Vaseline is a 155-year-old brand that has been “reinvented through the hands of creators,” said Leandro Barreto, chief marketing officer at Unilever.
Barreto said brand leaders thought Vaseline was a straightforward beauty brand, but they learned that customers use the product in many different ways — like on their dog’s noses or in their shoes.
“We started understanding we should give the brand back to the communities and let them do with it what was more relevant for them,” Barreto said. “It’s a proof for us of consistency of meaning, flexibility of the execution and culture.”
Business Insider’s reporter took a two-week backpacking trip through six cities in four European countries.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I spent two weeks backpacking in Europe for the first time in 2022. I traveled to four countries.
I visited six cities for short stays: Berlin, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Milan, and Zurich.
I regretted packing six destinations into one trip because I didn’t have enough time in each place.
The clock in my head began ticking the moment I landed in Berlin because 48 hours later, I’d be en route to Vienna.
This was back in October 2022 when I went backpacking through Europe for the first time. I spent two weeks visiting four countries and six cities by rail.
I was headed somewhere new every 24 to 48 hours for the rest of the trip as I checked off the other cities on my list: Venice, Italy, Rome, Milan, and Zurich.
On my way to each destination, the same question popped into my head: Is two weeks in Europe enough time to explore all these places?
Back then, I wanted to see as much of the continent as possible. So I thought one or two nights in each city would help me make the most of my time abroad.
But after three flights, 11 train rides, and 60 hours in transit, I returned home with only a sampling of what each place had to offer.
48 hours isn’t enough time to explore a city
I longed for more memories in Berlin as soon as I boarded my train to Vienna. When I headed from Austria to Italy, I felt I had barely gotten a taste of Vienna’s art scene.
I spent a week in Italy, but splitting my time between three different cities — Venice, Rome, and Milan — left me craving more.
Narrow alleys in Rome.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The ancient city of Rome blended old and new. I strolled down cobblestone streets with ruins on one side and modern buildings on the other. Seeing the dramatic exteriors of Renaissance museums had me longing for enough time to go inside. And seeing ruins from a distance made me wish I could see them up close.
My last stop in Switzerland had my favorite landscapes of the whole trip, and after just two nights, I flew home wishing I’d made time for an epic mountain hike.
A sunlit field in Roggwil, Switzerland.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
From stunning architecture and rich histories to striking landscapes, these cities impressed me upon arrival.
However, with less than 48 hours to explore each destination, I could only hit the top tourist highlights, like the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the Colosseum in Rome, and the canals in Venice.
Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I didn’t have a chance to dive deeper into what life was really like in each city. If I had more time, I would have cruised on Lake Zurich, shopped in Milan, or spent a night in the Kreuzberg neighborhood in Berlin. Each day in every city, I walked past remarkable buildings and massive museums that intrigued me and thought, “Next time.”
So, no — two weeks is not enough time to explore six European cities, and I learned the hard way.
Visit fewer places and take your time
Top Left: Berlin, top center: Vienna, top right: Venice. Bottom Left: Rome, bottom center: Milan, bottom right: Zurich.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, don’t make the same mistake I did.
For a two-week trip, I recommend visiting one or two cities or towns and immersing yourself in their art scenes, neighborhoods, and history. That way, you’ll leave with a deeper sense of the destinations you carefully selected.
On my flight back to New York City, I’d already started mentally planning to visit Zurich, Berlin, Rome, and Vienna again.
So, on the way home, if you still wonder about a destination you didn’t get to, make sure there’s a next time.
A LOT Polish Airlines flight was diverted to Bulgaria after a hijack alert was unintentionally triggered.
Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images ; Courtesy
A flight to Tel Aviv was diverted to Bulgaria after an unintentional hijacking alert was triggered.
The Israel Defense Forces scrambled fighter jets after it was unable to make contact with the plane.
Bulgaria’s transportation ministry attributed the false hijacking alert to a “technical failure.”
A LOT Polish Airlines commercial flight from Warsaw to Tel Aviv was diverted to Burgas, Bulgaria, on Tuesday after a hijacking alert was unintentionally triggered in flight.
LOT Polish Airlines flight 155, operated by Electra Airways, took off from Warsaw at 11:35 a.m. local time, then circled over the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Cyprus before turning around and landing at Burgas at 5:13 p.m., FlightAware flight path data showed.
In a statement to The Times of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said it scrambled two fighter jets after it was unable to make contact with the Airbus A320 aircraft, but that contact was restored amid the unusual mid-flight security scare.
“There is no fear of a security incident,” the IDF said.
A representative for LOT Polish Airlines told Business Insider that the “mistaken” emergency transponder code was “subsequently canceled during further communication with air traffic control.”
Bulgaria’s transportation ministry confirmed the false hijacking code to The Times of Israel and said Bulgarian jets were also sent to escort the plane. It said a “technical failure of the aircraft’s transponder” signaled an “unlawful interference/hijacking.”
Passengers were removed from the plane, screened by Bulgarian police, and brought to a holding area, where LOT Polish Airlines apologized for the “exceptional circumstances.”
The aftermath of the LOT Polish Airlines flight’s emergency landing in Bulgaria.
Courtesy
“The diversion of your flight to Burgas was caused by the unintentional activation of an onboard security alert,” the airline wrote in a note to passengers that was exclusively obtained by Business Insider. “In accordance with the applicable safety procedures, the aircraft was redirected to [an] alternate airport, so that the situation could be fully clarified with the relevant authorities.”
The statement continued: “Situations of this nature are extremely rare and are not part of normal flight operations. Nevertheless, the safety and security of our passengers and crew must always remain our highest priority.”
LOT Polish Airlines told Business Insider that passengers were instructed to follow the local service’s instructions after the emergency landing and will be given further information as it becomes available.
The IDF did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Military jets are deployed to escort airliners under certain circumstances, like bombs threats, security alerts, and loss of contact with air traffic control.
An American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi diverted to Rome with a fighter jet escort in early 2025 after the plane received a bomb threat. It was ultimately a false alarm.
As an almost eight-year Costco employee with a busy life and an empty nest, I use Costco products to make my life more efficient, effective, and economical.
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
I’ve been a Costco employee for about eight years, and I shop there often for food and essentials.
Kirkland Signature roasted almonds, shelled pistachios, and nondairy oat beverage are staples.
I also enjoy stocking up on distilled white vinegar, coffee, and certain medications at Costco.
I’m on the go during most of the workday, and I like to make sure I have energy and time left at the end of the day for family, fun, and even household chores.
Luckily, it’s easy to grab groceries and other essentials at Costco after my shift. As an empty nester, here are a few of my favorite buys that help me stay on budget and live efficiently.
My FoodSaver has been an incredible kitchen tool.
Diana Bernstein
Long before I started working for Costco, I invested in a FoodSaver because I was tired of my extra fish and meat getting freezer burn.
Since I buy in bulk so frequently and often cook for one, I’ve quickly gotten my money’s worth out of this machine.
Typically, I get large packages of fish, chicken, or steak on sale at Costco, divide them into individual portions, seal them in airtight bags (also purchased at Costco) using my FoodSaver machine, and freeze them for later.
I’ve found these airtight packages of protein last up to a year in the freezer without showing signs of freezer burn.
All in all, my FoodSaver is great for meal prepping, avoiding waste, and practicing portion control while saving money.
Kirkland Signature organic chicken stock is a staple in my kitchen.
Dominic Bucca
Working full-time should not mean sacrificing good meals at lunch and dinner. To set myself up for success, I regularly buy bulk packs of Kirkland Signature chicken thighs and organic chicken stock.
On one of my days off, I cook a large quantity of chicken thighs on the grill, in the oven, or in my pressure cooker. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, I remove all the fat.
This process naturally leaves small pieces and large pieces of meat, which I seal in FoodSaver bags and freeze. Now, fully cooked chicken is ready to add to any recipe.
For a quick meal, I combine smaller portions of frozen meat with chopped veggies, pre-cooked brown rice, and chicken stock to prepare a semi-homemade soup.
Usually, I’ll bring stock and veggies (often carrots and squash) to a simmer in the microwave, then pour it over a bowl of rice and frozen chicken. The heat from the stock is enough to warm the chicken. From there, I season my soup to taste, and dinner is served!
I also heat up chicken stock and use it for warming up chicken pieces that I can use in a salad or tacos. Sometimes, to add extra flavor to rice, I cook it in chicken stock instead of water.
A few times a year, I stock up on San Francisco Bay Coffee’s French Roast.
Diana Bernstein
I love the rich taste of San Francisco Bay Coffee and appreciate the brand’s mission and farming practices.
The 3-pound bags of its French Roast typically go on sale a couple of times a year at my local Costco. When it does, I buy a few packages so that I always have close to a year’s supply in my freezer.
Before freezing it, I snip the original packaging, then vacuum-seal it in a FoodSaver bag to remove all the air.
Fortunately, I think this coffee tastes great even after months in the freezer — and knowing it was purchased on sale adds to the joy of every cup.
Fairlife nutrition shakes help me meet my protein goals.
Rachel MacPherson
I require a very high-protein diet, but I need to watch my calories.
Fortunately, these Fairlife chocolate nutrition shakes help me reach my protein goals without consuming too many calories. Each has 30 grams of protein and 150 calories.
They’re so nice and chocolaty that I even enjoy them as a dessert when paired with a handful of pistachios.
Kirkland Signature nondairy oat beverage is also a staple for me.
Diana Bernstein
To add more fiber and protein to my morning bowl of Cheerios, I eat them in a bowl of Kirkland Signature nondairy oat beverage. One cup of the beverage has 3 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber.
I also like that it consistently tastes fresh, and the cartons are shelf-stable and don’t need to be stored in the fridge.
The ingredients in the Kirkland Signature oat beverage are also comparable to many others at a higher price point.
You’ll find Winix air purifiers throughout my home.
Diana Bernstein
I keep Winix air purifiers in my living room and bedroom to filter out things like pollen, fine dust, and smoke. Some versions of them are available at Costco for about $130 each.
I have seasonal allergies, and generally, I find running these makes the indoor air much more pleasant and less triggering.
Kirkland Signature shelled pistachios are a great snack.
Diana Bernstein
Pistachios are considered to be a complete protein, which is rare among nuts. This, combined with their great taste, makes them one of my favorite snacks.
The Kirkland Signature pistachios are typically priced pretty well, which affords me the luxury of buying them unshelled. They’re roasted and salted, too, which makes their flavor even better.
I’m also a fan of Kirkland Signature roasted almonds with sea salt.
Diana Bernstein
These Kirkland Signature nuts have a satisfying, crunchy crispness and well-developed almond flavor. Each bag I’ve had has been consistently roasted and salted.
I keep almonds in my locker at work because the high-protein nuts do such a great job of controlling my appetite. Also, I’ve found that a few crushed-up almonds make a terrific crunchy addition to brown rice.
White vinegar can be great for cleaning, so I buy it in bulk at Costco.
Diana Bernstein
I like using distilled white vinegar when I clean, so I buy gallons of it in bulk at Costco. Most recently, I purchased a two-gallon pack from the Four Monks brand.
I usually keep a spray bottle of diluted vinegar on hand when I want to give my stainless-steel appliances a nice shine and remove hard-water stains from the shower.
When diluted, white vinegar can also be great for descaling some coffee makers.
Kirkland Signature Aller-Flo allergy spray works well for me.
Diana Bernstein
Costco has its own version of a lot of popular medications, and I find myself repurchasing a few of them on a regular basis.
Kirkland Signature Aller-Flo, a fluticasone spray comparable to Flonase, helps me with my congestion and itchy eyes as much as other brand-name products have.
Using this spray allows me to function much more effectively when my allergy symptoms are bad, and I find it’s usually priced fairly well at Costco.
I keep Kirkland Signature arthritis pain relief gel on hand.
Diana Bernstein
I sometimes take acetaminophen for minor aches and pains, but diclofenac does a wonderful job on my muscle aches and joint pain.
Typically, I just use the Kirkland Signature arthritis pain relief gel. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug just like acetaminophen, and because it’s applied topically, it has very good tissue penetration.
I keep a tube of this in my locker at work, one in my first-aid kit in the car, and another at home.
Costco was not involved in the sourcing or writing of this story. The views contained within represent the author’s personal views.
Keep reading our other Costco Diaries to see what chefs, dietitians, and other shoppers love buying at the chain.
Dr. Judith Joseph researches high-functioning depression.
Dr. Judith Joseph
Dr. Judith Joseph is a psychiatrist who researches high-functioning depression.
People with high-functioning depression can look like overachievers or people-pleasers.
Untreated high-functioning depression can lead to physical symptoms and unhealthy coping habits.
On the surface, being a people-pleaser seems to come with perks. Always being agreeable can keep people around; saying yes to every last-minute work request makes you feel less dispensable.
In the long run, however, people-pleasing doesn’t just lead to being taken advantage of and shallower relationships: it can also be detrimental to your health.
Dr. Judith Joseph, a New York City-based psychiatrist and author of “High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy,” said chronic people-pleasing may increase the risk of high-functioning depression, an informal term for depression in people who appear outwardly put-together and successful while exhibiting symptoms like hopelessness, irritability, and emptiness.
High-functioning depression can be hidden in plain sight.
damircudic/Getty Images
While the term isn’t an official diagnosis in the DSM-5, the primary diagnostic manual used by mental health clinicians, they still use it sometimes to informally describe people whose depression isn’t outwardly obvious.
Unlike burnout, which is typically tied to a specific stressor like work or caregiving, high-functioning depression doesn’t necessarily improve when someone changes jobs or takes a break from those responsibilities, Joseph said. “They still have the symptoms even though the environment’s gone,” Joseph told Business Insider.
Overwhelmingly, she sees patients with high-functioning depression exhibit some levels of people-pleasing and constant self-sacrifice. “I think of people who believe that they have to be the rock,” Joseph added. “I think of the nurse in the ER who hasn’t had a pee break but has made sure to empty everyone else’s Foley [catheter].”
Joseph shared why untreated high-functioning depression can lead to long-term physical health issues. She also gave tips on how to stop being a people-pleaser.
Achievement without enjoyment
People with high-functioning depression can accomplish a lot. They just don’t enjoy any of their success.
Maskot/Getty Images
Joseph, who works in Manhattan, said she sees many successful patients in her practice. On paper, everything looks great. They have no problems completing their daily responsibilities or getting promoted at work. They just don’t know why none of it makes them feel good.
“There’s a difference between someone who is productive and loving what they’re doing, versus someone who is busying themselves, but it’s pathological productivity,” Joseph said.
She added that achieving things “just to get through the day,” rather than because they bring you joy, may reflect anhedonia — a core symptom of depression marked by a loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed.
People-pleasers might continue to push through symptoms like anhedonia because of low self-worth and a history of internalized shame, she said. Because they feel like they can’t pause, say no, or ask for help, they continue marching onward.
“They have developed this personality and this identity tied to doing for others or showing up in a role, and they kind of lose who they are,” Joseph said. “I see this often with high-functioning folks.”
Dangerous ways to cope
Joseph said people with high-functioning depression may cope with unhealthy habits, like scrolling for hours on their phones.
Guido Mieth/Getty Images
Left unaddressed, Joseph said, there are a few common outcomes for people with high-functioning depression.
The first is that they dip into a more typical display of depression, where they struggle to get out of bed or withdraw from loved ones. They might also start to experience physical symptoms.
“Their brain is still coasting, but their bodies physically break down,” Joseph said. “They end up in the ER with neurological symptoms or chest pain, dehydration, or physical exhaustion.”
Joseph has also seen patients cope through excessive drinking, drugs, or unhealthy behaviors like gambling, overspending, or endlessly scrolling on their phones. “They’re soothing in these ways because they don’t understand what’s happening,” she said.
The best way to stop people-pleasing
Setting boundaries has more career perks than people-pleasing does.
Tom Werner/Getty Images
If you know you have people-pleasing tendencies but can’t seem to draw boundaries, Joseph suggested digging deeper into worst-case scenarios.
“What’s the worst thing that’ll happen if you don’t show up for this? What if you don’t work on the weekends? What if you don’t turn in that project because you’re really tired?” she said.
Because people-pleasers rarely put themselves first, Joseph said they can often be taken advantage of. “People pick that up,” she added, noting that it’s not always maliciously done, either. Joseph said it’s human nature for people to take what is constantly given.
Joseph said many of her clients find that setting clearer boundaries ultimately improves how they’re treated by others.
“Over time, you get more comfortable with that exposure, and you see that nothing bad happened,” Joseph said. ” In fact, they respected you more, and they actually listened. That is a game changer for a lot of my clients.”
The C-141 Starlifter was known as the “workhorse” of the US Air Force for over 40 years.
The planes transported troops and cargo and participated in humanitarian missions.
They operated from 1965 to 2006 and were replaced by the C-17 Globemaster III.
The C-141 Starlifter was known as the “workhorse” of the US Air Force.
From the Vietnam War through Operation Iraqi Freedom, the aircraft airdropped troops, evacuated wounded soldiers and prisoners of war, and transported crucial military supplies into combat zones as part of the Air Mobility Command.
The planes also participated in humanitarian missions, including medical shipments and evacuations following natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.
The Air Mobility Command Museum on Dover Air Force Base in Delaware features a C-141B Starlifter open for visitors to explore the cargo bay, cockpit, and crew bunks. Take a look inside.
The C-141 Starlifter operated in the US Air Force from 1965 to 2006.
U.S. Air Force C-141B Starlifters line up for take off from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., during Big Drop III on May 9, 1996. The aircraft will transport equipment and paratroopers to drop zones near Pope Air Force Base, N.C. The largest air drop since World War II, Big Drop III involves 144 aircraft and is part of the larger Combined Joint Task Force Exercise `96. More than 53,000 military service members from the United States and the United Kingdom are participating in Combined Joint Task Force Exercise ’96 on military installations in the Southeastern United States and in waters along the Eastern seaboard.
DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa Zunzanyika-Carpenter, US Air Force.
Built by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin, and unveiled by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the first C-141A model entered service in 1965.
The C-141B, which first flew in 1977, could carry up to 68,000 pounds of cargo — 30% more than the C-141A — and fly as fast as 500 miles per hour, powered by four turbofan engines.
The Air Mobility Command Museum on Dover Air Force Base in Delaware features the last C-141 Starlifter ever stationed at the base.
A C-141B Starlifter.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Retired in 1996, the museum’s C-141B Starlifter is now an exhibit open to the public. Admission to the Air Mobility Command Museum is free.
The plane door that museum-goers enter through is one of the two doors that paratroopers used to jump out of.
The crew door on a C-141B Starlifter.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
C-141B Starlifters have two troop doors, one on either side, behind each wing. The cargo doors for loading, unloading, and airdropping cargo were located in the rear.
The plane could hold up to 168 paratroopers. C-141B Starlifters dropped paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division into Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury in 1983 and into Panama during Operation Just Cause in 1989, among other operations.
The cargo bay measures 93 feet and 4 inches long and 10 feet and 3 inches wide.
The cargo bay of the C-141B Starlifter.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
The cargo bay could transport cargo as well as troops, who would sit on the foldout red benches. There was room for 205 service members.
The C-141 could be configured to carry many types of wheeled vehicles: towed artillery, armored personnel carriers, and trucks.
Large cargo planes deliver the food, fuel, supplies and vehicles that are the lifeblood of operations, and a critical component of the US’ global footprint.
The airlifter could hold 13 463L pallets like these, each weighing 290 pounds.
A 463L pallet.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Made of aluminum and balsa wood, 463L pallets are named for the month and year they were developed, April 1963. The nylon nets help keep the cargo secure in up to 8 Gs, or 8 times the force of gravity.
The crew rest area was cordoned off behind a wall to allow the in-flight crew to rest on long flights.
The crew rest area.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Unlike the C-141A, the C-141B was capable of being refueled while in flight thanks to aerial tankers that could transfer fuel via an extendable gas pump called a boom.
With no need to stop and refuel, the C-141B could fly nonstop to and from international destinations.
The snug space featured elevated bunks.
Cots behind the flight deck.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
The crew rest area was located behind the flight deck.
The flight deck featured four seats, for the pilot, co-pilot, navigator, and flight engineer, as well as a jump seat in the middle.
The flight deck.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
The jump seat was used by the second flight engineer, known as the scanner when not seated at the flight engineer’s console.
The flight deck windows of a C-141B Starlifter are nearly identical to those of a C-5 Galaxy, the Air Force’s largest plane, with the exception of the center windshield.
The flight engineer was responsible for monitoring and managing the aircraft’s systems, including the engines.
The flight engineer’s seat.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
The role largely became obsolete with the introduction of digital technology.
As the Air Force retired C-141 Starlifters, they were replaced by the C-17 Globemaster III.
Demonstrating its short runway landing capability, a C-17 Globemaster III lands during the Luke Day 2026 airshow, March 22, 2026, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Events like Luke Days 2026 provide insight into the training, preparation and teamwork that enable the joint force to respond quickly and effectively when needed, anytime and anywhere. Today’s military aircraft demonstrate how innovation and disciplined training enable the joint force to respond rapidly to evolving threats. Currently operating in Air Mobility Command, the C-17 supports combat operations, humanitarian missions and global logistics.
US Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Hampton Stramler
The C-17 Globemaster III only requires three crew members: a pilot, co-pilot, and loadmaster. It can transport up to 170,900 pounds of cargo — more than twice the capacity of the C-141B — and fly at 450 knots, or about 517 miles per hour. It can also operate on runways as short as 3,500 feet.
The C-17 entered service in 1993 and continues to support the Air Force’s combat operations and humanitarian missions, picking up where the C-141 Starlifters left off as the US military’s primary long-haul transport aircraft. Boeing has a $2.5 billion contract to sustain the Air Force’s C-17s, and there continues to be interest in building new Globemasters even though Boeing closed the production line over a decade ago.
“In every conflict, every disaster, every contingency anywhere on the globe, Starlifter crews have been the first responders,” June Shrewsbury, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of Strategic Airlift, said at a C-141 retirement ceremony held in 2004. “The C-141 has quite a record of achievement.”