.5 inches. And, the small bowl holds 1.5 quarts of material, has a diameter of 7 inches and is about 3.5 inches tall.

The bowls are refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher safe, though we recommend hand washing the lids to extend their life.

Cook’s Illustrated liked that the bowls have a generous rim and are lightweight, which made them easy to grasp while scraping them clean. The reviewers did note that it was harder for shorter testers to access the contents due to the relatively narrow and tall build. Thoroughly Reviewed appreciated that the lids were airtight, which helped the bowls to perform double duty as food storage.

Around 84% of the people who reviewed these bowls on Amazon gave them a five-star rating. Buyers mentioned that they rated this set highly because the bowls are functional, attractive, stable, well-made, and are backed by a familiar brand name. They were also impressed with how tightly the lids fit. The bowls are also easy to stack and store in cupboards.

The only complaints we could find concerned the lids. Some commenters said that lids stopped fitting over time.

Pros: Tight-fitting lids, lightweight, durable

Cons: The lids may warp over time, might not be user-friendly for shorter individuals

Buy the Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls on Amazon for $25.13 (originally $64.99)

The best plastic mixing bowls

Why you'll love it: The OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set is lightweight and easy to manage with non-slip bottoms and easy-grip handles.

Each of these OXO Good Grips mixing bowls is made of durable BPA-free plastic with grippy bases and handles. The sizes of the bowls are the same as the Cuisinart set above: 1.5 quarts, 3 quarts, and 5 quarts. Each bowl has a wide lip and large spout for easy pouring. And, as with most OXO products, the mixing bowl set comes with a satisfaction guarantee.

The bowls are dishwasher safe, stable, and have a versatile design that is ideal for tossing, serving, and mixing ingredients. The soft, easy-grip handles make it easy to hold the bowl in place while you whisk away, plus, OXO offers a lifetime warranty.

Several expert sites rated the OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set as the best overall mixing bowl. Thoroughly Reviewed liked the non-skid base, the substantial lip for spill-free pouring, and the heavy-duty plastic is shatterproof.  

This OXO mixing bowl set has four- or five-star ratings from 97% of the people who reviewed it on Amazon. They appreciate the stability of the non-skid rubber bottoms and that the largest bowl can handle larger recipes. They also found it easy to wash.

Some verified purchasers mention that you should not put these bowls in the microwave (which OXO also points out). Of all the reviews, only two were for one star. One buyer didn’t like the shape of the bowls, and the other only received two of the three bowls in the delivery.

Pros: Non-skid base, dishwasher safe, lifetime warranty, easy-grip handles

Cons: Not microwave safe

Buy the OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set on Amazon for $24.95

The best mixing bowl on a budget

Why you'll love it: If you prefer short and wide mixing bowls that you can purchase piecemeal rather than in a set, we recommend the Vollrath Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl.

Unlike the other mixing bowls in our guide, the Vollrath Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl is offered on its own. You do not need to buy a set. It’s available in package quantities of one, two, and twelve and sizes ranging from 0.75 quarts to 20 quarts. The  1.5-quart and 5-quart bowls are the most popular options. 

Because each bowl is sold separately, you can create your own ideal set of mixing bowls. Each bowl is made of bright mirror-finished stainless steel. The edges are beaded and feature a wide lip, and they are dishwasher safe.

There are few expert reviews of the Vollrath Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls. Cook’s Illustrated liked that the bowls were affordable, broad and shallow, and that they put the ingredients within easy reach for wide turns of a spatula. The reviewers offered no criticism for these bowls, which received high scores for performance, ease of use, and durability. 

Around 91% of the people who commented on the Vollrath Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls on Amazon gave it a positive review. Buyers mention that the bowls are well-made and durable, though if a fairly strong individual were to use all their strength to try to bend the bowl, they could probably do so. There are some complaints about how short and wide the bowl is. Verified purchasers note that batter can easily fly out of the bowl.

Pros: Inexpensive, shallow and broad design

Cons: Batter may fly everywhere if you are wild with your mixing

Buy the Vollrath Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl (1.5 Quarts) on Amazon for $5.23

• H&R Block offers a free online tax filing service for eligible taxpayers.
• Tax season officially begins January 29, with a final deadline of April 17 this year.
• The IRS recommends e-filing your taxes and requesting your refund via direct deposit.
• Business Insider decided to try the free version of H&R Block's service.

Monday marks the start of tax season.

After that, Americans will have until April 17 to file their 2017 taxes. While the new GOP tax plan signed by President Trump in December is the law of the land, the changes won't affect your tax return this year. The new tax brackets will only affect income earned starting January 1, 2018. 

So what's the surest way of avoiding any trouble with your taxes this year? Filing as early as possible, according to Business Insider's Lauren Lyons Cole. It's the best way to protect against tax scams — especially potential identity theft.

If your income was less than $66,000 in 2017, many online tax services offer the option to file for your federal taxes — and sometimes state taxes — for free. You can check your options using the IRS Free File Lookup tool.

The IRS also says the fastest way to get your tax refund is the method already used by most taxpayers: filing electronically and selecting direct deposit as the method for receiving your refund. Your refund should hit your bank account within three weeks of filing online. Often, you'll get your money even faster.

H&R Block is one such tax company offering free services to eligible taxpayers. Its website estimates its clients "prepared more than 7.4 million tax returns" using its digital services in 2016.

I decided to check it out to see how it works and report.

Keep in mind, I didn't actually file my taxes. I just went through the motions, to get a better feel for H&R Block.

Here's how it works:

SEE ALSO: Here's a look at what the new income tax brackets mean for every type of taxpayer

DON'T MISS: H&R Block's tax calculator will estimate your refund for this year and next year — and it takes less than 5 minutes

When you get to H&R Block's homepage, you're presented with a few different options. I went for the online-only service that allows you to file for free.

H&R Block won't make you set up an account right away, if you don't want to.

I chose not to, for the purposes of this article. Plus, I'm not quite ready to file my taxes for real, just yet.

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

The Insider Pick:

• Regular brushing and grooming is an important part of dog ownership, so make sure you have the right tools for the job. Our top pick for most dogs is the Oster 2-in-1 Combo Brush because it is versatile, effective, and affordable.

Brushing your dog on a regular basis isn’t just about helping him look his best. When you brush your dog’s coat, you are removing dead and loose hairs before they can fall on their own which may reduce shedding. Brushing your dog’s coat also helps distribute the natural oils produced by glands in his skin which keep his coat soft and his skin moisturized. It may also help remove mats and tangles before they grow in size and cause your dog any discomfort.

When it comes to choosing the best dog brush for your dog, it all comes down to his coat type and length. We’ve reviewed the best dog grooming products in every category and have brought you our top picks for combo brushes, curry combs, slicker brushes, de-shedding tools, and grooming gloves.

Our favorite dog grooming products include the Oster 2-in-1 Combo Brush, the Kong Zoom Groom Grooming Brush, the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush, the FURminator De-shedding Tool, and the Pat Your Pet 2-in-1 Pet Glove.

SEE ALSO: The best gear to keep your dog warm on cold winter walks

The best combo brush

Why you'll love it: The Oster 2-in-1 Combo Brush is the only brush you need for everyday grooming because one side removes dead hair and the other gets rid of dirt and dander.

Dogs with short, smooth coats do best with a traditional bristle brush with soft to medium bristles spaced close together. For dogs with medium-length and longer hair, a wire-pin brush may be a better option. If your dog’s coat falls somewhere in the middle, or if you’re looking for a versatile grooming tool, a combo brush might be the best option. Our top pick for the best combo brush that has a bristle brush on one side and a wire-pin brush on the other is the Oster 2-in-1 Combo Brush.

Generously sized, theOster 2-in-1 Combo Brush works well for even the largest dogs with the thickest coats. One side of the brush is covered in widely-spaced wire pins to detangle your dog’s coat and remove dead hair while the other side features patented quill-like bristles that remove dirt and dander while also stimulating the production of natural oils in your dog’s skin. As an added bonus, the handle is ridged for comfort and ease of use.

In a thorough review from Bulldogology, the Oster 2-in-1 Combo Brush is described as a product that “won’t hurt your budget and can take care of most of your grooming needs.” It may not be perfect, but it is very versatile and easy to use. Petsho includes the brush in its top 10 list of the best pet grooming brushes, and Cleaner Paws comments that while it may be best for large dogs, it can be used for breeds of nearly any size.

With more than 700 reviews and a steady 4.3-star rating on Amazon, the Oster 2-in-1 Combo Brush is a popular choice for dog owners everywhere. Buyers love the solid build and convenience of the dual sides, though some say that it can be difficult to clean the hair out of the brush.

Pros: Double-sided to accommodate most coats, large enough for even large-breed dogs, wire-pin side removes hair, bristle side removed dirt and dander, stimulates natural oil production in the skin, ridged handle for comfort, very inexpensive

Cons: May be too large for very small breeds, may not be ideal for dogs with very curly fur or thick undercoats, can be somewhat tricky to clean

Buy the Oster 2-in-1 Combo Brush on Amazon for $11.94

The best curry brush

Why you'll love it: Perfect for bath time or gentle everyday grooming, the Kong Zoom Groom Grooming Brush is our top pick for the best curry brush.

Typically made from rubber, a curry brush is designed less for removing dead or loose hairs from your dog’s coat and more for removing dirt and dander. With soft rubber teeth, curry combs penetrate through the top coat to the skin where gentle massaging action stimulates the production of natural oils in the dog’s skin to keep the coat sleek and shiny. Curry combs can also be used for sensitive areas like the ears or to work shampoo deep into the coat during a bath. Our top pick for the best curry brush is the Kong Zoom Groom Grooming Brush.

The Kong Zoom Groom Grooming Brush is made of heavy-duty rubber, so you can rest assured that it will last for a long time. Featuring flexible rubber bristles, this curry brush can be used for everyday brushing and detangling or during bath time. It helps to remove loose hair as well as dirt and dander, plus it can be used for any coat length or texture.

Dog Guide Reviews praises the brush’s ability to clean the dog’s skin while also removing dirt, dust, and loose hair. Train Your GSD also recommends this curry comb for both grooming and shampooing, noting that the rubber bristles attract hair like a magnet and that using the brush in a circular motion will stimulate capillaries and boost oil production in the skin.

With more than 2,300 reviews on Amazon and a 4.5-star review, the Kong Zoom Groom Grooming Brush also holds an “Amazon’s Choice” award. Buyers love the ergonomic grip and the way it helps to lather shampoo during bath time. There are some comments, however, that it might not work for tough tangles and it may produce some static electricity during brushing.

Pros: Ergonomic grip for comfortable use, flexible rubber bristles remove hair and stimulate oil production, can be used for shampoo during bath time, good for use on sensitive areas, inexpensive

Cons: Not ideal for tough mats and tangles, may produce some static electricity during brushing, may not stand up to heavy chewing

Buy the Kong Zoom Groom Grooming Brush on Amazon for $5.11

The best slicker brush

Why you'll love it: With an ergonomic handle for comfort and a self-cleaning feature, the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush is our top pick for the best slicker brush.

A slicker brush has very fine wire bristles, often set in a wide or rectangular head. This kind of brush is particularly useful for removing mats and tangles from a dog’s coat, though it can also be used for daily brushing in dogs with fine or delicate coats. Our top pick for the best slicker brush is Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush.

The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush features sturdy construction with a wide head for maximum coverage and an ergonomic handle for comfort. Covered in fine bent wires, this brush gets deep into the dog’s undercoat to remove dead and loose hairs without affecting the top coat. The bristles capture and remove loose hair as well as dirt and dander without pulling on your dog’s fur or scratching his skin. Plus, with a push-button, it self-cleans.

Dog Struggles describes the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush as a great buy due to its versatility for different coat types as well as the convenience of the self-cleaning function. Best Reviews calls this brush the “Best Bang for the Buck”, commenting that it is an all-purpose brush that removes dead hair as well as mats and tangles.

With more than 5,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.7-star review, the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush also received an “Amazon’s Choice” award. Buyers love the ergonomic handle and self-cleaning function, though there are some comments that it may not be best for dogs with very fine coats.

Pros: Sturdy design with ergonomic handle for comfort, wide head for maximum coverage, bent wire pins go deep into the undercoat without scratching the skin, removes loose hair as well as dirt and danger, helps remove mats and tangles, push button for self-cleaning option, inexpensive

Cons: Not ideal for dogs with very fine or thin fur, may be too large for puppies and very small dogs, self-cleaning button may get stuck sometimes, can only be used dry

Buy the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush on Amazon for $15.99

• H&M reported its worst sales on record in the fourth quarter of 2017.
• The company is increasingly losing to fast-fashion competitors like Zara and ASOS, who have sped up their supply chain to stay on top of trends. 
• We visited the store to see firsthand what's happening. 

The king of fast fashion has been knocked off its pedestal. 

For years, H&M was regarded as a revolutionary retailer with a speedy supply chain that enabled it to stay on top of trends. However, sales growth at the company started to falter in 2016 and continued throughout 2017, culminating in its biggest sales slump on record in the last quarter of 2017. 

As a result, one its largest shareholders, Skandia — a Swedish savings and investment fund — has sold off most of its stake in the company, Bloomberg reported. 

"There's so much they need to do that I don't think they'll solve this quickly," Erik Sjostrom, a senior portfolio manager at Skandia, told Bloomberg.

In the company's most recent earnings report in September 2017, CEO Karl-Johan Persson confirmed that a turnaround was at the forefront of the company's strategy. It's investing in new technology to speed up its supply chain, growing its online business, and adding new brands to its portfolio, such as Nyden, which launches this year.

But since then, the company has faced some unfortunate setbacks. Earlier this month, there was an outcry on social media after H&M was accused of racist advertising, and the chain was dropped by some of its brand ambassadors, including The Weeknd.

We visited one of its stores in New York City to find out why the brand is struggling:

SEE ALSO: Michael Kors, Gap, and Ralph Lauren are trying a new strategy to survive the retail apocalypse — and customers are going to hate it

We visited H&M's store in Soho at lunchtime on a Thursday. The store is located right next door to its biggest rival, Zara, in one of the city's busiest shopping areas.

On first impression, the store looked empty, which wasn't too surprising considering that we visited on a weekday.

But a visit to the Zara store next door was very telling. This store was buzzing with customers shopping its winter sale.

As Moscow's oldest neighborhood outside the Kremlin, Zaryadye has seen many changes in the last eight centuries. It has served as the home of 16th century aristocrats, a Jewish enclave in the 19th century, a scrapped plan to build Moscow's tallest skyscraper, and the world's largest (and now demolished) hotel.

In 2006, the hotel, called Rossiya, was bulldozed, and the site remained mostly abandoned for years.

But after Russian President Vladmir Putin walked around the area in 2012, he enlisted the city's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, to help turn the grounds into a massive park. It opened in November 2017, though a glass concert hall that's part of the new park is still under construction.

With a pricetag of up to $480 million, Zaryadye Park is now one of the most expensive parks in the world.

Take a look below.

SEE ALSO: The Trumps wanted to borrow a Van Gogh painting from the Guggenheim — the museum is offering this 18-karat gold toilet instead

In late 2017, Zaryadye Park opened in the heart of Russia's capital. New York-based architects from Diller Scofidio + Renfro — the same firm behind Manhattan's High Line — designed the 32-acre site.

The park's main feature is its floating pedestrian walkway.

Zaryadye is Moscow's first major park in 60 years. The last was Soviet Friendship Park, a grassy site that boasts historic sculptures, built in 1957.

It also includes a restaurant, a market, an open-air museum with multimedia exhibits of Moscow’s history, an outdoor amphitheater that can seat 5,000 people ...

Source: CityLab

Every January, Glassdoor publishes its list of the best jobs in America. For the third year in a row, the top spot goes to data scientist. 

According to the report, the best jobs in 2018 are highly-skilled; can be found in almost every industry; have high earning potential, hiring demand, and job satisfaction; and are staying ahead of the growing trend toward workplace automation.

"The key skills that are helping workers stay ahead of automation are creativity, judgment, and flexibility," Dr. Andrew Chamberlain, Glassdoor's chief economist, said. "Those are aspects of work that are extremely difficult to automate, and having them allows workers to team up with technology to become more productive — rather than simply being replaced by it."

"Many of the jobs on this list require proficiency in these 'soft' skills," he said.

Glassdoor's 50 Best Jobs in America report identifies careers with the highest overall "job score," which is determined by weighing three factors equally: earning potential (median annual base salary), job satisfaction rating, and number of job openings. 

For a job title to be considered, it had to receive at least 100 salary reports and 100 job satisfaction ratings shared by US-based employees over the past year. The number of job openings per job title represents active job listings on Glassdoor as of January 1, 2018. 

Below are the 50 best jobs in America right now.

SEE ALSO: The 50 best places to work in 2018, according to employees

DON'T MISS: 22 signs it's time to quit your job

50. HR generalist

Overall job score (out of 5.0): 4.1

Job satisfaction rating (out of 5.0): 3.9

Number of job openings: 2,705

Median base salary: $57,120

49. Nurse practitioner

Overall job score (out of 5.0): 4.1

Job satisfaction rating (out of 5.0): 3.5

Number of job openings: 8,510

Median base salary: $100,000

48. Project manager

Overall job score (out of 5.0): 4.1

Job satisfaction rating (out of 5.0): 3.5

Number of job openings: 23,274

Median base salary: $80,000