• Dry skin can be difficult to deal with and there are some ways you could be irritating your skin without realizing it. 
• When your skin is dry you may want to avoid over-washing and over-exfoliating it.
• Applying moisturizer to damp skin instead of dry skin can make it more effective.

Dry skin can be frustrating but there are some ways you could unknowingly be making it more difficult to manage. To help determine which skin-care habits could be making your dry skin worse, INSIDER spoke to board-certified dermatologists and other skin-care experts. 

Here are some things they recommend you avoid doing if your skin is feeling especially dry. 

Don't wash your face too often 

Even just washing your face with water can dry out your skin, said board-certified dermatologist Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, advisor to Remedy Review.

"People with dry skin should minimize washing to avoid additional dryness,"Dr. Caroline A. Chang, FAAD, a dermatologist and a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, previously told INSIDER. "Wash morning and evening with a gentle face wash that cleanses but doesn't strip the skin of oil. Before activities, use a makeup remover wipe instead of washing."

Avoid over-exfoliating

Friedman said exfoliants can damage your skin barrier and make your skin even drier. A damaged skin barrier can also create more opportunities for allergens, irritants, and pathogens to gain entry into your skin, he added.

Although exfoliating can be important, Michael Nova, MD, and board-certified dermatopathologist and chief innovation officer for Pathway OME, previously told INSIDER that "it's important to not overdo it." He said you should exfoliate only once or twice a week.

Don't apply moisturizer to your skin without dampening your skin first

"Most moisturizers are really moisture-blockers, meaning they prevent water from evaporating from the skin and [they] create a gradient to push it into the skin," Friedman explained. He said applying moisturizer to dry skin will temporarily soften your skin but applying it to wet skin can be more effective in the long run. 

Avoid products that contain glycolic acid 

"Choose a lactic acid cleanser over a glycolic acid cleanser," said board-certified dermatologist Dr. Monica Bonakdar. She explained that glycolic acid is a strong exfoliant but it can make dry skin even worse. She said she recommends using lactic acid cleansers because they gently exfoliate your skin while also hydrating it.

Don't skip out on applying moisturizer

"Don't leave your house without applying a rich moisturizer," said celebrity esthetician Dr. Maribel Pedrozo. She suggested using ones that contain lipids and squalene. Applying them is important because they rehydrate the top layer of skin cells and help seal in the moisture, she explained.

Read More: 10 things to do if your skin is peeling

Avoid excessively using diuretics like alcohol and caffeine

"Patients with dry skin should also avoid excessive use of diuretics, [like] alcohol and caffeine, and watch their salt intake,"facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Inessa Fishman, MD. told INSIDER.

On the other hand, she said it's important to make sure you're consuming a sufficient amount of vitamin C (which is important for collagen production), protein, and healthy fats (such as those found in avocados).

Don't use heavily scented products 

"If your skin is dry, it is not wise to use heavily scented lotions or creams," said board-certified dermatologist Dr. Richard Torbeck with Advanced Dermatology PC. These fragrances and scents may further irritate your skin so you may want to opt for unscented or lightly scented products instead. 

If possible, avoid triggers that can cause an eczema flare-up — especially if your skin is already dry

Although not all cases of dry skin are eczema, if you're prone to eczema flare-ups, you may want to figure out what triggers them. Some known eczema triggers include things like pet dander or pollen, according to the National Eczema Association.

Read More: 6 signs your dry, irritated skin is actually eczema

These triggers can vary from person to person. And once you've begun figuring out what yours are, you should avoid them when possible, Dr. Torbeck told INSIDER. He said this is especially important during times when you're already dealing with dry skin because you become more likely to have an eczema flare-up or come in contact with the allergen exposures that can cause them.

Join the conversation about this story »

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

• A group of President Donald Trump's most outspoken allies have jumped aboard the non-profit that intends to privately fund a border wall.
• The non-profit started out as a viral crowd-funding campaign, which raised $20 million before GoFundMe refunded all the donations.
• Now, Trump supporters like Steve Bannon, former baseball star Curt Schilling, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, ex-Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke, and Blackwater founder Erik Prince have signed on to help, Politico reported.
• Bannon was set to headline a town hall meeting in Green Valley, Arizona, to discuss the plans on Friday.

A group of President Donald Trump's most hardcore allies reportedly visited the US-Mexico border last week to brainstorm construction plans for a private border wall.

They apparently want to fund the wall with the millions of dollars raised through a viral GoFundMe campaign.

The Trump luminaries included former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, ex-Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke, former Major League Baseball player Curt Schilling, and former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, according to Politico. Even Blackwater founder Erik Prince reportedly dialed into their meeting.

Read more: A simple technology could secure the US-Mexico border for a fraction of the cost of a wall — but no one's talking about it

Amid ongoing negotiations in Congress over whether to fund more than 200 miles of barriers to the tune of $5.7 billion, the Trump allies — along with scores of private donors — have decided to take the wall's construction into their own hands.

A wildly popular GoFundMe campaign raised $20 million for the wall last month, but fell far short of its $1 billion goal. The campaign also hit a number of other roadblocks, most notably the fact that it would still need Congress to approve the donated funds' use for the wall.

Then, the GoFundMe campaign's creator, Brian Kolfage, changed the terms of the GoFundMe page, saying the money would instead be directed to a new 501(c)(4) non-profit named "We Build The Wall."

GoFundMe announced that since Kolfage had changed the terms of the campaign, all the donations would be refunded.

Read more: If donors raised enough money, here's how they could theoretically build the wall

But since then, donors have forwarded at least $7 million of the refunded donations to Kolfage's non-profit, and he has amassed a growing number of Trump's strongest supporters to plan out construction and fundraising. Now, Bannon, Schilling, Clarke, Kobach, and Prince all sit on the non-profit's board.

When Politico asked about the project, Bannon dismissed concerns that the non-profit had raised just a fraction of the wall's cost.

"Look, it's evolving," Bannon told Politico. "Do we have a billion dollars right now? No. But can we raise one- or two-hundred million dollars? No doubt about it."

Politico reported that the group has held talks with the Israeli firm Magal Security Systems, which built the fence along the country's border with the Gaza Strip. Kolfage told Politico he believes they can build the wall for $1.5 million to $2.5 million per mile, not including the cost of the private land.

Bannon, meanwhile, was in Green Valley, Arizona, on Friday to headline a town hall discussing building the border wall on private property, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

Kolfage told The Arizona Republic that his ultimate goal is to fund the construction of 215 miles of wall, matching the amount that Trump has said he'd build with $5.7 billion.

"We really just want to get the community involved and circumvent the political stunts that the media puts out," he told the newspaper. "We just want the people to hear it from us personally — we're human beings who just want the best for our country."

• Read more:
• After GoFundMe refunded donations to a 'Fund The Wall' campaign, people sent the organizer over $7 million to build the wall privately
• The man behind a GoFundMe campaign that has raised $11 million to build Trump's wall also ran a conspiracy-theory page that got kicked off Facebook
• Someone created a GoFundMe campaign to 'buy ladders' to counter the fundraiser created to pay for Trump's border wall
• 'This golf course was built by illegals': Unauthorized immigrants who reportedly worked for Trump illegally say they helped him get to where he is today

Join the conversation about this story »

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

• Smoke detected at a Wells Fargo facility on Thursday caused the shutdown of a data center that led to a large-scale outage, leaving customers without the use of their debit cards or access to online banking. 
• A Wells Fargo spokesperson did not comment on whether the incident was connected to its data center in Minnesota, where a fire suppression system was accidentally tripped early Thursday morning. 
• CNBC first reported the incident, but later said the fire department found no evidence of a fire. 
• This is not the first time the San Francisco-based bank has experienced a shutdown this sprawling. 

Smoke detected at one of Wells Fargo's main data center facilities caused a large-scale outage Thursday that left customers without access to online banking or working debit cards. The outage continued into Friday, the company said, though some of its ATM services have been restored and branches are operational.

Customers complained that direct deposit paychecks were not reflected in their account and representatives were overwhelmed with requests that caused 2-hour wait times. 

This is not the first time the San Francisco-based bank has seen a shutdown so sprawling — in fact, this is the second time customers experienced loss of access to banking services just this week. 

A Wells Fargo spokesperson declined to specify how many people have been impacted and which facility smoke was detected in, instead offered the following statement:

"The system issues were caused by an automatic power shutdown at one of Wells Fargo’s main data-center facilities, triggered by a smoke condition created by routine maintenance activities in the building. In response to the power shutdown, applications were systematically re-routed to back-up data centers throughout the day yesterday. By end-of-day, most critical systems had been recovered, and Wells Fargo continues to restore services across all business and operational areas. Wells Fargo continues to see high call volume and online and mobile traffic. Team members are aggressively working to resolve customer issues. Any Wells Fargo fees incurred as a result of these issues will be reversed."

CNBC reported Thursday that the fire department was deployed to a data center operated by Wells Fargo in Minnesota where a fire suppression system (typically ceiling water sprinklers) was accidentally tripped. Though, later, no evidence of a fire was found. Whether or not this is the incident that caused the outage is not known nor addressed in any of the press releases or statements Wells Fargo has made in the last 24 hours. 

In a tweet, Wells Fargo assured customers that the outage was not the result of "any cybersecurity event."

The bank then apologized to customers for any inconvenience caused by the system issues, and said it would reverse any Wells Fargo fees incurred. When customers will see accurate banking statements is also unknown. 

Wells Fargo will extend its branches' operating hours at all 5,500 locations one hour Friday and Saturday, according to a press release, to "address any concerns."

Some customers who have been unable to access their Wells Fargo accounts have threatened to find a new bank and took to social media to express frustration. Online banking features like credit card and mortgage balances are still unavailable, the company said in a statement Friday morning. 

Wells Fargo is the third-largest bank in America. 

The second outage in 7 days

Earlier this week, on Feb. 1, Wells Fargo took to Twitter to apologize to customers experiencing problems with its online banking and mobile app. The bank said it would research the issue, though did not explain what caused it. 

The latest outage has customers wondering: How can something as small as smoke in one isolated location cause a shutdown of banking services of a corporation that does business globally? 

CBS reports that last December, Wells Fargo blamed a computer glitch for an error affecting an estimated 545 customers who lost their homes. It then filed papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission, revealing it incorrectly denied 870 loan modification requests where over 60% of homeowners went into foreclosure.

But this sort of small incident is not an issue that has only impacted Wells Fargo. A similar outage at Bank of America happened in 2017, where customers were reportedly in the same situation thousands of Wells Fargo customers experienced Thursday — unable to access their accounts through the bank’s website or apps.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How Apple went from a $1 trillion company to losing over 20% of its share price

• Sweden's Air Force says its Gripen E fighter jets are designed to kill Russia's fearsome Sukhoi fighter jets, and that they have a "black belt" in that type of combat.
• The Gripen E can't carry the most weapons, has no real stealth, isn't the longest-range, fastest, or even cheapest jet, but has a massive and respected electronic warfare capability.
• The Gripen E is Sweden's cheap solution to killing Russia's fighter jets and surface-to-air missiles, and Russia probably can't do much about it. 

The commander of Sweden's air force, Mats Helgesson, recently made the bold statement that his country's Saab Gripen E fighter could beat Russia's formidable fleet of Sukhoi jets with none of the expensive stealth technology the US relies on. 

"Gripen, especially the E-model, is designed to kill Sukhois. There we have a black belt," Helgesson told Yle.fi at a presentation in Finland, where Sweden is trying to export the jets. 

Russia's Sukhoi fighters have achieved a kind of legendary status for their ability to out-maneuver US fighter jets in dogfights and pull off dangerous and aggressive stunts in the air, but Gripen may have cracked the code.

The Gripen can't carry the most weapons, has no real stealth, isn't the longest-range, fastest, or even cheapest jet, but it has a singular focus that makes it a nightmare for Russia's fighter jets. 

Read more: Russian media says Su-35 fighter jets 'humiliated' and backed down US F/A-18s

Justin Bronk, an aerial combat expert at the Royal United Services Institute, told Business Insider that like the A-10 Warthog was built around a massive cannon, the Gripen was built around electronic warfare. 

Virtually all modern jets conduct some degree of electronic warfare, but according to Bronk, the Gripen E stands above the rest. 

Gripen pilots don't like to show their cards by demonstrating the full power of the jet's jamming in training, but according to Bronk, the one time they did, it completely reversed the course of the mock battle in training.

"Several years ago the Gripen pilots got tired of being made fun of by German Typhoon pilots and came to play with their wartime electronic warfare and gave them a hell of a hard time," said Bronk. One of the Gripens was "reportedly able to appear on the left wing of a Typhoon without being detected" by using its "extremely respected" jamming ability, said Bronk.

"It would be fair to assume the Gripen is one of the most capable electronic warfighters out there," he went on, adding that the Gripens that baffled the Typhoons were of the C/D series, which have much less powerful electronic warfare capabilities than the E series Gripens Helgesson described.

Who needs stealth?

To defeat Russia's fearsome fighters and surface-to-air missiles, the US has largely turned to stealth aircraft. Stealth costs a fortune and must be built into the shape of the plane.

If Russia somehow cracks the code of detecting stealth-shaped fighters, the US's F-35, the most expensive weapons system in history, is cooked.

Read more:A US Air Force F-16 painted like Russia's Su-57 could give the US a major combat advantage

But Saab took a different, and cheaper, approach to combating Russia's fighters and missiles by focusing on electronic attack, which gives them an advantage over stealth as they can evolve the software without a ground-up rebuild, according to Bronk.

Saab plans to update the software on the Gripen E every two years, giving it more flexibility to meet evolving challenges, according to Bronk.

But, "the problem with basing a survival strategy around an electronic warfare suite is you don’t really know if it’s going to work," he said. "Even if it does, it’s going to be a constant battle between your adversary and you" to get the edge on the enemy fighters as wave forms and methods of attack continuously change.

However, Sweden benefits from a Russian focus on US fighters. "Sweden is too small really to optimize your counter-electronic warfare capabilities against," said Bronk. 

Read more:F-35s train in air-combat 'beast mode' in the Pacific after China deploys 'carrier-killer' missiles

If war broke out between Russia and the West, Russia would likely try hardest to push back on US electronic warfare rather than against Sweden's Gripen Es, which there would only be a few dozen of. 

Flankers beware

The whole concept of the Gripen E is to "operate in Swedish territory, take advantage of all sorts of uneven terrain under cover of friendly surface-to-air missiles with a superb EW suite which should in theory keep it safe from the majority of Russian missiles and air to air threats," said Bronk.

Additionally, the Gripen E can fire almost any missile made in the US or Europe. 

"If you couple a very effective radar with excellent EW and a Meteor, the most effective longest range air-to-air missile which is resistant against [Russia's] jammers... There's no reason not to assume it wouldn’t be pretty damn effective," said Bronk. "If you’re a flanker pilot, it’s probably a very scary thing to face."

SEE ALSO: 11 of the world's most effective camouflage patterns at hiding combat troops and vehicles

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is 35 — here's how he became one of the world's scariest dictators

• Immaculata Catholic School in Durham, North Carolina, canceled classes on Friday. 
• Administrators said they feared groups would protest over the school's decision to invite Durham city council member Vernetta Alston — a lesbian woman — to speak for Black History Month. 
• Alston, an alumna of the school, said she was "deeply disappointed," and said all Black History Month events at the school had been canceled. 

A Catholic School in North Carolina canceled classes on Friday over fears of protests over the school's decision to invite a lesbian city councilwoman to speak at a Black History Month event.

Administrators at Immaculata Catholic School in Durham, North Carolina, canceled classes after they heard "a number of groups" had planned to protest on Friday when administrators announced Durham city councilwoman Vernetta Alston was going to speak at the school, The Herald Sun reported.

In a letter to parents, Father Christopher VanHaight said groups were planning demonstrations to "register their respective opinions regarding Vernetta Alston."

"As pastor I cannot place our Immaculata students into this contentious environment," he wrote, according to the Herald Sun.

Read more: A former Virginia teacher says she was harassed for being a lesbian and told to 'be more feminine' by administrators

The letter did not detail what groups objected to Alston's appearance at the school.

Alston, an alumna of the school, said on Thursday that her event at Immaculata Catholic School — and all other Black History Month events at the school — had been canceled entirely.

She said in a letter posted to Twitter that she was "deeply disappointed" that the event were cancelled.

"Immaculata is a religious institution and I believe strongly in the freedom to believe and worship how one chooses, even if a belief conflicts with something fundamental to my own life," she wrote.

"That said, adherence to that basic principle means that I can freely say that the Church, by depriving the students at Immaculata of the chance to honor Black history, and in doing so, condemning the lives and rights of the LGTBQ community, is sending a sad, regressive, and life-altering message to our children – that the voices and experiences of those within the Black community can be canceled and that inclusion is not valued by some who are charged with shaping their character. I reject that message," she added. 

INSIDER has reached out to Immaculata and Alston for comment.

• Read more:
• Ariana Grande is being accused of 'queer baiting' in her new music video — but others say it's a representation of self-love
• Canadian police arrested a suspected serial killer accused of killing 8 men at his apartment and said they found a 9th victim alive and tied to his bed
• Ellen Page calls out Chris Pratt's 'infamously anti-LGBTQ' church — where Jenners, Biebers, and other celebrities have also worshipped
• A prominent 'gay conversion therapist' has divorced his wife of 34 years and now identifies as gay

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Sea cucumbers are so valuable that people are risking their lives diving for them

• President Donald Trump's re-election campaign paid the law firm representing White House adviser Jared Kushner, a January 31 campaign finance disclosure form shows. 
• The filings, first reported on by ABC News, reveal that the firm Winston & Strawn LLP received two payments in December of 2018 $55,330 and $42,574 each.
• The Trump campaign has covered the legal fees for multiple people connected to the campaign who were called to testify before congressional committees probing ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. 

President Donald Trump's re-election campaign used donations to pay the law firm representing Trump's son-in-law and White House advisor Jared Kushner, a January 31 campaign finance disclosure form shows. 

The filings, first reported on by ABC News, reveal that the firm Winston & Strawn LLP received two payments in December of 2018 $55,330 and $42,574 each.

Sources familiar with the matter told ABC that Abbe Lowell, an attorney at the firm who represents both Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump, was the recipient of the payments. 

Campaign finance regulations permit the use of campaign funds for legal services, so long as they are properly disclosed as campaign expenditures. 

Kushner, a real estate developer and investor, was heavily involved in Trump's 2016 campaign and officially joined the Trump administration as an advisor in 2017.

While the couple's exact net worth is unknown, some sources have estimated Trump is worth around $300 million and Kushner as much as $800 million.

Read more: How Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner built their $1.1 billion fortune and how they spend it

ABC also reported that the Trump campaign covered the legal fees of people called to testify before Congressional committees investigating ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, including Kushner, Trump's son Donald Trump Jr., and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. 

Kushner testified before the House Intelligence Committee in December 2017 surrounding his conversations with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak, with whom he reportedly discussed an effort to create a secret communications back-channel between the Trump transition team and Russia in December of 2016. 

Lowell also filed a motion attempting to take Kushner's name off the list of defendants in a Democratic National Committee lawsuit accusing people associated with the Trump campaign of conspiring with Russia to tilt the race in favor of the Trump campaign. 

As ABC noted, it is unknown whether the payments from the campaign helped cover the cost of Kushner's defense in that particular suit. A judge has not yet ruled on Lowell's motion. 

SEE ALSO: Chris Christie accuses Jared Kushner of orchestrating a political 'hit job' against him in a new tell-all book

Join the conversation about this story »

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

Digital disruption is affecting every aspect of the fintech industry.

Over the past five years, fintech has established itself as a fundamental part of the global financial services ecosystem.

Fintech startups have raised, and continue to raise, billions of dollars annually, pushing incumbent financial institutions to get in on the action. Legacy players have begun using fintech to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving financial services landscape.

So what's next?

Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, explores recent innovations in the fintech space as well as what might be coming in the future in our brand new exclusive slide deck, The Future of Fintech: How Fintech Is Taking Over The World and What Comes Next.

To get your copy of this free slide deck, click here.

Join the conversation about this story »

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.

If you're spending your first Valentine's Day together, you're probably looking for the ideal way to say "I enjoy spending time with you, let's keep at it" in a way that's as effective but less extravagant than a yacht or surprise flash dance in Times Square. At this stage, shared activities, romantic classics, and thoughtful small gifts are going to be ideal. 

Whether you've only been seeing each other for a few weeks or almost a year, you'll find 22 low-key, foolproof gifts below you can feel good about gifting. 

Looking for more Valentine's Day gift ideas? Check out these guides:

• The best online flower delivery services to send freshly cut blooms and live plants on Valentine's Day
• 68 thoughtful and unique Valentine's Day gifts for him — for every budget
• 67 cool and unique Valentine's Day gifts for her — for every budget
• 33 funny, low-pressure Valentine's Day gifts for every relationship level
• 24 personalized Valentine’s Day gifts worth putting the extra time and thought into
• 50 thoughtful Valentine's Day gifts that aren't chocolate and a card — all under $25
• 30 affordable and meaningful Valentine’s Day gifts that won't cost you more than $50
• 22 unique Valentine's Day gifts from Amazon's Etsy-like marketplace
• 20 sweet his-and-hers gifts for couples celebrating happy milestones
• 27 sweet Valentine's Day gifts you can get on Amazon
• This online startup is challenging the traditional jewelry industry with conflict-free diamonds and custom engagement rings

22 gifts to give on the first Valentine's Day you're spending together:

SEE ALSO: 30 affordable and meaningful Valentine’s Day gifts that won't cost you more than $50

DON'T MISS: 27 sweet Valentine's Day gifts you can get on Amazon

Beautiful, farm-fresh flowers

Personalized Bouquet, available on Bouqs, from $44

Flowers are a classic for a reason —  and sending an armful to grace their living room is a nice way to brighten up their living space every time they see them. The Bouqs Co. flowers are farm-fresh, sustainably harvested, and beautifully packaged. They're our top pick for flower deliveries online, but if you're looking for more options, check out the Insider Picks buying guide to the best flowers you can buy online.

If they're the kind of person who's not sold on flowers, you can also send them a low-maintenance and already potted succulent. If they have pets, though, check to make sure the plant you're eyeing isn't toxic to them. 

A dressed-up dinner-and-a-movie date night

Fandango gift card, available on Fandango, from $15

If something is really new, but you still want to celebrate together, why not dress up the dinner-and-a-movie date? Bring your own checkered tablecloth and flameless candles if you're going the whole nine yards. 

A cold brew coffee maker

Takeya Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker, 1 Quart, available on Amazon, $19.99

Are there small inconveniences in your partner's life that you could alleviate? It shows that you listen when they rant about their tiring commute, are well-aware of their cold brew habit, and know that they love taking a long bath at the end of the day but have nowhere to put a wine glass. 

This $20 gem will make a quart of cold brew, fit comfortably in the door of most refrigerators, and save them as much as a few hundred dollars per year with convenient, at-home cold brew. It works well, but if you're looking for something more elegant, you may want to check out the $35 Blue Bottle Hario Cold Brew Bottle. 

• Brittany Dawn Davis, a fitness influencer on Instagram, is being criticized for not sending people the products they purchased.
• Davis offers individualized coaching sessions and ebooks for sale, but multiple followers told INSIDER she sent them months late, and without the promised customization.
• In a private Facebook group with thousands of members, followers called her a "scammer" and a "liar."
• Davis released an apology video, but many followers aren't convinced.

Brittany Dawn Davis, a fitness influencer with more than 560,000 followers on Instagram, is being criticized by fans who say she didn't provide the services she promised.

Dozens of fans say Davis didn't deliver on e-books, workout programs, and online coaching sessions they purchased, calling her a "scammer" and a "liar," according to comments reviewed by INSIDER in a private Facebook group with more than 2,500 members.

The products can be expensive: On her website, Davis offers training programs that cost up to $300. Multiple followers also said Davis deleted critical comments and blocked them when they inquired about their purchases.

One follower in the Facebook group, Courtney, who spoke on the condition of withholding her last name, purchased a dieting ebook and workout program from Davis in January 2018. She said she received it two months later, after sending Davis multiple messages about it being late. When she ultimately received the workout program, it wasn't "individualized" as promised Bastian said.

"Dating back to 2016 (possibly earlier) she has been scamming clients by not sending their fitness and nutritional e-books, not following through with online coaching, not conducting weekly check-ins, and not individualizing workout packets," Courtney told INSIDER "Brittany repeatedly deleted and blocked clients who would call this to her attention."

Many of Davis's other followers recalled similar experiences, some of which were reported to the Better Business Bureau in early 2018. The backlash has now built into a crescendo. This week, Davis was the subject of viral critical YouTube video. A Change.org petition signed by more than 6,000 people calls her business "fraudulent" and responsible for "continually scamming and lying to her followers, clients, and fans." Users in the Facebook group organized for Davis complaints have asked companies to end their sponsorship deals with her.

Fans weren't convinced by her apology

On Wednesday, Davis published a video in response to the complaints on YouTube, where she has more 300,000 followers. She apologized to people who felt scammed by her, and said that she was overwhelmed by her early success.

"These claims are coming from years ago after I was launched into a business that took off so fast I didn't know how to mentally handle it. I did what I had to do to the best of my abilities," she said. "At times, it was overwhelming and I took on more than I should have. And for that, I take full responsibility and I am sorry."

Several fans who spoke to INSIDER weren't persuaded by Davis's video. They criticized her for monetizing the video on YouTube, and for posting affiliate links in the comments, which would allow her to generate revenue from from her apology.

Her timeline of events also contradicts complaints from dozens of customers, who said she neglected to provide products, respond to complaints, and blocked inquiring fans just in the past few weeks.

Davis is also being called out by other people in the coaching business. Kayla Lippens, a certified life coach, has been compiling complaints about her in an Instagram story.

"Can you imagine spending money on somebody who's supposed to coach and guide you through losing weight — and it's an emotional journey — and for them to quit replying and not give a s--- — and then to say it was an accident?" she said in her story. "There are thousands of thousands of women that she's done this to."

Davis did not immediately reply to INSIDER's request for comment.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: There are serious health reasons why you shouldn't eat your boogers

• The Mediterranean diet can be beneficial for your digestive system. 
• Eating fiber-rich foods, like those that make up the popular diet, can help with constipation and maintain healthy gut bacteria.
• Eating a lot of raw vegetables, however, can be hard to digest for some people. 

The gut is sometimes calledthe second brain. It contains about 100 million neurons, which is more than in the spinal cord or peripheral nervous system. How we feel depends heavily on the state of our digestion, so it's important that what we eat supports a healthy gut.

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods. Think fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and high-quality fats from unprocessed olive oil and fatty fish. It's undoubtedly a healthy diet, but how does it affect the gut?

INSIDER consulted with doctors and nutritionists to find out what impact the Mediterranean diet might have on digestion.

Sticking to the Mediterranean diet might improve digestion

The Mediterranean diet promotes eating plenty of plant-based sources of protein like nuts and legumes rather than red meats. Making this switch may quell digestive upset.

"Red meat is rich in iron and protein, but it is the hardest protein to digest. Going for easier proteins like fish and legumes will actually improve your digestion and make you feel great and less bloated after each meal,"Dina Merhbi, clinical dietitian, told INSIDER.

The Mediterranean diet could help with constipation

If constipation is a digestive issue that you struggle with, there's a good chance that switching to the Mediterranean diet could help.

"High vegetable intake improves digestion. Since this diet is high in fiber, it actually helps people increase their fiber bulk intake, which in turn improves digestion and heals constipation," said Merhbi.

Filling your plate with fiber-rich food might help you become more regular. To start your day with a dose of fiber, try loading up a bowl of oatmeal with slices of apple and dried fruit.

Read more: 10 of the best things to eat for breakfast on the Mediterranean diet

Olive oil may help decrease inflammation in your gut

A higher intake of vegetable-based oils like olive oil is actually great for an irritated digestive tract.

"Healthy fats have actually been shown to coat our digestive tract and decrease internal inflammation related to irritable bowel syndrome and reflux," said Merhbi.

If you want to try to tap the healing powers of healthy fats, Merhbi recommended sticking to olive oil and avoiding other vegetable-based oils that are processed. Drizzle olive oil over salad or a bowl of hummus for an easy way to incorporate it into your diet.

Eating with others might actually help you digest better

Mediterranean-style eating isn't just about the food on your plate, but about the culture surrounding food. A key part of the Mediterranean diet is its emphasis on making mealtime a social occasion.

"Digestion is part of the parasympathetic nervous system of our body, also called 'rest and digest.' When we are relaxed, smelling and tasting our food, we allow our body to be in its optimal state to receive food and digest it properly," board-certified gastroenterologistDr. Samantha Nazareth told INSIDER.

Eating on the Mediterranean diet is about taking the time to enjoy food with others. Treating mealtimes as a social occasion can put us in a relaxed state, which can help with digestion.

The Mediterranean style of eating helps keep your gut bacteria happy

Our guts are filled withbetween 300 and 500 species of beneficial bacteria that help our digestive systems run smoothly. These helpful bugs have a huge impact on our wellbeing, and eating in a way that aligns with the Mediterranean diet can help keep this microbiome in good health.

"The Mediterranean diet includes food groups rich in fiber such as grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and nuts seeds. The fiber in these foods feeds gut bacteria helping to promote a positive gut environment and aid in regularity,"Anna Rosales, RD, told INSIDER.

Getting plenty of fiber and consuming fermented foods like pickles, sauerkraut, and Greek yogurt is a good way to bolster the ranks of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

Eating raw vegetables on this diet might irritate your stomach

The Mediterranean diet is packed with fruits and vegetables. As tasty as garden-fresh veggies are, they have the potential to give some people an upset stomach.

"Raw vegetable intake is not made for everyone. Vegetables are great, but for some people, raw vegetables actually irritate their system and cause intense cramping," said Merhbi.

If you find that snacking on raw vegetables like carrot sticks, sliced bell peppers, or celery gives you a queasy feeling, be sure to lightly cook your veggies before enjoying them. Steaming is an easy way to soften your vegetables without losing flavor or nutrients.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Michael D'Antonio reveals Donald Trump's 'strange' morning ritual that boosts his ego

• An "Aquaman" spin-off movie is in the works focused on the Trench creatures, Warner Bros. confirmed to Business Insider on Friday.
• The Trench creatures are former Atlanteans that evolved into deep-sea monsters when the city of Atlantis sunk.

DC Comics superhero movie "Aquaman" swam its way past $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Now, the studio Warner Bros. is gearing up to take advantage of the movie's success.

A Warner Bros. spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider that an "Aquaman" spin-off is in the works that will focus on the deadly Trench creatures seen in the first movie. 

The Hollywood Reporter first reported about the spinoff on Friday, which it says is called "The Trench," and is being written by newcomers Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald with a horror feel.

The Trench monsters are based on a 2011 "Aquaman" story by writer Geoff Johns and artist Ivan Reis. They are former Atlanteans who evolved into horrifying creatures when the city of Atlantis sunk.

An image from "Aquaman" below depicts a Trench creature:

Read more of Business Insider's coverage of "Aquaman":

• 'Aquaman' director James Wan chose the character 'everyone makes fun of' because there'd be less pressure. Then the DC Comics franchise imploded.
• 'Aquaman' passed $1 billion at the worldwide box office — here are the 4 other movies to hit that milestone in 2018
• 'Aquaman' director James Wan thinks it's a 'f---ing disgrace' that the movie ws snubbed for a visual effect Oscar nomination
• 'Aquaman' director James Wan talks about the movie's Pitbull song 'Ocean to Ocean'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: There are serious health reasons why you shouldn't eat your boogers

• Lending startup SoFi was in recent talks to acquire clearing and custody firm Apex, but the deal fell apart, Business Insider has learned
• Apex, which works with robo-advisors such as Betterment and Stash, wanted more than $600 million for an acquisition. 
• Instead of acquiring Apex, SoFi made a minority investment in the company.

Lending startup SoFi was in late-stage talks to acquire a fintech backing some of the industry's top robo advisors in an attempt to grow its digital wealth platform, Business Insider has learned. 

The $4 billion San Francisco-based fintech firm held discussions in recent months to buy Apex Clearing, a custody and clearing firm that services fintechs like Betterment and Stash, but deal talks fell through, according to people familiar with the matter. Acquiring Apex would have helped SoFi continue to grow beyond its lending roots to become a personal finance hub for managing people's money across the board. 

SoFi's wealth management platform would be able to recognize cost savings through buying Apex, according to one source, as it could handle its clearing and custody needs in-house.  

Sign up here for our weekly newsletter Wall Street Insider, a behind-the-scenes look at the stories dominating banking, business, and big deals.

Apex, which already offers clearing and custody services for SoFi, wanted more than $600 million for an acquisition, according to a source. But the two sides couldn't agree on price and SoFi is now taking a minority stake in the fintech, which is owned by Chicago investment firm Peak6. The investment involves buying out another minority owner, two of the people said.  

A representative for SoFi declined to comment, while a representative for Apex could not be reached for comment. 

Read more:A fintech firm backing hot robo advisors like Betterment and Stash is planning to launch crypto custody services within the next few months

Apex holds an important position amongst digital wealth management platforms. Fintech startups have limited choices when it comes to custody and clearing. BNY Mellon's Pershing is one option although it typically works with larger asset managers. 

Still, some startups have chosen to bring clearing in-house. In October 2018, Robinhood, which had been a client of Apex, announced it would self-clear and self-custody. 

SoFi is primarily known for its student loan refinancing business, but the company has worked in recent years to broaden out its focus by adding on additional banking services, such as home equity, brokerage, checking and savings accounts, and crypto. 

Join the conversation about this story »

• While Jeff Bezos' bombshell blog post on Thursday night revealed a lot of details about some sexual photos and texts he sent, it didn't say much about the central question.
• That question is: How did the National Enquirer get the photos in the first place?
• The public doesn't know the answer to that but everyone seems to have a theory, some more plausible than others.

The bombshell blog post Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos published on Thursday revealed a lot of detail about some sexual messages he sent, but didn't say much about the central question: how did the National Enquirer get a hold of those photos and text messages in the first place?

Bezos has accused the National Enquirer's parent company, AMI, of attempting to blackmail him with embarrassing texts and nude photos sent to his mistress, and implied that politics involving President Trump and the Saudis could be behind the story of how his texts leaked. AMI's board says it believes it acted legally but is investigating the claims.

Meanwhile, a number of other people have hinted details and floated theories about it, some more credible than others. Let's dive in.

Was it spying by a government entity?

The man investigating, Bezos’s longtime private security guy Gavin de Becker, told the Washington Post that he didn't believe the billionaire was hacked.

Post reporter Manuel Roig-Franzia appeared on MSNBC’s “The Last Word” with Lawrence O’Donnell Thursday night and said he's spoken "extensively" with de Becker.

“Gavin de Becker told us that he does not believe that Jeff Bezos’ phone was hacked. He thinks it’s possible that a government entity might have gotten hold of his text messages," Roig-Franzia said.

Roig-Franzia didn't say if that government entity was foreign or from the US. Bezos' post insinuated both Donald Trump and the Saudis as potentially being involved  in some way, but didn't offer evidence for those claims.

It is entirely plausible that Bezos' phone was not the source. Bezos is a computer engineer by training who runs one of the world's largest tech companies. Phone security wouldn't be a foreign concept to him.

Could it have been orchestrated by Lauren Sanchez's brother?

Gavin de Becker confirmed days ago to The Daily Beast that his investigation looked into Sanchez's brother, Michael Sanchez, a publicist and Hollywood talent manager who says he worked with his sister. Sanchez is a Trump supporter who knows people in Trump's orbit, including Roger Stone and Carter Page.

No one has said how they think he could have pulled it off. He doesn't appear to have any hacking credentials. However, it seems conceivable that he could have had access to her phone or a computer synced with messages.

With access to a phone, and the password to it, it's not hard to find text messages and pictures. It's also possible to install spying software on a phone. However, hacking a phone, even with physical access to it, is never as easy as it sounds for a non-technical person.

Michael Sanchez has vehemently denied any involvement in the Enquirer story.

Could it have been the NSA?

No one with credible knowledge has publicly accused the NSA of any involvement, although Michael Sanchez posited a variety of theories to explain the leaks, ranging from foreign governments to spying by rival tech companies to the work of the so-called “deep state” within the U.S. government, according to emails viewed by the Washington post between Sanchez and de Becker.

Interestingly, Glenn Greenwald — the journalist who reported on whistleblower Edward Snowden's revelations of the NSA's bulk data collection of phone records — tweeted that the Bezos story "reminded him" of one of the capabilities the NSA was accused of, gathering porn and sexting messages.

Still, it seems implausible at best that the NSA could have been involved in leaking Bezos texts to the Enquirer or that the Saudis could have managed this.

If the public ever finds out how the hack occurs remains to be seen. Should Bezos' blog post lead to someone being charged with a crime, more details may be revealed. 

In the meantime, the episode is a good reminder not to sext if the discovery that you're doing so could ruin your life.

• Read more on the Jeff Bezos-National Enquirer saga:
• Here are the six craziest things we learned from Jeff Bezos' blog post accusing the National Enquirer of 'extortion and blackmail'
• Read all the emails Jeff Bezos says the National Enquirer sent to 'blackmail' him
• These are the main players in the explosive saga of Jeff Bezos' love life and his war with the National Enquirer
• Jeff Bezos essentially accused the National Enquirer of having a political motive for exposing his affair, and insinuated a Trump connection
• Jeff Bezos annihilated the National Enquirer's bid to blackmail him, using a playbook perfected by pop stars, Kim Kardashian, and ordinary women
• 'Now the reality is hitting them, and they're freaking out': The National Enquirer's former LA bureau chief says the tabloid is in over its head with Jeff Bezos

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The science behind why your phone shuts down when it's cold outside

• JumboStay is a Boeing 747 converted into a hotel located in Arlanda Airport, Stockholm.
• The decommissioned plane is part of the greater airport complex.
• It has 33 rooms, including engine rooms, singles and doubles, and the famous Cockpit Suite. 
• The plane was built in 1976, and was was last operated by Transjet, a Swedish airline that went bankrupt in 2002. 

Jumbostay has been on the tarmac of Arlanda Airport, Stockholm, since 2009. The plane was built in 1976, and was was last operated by Transjet, a Swedish airline that went bankrupt in 2002. It was converted by owner Oscar Diös into a functioning hotel. 

It has 33 rooms and 76 beds. Guests can choose from the engine rooms — which are converted under the wings, to hostel-style beds, single rooms and the cockpit suite. 

Booking the cockpit Suite gets you exclusive access to the VIP lounge. the original airline seats are still in place, as well as bar, drawers and magazines. The control panel above the bed is still in place, and the room also has an en suite. 

Jumbostay's staff are all referred to as cabin crew, and wear stewards' uniforms. The plane is within easy reach of Arlanda Airport train station, and can be accessed by a free shuttle bus.

Join the conversation about this story »

• Every presidential election has its winners and its losers.
• The unsuccessful candidates move on to different careers with different paths.
• Some are still active in politics today while others have virtually disappeared.

When a United States presidential candidate and their running mate win the biggest election of their lifetimes, it dramatically takes the world on an alternative path. But for the losing candidates, they have to pick up the pieces and move on.

Some failed candidates stay in politics and experience more success, while others venture in entirely different directions. Here's what became of all the failed presidential and vice presidential candidates since the election in 2000.

SEE ALSO: How the 15 richest members of Congress made their money

Hillary Clinton — 2016 Democratic presidential nominee

When Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump in 2016, it was a major upset. Clinton has since authored a book about the experience, titled, "What Happened?" She has also embarked on a speaking tour with her husband, former President Bill Clinton. 

The former secretary of state and US senator has been rumored to still be considering another presidential run, but that speculation has so far been unfounded.

Tim Kaine — 2016 Democratic vice presidential nominee

Tim Kaine returned to his work in the United States Senate. In the 2018 midterms, he handily defeated Republican challenger Corey Stewart and coasted to re-election. Kaine has since ruled out running for president in 2020.

Mitt Romney — 2012 Republican presidential nominee

After losing to former President Barack Obama in 2012, Mitt Romney earned large sums of money on speaking tours. Romney then ran for Senate in 2018 to succeed retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch. Now a senator, Romney is a member of the influential Foreign Relations Committee.

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.

• Giving flowers on Valentine's Day is a time-honored tradition, though many of us have horror stories of buying arrangements online, only for them to turn out to be mediocre bouquets in person.
• UrbanStems wants to close the gap, making the process of ordering beautiful flowers a seamless, pleasant experience for both the buyer and the recipient.
• The company offers affordable floral bouquets and plants (starting as low as $35) sourced from ethical farms around the world. Arrangements are created by in-house floral designers and delivered straight to your door in just one day. 
• We've both given and received flowers from UrbanStems and think it's the perfect last-minute Valentine's Day gift. 

This Valentine's Day, millions of flowers will be wrapped into beautiful bouquets and sent to loved ones nationwide. 

Gifting flowers is a timeless tradition — and for good reason. A nice bouquet of flowers is beautiful to look at, smells wonderfully refreshing, and actually has the power to make us happier. 

Giving flowers should be a simple process, yet for many of us, it's not. You may not have time to go into your local flower shop and have a bouquet made, or your florist just might not have time to put together a bouquet with such short notice. You could order one online, but you've heard too many horror stories of botched bouquets bought on the internet. 

With Valentine's Day in less than a week, we figured it was high time to tell you about UrbanStems, the company many of us personally use to order flowers for our friends and loved ones. 

This flower delivery service was born out of the same concerns many of us have about ordering flowers online — there's a lack of trust, awareness, and transparency that makes it difficult to know what we're really getting into. UrbanStems founder Ajay Kori was fed up with sending flowers as gifts. Every experience he had doing so ended in catastrophe. Instead of giving up on the gesture altogether, Kori enlisted his college classmate to try and fix the floral industry.

What they've created is an easier, more affordable way to order beautiful flowers online — one that ensures your bouquets actually are delivered in time for those special moments. 

How the service works:

When you head over to the UrbanStems, you'll find a small but diverse selection of bouquets. UrbanStems is a member of the fewer, better camp, which is reflected in their selection — a few beautifully-crafted bouquets and potted plants, rather than a mass of mediocre arrangements. All of the flowers and plants are sourced from sustainable farms, which UrbanStems' in-house floral designers collaborate with to create unique bouquets. With prices that start at $35, UrbanStems is a pretty affordable option as well. 

Once you've picked which bouquet you like, put in your desired delivery address and choose from the delivery date options listed. UrbanStems provides a calendar that shows which delivery dates are available, as well as notes when the bouquet will be back in stock if it has been sold out. UrbanStems also suggests vases that compliment each bouquet, should you want to spend a little extra to send a vase as well. 

Moving to checkout is simple. UrbanStems has you sign up with your email  so they can inform you on the status of your order. Then all you have to do is fill out the delivery information, and my favorite part — a cute note to go with your flowers. If you're stumped, UrbanStems has some sweet prewritten options for you, but you can completely customize this part on your own.

UrbanStems bouquets can be delivered anywhere in the US — if you're living outside of the US but want to send flowers to someone who does live here, you can do that, too. One of the best parts of UrbanStems is its simple delivery process. If your recipient lives in DC or NYC, an UrbanStems courier will deliver their flowers by bicycle or car, any day of the week. If your recipient lives anywhere else in the US, your order will get free one-day FedEx delivery, which can only be delivered Tuesday-Friday — something to note if you're planning for flowers to be delivered for a specific occasion.

These quick delivery options make UrbanStems a great last-minute gifting option, but you can also use it to plan gifts far in advance. If you know you want to deliver someone flowers for their birthday in a month, you can order bouquets up to three weeks out from the current date. 

When your recipient receives their flowers, they'll be packaged up in a beautiful box that's hiding a lovely bouquet and a sweet note from you. It's thoughtful and easy way to surprise someone special and make them smile. Whether it's your partner, sister, brother, parent, friend, or coworker, UrbanStems makes a great gift for just about any occasion. If you'd like to know more about the experience, here's what two of our editors have to say about the service:

Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor: I've now both ordered and received bouquets from UrbanStems, and both experiences felt seamless and rewarding. Sending bouquets is easy; you just pick which one you want, select a vase (these cost a little extra, just so you know), and write a card to your recipient. Receiving them is even easier; just open the box, follow the instructions to care for your flowers, and, if you're anything like me, pop the special note that comes with on your refrigerator door with a magnet. If you properly take care of the flowers, they'll last for around a week or so. I got a bouquet with lots of white flowers in it, which tend to age a little faster, so mine lasted about four or five days before they started to wilt and discolor.

Ellen Hoffman, Insider Picks senior editor: I was looking for a new flower delivery service a few months ago since my go-to, BloomThat, was acquired by FTD Companies and paused its services in September. Sally recommended UrbanStems. I've ordered two bouquets from the company so far and have found it offers a lot of the same conveniences as BloomThat, for both the person buying the flowers and the recipient. The constantly rotating, seasonal flower selection is robust, but not overwhelming, and while the prices are on the higher end ($55 is currently the cheapest bouquet price), they're justified by the quality you get. The flowers I've sent were vibrant and fresh, and more unique than what you'll find elsewhere.

Surprise someone special with a floral bouquet or plant from UrbanStems this Valentine's Day 

Join the conversation about this story »

This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

The gig economy is becoming a core element of the labor market, pushed to the fore by platforms like Uber and Airbnb. Gig economy workers are freelancers, such as journalists who don’t work for one publication directly, freelance developers, drivers on platforms like Uber and Grab, and consumers who rent out their apartments via Airbnb or other home-sharing sites.

Gig economy workers are not employed by these platforms, and therefore typically don't receive conventional employee perks, such as insurance or retirement options. This has created a lucrative opportunity to provide tailored insurance policies for the gig economy. 

A number of insurtech startups — including UK-based Dinghy, which focuses on liability insurance, and US-based Slice, which provides on-demand insurance for a range of areas — have moved to capitalize on this new segment of the labor market. These companies have been busy finding new ways to personalize insurance products by incorporating emerging technologies, including AI and chatbots, to target the gig economy.

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence examines how insurtechs have begun addressing the gig economy, the kinds of policies they are offering, and how incumbents can tap the market themselves. We have opted to focus on three areas of insurance particularly relevant to the gig economy: vehicle insurance, home insurance, and equipment and liability insurance.

While every consumer needs health insurance, there are already a number of insurtechs and incumbent insurers that offer policies for individuals. However, when it comes to insuring work equipment or other utilities for freelancers, it's much more difficult to find suitable coverage. As such, this is the gap in the market where we see the most opportunity to deploy new products.

The companies mentioned in this report are: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Dinghy, Grab, Progressive, Slice, Uber, Urban Jungle, and Zego.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• By 2027, the majority of the US workforce will work as freelancers, per Upwork and Freelancer Union, though not all of these workers will take part in the gig economy full time.
• By personalizing policies for gig economy workers, insurtechs have been able to tap this opportunity early. 
• A number of other insurtechs, including Slice and UK-based Zego, offer temporary vehicle insurance, which users can switch on and off, depending on when they are working.
• Slice has also developed a new insurance model that combines traditional home insurance with business coverage for temporary use.
• Other freelancers like photojournalists need insurance for their camera, for example, a coverage area that Dinghy has tackled.
• Incumbent insurers have a huge opportunity to leverage their reach and well-known brands to pull in the gig economy and secure a share of this growing segment — and partnering with startups might be the best approach.

 In full, the report:

• Details what the gig economy landscape looks like in different markets.
• Explains how different insurtechs are tackling the gig economy with new personalized policies.
• Highlights possible pain points for incumbents when trying to enter this market.
• Discusses how incumbents can get a piece of the pie by partnering with startups.

SEE ALSO: These were the biggest developments in the global fintech ecosystem over the last 12 months

Join the conversation about this story »

• If you are prone to allergies, you can still have dogs.
• We rounded up 19 dogs including boxers and bichon frises that are hypoallergenic.
• Some of these include Coton de Tulears and Bichon frises.

Dogs are lovable companions that make a great addition to a family, but if you are prone to allergies, you might have gone out of your way to avoid pets in the past. However, there are many dog breeds that are hairless or hypoallergenic — meaning they are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction — that would be ideal for dog lovers with allergies.

No dog is 100% safe for all people with allergies, but these breeds are some of the least risky.

From soft-coated wheaten terriers to poodles, here are 19 dog breeds that that are hypoallergenic.

The soft-coated wheaten terrier is gentle and playful.

Soft-coated wheaten terriers are known for being great medium-sized family dogs with nimble energy and long, silky hair.

"This breed is playful, active, and needs daily exercise," reported the American Kennel Club. "They adapt well to their living environments and are good with children. They have a soft, single-layer coat of wheaten colored hair that should be maintained regularly to prevent any mats."

Coton de Tulear are very happy dogs.

If a Coton de Tulear's fur is long, it will require frequent brushing, but if it has short-trimmed fur, then it will likely just have occasional shedding, according to The American Kennel Club.

Walks or games of fetch keep these dogs healthy and in shape.

Bichon frises are small and affectionate.

The Bichon Frise is a small, poodle-like dog with soft curly hair and an easy-going temperament.

"This breed is ideal for people with allergies, as the coat is hypoallergenic to most," the American Kennel Club said. "Grooming is a must for this breed to prevent any mats, since their hair will continually grow but not shed. This is a naturally friendly, playful breed, and a perfect dog for a first-time owner."

• A second woman has come forward alleging Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax sexually assaulted her.
• Lawyers for Meredith Watson alleged in a statement that Fairfax raped Watson when they were both students at Duke University in 2000 in a "premeditated and aggressive" attack. 
• The latest allegation against Lt. Gov Fairfax marks the end of a tumultuous week in Virginia politics, as Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring are both declining to resign after admitting to wearing blackface in the 1980s. 

A second woman came forward Friday to allege that she was sexually assaulted by Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax.

Meredith Watson alleged in a Friday statement released through an attorney that Fairfax raped her when they were both students at Duke University in 2000 in a "premeditated and aggressive" attack. 

Watson's lawyer, Nancy Erika Smith, said they are in possession of emails, Facebook messages, and statements from classmates all confirming that Watson discussed the alleged attack with friends immediately after they say it occurred, and in the following years, some of which they provided to the Washington Post. 

The statement said Watson was "reluctantly" coming forward after being "upset" by allegations against Fairfax made by political science professor Vanessa Tyson. Tyson alleged in a statement released Wednesday that Fairfax forced her to perform oral sex on him at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Watson's lawyers said in the statement that Tyson's allegations were similar to Watson's alleged experience. 

After Watson's allegation became public, former Virginia Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe, Senator and presidential candidate Cory Booker, Members of Congress from Virginia Gerry Connolly and Jennifer Wexton, and House of Delegates member Lee Carter called on Fairfax to resign.

In a statement given to Katherine Faulders of ABC News on Friday, Fairfax's office demanded an official investigation into the accusations, which he described as "unsubstantiated" and part of a "vicious and coordinated smear campaign" against him, and said he would not resign.

"I will clear my good name and have nothing to hide," the statement said. "I have passed two full field background checks by the FBI and run for office in two highly contested elections with nothing like this being raised before." 

Fairfax has also vehemently denied Tyson's allegations, calling them a "totally fabricated story out of the blue" and threatening legal action against those leveling accusations. 

Watson's lawyers said she is coming forward with her allegations "out of a strong sense of civic duty and belief that those seeking in public office should be of the highest character."

"She has no interest in becoming a media personality or reliving the trauma that has affected her life," the statement continued. "Similarly she is not seeking any financial damages. We have notified Justin Fairfax through his attorneys that Ms. Watson hopes he will resign from public office." 

The latest allegation against Lt. Gov Fairfax is another chapter in a tumultuous week in Virginia politics, as Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring are both declining to resign after admitting to wearing blackface in the 1980s. 

SEE ALSO: A wave of scandals has turned Virginia politics on its head, and the state's top three politicians could all be on the way out

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Donald Trump's connection with Vince McMahon and WWE spans decades

• Netflix bought worldwide rights for the documentary "Knock Down the House," which follows four female progressive candidates during the 2018 midterm elections, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
• The streaming giant bought the movie for $10 million, according to Deadline.
• That would be the biggest buy ever for a documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. 

It was the documentary that had all the buyers in a feeding frenzy — and was a favorite among attendees — at this year's Sundance Film Festival, and it's going to be on Netflix. 

On Thursday, the streaming giant officially announced that it had bought worldwide rights to "Knock Down the House," which looks at four female progressive candidates through their campaigns during the 2018 midterm elections, and includes the run by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

According to Deadline, the movie had everyone from Neon and Focus Features, to Hulu and Amazon, interested in nabbing it. But Netflix won out and had to pay a pretty penny. The trade reports the movie went for $10 million, which would be a record for a documentary buy at the festival.

At Sundance, the doc was a hit with the crowds, as the movie won the fest's audience award.  

Read more: Amazon had a record-setting $46 million buying spree at Sundance. We break down all the big movie deals for Amazon, Netflix, and Apple.

It was a big year for acquisitions at the festival following last year, when Amazon and Netflix didn't buy a single movie. 

Netflix bought four movies. Along with "Knock Down the House," it also picked up "American Factory" for $3 million. The doc explores what happens after a Chinese billionaire opens a new factory in Ohio and high-tech China clashes with working-class America.

Amazon spent over $46 million buying five titles, including the Mindy Kaling's "Last Night" ($13 million) and "The Report" ($14 million) starring Adam Driver, which is already getting Oscar buzz.

SEE ALSO: Woody Allen is suing Amazon for $68 million after the tech giant killed his movie deal

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Sea cucumbers are so valuable that people are risking their lives diving for them