Sephora is synonymous with beauty supply, viral products, and hair care. The retailer carries everything from skincare and hair care to luxury makeup, fragrance, and tools, making it an easy one-stop shop whether you're trying a new viral brand or restocking everyday essentials. And while Sephora doesn't run traditional discounts as often as some competitors, using a Sephora coupon code can still help you save on your next order.

The best Sephora deals are often tied to perks rather than straight markdowns. Depending on what's available, a Sephora promo code can unlock free samples, deluxe gifts, Beauty Insider rewards, and limited-time offers that help you stretch your budget or experiment with new products before committing to full sizes. It's a smart way to refresh your routine without overhauling your spending.

To make shopping easier, we've gathered the best Sephora promo codes and current deals we've tested in one place. Browse the offers below to get the most value out of your next Sephora haul.

Today's best Sephora coupons

Previous Sephora promo codes

Are there any other Sephora sales running at the moment?

You can find a full list of current markdowns on the "Sale" page of Sephora's website at any time. As of the time of writing, Sephora is running the following promotions.

• Follow our Instagram page and WhatsApp channel on mobile for more deals, reviews, and shopping guides

How to use Sephora coupon codes

Start by creating or logging in to a Beauty Insider account, then add coupon-eligible items to your basket. On the cart page, you can apply a coupon by pasting the code into the "Promo Code" text box and clicking "Apply." The code will then be applied, or if the code you entered offers multiple free gifts, you'll first be prompted to make your selection. Once the coupon is added, continue to checkout to enter your shipping and billing information.

Can you stack Sephora promo codes?

Sephora does not allow coupons to be stacked together. Only one promo code may be applied per order.

Sephora coupon frequently asked questions

Do I need to join the Beauty Insider program to use Sephora promo codes?

Most Sephora coupons are only valid for Beauty Insider members, so they cannot be used on guest orders. That said, the program is free to join and comes with many perks, including free shipping on all orders, a free birthday gift each year, access to exclusive deals, and more. Learn more and sign up on Sephora's website.

Does Sephora offer free shipping?

Sephora offers free standard shipping on all orders to Beauty Insider members. For orders using guest checkout, Sephora offers free shipping if you spend $50 or more. Learn more about shipping rates and times on Sephora's website.

What is Sephora's return policy?

Sephora allows new or gently used products to be returned for a full refund by mail or in-store within 30 days of the original purchase. Learn more about how to make returns or exchanges on Sephora's website.

Can I use Sephora coupon codes in-store?

Most Sephora promo codes are only eligible for online purchases. However, there may be some exceptions, so be sure to check the specific terms and conditions for the code you want to use.

Score more beauty deals with our roundup of the best Olive & June discount codes.

Tesla delivered an earnings beat on Wednesday and signaled a "rebound of demand" in North America. But hold onto your hats, investors: Tesla is planning a big increase in capex spending.

Tesla's total revenue for the first quarter came in at $22.38 billion — a 16% year-over-year increase and above analysts' estimates.

Elon Musk's automaker also grew its profits, posting adjusted earnings per share of 41 cents, up 51% from the same period last year, and above Wall Street's expectations. Gross margin also grew year over year.

"We are excited about Tesla's positioning in 2026 with tailwinds persisting for the autos business, our continued progress on FSD (Supervised) 4, the ramp of Robotaxi, progress on Optimus ahead of mass production and the growth of our energy production capacity," the company said in its release.

After a stretch of disappointing car sales, Tesla struck an optimistic tone about its EV business while providing updates on its broader goal of launching new AI products, such as the Optimus humanoid bot, and scaling up its Robotaxi service.

Musk warned that scaling up those products and building the factories required to do so — in addition to investing in other AI-related projects like its Terafab chip fab with SpaceX — will prove costly.

The stock popped 4% after hours immediately following the earnings results, but dipped back into the red as the earnings call progressed.

Scroll on for the full play-by-play from Tesla's earnings release and analyst call.

That's a wrap! Tesla ends analyst call as stock trades down more than 2% after hours.

Thanks for joining us!

Tesla Robotaxi gets 'scared' sometimes

Elon Musk says a lot of what limits Tesla's Robotaxi is not safety issues but "convenience issues." He says the car sometimes "gets paranoid and gets stuck" when it approaches things like a railroad because the unsupervised system is designed for maximum safety.

A Roadster update! (And further demo delay.)

We may see the redesigned Roadster soon. Maybe. At least, that's what Musk again says. He originally teased an April 1st unveiling before later saying "hopefully" by the end of April.

"May be able to debut that in a month or so," Musk now says. "I think it will be one of the most exciting product unveils ever."

Musk says that the car isn't expected to be a revenue driver for the company. It will eventually also be the only Tesla vehicle focused on humans behind the wheel, he adds.

Musk says Terafab isn't for 'leverage' over Tesla's chip suppliers

Elon Musk clarifies that the Terafab project, an ambitious chips manufacturing venture with SpaceX, is not to gain "leverage" over Tesla's chip suppliers.

"It's just literally we don't see a path to having enough," he says.

Musk talks Grok's potential with Optimus

Optimus will get assistance from xAI's Grok model. Musk said the relationship is like that of an office manager and a self-sufficient employee.

"Optimus could probably work for several hours without any management oversight," Musk says.

He had previously said that the robot will work, even if it isn't connected to WiFi or cell connectivity.

Tesla dips into the red after hours as the call progresses

Tesla stock is now trading down 1.2% after hours as the live Q&A with Wall Street analysts continues.

Musk says Tesla will use Intel's 14A chip process — a big win for Intel

14A is their new chip manufacturing node. They have needed a major customer for this for over a year.

Musk's companies love working together — but it's complicated

The Musk-led companies have been expanding their partnerships; they're sharing semiconductor plants, software, and sales. That's gotten complex, Musk says, because everything has to get approved by the SpaceX and Tesla board of directors.

"It's got to go through a conflict resolution, he says.

Tesla says the home solar market is going through a 'correction'

Tesla says during the call that the overall US residential solar market is going through a "bit of a correction" after the loss of the homeowner tax credit in 2025. The executive says that Tesla will continue to see strong demand for its solar products in the second half of this year.

Tesla is working to fix 'scaling issues' on robotaxi safety

Tesla says it wants to get the small details right on its robotaxi rollout. That can be a "scaling issue," the company says.

"For example, you do not want the robotaxi to be stuck blocking in intersections, or do not want to be dropping people off at slightly incorrect locations," CFO Vaibhav Taneja says.

Tesla's live Q&A begins as the stock continues to pare earlier gains after hours

Shares are trading up .5% after hours as the live Q&A portion of the call with Wall Street analysts begins. The stock rose 4% immediately after the results.

Robotaxi isn't coming to Europe soon

Elon Musk says stakeholders are "jumping the gun" on asking about Robotaxi service coming to Europe. The CEO says that, due to regulatory constraints, it will take some time, noting that Tesla only recently received approval to offer FSD (Supervised) in the region.

Tesla is at the "mercy of regulators," Musk adds.

Customers can upgrade their cameras, Musk says

While Musk says that customers driving vehicles with older hardware won't be able to access unsupervised Full Self-Driving, the automaker is looking to build "micro factories or small factories in major metropolitan areas" to upgrade to the latest hardware.

Drivers will need to update the cameras, too, Musk adds.

Sorry, owners of older Teslas: HW3 won't provide unsupervised FSD

Elon Musk says owners of older vehicles with HW3 shouldn't expect to get unsupervised Full Self-Driving in their cars. HW3, or Hardware 3, is the computer system inside Teslas that allows for advanced driver-assistance systems like Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. The latest version is Hardware 4.

"I wish it were otherwise, but Hardware 3 simply does not have the capability to achieve unsupervised FSD," Musk says.

Robotaxi rollout will not be 'super material' in 2026, Musk says

Elon Musk is tempering expectations for Tesla's robotaxi rollout for this year. While the CEO says that Tesla is aiming to roll out robotaxis in a "dozen or so states," he also says it "will not be super material this year."

Musk gives update on when to expect Optimus V3 unveiling

The first retail investor question asks Musk when the company will unveil the next version of the Optimus robot.

Musk says the public won't see the V3 until the company completely finishes its design because, he said, competitors copy Tesla's designs by doing a "frame-by-frame" analysis of its demos.

"I don't know what the production rate of Optimus will be this year," he said.

Musk and Tesla's CFO are going through retail investors' questions

The questions were submitted ahead of the earnings call and voted on — Tesla chooses a few of the most upvoted questions from retail investors to answer on the call.

Tesla's in a big capex phase

Tesla's CFO says the company is in a "very big capital investment phase" that should continue over the next several years.

He reminds stakeholders that Tesla is paying to build six factories. Current capex is expected to be over $25 billion, the CFO says.

Tesla CFO says interest rates and tariffs are affecting EV costs

CFO Vaibhav Taneja says interest rates and tariffs are affecting automotive costs, and that rates will continue to impact auto margins should they keep rising.

Tesla says it's capitalizing on high gas prices

The average gas price in the US has floated above $4 a gallon for regular gas. Tesla says that's helpful for its sales.

Tesla's CFO says the "recent increase in gas prices has had a positive impact on the order rate."

Tesla's CFO is up next

CFO Vaibhav Taneja is going into more granular detail on the quarter's performance, as well as talking about some of the headwinds Tesla faces.

Tesla's stock price slips after hours as Musk gives timeline updates

Shares were trading up 1.44% after hours as Musk concluded his opening remarks, paring some of their earlier gains. Musk just gave Optimus a timeline update and warned of significantly increased capex.

Musk gives Optimus update

Musk signals Optimus optimism. He says he "remains convinced" that Optimus, the humanoid AI bot, is Tesla's most important product, and predicts that the company will begin production later this year.

He says it'll ramp to "significant" numbers next year.

Elon Musk kicks things off by warning of increased spending

Tesla is going to spend a lot more cash, Musk says. The company is planning a "very significant increase in capital expenditures," he said, though he says it's "well-justified" and will pay off in the long run.

And we're off! Tesla's earnings call begins.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and CFO Vaibhav Taneja are on the call. The call begins with the executives reading prepared remarks on the quarter, then answering some retail investors' questions, followed by a live Q&A with Wall Street analysts.

Tesla appears to make Robotaxi timeline adjustments

In the last quarter, Tesla had seven cities targeted for Robotaxi deployment by the first half of 2026. Now, it looks like Tesla has scrapped some of those timelines for something broader, only stating "preparations underway" for five cities.

Dallas and Houston now say "ramping unsupervised," reflecting the recent deployment of a few unsupervised cars in those cities.

'One of the most produced AI chips ever'

The final design of Tesla's AI5 chip is here, as Elon Musk also showed off earlier this week in an X post. The chip is a crucial part of Tesla's long-term bet on fully autonomous driving and humanoid robots.

Musk said in an April 15 social media post that the AI5 chip will be "one of the most produced AI chips ever," and thanked TSMC and Samsung for helping bring it into production.

Tesla's automotive inventory has increased

Tesla's inventory has stacked up. It announced a 27-day inventory supply, a 23% increase from the same quarter last year. It comes after the automaker built 50,000 more vehicles in Q1 than it sold, the largest glut in its history.

The inventory level is still well below the automotive industry average. In 2025, car companies reported an average 70-day supply of vehicles on dealership lots.

A look into Tesla Semi's production line

We also get a view inside Tesla's Semi production plant halfway through the earnings deck.

Tesla has only let a handful of journalists into its Sparks, Nevada, manufacturing plant, where it's building the Semi truck. Now, we're getting a look at the production line.

The company is building the truck in the air. Ceiling-mounted conveyors will carry the Semi's cabin through the factory, as workers bolt the underbelly in place.

A look at Tesla's groundbreaking for its research chip fab

Tesla says it's expanding its "scope of manufacturing" to include semiconductor fabrication and aims to build "the largest chip fab ever" through a partnership with SpaceX, another Elon Musk company.

"Our partnership with SpaceX aims to build the largest chip fab ever: vertically integrating logic, memory and advanced packaging to allow for rapid iteration as we anticipate greater chip demand than what existing and planned industry capacity can accommodate. This begins with the Tesla-owned Research Fab on our Gigafactory Texas campus."

This sets up the play for Tesla's upcoming chip, the AI5 inference processor. The earnings report also showed a picture of the final design for the AI5.

Analyst reacts: 'The real story here was cash flow'

Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at Investing.com, points to Tesla's operating cash flow of $3.9 billion this quarter — up 83% year-over-year.

"While the company continues to grapple with several structural and macro challenges in its core business — which should keep pressure on earnings growth throughout the year — the real story here was cash flow," Monteiro writes. "It arguably gives Elon and his team significantly more firepower — and most importantly, time — to compete again in the innovation economy, which now extends well beyond EVs into AI-driven service monetization.

Tesla looks more and more like an AI company

Tesla's long game isn't car sales — and this earnings report really puts that into sharper focus. R&D spending is up, as are FSD subscriptions, both of which are related to its AI efforts.

On the AI data center front, Tesla says its "Cortex 2 is now online and has started running training workloads."

"We continue to ramp our onsite training infrastructure to ensure sufficient compute resources for the development of our AI products and services," it adds. "We are also continuing our custom silicon development with Dojo 3 in an effort to reduce the cost of training over time."

The company also highlights its rollout of unsupervised robotaxi rides in Houston and Dallas, while it's ramping up service in Austin. Paid robotaxi miles nearly doubled over the last quarter.

Self-driving cars have been the centerpiece of Tesla's automotive AI initiatives — and it comes right as the company is about to shift production at its Fremont, California, plant from automaking to its Optimus humanoid robots.

Will China get FSD? Tesla is continuing to work toward approval.

"We continue to make progress on approval in China," Tesla says.

Tesla ends the first quarter with a big cash pile

Tesla's quarter-end cash pile, which includes cash equivalents and short-term investments, was $44.7 billion — up $0.7 billion from the previous quarter. This could give Tesla some flexibility with future AI spending and other products.

Tesla's gross margin improves

Tesla lifted its gross margin to 21.1% this quarter, up from 16.3% from a year earlier.

Tesla is prepping Optimus factories

Tesla reports that it's preparing its first large-scale Optimus factory in Fremont, California, for Q2 by replacing the Model S and Model X lines (both models are being discontinued).

It's also preparing the Gigafactory in Texas for a second-generation Optimus line with a long-term annual production capacity of 10 million robots.

The company did not provide hard numbers on shipments or deployments.

Tesla says 'trade and geopolitics become more uncertain'

"We are making the necessary investments that will ensure our access to key materials and componentry in each region across vehicle, energy and AI as trade and geopolitics become more uncertain," Tesla says in its release. "In recent months, we have announced further regionalization and vertical integration of critical supply chains."

Tesla is spending heavily to fund its AI ambitions

Tesla reports spending nearly $2.5 billion on capital expenditures during its first quarter — a 67% increase compared to the same period last year.

It's not very surprising: Tesla has announced massive AI spending projects, including Terafab, a joint venture with SpaceX and xAI aimed at building more semiconductor chips.

Cybercab production remains on schedule

Tesla says it's "further prepared lines for start of production" on upcoming products including the fully autonomous Cybercab, listing the robotaxi as in "Pilot Production."

"We expect volume production of both Cybercab and the Tesla Semi this year," Tesla said.

Tesla's energy business was one weak point this past quarter

While Tesla showed solid revenue growth, one area where the EV maker fell was energy storage deployments.

Tesla's earnings report showed it deployed 8.8 GWh of energy, a 15% year-over-year decline. It's also the weakest quarter since Q1 2025.

Tesla touts rebounding demand in key markets.

"We saw continued growth in demand for our vehicles in markets in APAC and South America, while also seeing a rebound of demand in both EMEA and North America."

FSD subscriptions rose 51% year-over-year to 1.28 million

Tesla's Supervised Full Self-Driving software has switched to a subscription-only revenue stream, and growing it means more reliable, high-margin revenue for the automaker.

Roadster remains in 'design development'

Elon Musk teased that he could reveal a production-spec for the long-awaited, two-door Roadster. But don't expect it anytime soon.

In the earnings deck, Tesla still lists the car as in "design development." That's the same classification the car has gotten in recent quarters.

Tesla's earnings are out — here are the key numbers

• Q1 Revenue: $22.38 billion vs. $22.27 billion estimate
• Q1 Adjusted EPS: $0.41 vs. $0.35 estimate

Tesla stock ends Wednesday's trading session up slightly

Trading of Tesla stock was pretty quiet ahead of the earnings release. The stock inched up in Wednesday's session, closing at $387.51.

Shares are down about 15% this year, though the stock is up 67% over the last 12 months.

Tesla's collaborations with SpaceX

Elon Musk's companies love to share!

Tesla's ties to its CEO's other companies — especially SpaceX — are deepening and becoming more complex. The biggest example is the recently announced Terrafab joint project. Both companies are working toward constructing a massive semiconductor chip factory aimed at powering everything from Tesla's humanoid robots and self-driving cars to SpaceX's orbital data centers.

Other projects are increasing the overlap: xAI's Grok is appearing in Tesla cars, Megapacks are powering xAI's data centers, and SpaceX is buying Cybertrucks for its facilities.

And don't forget Tesla's $2 billion investment in xAI, which is now part of SpaceX.

Can Tesla's battery business pick back up?

For years, Tesla has had a secondary business that's raked in billions of dollars: massive batteries that power data centers, factories, and some power grids. Its flagship product, called the Megapack, is a major driver of that growth.

Construction of those plants plunged in the first quarter, the company reported as part of its deliveries disclosure.

David Meier, senior investment analyst at The Motley Fool, said he isn't too worried.

"These are big purchases by utilities and businesses," he said. "Demand for energy storage remains high, and I am not concerned with the near-term drop."

Where art thou, Roadster?

It's been eight years, and Tesla's new Roadster is still MIA. The company first opened reservations for the car in 2017 and has accepted deposits of $50,000 and $250,000. Musk previously teased a possible demo and unveiling of the redesigned vehicle on April Fools' Day, but then delayed it to "hopefully" the end of April.

Seth Goldstein, a Morningstar senior equity analyst who closely follows Tesla, said the delayed launch could bring a better product to customers.

"I think they'd rather wait an extra six months to two years to make sure the vehicle has the right design," he said. "With the Cybertruck, I think a lot of consumers were disappointed with the initial hype around the vehicle versus the actual specs during the launch."

In the bleak EV winter

Tesla reported underwhelming EV sales in the first quarter as the automaker battles an industry-wide slowdown in demand for electric vehicles.

With the company coming off two consecutive years of sales declines and the global EV winter tightening its grip, investors will be on the lookout for any hints at potential new models. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Tesla had revived plans to build a more affordable vehicle.

For now, however, Elon Musk's focus seems to be firmly on Tesla's pivot to AI.

The billionaire announced in Tesla's last earnings that the company would scrap the Model S and X to free up factory space for its Optimus robot. The final few luxury EVs rolled off the production line earlier this month.

What Tesla's retail investors want answers to

Since 2018, Elon Musk has fielded some crowdsourced questions from retail investors during Tesla's quarterly earnings calls. The questions are submitted ahead of time on a platform with a Reddit-style upvoting system. Musk typically responds to some of the most popular questions.

So far this quarter, the top-voted question asks for an update on the next version of Optimus, Tesla's coming humanoid robot. The next three most popular questions focus on the company's self-driving ambitions.

"When will we have the Optimus v3 reveal?" the top-vote-getting retail investor asked.

And Musk just might answer.

Tesla inked a deal to help it sell vehicles as police cruisers

Tesla has entered into a contract with Sourcewell, a cooperative that lets public agencies purchase goods without running their own bidding processes. The agreement makes it easier for Tesla to sell vehicles for use as police cruisers and municipal fleet cars.

The EV maker said just 1% of its sales have historically gone to municipalities. The recently announced move could help Tesla expand in government fleet sales, a market long dominated by Detroit automakers like General Motors and Ford.

It comes as Tesla looks for new sources of vehicle demand. It reported building 50,000 more cars than it delivered last quarter, creating Tesla's largest-ever inventory glut.

A person familiar with the contract told Business Insider that several police departments have expressed interest in adopting Tesla vehicles.

Capex crunch

Tesla executives dropped a bombshell during the company's last earnings call, announcing plans to more than double annual capex spending to $20 billion this year.

The spending spree will help fund six new factories, including production lines for Tesla's Cybercab robotaxi and Optimus humanoid robot.

Investors will be looking for more details on the company's capex push, which notably excludes Terafab, the vast chip-making enterprise Tesla is building alongside SpaceX and Intel.

Semiconductor factories are notoriously complex and expensive, and Bernstein analysts have estimated that Musk's grand plans for a Terafab capable of producing 1 terawatt of annual compute output could require as much as $13 trillion in capital expenditure.

GLJ Research predicts a big earnings miss

Gordon Johnson of market research firm GLJ Research has been bearish on Tesla stock, and his firm expects the company to report a "sizeable miss" on revenue and EPS. The firm's estimates are below the Wall Street consensus on almost every key metric.

"Our FY26 estimates sit approximately 30% below consensus on revenue ($83.4B vs. Street's $119.5B), and we model a full-year operating loss of ($2.1B) against Street expectations of $8.9B in EBIT," Johnson wrote in a note.

"The gap is not a rounding error — it reflects fundamentally different assumptions on demand elasticity, Energy margins, regulatory credits, and the pace of robotaxi monetization."

An FSD boost to sales in Europe?

Tesla secured another autonomy milestone ahead of earnings, winning approval to roll out its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software in Europe. Dutch regulators granted clearance in April after years of delays and lobbying, with approvals in other European countries expected soon.

The move brings relief to Tesla owners who have waited years to get the software. Analysts also cheered the news, with some suggesting FSD could help Tesla reverse its recent sales slump in Europe.

"Europe has been a significant headwind for Tesla with the region waiting to rebound once FSD gets the go-ahead from regulators, and this was the first step to getting FSD approval across this key geography," wrote analyst and Tesla bull Dan Ives in a Tuesday note.

Jefferies warns of 'gap between vision and execution'

Jefferies analysts lifted their price target for Tesla stock ahead of the earnings report, but they're far from Tesla bulls.

The firm boosted its price target to $350 from $300 on "higher mid-term growth," but said that the company's "mid-term drivers still in slow mode."

The analysts are watching for updates on Tesla's robotaxi rollout and any insights into a potential SpaceX merger.

"Q1 results will show further widening of the gap between vision and execution and, barring a convincing announcement on robotaxi roll-out, may fuel fuel concern about funding and raise the logic of an eventual merger with SpaceX," the analysts wrote.

The firm's price target indicates a potential downside of 10% from current levels.

Bank of America is bullish on the robotaxi opportunity

Bank of America highlighted that Tesla expanded its robotaxi fleet in Dallas and Houston ahead of earnings.

The addition of those cities to Tesla's robotaxi network marks fresh progress toward its autonomous driving ambitions. Competition within the autonomous vehicle space, which Bank of America sees as an over $1 trillion market, has intensified, with Uber signing deals with Lucid and Rivian while Google-owned Waymo expands.

"We maintain our Buy & $460 PO as we see significant embedded opportunity from robotaxi, and believe TSLA is at the early stages of monetization of its autonomy capabilities," they wrote.

The analysts also said there could be an update on Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, and reported affordable EV models.

The firm's target for the stock represents potential upside of 18%.

Morgan Stanley flags Tesla's road to 10 billion FSD miles

Morgan Stanley analysts say Tesla is nearing what they call a "key autonomy milestone": 10 billion miles driven using Tesla's full self-driving (FSD) tech.

"In a year when capex is set to more than double and FCF is flipping negative, we believe Tesla's ability to demonstrate tangible progress in scaling unsupervised autonomous driving capabilities will be critical in supporting valuation," they wrote.

Elon Musk has also emphasized the 10 billion miles figure as crucial to the company's autonomous driving goals and could offer updates on how close the company is to reaching it.

Morgan Stanley has a $415 price target for Tesla stock, which is 6% above current levels.

The bulls and bears are divided on Tesla's place in the AI era, Wedbush says

Wedbush analysts, led by Tesla mega bull Dan Ives, expect AI efforts and the continued rollout of Robotaxi to be the main events of the earnings call.

"We believe the Street is at a crossroads with Tesla as the bulls and bears debate how quickly the AI era will take shape over the coming year," the note read.

The firm, which has a $600 price target and outperform rating on Tesla stock, anticipates Musk will offer some insight into Tesla's $2 billion xAI investment announced during last quarter's earnings call, and what it means for investors.

The firm's price target implies a 53% gain from current levels.

Wall Street expects $22.27 billion of revenue and EPS of $0.25

First quarter

• Adjusted EPS estimate 35c (Bloomberg Consensus)
• EPS estimate 25c
• Revenue estimate $22.27 billion
• Gross margin estimate 17.7%
• Operating income estimate $823.1 million
• Negative free cash flow estimate $1.86 billion
• Capital expenditure estimate $4.18 billion

Full year

• Production estimate 1.56 million
• Deliveries estimate 1.66 million
• Capital expenditure estimate $19.37 billion

Source: Bloomberg data

• SpaceX said on Tuesday that it's partnering with Cursor, an AI coding startup.
• The deal gives Cursor access to SpaceX's computing resources.
• Here's what smart people in business and tech are saying about the multibillion-dollar deal.

SpaceX's multibillion-dollar deal with AI coding startup Cursor marks a colossal step for Elon Musk and his ambitions to win the AI race.

The space company, which owns AI startup xAi, said in an X post on Tuesday that it's working with Cursor to "create the world's best coding and knowledge work AI." It's expected to combine Cursor's AI-powered coding model with SpaceX's Colossus training supercomputer, the companies said.

As part of the deal, SpaceX gains the right to acquire Cursor later this year for $60 billion, or pay Cursor $10 million for the work they produce together.

The companies have also held discussions in recent weeks with Mistral about a potential three-way partnership, Business Insider reported.

The partnerships could be a crucial step for Musk to get ahead of rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic.

Musk, who founded SpaceX in 2002, has made serious strides in AI this year. Chief among them is SpaceX's February acquisition of Musk's xAI, which helped SpaceX expand into AI infrastructure and software. In April, SpaceX confidentially filed for an IPO, boosting gains in other space stocks and teasing a public debut this year.

News of the Cursor deal electrified chatter among business and tech industry professionals on social media, many of whom viewed it as a symbiotic match. Here's what people in tech are saying about the deal.

Whether it's a cozy vintage area rug or a wall-to-wall installation, carpets can make a house feel like a home, but they have one big drawback: they're notoriously difficult to keep clean. While professional deep cleaning helps long-term, portable carpet cleaners are a more affordable way to handle everyday stains, spills, and messes.

The best spot cleaners are not just limited to carpets. They work beautifully on upholstery, furniture, and car interiors, too, though they're not designed for full-room cleaning. For that, you'll want a full-size carpet cleaner. To find the best portable carpet cleaners, we tested models under 15 pounds on common stains, used them in a real Airbnb setting, and consulted professional cleaners.

Find out more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.

Our top picks for the best portable carpet cleaners

Best overall: Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro - See at Amazon

Best budget: Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner - See at Amazon

Best compact: Bissell Little Green - See at Amazon

Best for pets: Bissell Little Green HydroSteam - See at Amazon

Best attachments: Hoover CleanSlate Plus - See at Amazon

Best for spot cleaning: Shark StainForce Cordless - See at Amazon

Best overall

My dream cleaning machine. The Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro is the machine I used in my AirBnB before testing. It removed coffee and wine stains with minimal scrubbing thanks to its three-inch wide cleaner head that made it ideal for targeting specific stains, especially on furniture. The SpotClean Pet Pro also performed the best out of the bunch at getting out red wine stains, which were barely noticeable after cleaning. It also has particularly strong suction, which was helpful at working on tough carpet stains like makeup and crayons.

Designed for most stains, with an emphasis on targeting pet stains and odors. As the host of a pet-friendly Airbnb, I needed this aspect of the carpet cleaner to work, and I was impressed when it lifted pet stains and odors that I'd spent far too much time removing with spot cleaning and my vacuum cleaner. The included stain trapper tool isolated the urine stain in its own tank, so I didn't have to worry about it contaminating the main tank. Pet hair did tend to clog, but not as badly as other portable carpet cleaners I've tried. The large 96-ounce tank allows me to focus on the dirty corners for longer without constantly switching out the water. When it does need a change, it has a straightforward folding mechanism to open it up. It's also compact and easily fits in my storage cupboard.

Lighter than a traditional carpet cleaner, but heavier than most portable models. It's still easy to maneuver though. The extendable nozzle made it simple to clean tight spaces like car crevices during testing, and it's held up well so far, despite some online reviews say its prone to deteriorating. I also didn't experience a leaky water tank, which was also mentioned across a few reviews, which may come down to properly securing the tank. Just note: Bissell requires its own cleaning solution to maintain the two-year warranty.

Best budget

A powerful machine that costs under $100. The Dirt Devil Portable Spot Cleaner has a slightly wider cleaning head than the Bissell, at 4.5 inches. However, it's still small enough to concentrate the solution in one spot, allowing for relatively easy removal of food stains like chocolate and wine. It didn't get the entire amount out, however, leaving the test carpet a light pink in spots.

Lightweight and effective, but feels less durable. The Dirt Devil looks sleek, but the plastic feels cheaper than other models I tested, with a thinner water tank that feels susceptible to cracking if dropped and a fold-out handle that may wear over time. Still, it handled both fresh and set-in stains well in testing.

Compact size means more refills and one design flaw. Its 19-ounce tank is much smaller than most, so I had to refill it often — not ideal for bigger jobs. I also accidentally lifted the dirty tank by the lid, which popped open and spilled, despite a warning label. On the plus side, the self-cleaning hose is a real time-saver and cuts down on maintenance.

Best compact

Compact, powerful, and great for small spaces. The Bissell Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner uses the same 3-inch cleaning head as our top pick to focus on small, set-in stains. In testing, it performed above average on wine, coffee, marker, and makeup, delivering impressively thorough cleaning despite its size.

Lightweight with a surprisingly large tank. At under 10 pounds, it was easy to carry around while cleaning stairs, bathrooms, and car interiors. The small size easily fits in a cabinet when not in use. Unlike many compact models, it has a 48-ounce tank, so I didn't have to refill it constantly. It also handled oil and marker stains particularly well, removing them completely.

Less effective for pet messes, but still a strong value. While it can handle everyday stains, it's not as well-suited for pet hair or tougher pet messes compared to the SpotClean Pet Pro, which has a larger tank and a stain trapper tool. I also found pet hair could get stuck in the tool and required extra cleaning. The warranty is also shorter, but the Little Green still stands out for its price, portability, and handy self-cleaning hose.

Best for pets

A premium pick with steam-powered cleaning for tough messes. The Bissell Little Green HydroSteam stands out as the brand's most advanced portable cleaner, and it proved especially effective on areas soiled by pets who came to stay at my Airbnb during testing.

Three modes make it more versatile than most competitors. It offers SteamWash, Steam, and Wash settings, including a steam-only mode for hard surfaces like tile. The SteamWash setting helped loosen and sanitize stubborn pet stains better than standard suction models, and the heated cleaning cut drying time to about 25 minutes — a major advantage when turning over a space quickly.

Strong performance with less reliance on chemicals. The added steam improved clearing wine, coffee, and makeup stains while still handling hair and fur without clogging — an issue I ran into with the base Little Green. It also reduces the need for harsher cleaning solutions.

Well-designed with solid capacity and a premium build. The 64-ounce tank offers a good balance between size and portability, while the larger cleaning head and 5-foot hose make it easier to tackle bigger or hard-to-reach areas. At 13 pounds, it's still easy to move, and it comes with a three-year warranty — the longest of any Bissell in this guide.

Best attachments

Versatile tools make it great for targeted cleaning. The Hoover CleanSlate Plus stands out for its interchangeable attachments, including a 7-inch wide path tool — the largest in our roundup — and a smaller tight spot tool for precise cleaning. I found this especially useful in my car, where the smaller head helped reach between seats and lift embedded grime.

Strong everyday performance, with a few weak spots. It handled common pet stains in my Airbnb efficiently and did an excellent job removing makeup and coffee. In standardized tests, it performed best on coffee and makeup, average on red wine, and below average on chocolate stains.

Lightweight, compact, and quieter than most. At under 10 pounds, it was easy to carry from room to room, and it runs relatively quietly compared to other spot cleaners. The compact design also makes storage simple, with the hose wrapping neatly around the unit. The 40-ounce tank is on the smaller side, though, so expect more frequent refilling.

A few usability drawbacks to note. You'll need to prime the pump when first adding cleaning solution — an extra step not required by most competitors — and the 90-day warranty is shorter than others in this category.

Best for spot-cleaning

Cordless convenience for quick stains and touch-ups. I've found extensive use for the Shark StainForce for for small messes. It works especially well on pet accidents — even removing a days-old stain in my testing. However, the 15-minute battery life limits how much you can clean in one go, making it less practical for larger jobs like clearing a spilled protein shake stain from a full car seat.

A unique spray system that simplifies cleaning. Instead of mixing water and solution, it uses a dual-formula spray bottle with Oxy to break down stains and odors before extraction. To clean, you simply spray the solution, scrub it away, and extract the moisture into its small tank. No extra water is required. It's effective, but the bottle is hard to monitor and a bit tricky to swap out.

Lightweight and easy to store, but pricey for the runtime. The compact, cordless design and included caddy make it highly portable and great for cleaning at a moment's notice. All together, the system weighs about six pounds, but the cleaning tool itself is just three pounds. However, at $200, the short battery life may not justify the price for everyone. — Jaclyn Turner, senior home editor

The best portable carpet cleaners, compared

What to look for in a portable carpet cleaner

With the help of Sara San Angelo, founder of Confessions of a Cleaning Lady with more than 20 years of cleaning experience, we nailed down the most important aspects of a great portable carpet cleaner.

Suction power: San Angelo said suction strength is the most important factor to consider. "Just like suction strength in a vacuum, this will matter most in how clean the carpets get," she said. "It is useless if you have a great carpet cleaner that can't get up the solution it sprays on the carpet."

Most models don't advertise suction strength, but wattage can be a good indicator. Higher wattage means more power to facilitate better suction.

Attachments: The best portable carpet cleaners I tested have easy-to-use attachments that focus all the machine's power on small but stubborn stains. Additionally, my favorite models had built-in attachments to clean the water hose, making maintenance easier.

San Angelo said pet owners should pay particular attention to what specialized brushes and attachments come with each machine and look for tools specifically designed to handle pet hair. No matter how much pre-vacuuming you do, there will still be hair in your carpets if you have pets, and it can get clogged in your carpet cleaner. "Hair can bog down the machine, and it is important to have one that can handle that type of debris," said San Angelo.

Weight and size: If you plan on cleaning many different areas in your house, it's important to find a portable carpet cleaner that is lightweight and compact. A machine that weighs under 10 pounds will be easy to move from stain to stain, and will typically be more compact for storage.

Cord and hose length: It's a fact of life that some stains are not located directly next to a wall socket. Carpet cleaners with longer power cords and hoses can reach the whole staircase in one go and out to external areas like the car without too much hassle. Most of the units we tested had 15-foot cords, with the Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro being the only design with a 20-foot long cord. Cordless designs are also becoming more widely available, but then you have to consider battery life, too, which typically ranges from 15 to 35 minutes. We'll be testing cordless options in our next round of testing.

Water tank size: Once you start cleaning carpet stains, it might be difficult to stop; I've found this out firsthand at my Airbnb. We preferred carpet cleaners with water tanks of 48 ounces or more, which was usually enough to tackle most of the stains in our testing environment without refilling.

How we test carpet cleaners

These portable carpet cleaners went through tons of testing. I used carpet samples to spot-test a variety of common stains, such as red wine, chocolate, marker ink, and coffee. I also tested each portable cleaner in my Airbnb after guests, especially those who brought dogs. I made sure to pay attention to little details like how often I had to replace the solution, fix a clog, or adjust a setting.

• Food and drink stains: Arguably the most common carpet stain. I tested each carpet cleaner on new and historic coffee, oil, sauce, and chocolate stains applied to carpet samples.
• Makeup and marker stains: Makeup stains are common on the bedroom carpet and can be tricky to clean. I used powder and cream makeup to create stains on carpet samples and evaluated how well each model cleaned them up.
• Pet hair and waste: I used the carpet cleaners in my Airbnb after guests stayed with pets, and I also used them at home in my cat's most heavily trafficked areas and around her litter tray.
• Car cleaning: For this test, I noted how easy each carpet cleaner was to use in hard-to-reach areas, like beside the seats, and how maneuverable they were. The best carpet cleaners for the car test also had large water tanks, so I didn't need to go back inside to refill and empty them.
• Attachments: All carpet cleaners have different attachments to enhance the cleaning experience. I noted how easy it was to switch between attachments and how well they worked while in use.

Portable carpet cleaner FAQs

How can I deep clean my carpet myself?

Carpet cleaners are the best way to remove visible stains and get beneath the obvious stains on top to remove dust, dirt, and allergens hidden underneath.

However, if you don't have a carpet cleaner, San Angelo recommended the following steps for cleaning up carpet stains:

1. Clean up the excess with a rag, aiming to blot instead of rub.
2. Spray cleaning solution on the affected area and again blot instead of rubbing side to side to avoid spreading the stain.

What is the most effective carpet cleaning method?

If you are planning on cleaning a whole carpet, not just spots, the best method is professional steam cleaning. However, if you're looking to spot clean or maintain carpets between professional cleanings, a portable carpet cleaner is a solid option to have on hand.

Even two lines on the most expensive mobile-virtual-network-operator (MVNO) plans are less expensive than two lines on the cheapest postpaid plan from a major carrier. And for most people, there's arguably little to no compromise by going with an MVNO.

With that in mind, Mint Mobile, starting at just $15 per line, is the best cell phone plan for two lines overall among the brands we've spent extensive time testing for daily use. In comparison, the cheapest major carrier postpaid plans with two lines average $52 per line a month.

Mint Mobile operates on T-Mobile's network, so if T-Mobile's coverage doesn't work for you, the Visible Plus plan running on Verizon's network is also an excellent option. For those with strong AT&T coverage, US Mobile's Unlimited Starter plan on the Dark Star network is an ideal option.

Those looking for the least expensive option will find Tello's custom plans incredibly affordable, starting as low as $6 a month per line for 1GB of data and 100 minutes of voice calls.

Prepaid major carrier plans, which are less expensive than postpaid plans, aren't a good option, given their incredibly poor value relative to their feature sets.

Best overall: Mint Mobile

For a total of $30 a month for two lines, you can sign up for three months or 12 months to lock in that super low rate for 5GB of data. Or if unlimited data is a must, prices go up to a still very attractive $30 per line, with lower prices for smaller data packages in between, too. Better yet, the two of you can opt for different plans. Mint Mobile's Unlimited plan offers 50GB of premium data on T-Mobile's LTE and 5G networks. After 50GB, you still get unlimited data on a deprioritized level, which means speeds can be artificially reduced when the network is congested.

That said, we've never knowingly experienced data deprioritization on Mint during testing or on other carriers. If we have, deprioritized data speeds seemingly don't affect typical day-to-day usage.

20GB of monthly mobile hotspot data is included with Mint Mobile's Unlimited plan, which should be enough for browsing the web and messaging on a laptop. You could even stream video if you'd like, but you'd quickly run out of data. Non-unlimited plans can use their allocated data for hotspot use at no extra charge, too.

Mint Mobile operates on T-Mobile's network, and data speeds are typically excellent in urban and suburban areas, and its rural coverage is rapidly expanding. The MVNO advertises LTE and 5G data speeds between 79 and 357Mbps, which is comfortably faster than most people need for downloading large apps and music or video streaming.

Customer support via chat and on the phone, and Mint Mobile's intuitive app, are unmatched among MVNOs. However, without physical locations, in-person support isn't possible.

Mint Mobile's biggest limitation, which won't be a problem for many, is the lack of separate data plans for connected devices, like cellular versions of smartwatches and tablets.

• Shop the latest offers at Mint Mobile

Best unlimited

One caveat to consider before you check out Visible Wireless for two plans: you'll need separate logins for each Visible user in your household, but you can use the same card for both bills. It's a minor inconvenience compared to just being able to order both at the same time, but the low prices and quality network make it more than worth the setup effort. We should know, it's something we do for two lines ourselves as paying customers.

Settings like payments, plan features, Global Pass, and password resets are locked to the account holder, but at least Visible doesn't care if you use the same card for both bills.

For unlimited data power users, there's no plan we'd recommend more than Visible's Plus plan for $35 a month per line. The value for infinite data at fast speeds is incredible here. When Visible isn't running a promotion (which it often is), the annual payment option reduces the Plus plan's monthly cost to $31.25 a month per line, for a total of $750 a year for two lines.

It includes truly unlimited premium data on Verizon's LTE, basic 5G, and fastest 5G Ultra Wideband network, with no data caps, where speeds are reduced after a certain amount of data is used. The Visible Plus plan also includes truly unlimited mobile hot spot data at 10 Mbps, which is just about fast enough for streaming 1080p video on a laptop, but not great for video calls. Mint Mobile offers far faster 5G hotspot speeds, but has tighter data caps.

As a Verizon subsidiary, Visible runs on Verizon's network, and the Plus plan includes its full coverage. Visible advertises typical data speeds between 11 and 634Mbps.

Visible also offers cellular smartwatch connectivity in the Plus plan if your smartwatch supports it. However, it's an optional addition that costs $10 a month. If you want smartwatch connectivity, you might as well upgrade to Visible's Plus Pro plan, which includes smartwatch connectivity and comes out to the same price as the Plus plan with smartwatch connectivity. The Visible Plus Pro plan also includes higher-resolution video streaming (up to 4K), faster mobile hot spot data (15 Mbps), and more international features.

Another sweet perk for the provider is its Global Pass — a no-fuss travel SIM that lets users easily switch to international use without crazy fees or new accounts. Depending on the plan, this is a free bonus that accrues monthly or can be added on for a low daily cost.

Visible lacks physical retail locations, so, like most MVNOs, support is remote-only. Plus, there's no phone support for Visible — it's all online chat and social media channels, which are less extensive than those of other MVNOs.

• Shop the latest offers at Visible Wireless

Best alternative if Mint Mobile's coverage doesn't work for you

Note: You can add multiple Unlimited data lines to a single bill, but you have to do so after completing the purchase of a single line. There are no discounts for extra lines on Unlimited tiers, but prices and coverage make US Mobile worth a look.

Starting at $25 a month, US Mobile's Unlimited Starter plan lets you choose between the Dark Star (AT&T) and Warp (Verizon) networks. You get two free network switches via their "Teleportal" feature, with subsequent moves costing just $2.

Both networks share the same core specs: $25 monthly (or $22.50/mo annually), 70GB of high-speed data, and a 20GB mobile hotspot. Once you hit the 70GB cap, speeds are reduced to 1Mbps.

The deciding factor is data priority. Warp (Verizon) offers premium-priority data for faster speeds during peak times, while Dark Star (AT&T) can be deprioritized during congested times. Unless AT&T coverage is significantly better in your area, Warp is the better option.

Also, only the Warp network option supports smartwatch plans, specifically for Apple Watches and Google Pixel Watches. Samsung Galaxy Watch support is much more limited and not guaranteed.

Even lower prices are available if you don't mind choosing capped data allowances via US Mobile's 'By the Gig' plans. Actually, prices start at $10 for 2GB, or $9 if you're taking out two lines, as these capped plans offer discounts for extra lines. However, once you start looking at their capped plans going for 5GB+, you'll find Mint and Visible offer much better prices.

Like most MVNOs, US Mobile doesn't have a physical presence, so support is limited to online chat and by phone. Our experience with US Mobile's customer support has been fully positive.

• Shop the latest offers at US Mobile

Best budget: Tello

Mint Mobile is very affordable already, and excellent value, but if you need to shave a few extra bucks off, Tello and its custom plans are worth a look. You can customize a plan to include almost exactly the amount of data and voice minutes you need, and it lets you create incredibly affordable plans.

What I love about Tello's no-contract deals is how you can select limited voice minutes instead of unlimited to reduce the plan's cost. For example, a solid 10GB plan with unlimited voice minutes is $15 a month.

You can even pay as low as $8 a month per line for 2GB of data with 300 minutes, or even $5 a month for 300 voice minutes with no data. We see the tiers offered to new customers change quite often with Tello. Not so long ago, there were options with just 1GB of data and 100 minutes, but as things have changed, those allowances have been increased.

Tello is already very cheap if you don't need many allowances, so there aren't any discounts for taking out multiple lines. When ordering, each line can be ordered individually, but they don't have to be the same, and you can pay for them all with a single payment method.

Tello uses T-Mobile's network and advertises speeds between 79-357Mbps on 5G connections and 13-61Mbps on 4G. All Tello data is deprioritized, but again, we've never faced any issues with it.

Four main compromises with MVNO versus major carriers

I've alluded above to the reduced support options that come with MVNOs. Few MVNO options, if any, have physical retail locations for in-person support, and most support is via phone or online chat.

If you buy a phone from an MVNO, you're usually paying full price, which is a stark contrast to the huge deals offered by major carriers, where you can get some newly released phones for free or at a big discount. However, major carrier deals usually come with conditions, such as using the phone for 2 or 3 years before getting a new one, depending on the carrier. These major carrier conditions limit when you can buy a new phone, and might not work for everyone.

MVNOs, like those listed above, typically don't offer multi-line discounts as major carriers do. Still, two MVNO lines at full price are considerably cheaper than two major carrier lines, even with their associated discounts.

Once you get to three or four lines, you can consider major carriers. Depending on the carrier, three- or four-line plans may cost the same or less than MVNO plans, and could even come with a free phone and some nice perks.

MVNOs don't usually offer perks, like discounts on popular streaming services. Verizon, for example, offers discounts on the Disney+ bundle, the Netflix and Max bundle, Apple One, Apple Music Family, and YouTube Premium. T-Mobile also offers discounts on Apple TV Plus and Netflix.

How we test cell phone plans for two people

We've personally tested major carriers and MVNOs to evaluate their network experience and customer support. We also assess the value of each plan offered by major carriers and MVNOs, and compare their data and features.

For two-line plans, specifically, we gauged the value offered by major carriers and MVNOs, and found that MVNOs offer significantly better value with little compromise. Major carrier plans start making more sense from a value standpoint once you have three or more lines, depending on the carrier.

What to look for

The first thing you need to establish is which carrier network offers the best coverage for your area and the places you visit. A plan's value won't matter if you can't use it. We're ruling out major carriers for this guide, so make sure to check which major carrier network each MVNO option uses.

After that, you only need to decide how much data you need each month, whether it's unlimited or limited. With MVNOs, you can choose two different plans with varying data allowances to suit each person's needs. For example, one line can have unlimited data, and the other can have limited data.

Unless you're signing up for a 12-month plan right off the bat, you'll often find that you're able to change your plan around as well if you decide you need more data, or realize you're not using as much as you thought, and want to move down one to save a few bucks a month.

• See also: Best international roaming plans

Follow our WhatsApp channel and Instagram for more deals and buying guides.

• Disney is letting some employees see who the AI power-users are.
• The company has an "AI Adoption Dashboard" showing who is using the most tokens.
• One Claude super-fan invoked the chatbot about 460,000 times in a nine-day span.

Disney is pulling back the curtain on internal AI usage and letting its employees see who's tokenmaxxing.

The Mouse House has given some tech staffers access to an "AI Adoption Dashboard" that tracks token usage across AI coding tools Cursor and Claude, Business Insider has learned.

The dashboard shows staffers a wealth of data — including the number of employees actively using AI, the number of requests made, and the number of tokens used over a given period.

The dashboard also displays the most active AI users by requests made and tokens used, according to a screenshot of the dashboard viewed by Business Insider. One streaming tech staffer referred to it as a "leaderboard."

The biggest AI power users make hundreds of requests per day on average and use tens of millions of tokens, the dashboard shows.

Tracking AI usage has led to a so-called "tokenmaxxing" trend, where software engineers compete with their peers to maximize their AI token usage when using chatbots. However, there's debate in the tech world about whether to incentivize high token usage given the associated costs. A person familiar with Disney's approach to the dashboard said it wasn't designed to incentivize high usage but rather to help employees use resources efficiently and effectively.

Disney employees are being emboldened by managers to use AI tools more often, the streaming tech staffer said.

"They're celebrating it now, but we'll see how long that lasts," this person said of AI usage at Disney.

One Disney employee invoked Claude about 460,000 times over nine work days in mid-April, according to the dashboard. That works out to around 51,000 times per day.

That high usage likely comes from autonomous agents, a second streaming tech staffer familiar with the AI adoption dashboard said.

While this employee said they monitor their AI usage and try to "minimize wasteful token use," they're not worried about it, saying that Disney will "just give me more quota if I get capped."

Disney's evolving AI strategy

Disney employees aren't the first to get access to an AI usage dashboard. Meta employees created a similar internal dashboard to track Claude token usage, nicknamed "Claudeonomics," before the company shut it down in early April, The Information reported, adding that Meta had used 60 trillion tokens in 30 days.

Meanwhile, Visa is encouraging employees to use AI and giving prizes to power users. The payments giant was using 1.9 trillion tokens a month, as of March, the company told Business Insider.

Disney's AI adoption dashboard has been around for months, the two streaming tech employees said, so it predates Josh D'Amaro's appointment as CEO. D'Amaro took the top job in mid-March after running Disney's parks and cruises business.

D'Amaro must decide what Disney's AI strategy will look like now that the company's blockbuster partnership with OpenAI fell apart. The Disney-OpenAI deal would have given employees access to ChatGPT while putting AI-generated short-form video on Disney+.

The Mouse House has warmed up to AI in the last year, several staffers previously told Business Insider, by providing employees with tools like Claude, Cursor, and a "DisneyGPT" chatbot for internal requests.

AI is a "top priority" for Disney, a high-level employee with direct knowledge of the company's AI strategy previously told Business Insider.

• A recent Business Insider article went viral on LinkedIn, drawing more than 1,100 comments.
• It highlights how Zoom scaled back paid parental leave, while Deloitte plans to do the same and trim PTO for some workers.
• Some expressed disappointment, while others said benefit cuts may be needed in tough business conditions.

Workers care about getting paid time off from work — a lot.

Business Insider recently reported that Zoom reduced the number of weeks of paid parental leave it offers, while Deloitte is also planning to do the same — and more — for select groups of workers starting in January.

The article, which also explains why other companies may follow their lead, sparked a viral conversation on LinkedIn, drawing more than 1,100 comments and a wide range of perspectives. Many expressed disappointment and concern for affected workers. Others argued that reducing core benefits may be a necessary, or even reasonable, move due to tough business conditions.

Business Insider received permission to share excerpts from a few of the comments here, which have been lightly edited for clarity:

"This reminds me of when Clark Griswold's boss in Christmas Vacation decided to replace Xmas bonuses with a subscription to the Jelly-of-the-Month Club," wrote reader Paul G. Fisher. "Executives can learn a lot about good and bad decisions from watching movies."

Stephen Rose said Zoom and Deloitte's benefits reductions are "wrong on every level" and "counterintuitive." The CEO of a tech company, according to his LinkedIn, Rose added that his firm won't be adopting similar policies and would consider dropping vendors that do.

By contrast, Chris Ciappa said that employers add perks for optics and in response to pressure, but tougher conditions are forcing a return to basics.

"When conditions tighten, reality reasserts itself. Employers go back to what actually sustains a business: performance, accountability, and real contribution," Ciappa wrote. "This isn't about removing everything. It's a correction. A move back toward merit, output, and long-term viability."

Reader Anthony Calleo said that when organizations reduce parental leave, it's often framed as a response to market conditions. However, Calleo added, "the more telling line is the idea that employers can do this because employees have less leverage. That turns employee experience into something conditional rather than foundational."

Another commenter, Dinko Barbalich, posed the question: "At what point does reducing the quality of life for employees become a race to the bottom?"

Meanwhile, Amy Young said that reducing benefits could prompt workers to organize. "When/if these changes start becoming more common, I think we're going to see a renewed push for unionization — potentially in an expanded number of industries," Young said.

And Amanda Christian predicted a future where workers once again have the upper hand. "This is very short-sighted," Christian wrote. "The job market is always a pendulum, and it will indeed swing the other way."

You can read more perspectives here:

Business Insider would like to hear from you:

Update: After scouring the internet for REI coupons and promo codes, we've found no active vouchers at this time. We'll keep hunting for new discounts and continue to update this page as we find them, so keep checking back for additional information. In the meantime, you can explore REI's ongoing deals below or head back to your cart.

When it comes to going on outdoor adventures, REI has become the go-to shopping destination. The retailer, which is available both online and in-store, offers a massive selection of gear, accessories, and apparel from top-rated brands. While the Co-op often already has impressively low prices, you can save even more at checkout by using one of the best REI coupon and promo codes we've tested.

While REI carries basics like tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags, the retailer's inventory extends far beyond that. You can even get essential winter sports gear, including snowboards, skis, goggles, and helmets. REI also offers a wide range of performance-driven apparel and footwear designed for durability and comfort. Our style team is especially fond of the Take Your Time 7/8 Leggings, which offer breathable compression and buttery-soft comfort that rivals far more expensive options we've tested.

One of the best parts of REI is the REI Outlet, the shopping destination where past-season favorites are often marked down significantly. There, savvy shoppers will find lots to love from top brands like Patagonia, The North Face, and Arc'teryx, among others. You can even stack REI promo codes with outlet deals and other seasonal sales to unlock the lowest possible prices.

To help save you some time (and money), we've gathered the best current REI offers below. The deals include coupon codes, general sales, and volume discounts. Make sure to browse all of the discounts below to ensure you're getting the lowest possible prices before you set out on your next great adventure.

Today's best REI coupons and promo codes

Previous REI coupons

Are there any other REI sales running at the moment?

REI usually has some form of sale running on the website at any given time, often across a variety of items. Sometimes this is a general offer on several products, and other times it's a special promo if you buy a certain number of products or bundle purchases together. You can check the "Deals" page of REI's website at any moment to see a full list of their current deals and markdowns. At the time of writing, REI is running the following promotions:

• Follow our Instagram page and WhatsApp channel for more deals and buying guides

How to use REI discount codes

Start by adding coupon-eligible items to your cart. From the "Shopping Cart" page, continue to checkout by logging into your co-op account or continuing as a guest. Once you've entered your contact and shipping information, you can apply a discount code by clicking the "Apply a coupon" dropdown, pasting a code into the "Enter code" text box, and clicking "Apply." From there, enter your payment information and submit your order.

Can you stack REI promo codes?

REI does not allow coupons to be stacked together. Only one discount code may be applied per order.

REI coupon frequently asked questions

Does REI offer discounts for students, teachers, and the military?

At the time of writing, REI doesn't offer any special discounts for teachers, students, or members of the military. This means that your best way to save is to take advantage of promo codes and other ongoing deals.

However, select other retailers offer discounts for these groups. If you're a student or educator, check out our roundups of the best student discounts and teacher discounts to see more savings offers from your favorite brands.

Do I have to be a co-op member to shop at REI?

You don't have to be a member of the co-op to shop at REI. However, co-op members enjoy a lot of perks, like free shipping on all orders, special discounts, and more, so joining may be worth it if you're a frequent shopper. Co-op membership requires a one-off fee of $30 for lifetime access, with no annual renewal costs. Learn more about the co-op on REI's website.

Does REI offer free shipping?

REI offers free standard shipping on all orders for co-op members, with no minimum spending required. Non-members can get free standard shipping on orders over $60. Learn more about shipping terms and exclusions on REI's website.

What is REI's return policy?

REI has generous return policies for both co-op members and non-members, but the return period differs depending on whether you're a member. In most cases, co-op members have a full 365-day period after the original purchase to return all eligible items. Non-members have a 90-day return window for all eligible items. Outdoor electronic returns must be done within 90 days for both co-op members and non-members. Certain items have different return windows, so be sure to check the terms and conditions on REI's website.

Can I use an REI promo code in-store?

For the most part, REI coupon and promo codes are only valid for online orders. That said, there would be exceptions, so it's worth reading the terms and conditions on any code you're planning to use.

Looking for more deals? Check out our roundup of the best Athleta coupons.

Jennifer Lopez joined the ranks of celebrity skincare brands with the official launch of JLo Beauty in 2022 — a project the singer said had been 20 years in the making.

The first collection included seven skincare products and introduced the JLo Beauty Olive Complex, an exclusive formula combining squalane, fermented oil, extra virgin oil, and leaf extract. The 51-year-old claims this concoction is the secret to her skin's youthful radiance, and according to Candace Marino, LA-based facialist and medical-grade aesthetician, it makes sense.

"The [JLo Beauty Olive Complex] addresses both hydration and moisture of the skin, thanks to olive oil, olive leaf extract, and squalane, which will hydrate, soften, and plump the skin," Marino tells Insider. Squalane is also a natural antioxidant, which Dr. Shari Sperling, DO, board-certified dermatologist, adds "helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles."

With price points ranging from $39 to $79, questions like "What's good?" and "What's worth it?" come to mind. I've tried multiple celebrity skincare brands, from Hailey Beiber's Rhode Skincare to Scarlett Johansson's The Outset, so I tested all of the products from J.Lo's namesake brand to find out if the brand can compete.

That Hit Single Gel Cream Cleanser

I've been using That Hit Single as part of my morning and nighttime skincare routines. It's a gel-cream cleanser with a thick consistency, and a little goes a long way. After a month's use, I'm maybe halfway through the 5-ounce tube.

Overall, it's a nice cleanser that I enjoy using, and I love that it helps my complexion to glow. However, the product's description claims that it "removes makeup with one wash" and that wasn't my experience. The cleanser did a great job of taking off foundation, concealer, and face powders in a single rinse, but I needed remover pads to take off the last of my eye makeup.

That JLo Glow Multitasking Serum

That JLo Glow is the hero product fans have all been waiting to try. It took two years and over 20 formulations to perfect the multitasking serum, and it's said to "visibly lift and tighten" your skin, improve the overall appearance, and boost luminosity for a gorgeous glow. 

The serum contains the JLo Beauty Olive Complex, a sugar-derived matrix, and yeast-derived ferments. It also consists of Japanese Rice Sake, an ingredient that chemist and Founder of Perfect Image David Petrillo tells Insider is known to brighten and plump the skin. The formula includes antioxidants to treat sun damage and aging agents, "as well as soothing ingredients that help reduce irritation," Petrillo adds.

The serum feels luxurious. It's cool on your skin and only takes a few seconds to absorb. When I applied a few pumps to my face and neck, I loved experiencing the burst of moisture that quenched my skin's thirst (especially in these dry months). And as described, it also tightened the skin a few seconds after the serum set and created a visible glow.

That Big Screen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Moisturizer

In Lopez's video tutorial, she reveals that applying sunscreen every day has kept her skin protected and youthful (in addition to using olive oil, of course). This is why the brand's silky-smooth moisturizer, That Big Screen has SPF 30. 

Similar to the brand's cleanser, a little of this moisturizer goes a long way. It's incredibly airy, almost like a light hand cream, and creates the perfect canvas for makeup application. It's hydrating, but not saturating, and leaves your skin soft to the touch, thanks to the combination of hyaluronic acids, glycerin, and licorice root, all of which are key moisturizing and brightening ingredients, notes dermatologist Diane Madfes, MD, FAAD. 

That Blockbuster Wonder Cream

That Blockbuster Wonder Cream is a powerhouse for skin. It contains hyaluronic acid, which, Petrillo of Perfect Image explains, is a humectant that draws water into skin cells to give you a natural radiance, replenish health, and eliminate signs of dullness. The cream also contains peptides (aka amino acids) that support collagen production, tightening skin. 

Another standout ingredient is niacinamide, which is a water-soluble vitamin B3 that really tackles signs of aging, Petrillo tells Insider. It reduces the appearance of pores, addresses uneven skin tones and sun damage, brightens skin, reduces inflammation, and reduces the visible effects of environmental stressors and pollutants. The cream is one of my favorite products in the collection, and I'm so obsessed that I'd buy it in bulk.

That Fresh Take Eye Cream

I've yet to find an eye cream that can hold its own against my crow's feet, and it's too early to tell whether or not the JLo Beauty That Fresh Take Eye Cream will be the winner. But, according to cosmetic chemist and beauty expert Ginger King, this cream is well equipped to tackle signs of aging around the sensitive eye area. It contains peptides, which are great for anti-aging, and hyaluronic acid, which, King says, "will help with minimizing fine lines."

That Limitless Glow Multitasking Mask

This is a two-piece mask that separates horizontally near the nose. The two-piece design contours to the face better, offering a more targeted treatment than traditional face masks. It's designed to "visibly tighten and lift," hydrate, and brighten. 

The mask comes saturated in a serum that feels cool against the skin and consists of ingredients like the JLo Beauty Olive Complex, Japanese rice sake, honey extract, and a sugar-derived matrix. It's also designed with flaps that loop around your ears, so your face gets lifted with each treatment.

While I'm no stranger to the mask's ingredients, this particular mixture has an almost medicinal smell. After massaging in the excess serum, sensitive areas on my face felt a bit irritated. I liked that I only had to keep the mask on for 10 minutes, though. It did leave my skin looking brighter and my acne cleared up a bit after use.

It's a good mask, but at $18 each (or a box of three for $49) I would only purchase it for a nice self-care splurge once in a while. 

Bottom Line

JLo Beauty has launched a successful first collection, with a lot of great products fans are sure to love. I consider That JLo Glow multitasking serum, That Big Screen SPF 30 moisturizer, and That Blockbuster Wonder Cream as the top three items most worth the splurge, followed by the That Hit Single cleanser.

I didn't see enough results to determine the quality of That Fresh Take Eye Cream. As for the That Limitless Glow Multitasking Mask, I could take it or leave it. 

• There is no one definition for clean skin care. Some brands omit sulfates, parabens, and mineral oil — others go as far as to ban nearly 1,400 questionable irritants in their products.
• What constitutes "clean" is all over the place, but one thing that all brands can agree on is that ingredients should be safe for our bodies whether they are sourced naturally or produced in a lab.
• Here are 11 clean skin-care brands that rival anything else we've tried. In fact, to us, they're just skin-care brands.

Ask anyone how they define "clean skin care" and you'll get answers ranging from "products made without parabens, sulfates, or mineral oils," or "things you DIY-ed in your kitchen at 2 a.m." There's no right or wrong answer, but loosely defined, clean skin-care products are made without questionable ingredients or harmful irritants. Think of it as a "better safe than sorry" approach.

"There is no one clear path of rules for clean beauty, much like there is no one clear path to 'wellness.' They are ambiguous terms and it depends on the goals and preferences of each individual," says Pamela Marcos, director of product development at Farmacy.

Because there isn't an official definition, brands, retailers, and watchdog organizations have created their own filters, whether it be following the European Union's list of almost 1,400 banned ingredients or creating certifications to better educate consumers on what's safe or not. The level of clean among these filters still varies greatly, but just recognizing that certain ingredients don't need to be in skin-care products is a step in the right direction.

The bottom line is that you don't need filler, questionable components, or toxic ingredients to obtain hydrated skin, shiny hair, and a glowing complexion. In fact, these 11 brands prove just that.

Take a look at how some clean skin-care brands are setting a foundation in the world of beauty and wellness. 

Summer Fridays

Summer Fridays skin-care products, $44-$52, available at Sephora

Influencers Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores Ireland only launched Summer Fridays last September, but they've already dropped three facial masks with each one more popular than the previous. The latest R + R mask ($52) exfoliates with rose-flower powder and hydrates with a blend of argan, safflower, sesame, avocado, and grape-seed oils for soft, glowy skin you won't be able to stop touching.

The brand has a "Clean at Sephora" stamp of approval, meaning products are formulated without sulfates, parabens, and mineral oils, and have less than 1% of synthetic fragrances, but the brand takes it further by making sure formulas are also vegan and free of animal cruelty.

"From the start, we wanted Summer Fridays to only use healthy ingredients," the founders tell Business Insider. "In fact, Summer Fridays' co-founder Lauren was pregnant at the time of our first formulations so everything we tested had to be good for our bodies and her growing son. Our team is hard at work developing clean, effective products you can feel good about putting on your skin — because healthy is the best kind of glow."

What the brand vows to never use: Sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, and more according to the "Clean at Sephora" seal.

Ren Clean Skincare

Ren Clean Skincare skin-care products, $25-$80, available at Sephora

One of the OG pioneers, Ren has been in the business of clean skin care since 2000. The brand uses "bio-actives" in its formulas, which isn't a scary term so much as it's used to describe ingredients that help your skin help itself, like probiotics that strengthen your skin's dermis layer and lactic acid that exfoliates dead, dull skin. Basically, nothing in the products are there just because.

"For us, clean beauty is so much more than just using skin-friendly ingredients and actives — or simply not using known irritants," says David Delport, Ren's global ambassador and head of education. "It must also proactively support the natural function of the skin and never force a short-term result at the cost of the skin's equilibrium, sensitivity, or barrier health. Our bio-active ingredients are essentially well-recognized by your skin. They speak the same language, but from product to skin, it must be a collaborative conversation — never a command."

Every product deserves a shout-out, but two items we hoard are the exfoliating AHA tonic ($35) and the energizing kelp and magnesium body wash ($27). Both wake up your skin and give it a nice glow, and the body wash is housed in a 100% recycled bottle, 20% of which is made with reclaimed ocean plastic and is absolutely genius. The brand is aiming to be completely waste-free by 2021 and has started rolling out bottles made with fully recyclable packaging, reclaimed plastic from oceans, and even glass so consumers can send back and refill. It's also partnered with the non-profit group Surfrider to help clean up beaches and oceans around the world.   

What the brand vows to never use: Sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, and more according to the "Clean at Sephora" seal.

Beautycounter

Beautycounter skin-care products, $18-$80, available at Beautycounter 

Perhaps one of the brands with the strictest set of self-imposed rules, Beautycounter defines clean with five principles — ban intentionally, screen rigorously, learn constantly, source responsibly, and share transparently. You can do a deep dive into the brand's mission here, but the most important component is banning harmful ingredients in its formulas.

In fact, Beautycounter has avoided more than 1,500 questionable and harmful ingredients that are defined in its "Never List." For context, the European Union's list of banned ingredients includes almost 1,400 ingredients, while the US's list has only 30. Let that sink in for a bit.

Beautycounter also advocates for safer personal-care ingredients with texting campaigns to ask Congress to pass more laws protecting personal care, and annual visits to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers every March.

Products run the gamut from skin care and color cosmetics to body and sun care, and there's even a new men's line called Counterman. The Countersun Mineral sunscreen ($36) is a standout for its mineral formula and non-aerosol spray as are its facial oils ($69), which are potent plant-based blends that are as luxurious as they are clean.

What the brand vows to never use: More than 1,500 chemicals beyond the usual suspects. Check out the full "Never List" here.

Necessaire

Necessaire skin- and body-care products, $25-$55, available at Necessaire

While many clean skin-care brands focus on facial products, Necessaire aims to create clean products for your whole body and do it in a self-care kind of way. If skin is our body's largest organ, why do we just use whatever body wash we got on sale last week?

"We are on a mission to reimagine personal care as self care," says co-founder Randi Christiansen. "We believe in better personal care, made in a better way. Our approach is to be clean, effective, transparent, and sustainable."

The body wash ($25) and lotion ($25) are already cult items despite the brand only being around since November 2018. The body wash comes in two delicious scents — sandalwood and eucalyptus — as well as a fragrance-free version. They're more like body oils that rinse clean as there are no sulfates that lather up into suds, so the experience might trip you out, but in a good way.

The body lotion is a personal favorite. It absorbs in seconds, doesn't feel greasy at all, and my hands still feel moisturized even after washing them. Made with marula, cacay, and meadowfoam oils, niacinamide, and an alphabet soup's worth of vitamins, the formula reads like a luxurious facial serum.

What the brand vows to never use: Sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones, petroleum, drying alcohol, chemical screens, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes, mineral oil, and PEGs.

One Ocean Beauty

One Ocean Beauty, $38-$125, available at One Ocean Beauty 

You can probably guess the brand's mission based on the name: clean beauty powered by marine ingredients. There are seven products: a cleansing water ($38), moisturizer ($82), eye cream ($74), serum ($98), collagen supplements ($48), and two new body-care products — a sculpting body cream ($114) and a cellulite cream ($125). All the packaging is recyclable, and if you get the skin-care or body-care kits, the bottles aren't individually packaged inside the boxes so there's less waste overall.

One Ocean Beauty has also partnered with conservation and advocacy non-profit group Oceana, donating $250,000 total to help protect our oceans. "We chose to partner with Oceana as they are the largest global organization protecting the oceans, science-led, cause-oriented, and make change happen," says Marcella Cacci, founder and CEO of One Ocean Beauty. "We decided to work on a new corporate philanthropy model, not based on a percentage of sales or profits, but on a fixed donation. We hope this will encourage a new trend in corporate philanthropy."

What the brand vows to never use: GMOs, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, PEGs, mineral oils, nanoparticles, and more as noted on Credo's Dirty List. The brand is vegan and also certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny.

Farmacy

Farmacy Beauty skin-care products, $6-$56, available at Sephora

Following the EU's lead, Farmacy also bans almost 1,400 ingredients in its formulas. Instead, it chooses to work with organic farms in Pennsylvania and the Catskills to source key ingredients like honey and a proprietary plant called Echinacea GreenEnvy, an amped up herb said to have 300% more natural antioxidants than the original Echinacea plant. But don't think that all ingredients are straight from the farm; Farmacy uses synthetic ingredients too — as long as they're safe.

"There is often a misconception that non-toxic and safe is synonymous with 'natural.' But there are plenty of ingredients in nature that, if ingested or applied on the face, may be harmful," says Marcos. "Likewise, there are so many talented chemists and formulators who have developed amazing products using synthetic ingredients that are completely safe and often more efficacious and stable than their natural counterparts."

The makeup removing balm ($22) is a best seller that melts away makeup and draws out oil, prepping skin for the Honey Drop moisturizer ($45), a lightweight gel texture that absorbs fast and hydrates for hours. The Echinacea GreenEnvy provides antioxidants while hyaluronic acid holds 1,000 times its weight in water to keep skin looking plump and hydrated, and propolis from beehives protects skin by filling in any gaps in your dermis.

What the brand vows to never use: Synthetic preservatives and fragrance, sulfates, phthalates, chemical sunscreens, and crude oil by-products like mineral oil and petroleum.  

Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant skin-care products, $16-$90, available at Sephora and Amazon

After you've taken your Drunk Elephant #shelfies, you'll realize that it's more than just an Instagram-friendly brand. The "clean clinical" brand fuses science with clean ingredients into efficacious products that have won everyone over. Its Sukari Baby Facial ($80) will give you glowy skin for days and its new retinol cream ($74) has a low dose of retinol while still giving great results.

Drunk Elephant also chooses to use synthetic ingredients as long as they're safe for the body. According to the brand's website, "While Drunk Elephant aims for its products to be as natural as possible, it is far more important that the ingredients in them be effective and safe."

What the brand vows to never use: Essential oils, alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes and SLS, known as the brand's "Suspicious 6."

Palermo

Palermo Body skin- and body-care products, $12-$84, available at Etsy

Inspired by founder Jessica Morelli's grandmother, Palermo Body uses only natural products in small, handmade batches out of Brooklyn, New York. "The peace of mind I'm given by using products with natural, familiar ingredients is priceless," says Morelli. "I want to feel and look great without having to worry about ingredients I know nothing about and their possible benefits or detriments." Familiar ingredients include things like coffee grounds in body scrubs, rosehip-seed oil in lux facial serums, and rosewater in hydrating toners, and everything is sourced thoughtfully so they each have a purpose in the formula.  

What the brand vows to never use: Phthalates, parabens, mineral oil, formaldehyde, synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives, and more as noted on Credo and Follain. 

Soapwalla

Soapwalla skin- and body-care products from Amazon for $10-$64, or at Follain for $16-$36

Soapwalla makes more than body soap. Its product line also includes exfoliators, facial serums, mists, lip balms, and even full customized skin-care routines. Everything is made by hand in Brooklyn with sustainable, organically grown, and food-grade ingredients (which means some are good enough to eat).  

Five of the brand's products including the best-selling repair balm ($64) have been certified by the non-profit Made Safe, which aims to educate consumers about products that don't use toxic chemicals, brands about harmful ingredients, and retailers about selecting which clean products to stock.

What the brand vows to never use: Sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, pthalates, petrochemical byproducts, and synthetic ingredients.

Stacked Skincare

Stacked Skincare skin-care products and tools, $23.50-$150, available at Sephora

Developed by licensed aesthetician Kerry Benjamin to deal with her eczema, StackedSkincare is based on the idea that you should "stack" your skin-care products and tools to push active ingredients deeper into your skin for better results. These actives can be natural or lab-created as long as they have been shown to be safe and efficacious.

"Almost all of us want the same thing — effective skin care made with ingredients that are safe for our bodies and the planet," says Benjamin. "That's why we think it's important to show you exactly where we stand when it comes to ingredients. We use proven skin-enhancing actives and avoid all known toxins, questionable chemicals, and ingredients that are irritating to sensitive skin."

Benjamin's not satisfied with just helping customers develop good skin-care routines though; the brand also works with the National Eczema Association to help find a cure for eczema.

What the brand vows to never use: Parabens, sulfates, formaldehydes, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, chemical sunscreens, and more. See the full list here.

The Makeup Eraser

The Makeup Eraser, $20, available at Sephora

Instead of using a single-use, makeup-removing wipe (many of which aren't biodegradable or recyclable), try a reuseable makeup-removing cloth.

The aptly named Makeup Eraser makes a really cute one that comes in a yellow pineapple print; the $20 bundle on Sephora includes a printed eyemask and pouch. The cloth has magical makeup-removing properties that literally erase waxy and waterproof makeup with just warm water — and nothing else. You could always use an oil cleanser first and then follow up with the cloth, but Sephora reviewers say the cloth does all the work without additional cleansing necessary. 

What the brand vows to never use: Just about everything.

• I've tried a lot of face masks in my life — from dirt-cheap impulse purchases to $80 award-winning at-home facials  — and nothing has improved the clarity of my skin like this giant $8 tub of the Aztec Secret Clay Mask.
• After seeing it all over the internet and having a colleague call it her "most recommended product," I gave it a shot.
• It basically acts like a vacuum for your pores in the five to 20 minutes it's on. 
• Like many Amazon reviews state, my best results came from mixing the mask with Apple Cider Vinegar.

There are a few things that the majority of people who know me would be able to recite off-the-cuff that I love. That list would include the Scribd reading app, comfort and convenience in general (twill sheets, fluffy robes, and smart lights), and, lastly, face masks.

For the last few years, face masks have been a pivotal part of 'relaxing' for me. Long day? Throw on a face mask! Horrible commute? Face mask. It became the creature comfort version of Penicillin for every daily ill.

While I've tried everything from the Allure Best of Beauty 2017 $80 TLC Babyface Facial to whatever was under $6 in the TJ Maxx pile, the changes in clarity specifically were always minimal or too fleeting to warrant much shouting from the rooftops or jazz hands in the streets. Sheet masks and hydration masks always moisturized well enough, and peels helped target dark spots and texture, but clay masks remained entertainingly garish and lavish (so, more mentally helpful) rather than a tool for improving the clarity, texture, and tone of my skin. 

That is, until I tried the $8 Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask that has tens of thousands of 5-star reviews across the internet. Even though I've been obsessed with face masks for years, this is the only one that I would go so far as to claim has actually markedly (and for the long-term) improved my skin's clarity. After a few weeks of using it once a week, my temperamental combination skin is smoother, clearer, and more even overall. 

The Aztec Clay Mask basically acts like a vacuum for your pores in the five to 20 minutes it's on. The 100% natural calcium bentonite clay draws out all the impurities deep in your skin for what has been called 'the world's most powerful facial'. I can't say it's "the world's most" anything, but it is the first thing I have ever used that wasn't prescribed by a dermatologist and actually works. In fact, it's the first topical treatment I've ever used (prescribed or not) that has actually worked. 

Like all of my best purchases, I found it through a recommendation. I asked the Business Insider staff to send me the best things they had ever bought on Amazon for under $25 and I bought this mask after seeing a colleague mention it as her "most recommended product." Apparently, it had been hiding in plain sight. Once I had heard of it, I couldn't stop seeing it everywhere: in articles, videos, Youtube testimonials with over 1 million views, and even the Sephora beauty blog, which is typically filled with luxe options from of-the-moment brands. But, all in all, the Aztec Clay Mask is worth the eerie, cult-favorite hype. 

Now, instead of putting on any face mask to have a fun night drinking wine with girlfriends, I apply this religiously once a week to sit with my facial muscles rendered immobile for about 10 minutes. In other words, it's the first mask I've used for the purpose of what it does to my skin, rather than how it makes me feel. I actually had a moment of paranoia where I considered buying another tub (which is giant even for $13) in advance in case the sellers catch onto the craze and raise prices.

However, you should be careful to only use the Aztec Clay Mask for the recommended 5-10 minutes if you have delicate skin. When I had a dermatologist critique my skincare routine, she recommended washing it off once I could feel it becoming tight and dry to prevent the clay from sucking too much oil from the skin (your skin will adapt and compensate by starting to produce more oil). Be prepared to feel the mask become scaly and tight on your face. I actually have to drink out of a straw when this stuff is on. It's powerful, so you'll see some redness after you take it off, but that has always dissipated within 10-15 minutes or so for me, despite having the sort of sensitive, pale skin that makes yoga teachers worried they aren't giving the class enough water breaks. 

Thanks to its massive popularity, you can grab it from basically any retailer, but it's a few dollars cheaper on the organic food site Thrive Market ($6.59 — though it's currently out of stock and you'll need a membership to access it). Or, you can order it through Target for $7.99 right now. 

The bottom line

All in all, I can say from experience that this cheap wunderkind clay mask is absolutely worth a try if you'd like to see clearer and smoother skin. Skincare is a touchy thing, and even with tens of thousands of 5-star reviews across the internet you can't know for sure that it will work for you, but it is so far the only thing that has ever really made a difference in the clarity and appearance of my skin — and it seems I'm not alone in feeling that way. 

*Update: After many suggestions from Amazon reviews and a reader writing in, I tried the Aztec Mask mixed with Apple Cider Vinegar. It worked markedly better than before even. You may find the smell unpleasant, but it is worth it for the soft skin, even texture, and improved tone — and absolutely at $8.

• Even with a sea of options, it's hard to find haircare that feels like it's really made for you. 
• Function of Beauty is changing that with custom haircare that's based on your quiz results. 
• We tried it and loved the personalization process, but our thoughts about the formulas were mixed.

For the most part, the world we live in makes it easy for us to personalize everything in our lives — from monogrammed phone cases to data-driven subscription boxes.

So, why doesn't our haircare get the same treatment?

Function of Beauty was founded in 2015 with the intention of helping people embrace their one-of-a-kind hair — and shaking up the shampoo aisle with some much-needed personalization. After all, we search for customization in so many other aspects of our lives, why should we settle for two-in-one shampoo and conditioner?

Zahir Dossa may not seem like your typical beauty brand founder. But, the MIT alum (with four degrees from his alma mater) saw a need for customization in the space. While receiving his PhD, Dossa started working on a beauty cooperative. When he asked a group of people for feedback on the same product, he was surprised at the wide range of answers he received. It was that experience that planted the seed for what would become Function of Beauty, a haircare brand that lets people customize their routine with totally personalized shampoos and conditioners.

What we thought after trying Function of Beauty

Function of Beauty has received tens of thousands of five-star reviews, but we wanted to see how it actually worked on our own hair. So, four of my colleagues swapped out their regular shampoos and conditioners for customized Function of Beauty regimens. They all filled out the hair quiz and received an 8-ounce shampoo and conditioner just for them. Find their reviews, below.

Elisabeth Chambry, former strategic partnerships manager:

Hair type: light brown, curly, fine, dry scalp, long

Products: shampoo in purple, peach scent; conditioner in purple, peach scent; leave-in treatment

Elisabeth's experience: As a curly-haired girl, I was skeptical of the Function of Beauty haircare products but pleasantly surprised by the results. It might not be noticeable to the untrained eye, but my curls look more defined, less frizzy, and more moisturized.

I'm always searching for the perfect leave-in and curl cream combination for styling my hair. For the last two months, I've exclusively used my Function of Beauty leave-in treatment. It does a great job conditioning my curls and fighting frizz without weighing down my hair. The shampoo was sudsy even though it was silicone-free. I had to use much more conditioner, so the bottle is about 50% less full than my shampoo. This is common for me as a curly-haired girl who needs a lot of conditioners, so I wouldn't necessarily note it as a drawback. I have used other conditioner formulas that penetrated my hair better, making it softer and detangled, but I thought this formula did a fine job. The bottles are a joy to have in the shower, but the pumps also lock easily for travel.

As for my scalp, I didn't notice any difference in ridding flakes and dryness. I've had trouble finding a haircare product that competes with my simple apple cider vinegar rinses. I'll likely continue my treasure hunt to find something that absolutely blows me away, but I'll keep Function of Beauty in my back pocket for a reliable and fun-to-have haircare system. Finding products that work for my hair is pretty difficult, but I enjoy the chase.

Connie Chen, former senior reporter:

Hair type: dark brown (color-treated), medium coarseness, straight, medium-length

Products: shampoo in purple, pear scent; conditioner in blue, pear scent; hair mask

Connie's experience: With most haircare, it often feels like I have to compromise somewhere, whether it's an ingredient I don't want in the formulation or being pigeonholed into certain fragrances. I love that Function of Beauty gives me way more control. I have dyed hair, so I was able to choose a purple shampoo to reduce brassiness. At the same time, I could choose to have my products address my specific hair goals, which include strengthening and conditioning with a nice smelling formula. Over the last six weeks, I've used the shampoo and conditioner every other day. I apply the hair mask once a week and my hair looks and feels much healthier. A plus is that all the fragrances smell amazing — I've tried the pear, peach, and mango over the years and they're some of the most memorable haircare scents I've used.

Alyssa Powell, graphic designer:

Hair type: black, tightly coiled, short

Products: shampoo in turquoise, lavender scent; conditioner in purple, lavender scent; both silicone-free

Alyssa's experience: As much as I love my tightly coiled, well-put-together hair, maintaining moisture, retaining length, and finding the right products have always been a struggle for me. So I chose the following hair goals when customizing: curl definition, hydrate, and strengthen. I also chose to get the silicone-free formula for both, in the True L(o)vender scent because it was 100% natural.

The packaging of these products was beautiful. I loved my name printed on the bottles and on the direction booklet. When I tried Function of Beauty last year, I was not impressed. However, I decided to give it another try because I finally found a wash routine that had been working for me. I also wanted to use the products properly this time.

I followed my normal routine: shampooing once a week, using conditioner every other day, then following up with a leave-in gel from another brand. I let the conditioner sit for the directed 5-10 minutes. I liked the way my hair felt after using the shampoo and conditioner. It was clean, moisturized, and the products smelled amazing.

After one month of using the products, I think Function of Beauty has earned a spot on my bathroom shelf. Having a consistent routine and following the directions made all the difference.

Mara Leighton, senior reporter:

Hair type: brunette (color-treated), thick, wavy, long

Products: shampoo in purple, eucalyptus scent; conditioner in white, eucalyptus scent; body lotion in eucalyptus scent; hair serum in pear scent; body wash in white, eucalyptus scent; body lotion in white, eucalyptus scent

Mara's experience: My hair can be as dry and frizzy as grass in a drought, so I tend to favor hydrating products — and I was surprised by how much I loved Function of Beauty's formulas.

First, I was able to customize my shampoo and conditioner to include the stuff I know I need but hate looking for in ingredient lists, such as ingredients to combat brassiness in color-treated hair and nutritious oils to smooth and hydrate. Personally, I don't care about the option to pick the color. But most importantly is that my hair consistently dried looking more hydrated and less frizzy, but still clean and voluminous.

If I could only buy one thing again, though, it would be the Hair Serum. It makes my hair look so uncharacteristically hydrated, shiny, and more defined (the qualities I find most difficult to replicate) without edging on greasy. It's also more manageable after I've applied the Hair Serum. I've definitely used too much before, but in my experience, that's difficult to do; my hair drinks this formula up. And the pear scent smells really nice.

The lotion and body wash are nice but don't reinvent the wheel (and they don't need to). My one nitpick is that I wish I'd gone for light strength on the fragrances. I chose the fresh, clean eucalyptus (which smells a lot like mint) for most of the products, and it's just slightly heavy for my liking.

How to create your personalized shampoo and conditioner

Creating your own Function of Beauty haircare is simple. You'll follow these steps to get a customized formula:

• Fill out a quiz about your hair type and hair structure (curly, straight, thick, fine, etc.)
• Choose five hair goals (Do you want to banish brassiness? Reduce oil? Add shine or volume?)
• Pick out a fragrance (some of the scent options include eucalyptus, lavender, and peach)
• Choose from nine color tints (all 100% vegan and sulfate-free; you can also choose to leave it dye-free)

The hair quiz tells the FOB team everything they need to know about your hair, and the brand's algorithms will get to work to find you the perfect formula. Your products will also come to your door in cute personalized bottles. 

What other products can you customize?

While the shampoo and conditioner are the most popular, Function of Beauty offers a full line of customizable haircare, including: a hair mask, purple shampoo, leave-in, co-wash, and hair serum. There's even a bodycare line with body wash and body lotion. We haven't tried it yet, but the brand recently expanded into skincare with the launch of a serum ($49.99) that's customized to you based on your quiz results.

Pricing 

There are a few ways to buy Function of Beauty products. You can choose to get a delivery just one time, every six months, every three months, or once a month. In terms of size, you can choose from an 8- or 16-ounce bottle of either shampoo or conditioner. The pricing ranges from $29 for a single 8-ounce shampoo bottle to $49 for a 16-ounce shampoo and conditioner set. These are definitely pricier than your drugstore haircare brands, but the price tag reflects the custom approach as well as the high-quality ingredients used. 

If you love the idea of custom haircare but need something less pricey, Function of Beauty also has a more affordable product line at Target. It works by having you first pick out a base formula, and then mix in booster packets that address your specific hair needs. The base formulas are $10 each and the booster packets are $2.99 each. You can learn more here. 

The bottom line

Function of Beauty's custom shampoo and conditioner is fun to create and the colorful bottles look great on a bathroom shelf. Most of us were won over, but whether or not it works for you will really come down to your personal preferences. What we can all agree on is that we appreciate the clean scents, the thoughtful details, and the easy-to-use ordering process. 

Check out Business Insider's Function of Beauty coupon page for discounts on the brand's haircare line.

• Vibe coding companies — including these six — are picking up big money and even some controversy.
• Lovable, Cursor, and Replit are seeing valuations soar even as competition grows.
• The space has seen lots of deal activity and interest from Big Tech.

The tech world is both in awe of and fearful of vibe coding.

On one hand, tech giants are all in on these AI-assisted coding tools. They're touting efficiency gains, listing it as a need-to-have in job descriptions, buying their employees subscriptions, and even investing in vibe-coding startups themselves.

In the latest news from the vibe-coding bonanza: SpaceX said on Tuesday that it struck a deal with AI coding startup Cursor that could give it the option to acquire the company for $60 billion or pay $10 billion for their collaboration. The partnership grants Cursor access to SpaceX's resources, including its massive Colossus supercomputer, and also strengthens SpaceX's position in the AI coding race by helping it compete with top labs building advanced coding tools.

That deal is just the latest in a broader wave of acquisitions and partnerships sweeping through the vibe-coding space.

In July, AI startup Cognition snatched up Windsurf after OpenAI's $3 billion deal to acquire the vibe coding tool maker fell through. Just one month before, web design platform Wix bought Base44, a six-month-old startup bootstrapped by a solo founder, for $80 million.

These entrants are competing with far bigger and better-funded players, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Microsoft, that make their own AI-powered coding tools.

Yet, the rise of these tools is also rattling the broader market: Some tech giants saw their shares take a hit as investors dumped legacy software stocks over concerns that AI and vibe coding will allow companies to build their own software rather than buy.

Both narratives are driving the valuations of vibe-coding startups such as Lovable, Cursor, and Replit, now well into the billions.

"Our mission has always been that every human with an idea and an internet connection should be able to build any app they want," Amjad Masad, the CEO of Replit, said in a release in March, announcing his company's $9 billion valuation.

Business Insider compiled a list of the startups riding the vibes, detailing their latest valuations, fundraises, and what they're best known for.

Lovable

Based in Stockholm and launched in 2024, Lovable is among the biggest players in the vibe coding world and one of the fastest-growing startups.

In March, Business Insider reported that the Swedish startup's annual recurring revenue had surged by more than 30%, from $300 million to $400 million in a single month. ARR, a key metric used to gauge startup performance, refers to the predictable revenue a company expects to generate over a year.

Lovable, founded by Anton Osika and Fabian Hedin, was valued at $6.6 billion in a December funding round led by CapitalG and Menlo Ventures.

Lovable's chief revenue officer, Ryan Meadows, told Business Insider that the company plans to more than double its head count by the end of the year, from 146 to 350 employees.

He added that Lovable, which specializes in making coding user-friendly, now sees 200,000 new vibe-coding projects created each day.

Replit

Replit, founded in 2016, touts itself as an all-in-one platform that not only generates code but also builds, hosts, and deploys applications in one place.

Over the past few years, Replit has pivoted from a collaborative coding environment to the Replit Agent that can turn plain-English descriptions into working applications, lowering the barrier to entry for beginner coders.

In March, the startup announced it had raised a $400 million Series D round at a $9 billion valuation, led by its previous investor, Georgian Partners. Other investors include Coatue, Andreessen Horowitz, Craft Ventures, Accenture Ventures, and angels Shaquille O'Neal and Jared Leto.

Emergent

Emergent, founded out of Y Combinator's startup class of 2024 by twin brothers Mukund Jha and Madhav Jha, is one of the newest but fastest-growing vibe coding platforms. Similar to Replit, Emergent says it allows users to "build full-stack, production-ready applications using just natural language prompts."

The startup said in February that it had 6 million users and had reached $100 million in ARR in eight months.

Its latest funding round, raised in January, raised $70 million in Series B funding from Khosla Ventures and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, with participation from Prosus, Lightspeed, Together, and Y Combinator. The startup's valuation was not disclosed.

Emergent's $23 million Series A round closed in September, signaling how eager investors are to get in on the growing pie.

"A lot of the other platforms, they're great for prototyping, they're great for demos, but when it comes to really managing the entire lifecycle of software development, they fall short," CEO Mukund Jha told Business Insider. "That's a gap we are trying to fill in the market right now."

Poolside AI

San Francisco-based Poolside was cofounded in 2023 by former GitHub head of tech Jason Warner and software entrepreneur Eiso Kant. The company focuses on selling to enterprises and public sector organizations. It builds models that can write computer software and coding applications.

In October, Bloomberg reported that the company was in discussions to raise $2 billion at a $12 billion valuation, with a potential $500 million to $1 investment from Nvidia.

The company closed a $500 million Series B in 2024, led by Bain Capital, with participation from Nvidia, a Poolside representative told Business Insider. It is raising a Series C, and Nvidia has committed at least $500 million to anchor the round.

Correction: March 13, 2026 — An earlier version of this story misstated Poolside's headquarters. The company is based in San Francisco, not Paris.

StackBlitz's Bolt

StackBlitz, founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, credits its survival to Bolt, a vibe coding platform the company launched in 2024 when it was struggling with dwindling revenue.

Bolt, which uses Anthropic's models to let users build what they want with plain English, generated about $1 million in ARR in the first week it came out, cofounder Eric Simons told Business Insider last year. The week after, it added another $1 million in ARR, and then another.

"I had slept three hours a night for a week straight to get the release out with our team," Simons told Business Insider about Bolt's release. "After seeing it live, and people loving it — beyond anything I had ever created before — I cried, alone at my desk in my backyard shed office."

In January 2025, Bloomberg reported that StackBlitz was in talks with investors to raise $83.5 million at a $700 million valuation.

• Superfood skincare is marketed as a green smoothie for the skin. Products feature cocktails of antioxidants and nix ingredients such as parabens and phthalates.
• Youth to the People is one of the movement's leading companies. 
• Its products are full of leafy greens and antioxidants and free of soap, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, and added color. 
• I tested out a few of the company's products, and they're a great option for a simple skincare routine or a vegan product line.
• You can shop the brand at Sephora, Nordstrom, and Amazon.

A superfood craze has swept through the halls of Sephora, filling its aisles with creams meant to work like "protein shakes for your face."

Unlike many beauty fads, the 'food for your face' trend has solid reasoning. Superfoods such as kale and spinach tend to contain the antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that provide a host of benefits for your body and your skin simultaneously — boosting hydration, reducing inflammation, and fighting off the damaging free radicals in your environment. When utilized properly, they can be very effective, and you'll likely see the same ingredients included in other iconic skincare products.

Youth to the People — also known as "Superfood for the Skin" — is one of the companies popularizing a juice cleanse for your face. Conceptually, the startup focuses on clean, greens-based products that any skin type can use every day. Each product is formulated like its own superfood — "as whole, clean, and packed with nutrients as the food you put in your body," the brand posits. Its products arrive in recyclable packaging, and, inside, without ingredients like dimethicone, parabens, synthetic fragrance, or phthalates.

Youth to the People is meant to feel like a 'green juice' for your skin

Cousins Greg Gonzalez and Joe Cloyes grew up immersed in their grandmother's skincare business in the Bay Area, and used that background and industry knowledge when creating the vegan, straightforward skincare line they themselves wanted to use. "We're the guys that drink green juice [and] love discovering new herbal supplements… We're the new generation that cares about what we put in our bodies and onto our skin."

Gonzalez and Cloyes were already creating nutrient-rich diets for their bodies' longevity, energy, and health, and they said "not much changed" when the two founded Youth to the People and began engineering a line of skincare products. 

Youth to the People formulas are — like your favorite juices — packed with a concoction of powerful antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients from cold-pressed plant extracts to boost your skin's health without the shady industry ingredients. 

The company works in small batches for maximum freshness, never tests on animals, and doesn't include parabens, sulfates, or dimethicone. 

I tested three of the products from the line. Here's what to expect from some of the company's bestsellers: 

The Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil ($44) is an "ultra-enriched," fast-absorbing face oil packed with rare super berry antioxidants. The oil combines maqui — the fruit billed as the most antioxidant-dense in the world — with açaí and goji. The rest of its ingredients round out the serum, with intensely hydrating prickly pear and squalene oil to lock in moisture with omega fatty acids and high levels of vitamin C. Jojoba and sunflower oil bump luminosity and moisturize dull skin without adding weight.

All in all, this was the real standout product for me. The Glow Oil is intensely hydrating, a few drops go a long way, and it left my skin feeling smoother, more luminous, and much more hydrated without leaving a slick, grimy film like some oils. If you like the fresh, dewy look or to be described as "glowing," then this is for you.

The Superfood Air-Whip Moisturizer ($48) is the aforementioned Green Smoothie for your skin — packed with kale, spinach, green tea, and the skincare heavyweight hyaluronic acid for added moisture. The operative word here is "whip" — the product hydrates, but one aspect of its lightweight texture is that it's able to be absorbed quickly and without leaving a residue. YTTP recommends using it after a serum, and I'd echo that sentiment for maximum hydration. It worked well for me especially in conjunction with the Glow Oil, but extra dry skin might warrant more product than makes sense at the price.

The Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser ($36) is an antioxidant-rich gel cleanser with many of the same ingredients as the Air-Whip (kale, spinach, green tea) to remove toxins without stripping the skin with harsher ingredients. Like all YTTP products, it's formulated without most of the "don't"s that can lurk in your cleansers, like sulfates, soap, fragrances, or parabens. True to its word, it's gentle, non-drying, and removes makeup easily. As I've said in the past, I'm a big fan of simple skincare routines solely because a line of dermatologists have recommended that (and only that) to me on repeat over the years. YTTP's cleanser is a great basic option: refreshing, effective, and it won't strip, uncomfortably tighten, or dry out your skin. Simply put, it does what it's supposed to, and it does it with "clean" ingredients.

If you want more exposure, it's possible to get a kit at Sephora with five of the company's main products in one, including the cleanser, two face creams, a mask, and the glow oil — or you can pick them up separately. You can also shop the line at Nordstrom, Sephora, and Amazon.

The bottom line

All in all, the Yout to the People products are a great option. At its most base, it prevents you from dumping the equivalent of skincare fast food onto your face and into your body habitually. If you're looking for vegan, simple, clean, or greens-based skincare, you should include Youth to the People in your lineup — especially if it's the Superberry Glow Oil.

Shop Youth to the People at Sephora, Nordstrom, and Amazon.

• MrBeast, who built an empire on YouTube, has been looking to Hollywood for inspiration.
• The top YouTuber said he's been watching movies as part of his cultural education.
• He said his company now has 750 employees.

The world's biggest creator, MrBeast, grew up on YouTube videos, but now he has another media obsession.

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, said he's been trying to learn more about culture this past year by deeply studying movies — including every Christopher Nolan film. He named 2008's "The Dark Knight" as a favorite.

"I've just been obsessed recently over telling great stories," he said. "And I grew up watching basically only YouTube, and I didn't really watch movies or anything growing up."

Donaldson, 27, spoke on Wednesday at the Time100 Summit. He was named to the 2026 Time100 list, recognizing the "world's most influential people."

Donaldson's recent obsession with Hollywood might come as a surprise, given that he's built a media company outside the entertainment establishment. When asked if he compares himself to any other entertainment companies, he said he considers what he does unique. He gave examples of video projects focused on showing people what it's like inside the pyramids or making the world's largest water balloon.

"What we do is very different than almost any company out there," Donaldson said. "Part of why we are the largest YouTube channel is we really push to do things you can't find anywhere else." Donaldson has about 479 million subscribers on his main YouTube channel.

Donaldson recently announced plans to level up his video output this year, tapping former NBCU unscripted executive Corie Henson as president of the company's studio division.

Outside media, he's been branching out to more consumer products. He built a snack business, Feastables; acquired a financial services company, Step; and is plotting a mobile phone service. Donaldson said his company now has 750 employees.

MrBeast's CEO has compared the company to Disney in investor pitches, but Donaldson himself seemed reluctant to fully embrace the comparison.

"We're doing it a completely different way," he said.

• Elon Musk's xAI recently announced a partnership with AI coding startup Cursor.
• The two companies have also explored a three-way partnership with French AI startup Mistral.
• Musk is looking to catch up to Anthropic and OpenAI.

Elon Musk is ramping up efforts to compete with AI giants Anthropic and OpenAI.

Musk's AI startup, xAI, has held discussions in recent weeks with Mistral and AI coding startup Cursor about a potential three-way partnership, people familiar with the matter said. Mistral is a French AI startup that was founded in 2023 and has positioned itself as an independent alternative to US frontier labs.

SpaceX, which owns xAI, announced a deal this week with Cursor that gives SpaceX the option to buy Cursor for $60 billion. Business Insider reported last week that Cursor was training its AI model on xAI's infrastructure.

Musk is pushing xAI into more partnerships to try to catch Anthropic and OpenAI, which have lately jumped ahead in AI coding services and AI agents.

Musk has floated the idea of closer AI collaboration with Mistral and Cursor to take on rivals like Anthropic, insiders told Business Insider. Mistral cofounder Devendra Chaplot joined xAI last month, after a stint at AI startup Thinking Machines Lab. He currently leads pretraining at xAI.

Representatives for xAI, Cursor, and Mistral didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Musk's AI company, which launched its Grok chatbot in 2023, has been working to scale its infrastructure and improve model performance. It has rapidly established one of the largest data center footprints in the AI race. Last year, xAI said it had around 200,000 Nvidia graphic processing units, and Musk has said it plans to expand to 1 million GPUs.

Musk has made several changes to xAI's leadership ranks over the past few months. Since late last year, he has repeatedly expressed concerns to engineers about Anthropic's lead in the AI race, people familiar with the matter said. Michael Nicolls, a SpaceX executive and xAI's president, said earlier this month that the company is "clearly behind" its competitors and needs to take action to catch up.

Musk has slammed Anthropic in public, describing its AI models as "misanthropic and evil." Anthropic has emerged over the past year as a leading competitor in the AI race, particularly when it comes to AI coding tools. Anthropic in January blocked xAI from accessing its Claude AI models through the Cursor coding tool.

Musk, who helped found OpenAI in 2015, is also in the process of suing OpenAI, accusing the company of straying from its original nonprofit mission. Musk has positioned xAI as an alternative to what he calls "woke" AI.

Correction: April 22, 2026 — An earlier version of this story incorrectly described Cursor as a French company.

Do you work at xAI or have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at gkay@businessinsider.com or Signal at 248-894-6012. Use a personal email address, a non-work device, and non-work WiFi; here's our guide tosharing information securely.

• The US needs a deeper magazine of cheap precision-kill weapons like drones, Adm. Samuel Paparo said.
• The INDOPACOM leader noted the importance of having a range of weapons for different targets.
• US military leaders are seeing the value of lower-cost weapons, like LUCAS drones, in certain situations.

US forces need to invest in the building of a larger arsenal of cheap, precision-kill weapons or risk losing a future war, America's top commander in the Indo-Pacific region said.

Low-cost systems like cheap drones and inexpensive missile designs have had a fundamental impact on conflicts like Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and the US war against Iran.

US military leaders argue that fielding large numbers of lower-cost weapons for missions where high-end systems aren’t necessary — like shooting down one-way attack drones — can ease the cost trade-offs, especially against adversaries with deep arsenals like China.

The rise of these systems, "the commoditization of cheap, distributed, precision kill [weapons]," is something seen every day in Ukraine, Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, told the US House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday. "This is a technology that we embrace, or we lose."

Paparo said that these weapons are particularly critical in denying or defending areas, such as preventing an adversary from controlling certain maritime or air spaces. Anti-access and area-denial strategies rely on a mix of weaponry that's spread out and layered.

China's broad A2/AD strategy, for example, relies on a vast network of missile defenses, electronic warfare systems, drones, and naval capabilities that would challenge the US and its allies from operating freely in and around the First Island Chain.

During the hearing, Paparo pointed to the US-made Merops interceptor drone system as a low-cost defensive solution — proven in Ukraine, the US has purchased thousands of thse for war in the Middle East.

For offensive action, the admiral noted that war with Iran had demonstrated the success of the new Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System, or LUCAS drone, an American-made one-way attack weapon based on the Iranian-designed Shahed.

The US deployed LUCAS in combat for the first time in the early days of the Iran war, following US Central Command's creation in December of a new task force built around the military's first LUCAS one-way attack drone squadron.

In its fiscal year 2027 budget, the White House is requesting over $74 billion for drones and counter-drone solutions. That figure is triple what the US spent on these areas in 2026 and the largest investment in these capabilities to date.

Paparo said that the substantial request was "historic" and added that the Indo-Pacific was the "first theater where we must have the concepts in order to do it," referring to deploying low-cost drones and weapons.

Paparo made waves in June 2024 when he said he wanted to turn "the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape" and employ a strategy inspired by Ukraine that would flood the battlespace with drones and other uncrewed systems, the aim being to blunt a Chinese assault and buy time for reinforcements to arrive.

Since those comments, the US and Taiwan have continued investing in asymmetric capabilities that are cheap, easy to use, and distributed. Earlier this year, they launched a joint effort to prepare Taiwanese forces for just that kind of fight, with a focus on uncrewed systems and autonomy.

At Tuesday's hearing, Paparo added that the US was also investing in low-cost hypersonic missiles and low-cost cruise missiles because these systems added more options to the US arsenal. "While we need exquisite to take down exquisite things, we need cheap to take out less exquisite things," he said.

Department of Defense leaders and officials have increasingly spotlighted the need for cost-effective munitions so that troops aren't firing multimillion-dollar weapons to take out drones that cost a fraction of that.

LUCAS drones, for example, cost around $35,000 per unit, far less than a cruise or ballistic missile, while the Merops interceptor drones cost just $15,000 compared to the $20,000 to $50,000 Shaheds these weapons were designed to defeat.

Recent conflicts have demonstrated the cost and stockpile concerns associated with expending expensive, exquisite systems against cheaper targets. The US conflict against the Houthis drained the US Navy of critical munitions, while American forces have burned through weapons like Tomahawk cruise missiles in its ongoing war against Iran.

TCL's QM8 Series has long been a favorite among TV shoppers and reviewers alike, and for good reason. Last year's QM8K delivered image quality that often matched or surpassed that of high-end LG, Samsung, and Sony Mini LEDs that cost more. That value made it one of the easiest TVs to recommend in its class.

The new TCL QM8L continues that trend. It's the latest entry in the company's upper-midrange Mini LED lineup, and it uses TCL's new SQD technology to boost color performance over its predecessor. After testing the TV, I'm impressed. The QM8L delivers a fantastic picture with rich colors, impactful HDR highlights, and good black levels for a Mini LED. It's a worthy successor to the QM8K, and I'm confident it will become one of my top recommendations for high-end performance on a midrange budget.

That said, timing matters. Right now, it's hard to fully recommend the QM8L over the older QM8K, which is still available at a discount and performs similarly in many areas. This will change in the coming months, as TCL TVs get excellent deals after launch. In fact, sales are already popping up. Once the price gap between the two models shrinks a bit more, the QM8L will be the better buy. But for now, I still give the QM8K an edge as the best TCL TV for most people.

The QM8L has a sleek design and is available in up to 98 inches

The QM8L is available in four screen sizes, with launch prices ranging from $2,500 to $6,000. Though the QM8L's retail pricing is already quite reasonable, TCL TVs tend to get big discounts in the months following their release.

For instance, last year's 75-inch QM8K debuted at the same $3,000 price as the 75-inch QM8L, but later dropped to under $2,000. I expect similar discounts to roll out to the QM8L as the year continues. Here's a rundown of full retail pricing:

I tested the 75-inch QM8L for this review, but all four sizes feature the same basic design and specifications. Brightness and contrast will vary slightly by screen size, but my testing results will generally apply across the full lineup.

The QM8L has an attractive build that's a step above cheaper TCL models, but not quite as premium as the brand's more expensive X11L. The panel is about two inches deep at its thickest point. That's relatively slim for a Mini LED TV, but not as thin as the X11L's impressive 0.8-inch profile. The frame around the TV has a silver accent, and the screen uses TCL's ZeroBorder design, so there's virtually no black bezel around the image.

The included pedestal stand is sturdy and attractive, but it might not be a good fit for some soundbar setups. Though the stand can be attached in a low or high position, its depth is 14.5 inches. That's a pretty big footprint, so it's possible your media console won't be deep enough to fit a soundbar in front without resting it on the pedestal, which isn't ideal. This is a minor drawback, but one that soundbar owners should be aware of. It's also important to note that the 98-inch model uses left and right feet rather than a pedestal.

The remote control is the same one included with the X11L, and it's one of my favorites. It has a sleek silver finish, backlit keys, and extra buttons on the right side for quickly adjusting brightness and switching picture modes. And though several brands like Samsung and LG have been cutting or combining functions on their latest remotes to achieve a more streamlined design, I prefer TCL's approach, which still includes dedicated keys for inputs, mute, and signal info.

The QM8L boasts four HDMI 2.1 ports, supporting up to 4K/144Hz. That's a nice upgrade over last year's QM8K, which had two HDMI 2.1 and two HDMI 2.0 ports. That said, it's slightly disappointing that TCL's top TVs max out at 144Hz rather than 165Hz, which some LG, Samsung, and Hisense models now support. This is only relevant to dedicated PC gamers, but it's worth keeping in mind.

TCL's SQD tech offers impressive color performance

The QM8L's biggest upgrade over last year's QM8K is the addition of TCL's new SQD (Super Quantum Dot) technology. SQD tech debuted on the company's premium X11L, which I previously reviewed. SQD might sound like just another flashy branding term, but in this case, there's actual substance behind the marketing.

TCL's SQD system uses larger quantum dots than on a typical QLED TV, along with an enhanced color filter, to produce a wider, brighter color range. This same technology helped make the X11L one of the most impressive TVs I've ever tested, so it's great to see TCL bringing it down to a more affordable model.

But to be clear, the QM8L doesn't match the X11L's overall image quality. The X11L still has the edge in a few key areas, like local dimming and peak brightness. But the QM8L gets very close in color.

Using a colorimeter with Calman software and a Portrait Displays G1 pattern generator, I measured the TV's color gamut at about 85% of the BT.2020 color space. BT.2020 is currently the widest color gamut used for Hollywood productions, and most regular QLEDs can cover about 60% to 80% of it.

Compared to other TVs I've recently tested, the QM8L only trails the X11L and Samsung's new R95H Micro RGB TV, which measured 88% and 91% of BT.2020, respectively. That puts the QM8L in rare company and confirms that TCL's new panel technology is delivering tangible results.

That said, it's important to keep this performance in perspective. As impressive as those measurements are, most movies and TV shows don't actually use such a wide range of colors. So while the QM8L has better color than a regular QLED, that won't always translate into a dramatic difference with the content you watch every day. In that sense, color capabilities like this are geared toward big home theater enthusiasts who want the latest tech.

But even with that caveat, the QM8L looks fantastic in actual use. The TV produces bright, bold primary colors that really stand out in vibrant films like "Aquaman," and it does a great job preserving saturation without making the image look cartoonish. Color gradations are also very smooth. In my usual torture-test scenes from "Ex Machina" and "The Green Knight," I didn't notice any major banding, which is great given how often those scenes can expose blocky colors on many TVs.

Brightness is excellent, but OLEDs and the pricier TCL X11L still have an edge in contrast

HDR brightness is another clear strength. On a 10% HDR test pattern, with Filmmaker Mode, dynamic tone mapping off, and local dimming set to high, I measured a peak brightness of around 3,600 nits, with occasional bursts up to 4,100 nits, which is about on par with last year's model. However, when measuring again after the TV had been on for a while, that number dropped to around 2,000 nits, which the set had no trouble sustaining. So, in practice, you can expect around 2,000 to 4,000 nits of peak HDR brightness depending on how long highlights appear on the screen.

Those numbers don't quite match the X11L, which could sustain 3,000 to 4,000 nits and hit around 6,000 nits in bursts with similar settings, but the QM8L is still bright enough to accurately reproduce highlight intensity in most HDR content. That means specular highlights have excellent punch. Reflections, sparks, sunlight, and explosions all pop with the kind of impact that makes premium HDR content look premium.

Local dimming is also very good for a Mini LED TV, though not quite as refined as what you get from TCL's step-up X11L. In most material, black levels look deep and uniform, and the TV does a convincing job balancing bright highlights against dark backgrounds. But in tricky scenes, I could spot the backlight at work more than I could on the X11L.

A dark sequence from "The Green Knight," in which a character enters an abandoned house at night, revealed subtle patchiness and flickering in shadows. I could also see hints of blooming around a character's glowing eyes. Likewise, the burning church scene in "1917" showed minor inconsistencies in black levels, with some areas of the screen looking beautifully deep and others appearing slightly elevated or vignetted. Meanwhile, in a few episodes of "Daredevil: Born Again" on Disney+, I spotted faint darkened outlines around characters on dim backgrounds.

To be fair, you often have to know what to look for to see these kinds of flaws, and they're most evident in a pitch-black room. Most people probably won't see them during regular viewing, and even as someone who specifically hunts for this sort of thing, I found them relatively minor. Still, they're there, and they serve as a reminder that even a really good Mini LED backlight still can't match the precision of an OLED.

Interestingly, though, the QM8L avoids one issue I noticed on the more expensive X11L: faint vertical streaking on black backgrounds. I didn't see that artifact here, which is a nice win for the cheaper model.

And in at least one area, I actually preferred the QM8L's presentation to the X11L's. In "Mad Max: Fury Road," certain HDR highlights — especially explosions and bright reflections on vehicles — looked a bit more dynamic on the QM8L. On the X11L, the centers of those highlights occasionally looked a touch faded, while the QM8L preserved a little more punch.

Viewing angles, however, remain just OK. As with the X11L, TCL's SQD tech doesn't do much to improve the off-axis weaknesses common to LED/LCD displays. The QM8L performs a bit better than a typical QLED, but colors and contrast still fade and distort somewhat toward the edges of the screen. My usual "Ex Machina" test scene is a good example of this, since the red lighting in that sequence shifts toward orange as you move off-center.

Reflection-handling is decent, especially since the TV has a lot of headroom to pump up brightness in order to overcome glare. However, the panel is still glossy, so direct reflections in bright rooms will be visible. If reflections are a big issue, you're still better off with one of Samsung's glare-free TV models, like the R95H or S95H.

Beyond movies and shows, the TV's image quality also translates well to video games, which look similarly vibrant and bright, particularly when titles support HDR. I also found motion to be smooth when engaging the TV's 120Hz mode and VRR (variable refresh rate) in PS5 games like "Marvel's Spider-Man." However, I noticed some flicker when using 120Hz with VRR in "Crimson Desert." I also noticed this with the X11L, so it could be an isolated VRR issue with that title.

Google TV with Gemini is a great all-around system

Like other TCL Mini LED TVs, the QM8L uses the Google TV platform with Gemini AI built in. Though I used to have a few qualms about Google's smart TV platform (especially back in the Android TV days), its latest iteration has become one of my favorite interfaces.

Google TV syncs seamlessly with an existing Google account, which makes setup a breeze, especially if you use a phone with the Google Home app. The on-screen design is easy to navigate with quick access to your downloaded apps on a horizontal menu that's up front and center. There are also rows of content recommendations, but they're not obtrusive, and they tend to include titles I'd actually want to watch. The same can't be said for recommendations highlighted on many rival platforms.

Google's Gemini is also a good digital assistant. It's responsive, understands conversational queries with follow-ups, and is great for content discovery. It's also capable of other advanced tasks, like helping to plan a trip, but I don't find those capabilities all that necessary for a TV. You can use Gemini with the included remote or hands-free with the TV's integrated microphone that can also be deactivated for privacy.

Navigation speed is smooth, and I didn't encounter any notable hiccups. Older TCL TVs were known for occasional glitches with settings and menus, but the brand has seemingly ironed out those kinks over the last couple of years. During my testing time, the QM8L delivered a painless, bug-free experience.

Should you buy the TCL QM8L SQD 4K TV?

The TCL QM8L is a great follow-up to last year's already fantastic QM8K. It carries over a lot of what made that older model so easy to recommend, including high brightness, good contrast control, and generally excellent HDR performance. On top of that, it offers a boost in color thanks to TCL's new SQD technology, which delivers a richer, more expansive image.

There are also a few practical improvements beyond picture quality. The addition of two more HDMI 2.1 ports is especially welcome. That makes the QM8L a more flexible option for people with multiple gaming devices. And while the design doesn't feel quite as premium as TCL's flagship X11L, it still looks and feels like a step up from the brand's cheaper models.

Ultimately, the only real drawback is value, at least right now. As good as the QM8L is, it's launching at a time when the QM8K is still available for less money. And because the older model remains so competitive, the newer TV's upgrades don't quite feel substantial enough to justify paying a premium. Enthusiasts will appreciate the color upgrade, but it won't amount to a night-and-day difference with most content.

That's why patience could be the right move. TCL TVs have a strong track record of dropping significantly in price shortly after launch, and that's already starting to happen. Once bigger discounts hit, the QM8L will become one of the top values in TCL's lineup and one of the best TVs in its class.

• Spirit Aviation stock soared on Wednesday on news that the US government could take a stake
• The stock first jumped on Tuesday after President Trump said the government should help it.
• Reports indicate that the administration is considering a $500 million loan to the budget airline.

The move: Spirit Aviation stock surged on Wednesday. The stock, which was trading in penny-stock territory this week, reached $1.62 after trading at $0.27 on Monday and finished the day up roughly 400%. The stock was delisted in 2024 and trades in the over-the-counter market.

Why: The momentum began on Tuesday when President Donald Trump told CNBC that he was surprised the Iran war hadn't tanked markets more, but also addressed the problems facing Spirit Airlines.

"I don't mind mergers. I think I'd love somebody to buy Spirit, as an example," he said. "Maybe the federal government should help that one out."

On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the White House is close to a deal to rescue the budget airline, which would see the US government take a majority stake. As part of the agreement, the US would loan Spirit $500 million in exchange for warrants that Bloomberg said could allow it to buy 90% stake of the company.

What it means: If completed, the deal would be the latest instance of the Trump administration taking a stake in a public company. While it has primarily focused on firms in areas the administration has deemed critical to national security, like minerals and mining, it has also taken a stake in tech leaders like Intel.

The White House investments during Trump's second term have sparked significant growth for the stocks and served to make metals and mining one of the hottest trades of 2025.

Spirit would be handed a lifeline by the US after two bankruptcies in the span of about a year.

• ServiceNow reported strong Q1 2026 results, raising forecasts amid AI concerns.
• CEO Bill McDermott emphasized ServiceNow's AI product growth and dismissed AI competition threats.
• The stock fell on Middle East deal headwinds and questions about the forecast.

ServiceNow reported solid first-quarter results and raised forecasts, underscoring continued demand for its software even as questions swirl about the impact of AI on the industry.

Still, the stock fell 13% in after-hours trading. That reversed some of the gains since April 10.

The company said subscription revenue growth was limited by "delayed closings of several large on-premise deals in the Middle East, due to the ongoing conflict in the region." That risk was also incorporated into ServiceNow's outlook for the rest of 2026.

"Against negative investor expectations, ServiceNow delivered a good quarter despite macro headwinds that arose from the conflict in the Middle East," RBC Capital Markets analysts wrote in a note following the results.

Despite that headwind, the company posted subscription revenue of $3.67 billion in the quarter, up 22% year over year. ServiceNow said it beat the high end of its guidance across all topline growth and profitability metrics in the quarter, and lifted its full-year subscription revenue outlook.

For 2026, ServiceNow now expects subscription revenue of $15.7 billion to $15.8 billion, representing growth of roughly 22% to 22.5%. That beat Cowen analysts' expectations heading into the print.

Questions about the outlook

Still, there were questions about the full-year outlook because ServiceNow has been doing a lot of acquisitions, and those deals are making it harder to assess forecasts.

The company recently acquired cybersecurity company Armis for almost $8 billion. That deal boosted some of ServiceNow's subscription revenue and RPO forecasts, while denting this year's projected profit margins.

Excluding Armis, the 2026 outlook is "mixed," RBC analysts wrote.

CEO dismisses AI threat

CEO Bill McDermott emphasized the company's momentum and once again dismissed the threat of AI in an interview on Tuesday.

"The results speak a lot louder than the words. We're now in another beat and raised quarter," he told Business Insider.

McDermott highlighted accelerating adoption of ServiceNow's AI products as a key driver of growth. The company had previously forecast $1 billion in AI software sales in 2026, and McDermott now expects that to be at least $1.5 billion.

"We'll probably blow through that, too, because the acceptance of our AI solutions is just absolutely stunning," he added.

The company's remaining performance obligations, a key forward-looking metric, rose 25% to $27.7 billion, while current RPO grew 22.5% to $12.64 billion.

"Parlor tricks"

Software stocks, including ServiceNow, have been hammered over the past six months on concerns that generative AI models and related offerings from Anthropic and OpenAI could replace established software services.

McDermott brushed those concerns aside on Tuesday, arguing instead that ServiceNow is benefiting from the shift.

He said customers considering tapping AI models more directly are seeing that the cost of these new approaches can end up being a lot more than expected, due to unpredictable usage-based pricing.

McDermott said the CIO of a major customer recently evaluated a more direct AI model approach for running her IT operations. It would have cost 10 times more than just focusing on ServiceNow's AI offerings, which are more accurate and predictable, McDermott argued.

He called AI model offerings for enterprise software customers "parlor tricks."

Sign up for BI's Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.

• Kalshi says it suspended and fined 3 political candidates who bet on their own races.
• That included Democratic candidates in Minnesota and Virginia, plus a Republican in Texas.
• It comes as Kalshi has moved to crack down on insider trading on their platform.

Kalshi says it has found some more insider traders.

The company announced on Wednesday that it had issued fines and five-year suspensions against three political candidates who'd made trades related to their own elections.

According to Kalshi's enforcement notices, the individuals included:

• US Senate Democratic primary candidate Mark Moran in Virginia, who was fined $6,229.30, plus any profits received from the trades;
• Democratic candidate Matt Klein in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, who paid a $539.85 fine;
• Ezekiel Enriquez in Texas's 21st district, who paid a $784.20 fine.

Klein and Enriquez, according to Kalshi, bet small amounts of money on the outcome of their elections. Both reached settlements with the company and agreed to wrongdoing, leading to smaller fines.

Klein remains a candidate in Minnesota, while Enriquez lost his primary in March. Moran has since embarked on an independent bid for the Senate seat.

Enriquez did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Moran issued a lengthy statement on X claiming that he made a $100 bet on his own candidacy "because I wanted to get caught," and that he did it because of the "attention it would create to highlight how this company is destroying young men."

Klein said in a statement that he bet $50 that he would win his primary after being told about prediction markets by friends, saying he was "curious about how it worked."

"This was a mistake, and I apologize," Klein said. "My experience, like many other Minnesotans, points to the need for clearer rules and regulations for these types of markets."

"Kalshi does not tolerate anyone cheating or skirting the rules," Robert DeNault, the company's head of enforcement, wrote on X. "These three cases are an example of how developing proactive engineering solutions can help identify illicit trading activity, and how individuals who cooperate and take responsibility can mitigate penalties."

Kalshi said that all three candidates had violated Rule 5.17(z) of the company's rulebook, which is designed to prevent insider trading.

The rule states that if the trader "is a decision maker, either directly or indirectly, or has any influence, directly or indirectly," on the outcome of the prediction market, then that person "is prohibited from attempting to enter into any trade, either directly or indirectly, on the market in such Contracts."

This is the second time that Kalshi has taken action against insider traders in recent months.

In February, the company banned and fined a MrBeast editor who had traded on YouTube streaming markets, along with a California politician who wagered $200 on his own gubernatorial bid.

Spanx might be best known for its iconic shapewear, but the brand offers much more than that, including activewear, athleisure, underwear, and even workwear. Spanx is known for its high-quality apparel, but that often comes with a hefty price tag. One of the easiest ways to save on your next order is by applying one of the best Spanx coupon and promo codes, which we've rounded up and tested out below.

Business Insider's style editors have tested a variety of Spanx products over the years, and the brand has repeatedly impressed the team. The Spanx Air Essentials Half-Zip and Wide Leg Pant are recommended in our roundup of the best sweatsuits for women, while the SuperSmooth Stretch Twill Slim Straight Pants top the charts in our guide to the best women's work pants. Our guide to the best women's workwear brands even ranks Spanx as the top choice for comfort.

Spanx sometimes offers deals and other sales, but the best way to reliably lower the price of your cart is to apply a coupon code. The best Spanx promo codes can help you save up to 20% on your next order, offering significant savings at checkout. We've tested and rounded up the top Spanx coupon codes below to help you save some time and money.

Today's best Spanx coupons

Previous Spanx promo codes

Are there any other Spanx sales running at the moment?

You can find a full list of sales and markdowns at any time on the "Sale" page of the Spanx website. As of right now, Spanx is running the following promotions.

Use Spanx voucher codes on these items

Using the promo codes WELCOME15, ECOOKXSPANX, NASREENXSPANX, CARALYN15, XK15VMZH, SWCXSPANX, or NENAXSPANX can help you save 15% on some of our favorite Spanx apparel. The Air Essentials Half Zip costs $128, and the Air Essentials Wide Leg Pant currently costs $118. If you add one of the aforementioned coupon codes, you can bring the final cost of our favorite matching set down to around $209.

Or, if you're in the market for new workwear, you can test out the same codes on the Ponte Flare Pant, which currently costs $158, and get one of our favorite women's work pants for $134.

Are the deals from Spanx promo codes worth it?

The discounts available from Spanx promo codes are definitely worth it, with savings reaching up to 20% off your order. In the time we've spent tracking Spanx discounts, the retailer has consistently had at least one active coupon available, making these promo codes a reliable way to save. Sitewide sales are pretty rare, especially outside the holidays, which means that coupons are often the only way to save, especially on certain popular items that are rarely discounted.

If you do find a marked-down item, such as something from the sale section of the Spanx site, you can often save even more by combining the deal with one of the above coupon codes. Most coupon codes can't be applied to items marked Final Sale.

• Follow our Instagram page and WhatsApp channel for more deals and buying guides.

How to use Spanx voucher codes

Start by adding coupon-eligible items to your cart. Once viewing your cart, you can apply a coupon by pasting the voucher code into the text box that says "Promo code" and clicking "Apply." From there, continue to checkout to enter your shipping and billing information.

Can you stack Spanx coupons?

Spanx promo codes can't be stacked together. Only one coupon code can be applied per order.

Spanx promo code frequently asked questions

Does Spanx offer discounts for students, teachers, and the military?

At the time of writing, Spanx does not offer special discounts for students, teachers, or the military, so your best bet is to take advantage of their other coupons and deals.

If you're a student or educator, check out our roundups of the best student discounts and teacher discounts for more offers from your favorite brands.

What is Spanx's return policy?

Spanx allows items to be returned for a full refund within 30 days of their original delivery date. All returned items must still have their original tags attached. To learn more about the return policy, visit the Spanx website.

Does Spanx offer free shipping?

Spanx offers free standard shipping on orders of $75 or more in the US. If you spend less than $75, standard shipping is $7. Shoppers who opt for faster shipping times (including basic, expedited, or overnight) will need to pay a fee ranging from $15 to $30. Learn more about shipping rates on the Spanx website.

Can I use Spanx voucher codes in-store?

Typically, Spanx coupons are only valid for online purchases. That said, there may be some exceptions, so be sure to check the specific terms and conditions for the code you want to use.

Can I reuse a Spanx coupon?

The majority of Spanx coupons are only valid for one use per customer. That said, there may be exceptions, so it's worth reading through the terms and conditions of the specific code you're hoping to use. Several of the codes we've highlighted are for 15% off, so you can always try using one code on your first order and another code on your next purchase.

Looking for more style deals? Our guides to the best Abercrombie promo codes, Athleta coupon codes, and Madewell coupon codes can help lower prices at checkout.

• Trump's Fed chair nominee, Kevin Warsh, testified to the Senate Banking Committee this week.
• Warsh was more hawkish than some on Wall Street expected and didn't make a case for rate cuts.
• One senator says he'll oppose the confirmation until Powell's criminal investigation is resolved.

Federal Reserve independence and revamping how the central bank gauges inflation were some of the topics discussed at the confirmation hearing for Trump's Fed chair nominee.

Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor, testified to the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday. The testimony offered investors insights into what the Fed could look like under Warsh's leadership.

Here are some of Wall Street's key takeaways from the hearing.

No sign of rate cuts ahead

Bank of America kicked off its analysis of Warsh's testimony with what they didn't hear: a justification for rate cuts.

"The most noteworthy aspect of Warsh's testimony was the absence of a case for near-term cuts. Perhaps this was intentional, to signal his political independence," the note read.

On the Fed's dual mandate, maximum employment and stable prices, Warsh didn't argue that inflation is on target, though he did say that the labor market was around full employment.

"In our view, Warsh's stated outlook is much more consistent with an extended hold than additional cuts," Bank of America said.

Trump has made it clear he wants the Fed to lower interest rates, voicing his criticisms of Powell for not cutting rates sooner, which has raised concerns about Fed independence.

Goldman Sachs flagged Warsh's comments stating that he's not "pre-committed to any policy decision" as part of its post-hearing recap.

Warsh's "ironic" preferred inflation measure

The former Fed governor signaled he prefers trimmed-mean and median inflation over core personal consumption (PCE), the Fed's current preferred measure of inflation.

"Omitting food and energy from the core is an arbitrary choice, whereas the trimmed mean and median are agnostic on what they exclude," Bank of America explained.

The analysts said that this preference is reasonable, but ironic given that this figure will be more susceptible to one-off supply-driven price increases, like tariffs, which Warsh argued the Fed should look through.

They said it could also back Warsh into a corner in cases when trimmed-mean and median inflation outpace core PCE to protect Fed credibility and "avoid optics of cherry picking."

They noted that inflation based on Warsh's preferred measures is slightly lower than core PCE but still above the Fed's target inflation rate of 2%.

The biggest change in switching the preferred inflation measure would be that energy and food shocks could be more important for Fed policy. Both energy and food inflation have emerged as an impact of the Iran war.

The hawk and the dove on Warsh's shoulders

Warsh's hawkish tone may have surprised investors, given that the expectation was for him to largely fall in line with Trump's desire for looser monetary policy.

He was considered to be an inflation hawk during his tenure as Fed governor from 2006 to 2011, but Trump's intense criticism of the central bank led many to expect Warsh to pivot.

Warsh said that the central bank's post-pandemic policy errors led to increased price pressures above the Fed's target.

This "positions him as an inflation fighter who isn't afraid to tighten financial conditions," Interactive Brokers senior economist José Torres said.

What's next: a vote

Warsh will need to achieve a majority vote to be confirmed as the next Fed chair, but first, he has to make it through the Senate Banking Committee.

The committee, which is made up of 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats, must decide that the candidate is favorable through a majority vote before sending the nominee to the full Senate for a final vote.

The obstacle in Warsh's path to leading the Fed is the Trump administration's criminal investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican Senator from North Carolina and member of the Senate Banking Committee, reiterated during the hearing that he will oppose the confirmation until the investigation into Powell is resolved, which would leave the committee vote tied.

A tied vote means that the Senate can only confirm Warsh with a supermajority of 60 votes, rather than a simple majority of 51 votes. The Senate is composed of 53 Republicans, 2 independents, and 45 Democrats.

• Anthropic caused confusion and anger when it appeared to up the pricing for access to its popular Claude Code tool.
• Anthropic later said that it was testing a change for 2% of new users and Claude Code would remain in its lowest-tier paid plan.
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and his employees looked to dunk on Anthropic on social media throughout the episode.

Anthropic found itself in the thick of a Claude outrage last night. Meanwhile, Sam Altman seemed to enjoy the spectacle, sipping some drinks and doing some social media trolling at his rival's expense.

It started when eagle-eyed users on social media noticed that Claude Code was no longer listed as available for Pro users on Anthropic's pricing page.

If true, it meant that Anthropic's popular AI coding tool, which has changed the programming and software engineering industry, would no longer be available on its $20 a month plan, its lowest paid tier. Instead, users would have to pay $100 a month to keep using Claude Code.

Needless to say, the idea didn't go over well.

But Anthropic later responded on social media, saying that nothing had changed for existing users, and that the pricing page reflected a pricing "experiment" that only affected 2% of new sign-ups.

Amid the confusion, Sam Altman and other OpenAI staffers pounced, seizing the moment to poke fun at Anthropic while pointing users to its rival coding tool, Codex.

"ok boomer," Altman wrote in a reply to Anthropic's head of growth, adding shortly after that "tongiht i have had a couple of drinks."

There were also some memes.

The incident is the latest example of Anthropic — which has long enjoyed something of golden child status in the AI race — catching some flak for tinkering with pricing for its massively popular AI services, which rely on LLMs that are costly to build, train, and operate.

Claude Code access remains the same for now

Amol Avasare, Anthropic's head of growth, wrote on X that the changes were "understandably confusing" and thus the company was reverting back to previous pricing documentation.

"Getting lots of questions on why the landing page / docs were updated if only 2% of new signups were affected," Avasare wrote on Tuesday evening. "This was understandably confusing for the 98% of folks not part of the experiment, and we've reverted both the landing page and docs changes."

That means that Claude Code is still available for Pro users at $20 a month or $200 billed upfront for the year. (Each subscription tier still has usage limits, which we'll unpack shortly.)

The Anthropic staffer said that the company would "give folks a heads up well in advance" if anything on pricing does change.

'Our current plans weren't build for this'

Avasare said when Anthropic launched its Max subscription tier in 2025, he said the company did not foresee the type of demand it is facing now.

"When we launched Max a year ago, it didn't include Claude Code, Cowork didn't exist, and agents that run for hours weren't a thing. Max was designed for heavy chat usage, that's it," Avasare wrote.

The Anthropic head of growth said that "the way people actually use a Claude subscription has changed fundamentally," "engagement per subscriber is way up," and "our current plans weren't build for this."

In recent weeks, Anthropic also changed the usage limits that Pro and Max users are subject to, meaning some would reach their caps sooner than before. To top it all off, Claude has suffered some "major outages."

All the signs point to a company struggling to meet two broader trends that collided at once: the sheer demands of the agentic AI era and an unprecedented rise in popularity.

"We're looking at different options to keep delivering a great experience for users," Avasare wrote. "We don't know exactly what those look like yet - that's what we're testing and getting feedback on right now."

We're at a time in the beauty industry where there is an oversaturation of products. The haircare aisle is riddled with one-size-fits-all (or, god forbid, two-in-one shampoo and conditioner) formulations that often fall flat. Even with the more tailored formulations for colored hair or increased volume, it ignores the personalization necessary for your unique hair. 

Recently, customization has been at the forefront of our minds — the future of personalization lies in data and algorithms, which are used to make everything from personalized vitamin packs to personalized pillows. In women's haircare, Function of Beauty, founded in 2015, and Prose, founded in 2017, are popular startups hoping that you never settle for catch-all shampoo and conditioner again. Function of Beauty and Prose share many similarities, including their basic business models (personalized haircare, delivered), a ton of funding ($12.2 million and $25 million, respectively), and even founders utilizing their MIT smarts.

By using your answers to a "hair quiz" to create a unique formulation filled with natural, effective ingredients, they both make haircare personal, which, considering the multitudes of hair types and needs out there, is the way it should've been all along.

Which is better, Function of Beauty or Prose?

We've tried both Function of Beauty and Prose's shampoo and conditioner so that we can attest to their quality, customer experience, and ingredients.

While we enjoyed the formulations from both brands, we lead in favor of Prose because its hair quiz is more in-depth and thoughtful, and it offers a more extensive selection of products for different hair types. However, it's more expensive and is only available in the US. If you don't want to spend quite as much, Function of Beauty is still a great choice. 

Ultimately, we'll let you make the final decision after comparing the factors that matter most to you. To help you distinguish between these two leading personalized haircare companies, we compared them head-to-head on important factors like the level of customization, customer experience, price, and ingredients.  

We've laid out the similarities and differences between Function of Beauty and Prose:

How they work

First, take a hair quiz, the answers of which will be used to create your customized formula. Then, choose which products or set of products you want to buy.

Prose sends you your haircare products in 10 to 15 days, while Function of Beauty takes seven to nine business days. Both services let you go back to your profile and readjust your hair quiz answers, and thus your formulation, when you want to reorder.  

The hair quiz

Function of Beauty asks you a few basic questions about your hair and scalp type, then have you select up to five hair goals (choices include volumize, color protection, anti-frizz, and curl definition). By asking what you want out of your shampoo and conditioner, the company assumes you already at least partially understand your hair and its various intricacies. 

Prose's hair quiz is more in-depth, resulting in over 80 data points, and inquires about everything from what products you usually style your hair with to your diet and stress levels to your geographic location. It also asks about hair goals (though there are only seven choices) but seems to focus more on your current hair characteristics to create whatever solution is most appropriate for your hair. 

Products and pricing

	Prose	Function of Beauty
Shampoo	$34 (8.5 oz)	$21 (8 oz) $27 (16 oz)
Conditioner	$34 (8.5 oz)	$21 (8 oz) $27 (16 oz)
Hair mask	$48 (8.5 oz)	$24 (7.5 oz)
Leave-in conditioner	$30 (5.1 oz)	$24 (8 oz)
Hair serum/oil	$48 (1.7 oz)	$29 (3 oz)
Scalp mask	$48 (8.5 oz)	x
Dry shampoo	$30 (1.4 oz)	x
Curl cream	$30 (5.1 oz)	x
Styling primer	x	$29 (0.67 oz)
Hair supplements	$62	x
Hairbrushes/combs	$72	$6

Function of Beauty and Prose both offer haircare basics. Function of Beauty offers a shampoo-conditioner set for a discounted price, which is excellent for first-time customers. However, Prose has a slight leg up with unique offerings like its pre-wash scalp treatment and dry shampoo powder. Prose also launched custom hair supplements and a hairbrush collection with bristles to match every hair type. 

The look and smell of the products

After inputting the name or nickname to print on your Function of Beauty bottles, you can choose from at least seven different colors (limited-edition colors are sometimes available) or go dye-free. Since the bottles are clear, these glittery colors will be displayed front and center in your shower. The company offers six main fragrances with adjustable fragrance strengths, or you can go fragrance-free. The scent with the best reviews is the peach-citrus blend. 

You cannot customize the name or color of your Prose products. There are seven fragrances in total to choose from, including limited edition fragrances. Some standouts include the floral, powdery Signature scent and herbal, sweet Botanica scent. Like Function of Beauty, you can also forego the fragrance. 

Ingredients

	Prose	Function of Beauty
Parabens	x	x
Phthalates	x	x
Sulfates	x	x
Mineral oil	x	x
Dye	Dye-free option available	Dye-free option available
Silicone	Silicone-free option available	Silicone-free option available
Fragrance	Fragrance-free option available	Fragrance-free option available
Vegan	Vegan option available	Yes
Gluten-free	Gluten-free option available	Yes

Both Function of Beauty and Prose emphasize the use of carefully sourced and tested natural ingredients. Function of Beauty and Prose defer to the EU's regulations on safe cosmetics, which bans 1,400 ingredients. Meanwhile, Prose includes the EWG scores for its entire ingredients list. The majority have a score of 1, meaning they've been vetted for high safety. 

Subscription perks

	Prose	Function of Beauty
Delivery frequency	Every 1, 2, or 3 months	Every 1, 3, or 6 months
Discounts (with subscription)	15% off your total order, free shipping	Free shipping
Shipping	US only	Worldwide to multiple countries
Additional benefits	Complimentary products, limited edition gifts, new product testing, 1:1 virtual haircare appointments, exclusive content like guided audio series	Access to exclusive and past limited-edition colors and fragrances, invitations to help test-drive new products

Since shampoo and conditioner are hair products you'll always need, it's wise to consider a subscription to either service. You'll get a discount, free shipping, and other perks. If you're not yet ready to commit, the products are also available for one-time purchases. 

Refunds and reformulations

Function of Beauty will give you a free one-time reformulation if you're not happy with your first order. Just reach out to hello@functionofbeauty.com within 30 days of receipt. However, it does not offer refunds or returns beyond your first order.  

If you're not happy with your Prose products, reach out to hello@prosehair.com within 30 days of the ship date to get a free reformulation or a full refund. Under the Review and Refine section of your account page, you can also add your feedback and make updates to your hair goals. Then, Prose will make any necessary adjustments to your formula in real time and save the information for the next time you place an order.

The bottom line

Ultimately, Function of Beauty and Prose both offer excellent customized haircare solutions, but one will be better than the other based on your budget, preferences for customization, and hair needs. 

Function of Beauty's hair quiz isn't as in-depth, but the customizable features (name, color, fragrance) make it feel more personal. There are multiple sizes and combinations to choose from, so you can find the perfect set for your needs. Its products are cheaper than Prose's and are a great gift option. 

What Prose lacks in camera-ready packaging, it makes up for in its use of detailed data to create your unique formulation. Plus, it's the first and only carbon-neutral custom beauty brand and a certified B-corp. Its products are more expensive, though there are more product types, and you aren't constrained to pre-made bundles. If you're willing to spend a little more, try Prose.

Thankfully, with whichever one you choose, you can enjoy high-quality ingredients, great customer service, and the convenience of customized haircare delivered right to your door. 

Get your personalized haircare formula at Function of Beauty here.

Get your personalized haircare formula at Prose here.

I've been writing about style for the last eight years, and I've been a consumer of it for much longer. Of the seemingly endless brands I've collected personally or tested for work, Ralph Lauren is my favorite of all time. It's one of the few brands that has appeal and influence on all aspects of style, from streetwear to high fashion.

If you were to name an article of clothing, I'm almost certain I have some variation of it from Ralph Lauren in my wardrobe. My collection spans from vintage ski jackets from the '80s to the basic Polo shirts the brand is well-known for, but my favorite design is the Polo Bear sweater.

The iconic Polo Bear came to be after Ralph Lauren and his brother Jerry Lauren received Steiff teddy bears dressed as themselves as gifts from their employees in 1990. They loved them so much that in 1991, Ralph Lauren produced a small batch of Polo teddy bears in collaboration with Steiff and began putting the designs on sweaters, sweatshirts, and more. 

More than 30 years later, the Polo Bear is one of the most recognizable designs in fashion and a signature of the Ralph Lauren brand as a whole.

Sweaters, in general, are a major part of my wardrobe because they can be worn three seasons out of the year (depending on how you layer) for pretty much any casual or semi-formal occasion.

Ralph Lauren's Polo Bears get my vote for the best sweaters to splurge on because they can easily take the place of your boring solid-colored sweaters, they add character to your outfits, they retain value and collectability, and if the last three decades are any indication, they'll never go out of style. 

Having pieces that last for many years in terms of quality and style typically means having fewer and better clothes, but if you're anything like me you'll want to collect a different Polo Bear for every occasion.

Polo Bear knit sweaters range start at around $300 depending on the material and style, but sometimes go on sale. If you're looking for less expensive items, Ralph Lauren also has Polo Bear hats, hoodies, T-shirts, socks, wallets, and more — all of which make great gifts.

• A former MrBeast employee sued the YouTuber's company, alleging retaliation.
• Lorrayne Mavromatis' suit says she was demoted and fired after she filed a complaint and took maternity leave.
• A spokesperson for MrBeast broadly denied the allegations.

A former MrBeast employee has sued the famous YouTuber's company, alleging it violated the Family and Medical Leave Act and retaliated against her after she reported sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.

Lorrayne Mavromatis joined the company, founded by 27-year-old Jimmy Donaldson, in 2022 as head of Instagram and worked in social media roles until leaving in 2025.

Her complaint, filed Wednesday in federal court in North Carolina, says that she experienced a workplace in which sexual harassment and hostile treatment of female employees were common.

A MrBeast spokesperson broadly denied the allegations.

"This clout-chasing complaint is built on deliberate misrepresentations and categorically false statements, and we have the receipts to prove it," they said in a statement. "There is extensive evidence — including Slack and WhatsApp messages, company documents, and witness testimony — that unequivocally refutes her claims. We will not submit to opportunistic lawyers looking to manufacture a payday from us."

Mavromatis' suit alleges that in November 2023, she complained of sexual harassment and hostile work conditions to then-human resources head Sue Parisher (who is Donaldson's mother) and then-CEO James Warren's aunt. The suit says Mavromatis was told two months later that her claims were "unsubstantiated."

The suit says she was then demoted to a midlevel management position in a division that employees referred to as a place "careers go to die." The MrBeast spokesperson said Mavromatis was not demoted but moved into a role she requested, and her salary didn't change.

The suit alleges that MrBeast's company never sent Mavromatis information about her FMLA rights before she took maternity leave in early 2025. The complaint says the company terminated her less than three weeks after she returned from leave, telling her that she was "too high caliber" for her role.

The MrBeast spokesperson shared a screenshot of Mavromatis' signature acknowledging receipt of the employee handbook, which they said showed she was aware of the FMLA policy.

Mavromatis' suit alleges that she feared retaliation for not working during her pregnancy leave, and says she was on a work conference call while in the labor and delivery room.

The MrBeast spokesperson shared a screenshot that they said showed a Slack exchange between Mavromatis and a coworker. In the exchange, Mavromatis said she needed to postpone a meeting because she was in labor, to which the coworker responded in all caps, "BUT OF COURSE."

The suit alleged that a few weeks after giving birth, the company asked Mavromatis to work, including on the production of a video in Brazil with the Brazilian soccer star Neymar.

The company shared a screenshot that it said showed Mavromatis offering to go to Brazil for the Neymar shoot, despite being on maternity leave, citing the value of having her as a Brazilian citizen on the ground.

The suit says MrBeast's company was a hostile environment for women

The suit makes a series of claims about the workplace environment and Donaldson.

It alleges that Warren, a cousin of Donaldson, made her meet him in his home for one-on-one meetings and told her that her appearance had a "certain sexual effect on Jimmy."

The suit says that when Mavromatis asked Warren why Donaldson would not meet with her on certain projects, Warren told her, "Jimmy gets really awkward around beautiful women. Let's just say that when you're around and he goes to the restroom, he's not actually using the restroom."

The MrBeast spokesperson said Donaldson has an eye condition and Crohn's disease, both of which he's been open about, which explains his lack of eye contact with Mavromatis and his trips to the bathroom.

Mavromatis' suit alleged Donaldson once asked her to fetch him a beer — something she never saw him ask a male employee to do — and when she brought it to him, he took one swig and tossed it on the ground.

The suit also says that "executives' demeaning treatment towards women was publicly displayed at MrBeast headquarters when male executives laughed and made jokes at the office about female contestants of BeastGames who complained they did not have access to feminine hygiene products and clean underwear while participating in the show."

The company has faced workplace controversies

MrBeast has previously faced workplace-related controversies.

In 2024, Donaldson cut ties with an employee and friend who was accused of sending inappropriate messages to a minor. Around the same time, Donaldson gave a statement apologizing for using racist and homophobic language earlier in his career after some of the comments resurfaced online. That year, the company shared plans to hire an HR officer and implement companywide sensitivity training as part of an assessment of its internal culture.

On the set of his "Beast Games" Amazon show, a worker was hit by a collapsing tower and spent eight days in the hospital, Business Insider previously reported.

More recently, Donaldson said he's worked 15-hour days and has an unhealthy work-life balance.

Some of the years of Mavromatis' employment coincide with a time when MrBeast's company was run largely by Donaldson and family members. The company has since hired several outside professionals, including current CEO Jeff Housenbold, as it seeks to improve profitability and prepare for an eventual IPO.

• I never really got why people love Patagonia clothing so much. It just seemed like expensive outdoor gear to me.
• Then I tried this $149 Organic Cotton Quilt Snap-T Pullover, and it clicked.
• Patagonia's clothing is made from supremely high-quality materials, and its items are made to last. My Snap-T looks as good now as it did almost two years ago when I got it.

I used to not understand why Patagonia had such a cult following. If I'm being honest, I always thought it was just an expensive outdoor gear company.

Maybe it's because I grew up in Florida where my "outdoor gear" included flip flops, bathing suits, bug spray, and loose T-shirts that kept me cool in the scorching heat. I never really had to consider the need for warm performance clothing, even when camping. All that mattered was keeping the mosquitoes and love bugs from flying into my mouth while I searched for shark teeth in the creek.

Then I moved around the country a few times and started working at Business Insider. When my coworkers (all loyalists, or at least fans) found out that I literally didn't own anything from the company, they were what the youth these days call "shook." And so began my induction into the Cult of Patagonia.

I was given the chance to try out a few items both in an effort to bring me to the Dark Side and an opportunity to spread the good word of Patagonia to our readers. And I am now officially a convert.

The thing that really hooked me was this Organic Cotton Quilt Snap-T Pullover ($149).

I've been familiar with Patagonia's Synchilla Fleece sweaters for a while by virtue of their ubiquity at the Washington, DC university I went to, but this pullover felt new and fresh enough to differentiate itself.

At this point, and please forgive me for this cliche, I'm just wondering how I lived without it for so long. 

The sweater is buttery soft and incredibly warm considering how very medium the thickness is, and the snaps on the neck allow me to bundle up or cool off as needed. Somehow the outer layer of material also manages to be slightly water-resistant despite feeling like the softest cotton you've ever touched. Plus, it doesn't hurt knowing that the pullover is made from organic cotton, which means no harmful fertilizers or pesticides were used in the growing process.

I'm usually a medium, but I sized up on this sweater to a large to give myself a roomier fit — and I'm really glad I did. I think it would have been too tight around the hips if I'd gone with the medium. The arms are slightly long, which probably has something to do with the fact that I'm only five feet tall with short limbs, but I don't mind being able to pull them over my hands if I get cold while walking around. 

Overall, this was the item that brought me into the fan club. I suddenly "got" what everyone was so obsessed with. Yes, you'll pay a high price for quality, but it's exactly that quality that makes Patagonia so worthwhile. When you invest in something you know will work well, it feels better than buying two of the lesser versions. I think that's the feeling people who love Patagonia are after. Well, that and the fact that you can feel good about supporting its mission to undo the damage we silly humans have done unto our planet. It's a place for pragmatists and hopefuls to shop.

The bottom line

Suffice it to say that I've officially fallen in love with Patagonia. The Quilt Snap-T Pullover was just the first product to catch my attention; now I have multiple styles from the brand in my closet and more on my wish list (including a Synchilla Fleece ... so help me).

I'm looking forward to the camaraderie that is to follow once my coworkers find out that I'm now an official, card-carrying member of the cult.

Shop all products at Patagonia.

If you've ever taken a foray into the cleaning side of TikTok, you're probably familiar with electric spin scrubbers. After testing quite a few ourselves, we're happy to report that these tools are more than just social media hype — they're routine-changing cleaning powerhouses.

To make our list of the best electric spin scrubbers, we tested numerous models for power, ease of use, adjustability, and battery life. Most commonly associated with bathrooms, spin scrubbers can also be used in the kitchen, in outdoor spaces, or even on cars. Below, we've gathered our picks for every cleaning need and every budget.

Our picks for the best electric scrubbers

Best overall: Hoto Flexi Electric Spin Scrubber - See at Amazon

Best budget: Labigo Electric Spin Scrubber, LA1 Pro - See at Amazon

Most powerful: Casabella Extendable Power Scrubber - See at Amazon

Most versatile: Leebein Electric Spin Scrubber - See at Amazon

Best for detail cleaning: The Pink Stuff Miracle Scrubber Kit - See at Amazon

Best handheld: IEZFIX Electric Spin Scrubber - See at Amazon

Best overall

This versatile spin scrubber can tackle any cleaning job. Thanks to its adjustability, power, and variety of included brush heads, the Hoto Flexi Electric Spin Scrubber is a step above everything else I've tested. It's basically a two-in-one scrubber, since the main body works as a handheld and lengthens with the included extension rod. It's the best power scrubber for any job, whether you're cleaning your mirrors, car, or bathroom sink.

Choose from two different speeds. The two speeds are max, which is the most powerful option, and eco, which is a tad slower but preserves more battery. Both speeds are controlled by a simple toggle button above a smart screen that shows how much power is left in the battery. I started with a full charge on max mode, and I was able to clean my bathroom, kitchen, and outdoor spaces in two hours before the battery died.

Each brush has a different purpose. In addition to the standard flat, ball, and angled brushes, it comes with 5 additional pad attachments to clean glass, scour floors, and buff leather. My favorite brushes were the ball brush, which cleaned the awkward corners of my bathtub and sink with ease, and the sponge pad, which cut through the post-winter grime on my dirty windows and left them sparkling clean. It comes with a storage bag to hold the brush heads when not in use — a small detail that makes a world of difference when you're looking for a specific brush.

It completely changed my cleaning routine. The combination of impressive power, an angled head, and an adjustable rod makes cleaning a breeze. The sleek, black handle expands to 54 inches, giving it a bit of height for hard-to-reach areas. Since I could angle the head and change the length, I could clean floors and behind my showerhead with no issue. It's comfortable to hold and use, but even on eco mode, it requires a good amount of pressure to keep it stable. My arms were a bit sore after using it, but I still felt much better than had I scrubbed my whole house with a sponge on my hands and knees.

Best budget

This affordable scrubber has the same features as more expensive options. The Labigo Electric Spin Scrubber LA1 Pro offers a low-effort, highly efficient way to clean your home at a much more affordable price point than other options on our list. You can choose the combination that works for each cleaning surface with three adjustable height options and four brush heads, including wide and detailed cleaning heads. The storage hanging hook is a nice touch, too, allowing you to hang the entire device when the cleaning is done. The charger with an included power block allowed for quick charge time.

It doesn't adjust, but that makes it more stable. I could clean the entire bathroom, kitchen, and more on a single 90-minute charge. While it cleaned well, I had difficulty swapping out the various cleaning heads, and one brush even popped off when I applied too much pressure. The head does not adjust and only has one speed setting: 380 RPM. We like the stability that adds leverage while you clean, which you may not get with a tilting head.

Most powerful

Casabella's scrubber runs at over 400 RPM. The Casabella Power Spin Scrubber is the most powerful scrubber thanks to its fast 420 RPM and long-lasting battery. It has four brush heads: a large and small flat brush, an angled brush for corners and crevices, and a dome brush for contoured surfaces. I would have loved to a soft-microfiber attachment that some of the other power scrubbers offered. Nevertheless, I found plenty for this mighty spinner to clean. From scrubbing my tub to giving new life to grout lines on my kitchen floor in my rental, it quickly and effectively got through some of my least favorite chores, with the added bonus of minimizing how often I had to bend over or squat low.

It's easy to use. The spin scrubber has a three-part design that snaps together, including an extension rod that expands from 27 inches up to 47.5 inches. You'll want to grasp it with both hands to maintain control when using the extender. It's easy enough to switch among the brushes, and the main head is adjustable. The device has one power speed controlled via a power button on the lower handle. It doesn't have a storage bag to keep accessories, but it has a hanging hook that could go in a utility closet or over a towel bar.

But don't apply too much pressure. I applied too much pressure and accidentally frayed the pointed brush, but it's still excellent at providing targeted cleaning to small spaces and corners, like my aforementioned grout lines. — Jaclyn Turner, senior home editor

Read our Casabella Power Scrubber review.

Most versatile

This scrubber is the most adjustable we've tested. The Leebein Electric Spin Scrubber allows you to tackle more surfaces, thanks to the variety of cleaning heads. The angling head option also means you can reach more dirt and grime, even in hard-to-reach places. The scrubber extends from 15 to 52 inches to switch from close-up cleaning to floors and tubs, and the power button can be turned on and off from any length. The ability to angle the head is also incredibly convenient; it securely locks in place to provide leverage while cleaning.

It's comfortable to hold and easy to control. It was also the easiest electric scrubber to use, with a comfortable handle, easy-to-reach off/on button, and a sturdy locking frame. I liked to add pressure as needed to get the stability for a deep clean in the most stubborn of areas like the tub or behind the toilet. When I cleaned my tub, which is chronically caked in dirt and grime — I got it shining clean with little effort, a first for me. Meanwhile, sticky spots on my kitchen floor were a breeze.

I wish there was a storage bag for the brush heads. The Leebein came with 8 cleaning heads, including dish scrubbing and polishing options. However, it had no storage options or a bag to store the cleaning heads. 

Best for detail cleaning

Detail cleaners are best for small, hard-to-reach areas. The best spin scrubbers for detail cleaning essentially look and feel like a giant electric toothbrush, and their small stature is ideal for cleaning grout or tight spaces. The Miracle Scrubber Kit from The Pink Stuff crushed it during testing, combining powerful cleaning with a comfortable grip.

I liked the angled brush. This spin scrubber kit includes four exchangeable brush heads and the four AA batteries required for operation. I got the most use from the angled cone brush and the wide, flat brush. The angled brush was especially useful at cleaning the awkward places around my sink, fitting snugly under my faucet and around the drain.

It's noisy. It's comfortable to hold and use, with a squishy pink grip that never hurt my hand, even when applying a lot of pressure. Even compared to much larger spin scrubbers, it was very loud, especially when I pressed down. Overall, though, this is a powerful little scrubber that comes in handy when it's time to clean my grout or I need to pay a little extra attention to the details.

Best handheld

Handheld scrubbers allow for precise control. The handheld IEZFIX Electric Spin Scrubber has four interchangeable heads for your cleaning needs that can be used on grout, countertops, small cleaning areas, and more. The "boost" button was great for an extra burst of cleaning power to conquer tough stains or continue to hold it for additional power.

It has a fixed head and a comfy rubber grip. I like how the rubber handle gave me a steady grip while I cleaned, and the rubber closure area keeps the charging port from getting wet. The device lasts up to 90 minutes for lengthy cleaning sessions, and recharges quickly with a charging cord and block. The IEZFIX cleaner sits at a fixed 90 degrees and doesn't adjust like some of the other scrubbers we tested. I had to twist and turn my wrist to get a deep clean in small places. The brush edges can be used on grout, small cleaning areas, and more. A bag also helps keep all the attachments gathered and in one place.

Our top picks compared

What to look for

When searching for an electric scrubber, consider your cleaning needs and what you will use it for. Features like size, versatility, and more can all come into play with its abilities. 

• Brush attachments: You will want a variety of brush shapes and sizes to clean different surfaces from porcelain tubs to grout. Choose between small, dense, and soft brushes to get the largest possible range. For instance, a rough or dense brush can help scrub stuck-on dirt and grime, such as a dirty oven or stubborn soap scum. A softer or washcloth-type scrubber can polish glass, clean your fridge doors, and perform more gentle tasks. The more heads an electric scrubber comes with, the more you will be able to clean (with less effort on your part.) 
• Handle length: Electric scrubbers are available in handheld and extendable options that let you clean high up or your floors without bending over. Consider the difference between cleaning a floor with a full-size mop vs. a toothbrush — you want the faster and more effective option. A lengthening brush can also mean less leaning, whether you're cleaning the tub or floor grout but will require you to use both hands. However, if you are only looking to use it for close-up cleaning jobs, this may not be a requirement. 
• Head position: Some electric brushes have a fixed head, while others are adjustable. There is value in either, depending on your needs. For instance, adjustable heads are great for reaching tricky curves or corners. In contrast, fixed heads provide better leverage and pressure, which are ideal for stuck-on dirt or gunk. 
• Battery life and charge time: Each rechargeable electric spin brush takes two to four hours to charge. Most lasted around 90 minutes but that number can vary based on the speed and amount of pressure applied. 

How we tested electric scrubbers

Our testing methodology

I tested electric scrubbers on multiple surfaces, angles, and heights. We started with a very dirty bathroom and attached similar cleaning heads to each electric scrubber. Each device was used on the bathtub with sectioned-off areas, the floor, and the sink. Then, cleaning was done the same way in the kitchen, on different surfaces of floors, and finally, in the car. We trialed each scrubber through various stains and gunk to see how each brush performed against each surface. 

We also spoke with Joy Moyer, a professional cleaner and owner of Suzy Homemakers, which services homes and businesses with their cleaning needs in Manhattan, Kansas. Moyer said electric cleaning brushes are a great option when wanting to save yourself some effort. She suggested using them every few weeks to avoid things from getting too dirty in between cleaning sessions. 

Meet the experts behind the guide

Kinsley Searles, associate home editor: As a renter, I'm always looking for ways to thoroughly deep clean my home and get rid of caked-on messes left for me from previous tenants. And as an editor, I'm passionate about finding the best cleaning products, according to testing. I put each spin scrubber through a series of objective tests and add them into my regular cleaning routine to get a feel for how they perform in the long-term.

Bethaney Phillips, freelance contributor: I'm the original author of this guide. I helped develop our testing methodology and completed the initial batch of testing in my own home.

Electric scrubber FAQs

How do electric scrubbers work?

Electric scrubbers spin at a high speed to mimic the effort you put into scrubbing. They help take the elbow grease out of chores by doing the work for you; get more done with less effort. Most will come with various brushes suited to different surfaces and may have features like tilting heads, expandable rods, and various power settings. 

What can I clean with an electric scrubber? 

Electric cleaning brushes are great for bathrooms and kitchens, grout, flooring, and more. You can also detail clean items like cars, window seals, and floorboards. You can also clean windows, cabinets, ovens, or other smooth surfaces with the right attachments. 

What cleaner can you use with an electric scrubber? 

You can use any appropriate cleaning solution for the surface you are cleaning. Some electric scrubbers are even waterproof, allowing you to use more water (or rinsing options) while cleaning. A few that we tested had warnings about not submerging or getting the electric part of the scrubber wet. Check out our best bathtub cleaner guide for recommendations.

• Fjällräven's Tree-Kånken is made with tree fibers, making it a more sustainable version of the ubiquitous, trendy bag.
• The updated external design also gives it a more masculine aesthetic and better functionality for commuting.
• If you're after a versatile backpack that's eco-friendly and built-to-last, the Tree-Kånken is a solid option.

Chances are you're familiar with the Fjällräven Kånken, considering it's on the back of almost every other person you pass regardless if you're on a city street or a woodsy trail. But Fjällräven just released a challenger to its classic staple: the Tree-Kånken, which is a more sustainable, more masculine, and more ideal backpack for urban commuters.

Design and fit

The Tree-Kånken is actually a throw-back to the design of the very first version of the bag Fjällräven released in 1978 to help prevent back pain among Swedish schoolchildren. Compared to the Kånken we see on the streets today, the Tree-Kånken is roughly the same height, depth, and width, and has virtually the same fit as the modern-day version.

Design-wise, the Tree-Kånken and classic Kånken both have large, 16-liter compartments, a quick-access pocket on either side, and webbed straps and handles.

The real design difference is on the outer front where, instead of a small external pocket, the Tree-Kånken has a hidden vertical front zipper that opens to an additional top-to-bottom compartment. This allows it to stash more goods than the Kånken (although it's not as helpful for grabbing small items like Chapstick or Airpods). 

It also has two columns of webbing daisy chains on which you can loop a bike lock, bike light, or a water bottle with a carabiner, as well as straps to fasten a jacket or yoga mat underneath.

Because of those design features, and an added reflective element to the signature Fjällräven logo, the bag lends itself to be a great commuter backpack. 

The only downside of this new release is that the Tree-Kånken comes in just four colorways: Maple Yellow, Charcoal Grey, New Moon Blue, and Lichen Green. For what it's worth, all four are lookers, though. 

What they're made out of

As the name implies, the Tree-Kånken is made from Pine Weave, a durable, wood-based fabric developed from filament fibers. 

For the fibers, the brand sustainably harvests branches, twigs, roots, and wood that doesn't qualify as timber from spruce and pine trees in FSC-managed Swedish forests. This wood is turned into pulp that is then converted to Pine Weave. 

The material on its own is a landmark, since most lyocell fabric — which the eco-friendly community loves for its sustainability, breathability, and moisture-wicking abilities — isn't durable enough to be used on products like backpacks or other hardware. Pine Weave could be a more sustainable contender for synthetic fibers.

When applied to the Kånken, the Pine Weave is slightly thicker and stiffer than the classic bag — which is made from a synthetic material called Vinylon F — but it's not enough for anyone to truly say it feels or looks much different.

The Tree-Kånken is also colored using Bluesign-certified dyes, which use less water and energy, and a water-based, solvent-free PU coating process. Roughly 99% of the chemicals and 91% of the water used to produce the bag is recycled.

The bottom line

The release of the Tree-Kånken is an exciting launch for anyone looking for more sustainable purchases. Fjällräven is a brand earmarked by its focus on recycled, eco-friendly, and highly durable products.

And on top of being crafted from tree fibers, Kånken's are marked by their ability to hold up for decades. Assuming the Pine Weave behaves similarly, the Tree-Kånken is truly one of the best sustainable backpacks you can buy.

What's more, the slight design differences in the Tree-Kånken deliver a bag with all the reasons the classic has such a cult following, without that VSCO-girl connotation. My boyfriend has even already claimed mine as his own thanks to the more masculine aesthetic and functionality of the daisy chains, as well as its massive external zippered compartment. 

• Sunglasses are the year-round essential that protect your eyes from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
• We rounded up 17 sunglasses you can get without breaking the bank, including favorites like Quay's Dusk to Dawn ($65) and Look Optic's Milla ($84)

Sunglasses do the essential work of protecting your eyes from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays the same way that sunscreen protects your skin. They're also a fun way to spice up an outfit or flaunt your style. If you're a minimalist who only wears three colors, sunglasses are an opportunity to add a little pop to your outfit. If your wardrobe is bursting with vibrant colors, then sunglasses allow you to add even more color or lean into a minimalist style to let your look shine.

On top of everything, science proved that shades make you look cooler and more attractive, so take that for what it's worth.

Below, you'll find 17 stylish sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection at an under-$100 price point.

Here are 17 of the best sunglasses under $100:

Warby Parker Annika

Warby Parker Annika, available at Warby Parker, from $95

Warby Parker is an Insider favorite and current destination for all things eyewear. The Annika is one of their bestselling shades made with slightly oversized and scratch-resistant lenses. If you don't like the tortoise frames with flecks of blue, try the jet black frames.

Keep in mind that these are $95 if you don't need prescription lenses. If you need prescription lenses, they'll cost a little more.

Dime. Hangback Sunglasses

Dime. Hangback Sunglasses, available at Dime, $35

Oversized and made with square frames, these sunglasses from Dime. come in a timeless shape for a great price. Los Angeles-based Dime. is one of today's emerging sunglasses brands that often collaborates with celebrities and fashionistas like Lucky Daye, Kali Uchis, and Becky G.

Quay Dusk to Dawn

Quay Dusk to Dawn, available at Quay, $65

These gradient shades take their inspiration from the shape of butterfly wings. With lightweight and reflective frames, these nicely contour your face while tracing your eyes with a glare of gold.

This may be a beautiful pair for less than $100, but here's another bargain to know from Quay. If you're interested in other silhouettes, you can also purchase three pairs of stylish shades for the low price of $75.

Eleventh Hour Maryssa

Eleventh Hour Maryssa, available at Eleventh Hour, $85

If you like angel numbers, you'll especially appreciate these shades from Eleventh Hour for their style, comfort, and good energy. Polarized and made with handmade Italian acetate, these square shades have the angel number "444" printed on the inside arm as an affirmation and reminder that you're on the right path.

MVMT Navigator

MVMT Navigator, available at MVMT, $66

These are the ultimate cool shades, regardless of your style or gender. These shades add a spin to the classic aviator style: meet square aviators. Made with minimal frames and blue lenses, these shades keep you effortlessly mysterious.

Le Specs Air Heart

Le Specs Air Heart, available at Nordstrom, $69

Meet your new favorite pair of oversized shades. Le Specs makes the Air Heart shades with big and bold tortoise frames that offer full coverage.

An underrated place to find great deals on this brand (as well as designers and mid-tier sunglasses brands) is at Marshalls and TJ Maxx where there are often markdowns of 50% and more.

DIFF Alyssa

DIFF Alyssa, available at DIFF, $98

Hot pink shades are underrated. Meet the luxurious and oversized cat eye silhouette from DIFF, which is an eyewear brand dedicated to giving back. With every purchase of these scratch resistant shades, the brand is dedicated to donating to someone in need of assistance with sight, whether that means glasses or surgery.

Privé Revaux Oh Darling

Privé Revaux Oh Darling, available at Privé Revaux, $39.95

If you want to find quality and style sunglasses without the markup, Privé Revaux is a great place to shop. These polarized cat eye shades are a timeless style that accentuate the face without lines that are too sharp or unflattering.

If you need prescription lenses, Privé Revaux has the option with a markup starting at $55.

Dezi Backtrack

Dezi Backtrack, available at Dezi, $85

These oversized shades take their inspiration from ski glasses. Made by beauty YouTuber and beauty brand founder Desi Perkins, Dezi shades is her latest venture into the beauty and style space.

& Other Stories Angular Cat Eye Sunglasses

& Other Stories Angular Cat Eye Sunglasses, available at & Other Stories, $29

You never have to sacrifice style while sticking to your budget with shades from & Other Stories. While the brand offers various other styles, I'm a fan of this quirky pair, which was designed in Stockholm. Instead of a classic cat eye in brown or black frames, these angular cat eyes are framed by beige tortoise.

Peta + Jain Clair

Peta + Jain Clair, available at Peta + Jain, $69.95

Let your inner diva shine with these massive shades from Peta + Jain. Since the arms on these shades are also large, they provide some protection from the sun for the side of your eyes, preventing sun damage that can lead to crow's feet.

Banbé The Taylor

Banbé The Taylor, available at Banbé, $60

If you're a fan of aviators, then you'll want to see this black monochrome pair from Banbé. Designed in Australia, I love that this lightweight pair of shades is so versatile in any given wardrobe thanks to its timeless design.

SOJOS Aura

SOJOS Aura, available at SOJOS Vision, $19.99

Depending on your style preferences, the most popular shapes for sunglasses can get boring. If you want to explore new styles that aren't so common, look to SOJOS and styles like Aura, which merges gradient lenses with gently curved octagon frames.

Aperçu Le Chat

Aperçu Le Chat, available at Aperçu Eyewear, $79.50

Monochrome shades also come in bright colors, like these soft yellow shades from Aperçu. Made with handmade Italian acetate frames, this stylish pair stands out for its gold hardware and slightly reflective frames.

Look Optic Milla

Look Optic Milla, available at Look Optic, $84

Made with a more gentle cat eye shape, these timeless matte shades are made with 100% recycled frames. Look Optic makes all its sunglasses with wire-core temples that allow you to adjust them to a perfect fit. 

Another thing that's great about these is you can change the magnification of the lenses with no additional charge.

BP. Chunky Beveled Square Sunglasses

BP. Chunky Beveled Square Sunglasses, available at Nordstrom, $15

Wearing bright colors is one of the best things about summer fashion. Try these bold, neon frames from BP. that make a statement, whether you pair them with an equally bright outfit or let them shine as your standout accessory.

Giant Vintage Blah Blah Blah Round Sunnies

Giant Vintage Blah Blah Blah Round Sunnies, available at Giant Vintage, $27

This pick from Giant Vintage reminds me of Trinity's sunglasses from The Matrix but with a little more softness in their shape. The Los Angeles-based brand prides itself on its curated collection of sunglasses that all take inspiration from vintage looks of the past 50 years.

Eberjey pajamas have built a loyal following for their soft fabrics, polished look, and gift-worthy appeal — but with prices that are noticeably higher than your average sleep set, they need to do more than just look nice in a box. I tested Eberjey pajamas to see whether they're actually worth the splurge, paying close attention to comfort, fit, quality, and how well they hold up over time. For anyone shopping for a thoughtful gift — or considering treating themselves — here's what to know before you buy.

I love waxing poetic about my love of pajamas. I wrote an article on the best nightgowns that you can also wear as a dress because I never want to step out of sleepwear, and I tested piles of silk sets (a difficult task, I know) for an article on the best silk pajamas. And after all my research, I keep returning to Eberjey.

Though most people love a good matching sweatsuit, I personally find that you can get much more sophisticated loungewear in the pajama category. And queen of them all is Eberjey's deliciously slippery washable silk sleepwear. They have lots of solid-color sets, but it's hard not to fall for the printed Inez set. I've discovered that it's actually practical to get printed silk, since the patterns hide any little stains or blemishes on the delicate fabric.

And while I'm a silk enthusiast, our former style editor, Remi Rosmarin, swears by the Gisele Tencel set — a buttery-soft style that even Oprah counts among her favorites.

All this to say, these pajamas make great gifts. I've recommended them (especially the silk set) to all of my friends' partners and put them in countless gift guides.

Here's why Eberjey makes some of the best pajamas for women.

Sam's Review of the Inez Washable Silk Long PJ Set

I've tested many of the best silk pajamas, and these are some of the best. They're the long version of my favorite pajamas ever, the Inez Washable Silk Long PJ Set. And like the short set, it feels beautiful on my skin.

But as a petite person, I had to roll up the band on these a couple of times in order to prevent the pants from dragging on the floor. But the waistband is so comfortable that this didn't really bother me.

The only issue I had with these is the fact that they show liquid marks easily. When I did my skincare routine in these pajamas, I accidentally got moisturizer on the sleeve. Even when I wiped it off with water, you could still see the mark. It came off in the washer, but now I know that I have to be careful with food, serums, and anything else I may get on these. Unlike cotton pajamas, which you can easily remove spills from, these will absorb anything that isn't water until you give them a proper wash. But they're so worth it for the comfiness and luxuriousness.

Inez Washable Silk Short PJ Set

These got our hard-won award for the best silk pajamas after I tested silk from a bunch of other brands. You can't beat Eberjey's fabric, which is beautifully billowy and cool to the touch. 

It's made of 16 momme, grade 6A silk, which is some of the highest quality around. And one touch will tell you all you need to know about how luxurious this set is, especially compared to some of the lower-cost pajamas on this list. It's expensive, but you get what you're paying for.

I absolutely live in the Inez Washable Silk Short Set. It is so light and soft that it feels like silk is floating on my body. I got the printed version in the blue and white Wedgewood pattern (as an antique enthusiast, this little detail made it even more special).

I almost had to force myself to wear anything other than this set. The fit is perfect on me, and the fabric is pure luxury. But like all silk, it takes a little bit of effort to launder and de-wrinkle. However, this set makes it all worth it.

Gisele PJ Set

The Eberjey pajamas are surprisingly chic, soft, and classic. The lightweight modal jersey fabric feels like a second skin — it's silky smooth and drapes elegantly over your body for a fit that's cozy and flattering. The button-up front, breast pocket, and contrast piping give the Gisele PJs a timeless look that makes these just as good for lounging around the house as for sleeping. 

Eberjey totally changed my perspective on fancy pajamas. Sure, ratty sweats are comfortable, but a nice pair of pajamas that look as good as they feel can make bedtime something worth celebrating. Light a candle, grab a book, or just turn on Netflix like you would any other night — chances are you'll feel better doing it in these classy and supremely comfortable pajamas. . — Remi Rosmarin, former style editor, Insider Reviews

FAQs

Are Eberjey pajamas worth it?

Yes — if you care most about soft, luxurious fabric and an elevated look, Eberjey pajamas are worth the splurge. In our testing, the brand's Inez washable silk sets stood out for their light, billowy feel and polished finish, while the Gisele set earned praise for its buttery-soft fabric and flattering drape. The biggest downsides are the higher price and, in the case of silk, the extra care they require.

Do Eberjey pajamas run true to size?

Based on our experience, Eberjey pajamas generally fit well, but petites may run into some length issues with the long silk pants. In testing, the waistband on the Inez Washable Silk Long PJ Set was comfortable enough to roll without ruining the fit, but shorter shoppers may still find the pants a bit long.

Are Eberjey silk pajamas easy to care for?

Eberjey's washable silk pajamas are easier to maintain than traditional silk, but they are not totally fuss-free. In our testing, the fabric showed marks from moisturizer and other liquids more easily than cotton, though the marks came out in the wash. They're also more high-maintenance when it comes to laundering and de-wrinkling, so they're best for shoppers who do not mind a little extra care.

What are Eberjey pajamas made of?

The standout silk styles in this review are made from 16 momme, grade 6A silk, which helps explain their especially smooth, cool-to-the-touch feel. The Gisele set uses a lightweight modal jersey fabric that feels soft and silky against the skin, making it a strong option if you want comfort without the upkeep of silk.

Are Eberjey pajamas a good gift?

Yes — Eberjey pajamas make an especially good gift if you want something that feels indulgent and practical at the same time. The brand offers classic silhouettes, pretty prints, and high-quality fabrics that feel more special than an average pajama set. Silk styles feel the most gift-worthy, while the Gisele set is a safer pick for someone who would prefer lower-maintenance sleepwear.

Are Eberjey pajamas a good Mother's Day gift?

Yes. Eberjey pajamas are a good Mother's Day gift for anyone looking to give something useful that still feels luxurious. A soft, well-made pajama set can feel more personal than a generic gift, especially for moms who appreciate comfort-focused presents.

• The US has used large amounts of key munitions in its war with Iran, experts assessed.
• It has enough for this fight, but "the risk — which will persist for many years — lies in future wars," they said.
• Many of those munitions would be vital against China, and they take a long time to replenish.

The US has been using critical munitions at such a high rate against Iran that it could face risk in a future war — especially with China, defense experts warned.

US forces "heavily used" seven key munitions in the 39 days of its air and missile campaign against Iran before a fragile ceasefire went into effect, two warfare experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a new report.

The US military "has enough missiles to continue fighting this war under any plausible scenario," they wrote, looking at munition stockpiles. "The risk — which will persist for many years — lies in future wars."

The problem is how many munitions have been used and how long it takes to replace them.

"These missiles will also be critical for a potential Western Pacific conflict," CSIS researchers Mark Cancian and Chris Park said.

"Even before the Iran war, stockpiles were deemed insufficient for a peer competitor fight. That shortfall is now even more acute, and building stockpiles to levels adequate for a war with China will take additional time."

Reduced stockpiles also affect supplies to Ukraine and allies, and ultimately, "the United States will compete with those countries that also want to replenish and expand inventories," they said.

Depleted stockpiles

The seven key munitions, long-range ground attack munitions or air and missile defense munitions, "have been highly effective in fighting this war, and expenditures have accordingly been high," the experts said. The report found that the US may have expended more than half of its prewar inventories of four of the munitions.

On defense, the US had around 360 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptors before the war, depleted by previous conflicts, and used about 190 to 290 during it, the researchers estimated, relying on publicly available information, including Pentagon budget documents.

PAC-3 interceptors for the popular Patriot air defense system have also been used at a high rate, with the US starting the war with around 2,330 and using up to 1,430, though it may still have older versions.

The interceptor missiles have seen surging demand globally, and there were concerns about their stocks even before the war. Ukraine has already warned of critical shortages and raised concerns about how the US use against Iran will affect its supply.

The US had more than 400 warship-launched SM-3 interceptor missiles before the war and has used between 130 and 250. Use of the SM-6 has been lower, with up to 370 used out of about 1,160.

For offensive strikes, the US had around 90 Precision Strike Missiles (PrSMs) before the war and has used an estimated 40 to 70. It's a newer munition that saw its first combat use in this conflict.

Another munition is the Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile, for which the report estimated the US had more than 3,000 in its inventory before the Iran war and used more than 850 in the conflict.

And the US had more than 4,000 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs), a long-range cruise missile, in its inventory before the war and has used around 1,000, the report said.

Replacing them is slow

The US has been moving to boost production. The White House in March announced plans to quadruple the output of some key weapons, and manufacturers have outlined increases.

Lockheed Martin said it will raise THAAD interceptor production capacity to 400 a year from 96 over the next seven years, and Tomahawk maker RTX said it will increase annual production to more than 1,000 and boost SM-6 production to more than 500 a year. There are also plans to increase production of Patriot PAC-3 interceptors by 2030.

Lockheed Martin has also increased PrSM production and has agreed to quadruple production.

The CSIS report warned that "until this increased production becomes available, the United States will face choices on allocating production to meet demands."

Much of that expansion depends on new funding from Congress, and production will still take time.

Based on the five-year average production rates, the report presented estimates for how long it would take to replace the weapons. For JASSMs, the researchers estimated 48 months; 42 months for PAC-3s; and 53 months for THAAD. The shortest was Tomahawks at 47 months.

"Many of these systems are constrained by production capacity, so manufacturing lead time is even longer," they said.

Franz-Stefan Gady, a defense expert at the Center for a New American Security, also warned on Wednesday that it would take four to five years to replenish US precision munition stockpiles. Others have likewise been sounding the alarms, many long before the war even started.

The US could be vulnerable in future wars

The US still has enough munitions to sustain operations against Iran, the experts said.

But many of the munitions being depleted are critical for a fight against a peer adversary like China, especially for countering ballistic missiles, where the US has few alternatives.

For the seven key munitions assessed, "large numbers are also needed for a future conflict in the Western Pacific. Many allies and partners use these systems as well, creating competition for output," the researchers said.

In a war with China, the US would need sufficient long-range strike to overwhelm and penetrate Chinese defenses, as well as significant defenses to counter its substantial missile arsenal.

This assessment, like others before it, said that a high-intensity fight with China could consume US munitions even faster than the war with Iran.

The US military can shift assets back to the Pacific after the Iran war and rebuild inventories, "but restoring depleted stockpiles and then achieving the desired inventory levels will take many years."

"Prewar inventories were already insufficient," the CSIS report said. "The levels today will constrain US operations should a future conflict arise."

• West Point is the longest continuously garrisoned military installation in the United States.
• It also houses the highly selective United States Military Academy at West Point.
• Public tours include the Cadet Chapel, Trophy Point, and views of the campus and academic buildings.

I knew I was in the right place when I saw the tank outside the parking lot.

Established by George Washington in 1778, West Point is the longest continuously garrisoned military installation in the United States. It is also home to the United States Military Academy at West Point, an elite, highly selective institution that trains future military leaders.

West Point's storied history is especially resonant ahead of America's 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. Amanda Bundt, tour manager at West Point Tours, told Business Insider that West Point "is one of the reasons we are a country."

"We were here for all four years of the Revolutionary War fighting for our independence, so we have great honor in that aspect," Bundt said.

West Point is an active military post and college, but some parts of the campus are open to the public through guided tours.

I visited West Point in April to learn more about its Revolutionary War history and modern curriculum equipping soldiers for war. Take a look.

West Point, located about 50 miles north of New York City, played a key role in keeping the British at bay during the Revolutionary War.

West Point overlooks the Hudson River, which was the fastest and most reliable way to transport troops, weapons, food, and other crucial supplies during the war. George Washington knew that controlling the river was key to America's survival in the fight against the British. He established his headquarters there, calling West Point "the most important Post in America."

In 1802, Congress authorized the establishment of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Sylvanus Thayer, known as the "Father of the Military Academy," became the school's superintendent in 1817 and established a strict code of conduct, rigorous fitness standards, and a standardized curriculum.

Famous graduates include Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower, former Chief of Staff of the US Army Douglas MacArthur, and former CIA directors David Petraeus and Mike Pompeo.

Tours of the military academy begin at the Frederic V. Malek West Point Visitors Center.

I bought a $22 ticket for the West Point Story tour, which lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes.

While waiting for the tour to begin, I walked through the West Point Experience exhibit that shows what it's like to be a cadet.

The exhibit featured a model of a room in the West Point barracks, as well as details about West Point's history, values, 47-month course of study, and graduation requirements.

To enroll in West Point, cadets must be between the ages of 17 and 23, be unmarried with no legal dependents, pass academic, physical, and medical examinations, and be nominated for admission by a member of Congress or the president or vice president of the United States. The acceptance rate is around 10%. Once admitted, tuition is free.

Graduates are required to serve in the Army for five years of active service and three years in the reserves.

When the tour bus pulled up into the parking lot, a staff member checked our tickets and IDs.

Since West Point is an active military post, everyone who takes a tour must present a government-issued photo ID to undergo a background check.

Our tour guide told us to keep our phones and cameras out of sight until we passed through the security checkpoint.

He also gave a rundown of the rules. Photographing cadets? Permitted. Photographing security gates or military police? Not allowed.

Once we were through the gate, our guide pointed out some of the brick homes where West Point instructors live.

West Point has 500 instructors, 75% of whom are members of the garrison and are posted to West Point. The other 25% are civilians.

With 4,400 cadets, the student-to-instructor ratio is six-to-one.

The bus took us past Michie Stadium, where West Point's football and lacrosse teams play.

The outdoor stadium holds 40,000 people.

The grounds of West Point were full of military statues and monuments like "The American Soldier" by Felix de Weldon.

The sculpture was a gift from the classes of 1935 and 1936, honoring enlisted combat soldiers.

Our first stop off the bus was the Cadet Chapel, a non-denominational Protestant worship space built in 1910.

The Gothic Revival chapel was designed by architect Bertram Goodhue and constructed using granite from a local quarry.

The chapel was decorated with replicas of battle flags donated as class gifts.

The space can hold 1,500 people.

The Bibles and hymnals were lined up in the pews with military precision.

Our tour guide said we were allowed to look through the books as long as we put them back exactly where we found them.

"Indeed, there is somebody with a wooden board who measures the space between them and makes sure it's uniform," the West Point tour guide said.

The Cadet Chapel houses the world's largest pipe organ in a house of worship, with a total of 23,511 pipes.

The pipes range from the size of one's index finger to "thunder pipes" measuring 30 inches in diameter.

A limestone carving of St. Michael, the patron saint of soldiers, was displayed behind the altar.

The carving was donated by the family of West Point alums and former President Ulysses S. Grant.

The Cadet Chapel's 178 stained-glass windows were designed by Willett Studios, a Philadelphia-based company that beat Tiffany & Co. for the contract.

The Sanctuary Window at the front of the chapel features West Point's motto: "Duty, Honor, Country."

A pew at the front of the chapel was reserved for West Point's superintendent.

Every superintendent's signature dating back to the founding of the chapel in 1910 appeared on silver nameplates on the pew.

The current superintendent, Lieutenant General Steven W. Gilland, graduated from West Point in 1990 and is married to his West Point classmate, Betsy Gilland.

Outside the chapel, we took in stunning views of West Point's main post, which spans about 3,000 acres.

West Point also features a 13,000-acre military reservation with rugged terrain used for field training exercises, known as Camp Buckner.

Back on the bus, our tour guide pointed out the West Point Jewish Chapel completed in 1984.

West Point has a total of six chapels and one interfaith religious center.

As we disembarked from the bus at our next stop, Trophy Point, we got one of our first looks at some West Point cadets on their way to class.

The grey and black uniform is the cadets' standard weekday uniform known as "As For Class." The camouflage uniform, worn for field exercises, is called the Army Combat Uniform or ACU.

Looking out at the Hudson River, our tour guide explained how West Point was located in a crucial strategic position during the Revolutionary War.

West Point is situated above an "S"-shaped turn in the river, overlooking the narrowest part of the channel where the current is at its swiftest. In other words, it's where British ships would be at their most vulnerable.

"Washington knew if those ships were fighting the ebbing tide, the narrow channel, and the swift current, there would be no better place to shoot at them than from West Point," our tour guide said.

To further fortify the Hudson River, Washington ordered a giant chain strung from one end of its shore to the other as a deterrent.

The chain stretched 1,700 feet, weighed 65 tons, and took 270 men to anchor it in place. It successfully deterred the British from trying to attack West Point.

Instead, the British attempted to take West Point through other means by conspiring with the infamous traitor Benedict Arnold, who was placed in command at West Point in 1780. When Arnold's plot to surrender West Point to the British was exposed, he evaded capture and defected to the British army.

While learning about West Point's Revolutionary War history, two helicopters roared past in a reminder of its contemporary military significance.

The West Point tour guide guessed that the helicopters may have been used for air assault training, where soldiers rappel out of a helicopter while it hovers 50 feet off the ground.

Further along at Trophy Point, our guide pointed out the Trophy Point Amphitheater, where graduating classes receive their class rings.

The tradition of West Point class rings dates back to 1835.

Each year, gold from rings donated by past West Point graduates is melted down and incorporated into the outgoing class' rings.

Sedgwick Monument holds special significance to West Point Cadets.

This statue of Major General John Sedgwick, nicknamed "Lucky John," is said to bring good fortune to cadets who sneak out after curfew in their dress uniforms to spin the spurs on his boots the night before exams.

Across the parade ground, we could see the Jefferson Library, completed in 2008.

The library is named for President Thomas Jefferson, who was president when the United States Military Academy at West Point was founded in 1802.

Washington Hall houses West Point's mess hall, which feeds all 4,400 cadets in under 25 minutes.

In West Point's dining hall, a team of over 200 cooks serves more than 13,000 meals per day.

Mealtimes at West Point feature unique etiquette rules. Cadets line up in formation before the meal and march into the hall. Plebes, or freshmen, are in charge of setting the table and pouring water for the upperclassmen.

On the other side of the parade ground, the superintendent lives at Quarters 100, a home built in 1820.

The historic home spans 16,600 square feet.

Trophy Point also featured a putting green.

West Point features an 18-hole golf course open to the public.

On the bus back to the Visitors Center, we passed Lincoln Hall, which houses classrooms.

Lincoln Hall currently houses the English and Philosophy and Social Sciences departments, the Combating Terrorism Center, and the Office for Economic and Manpower Analysis, but is undergoing renovations.

Cullum Hall is an alumni building with a grand ballroom.

Cullum Hall was designed by architect Stanford White, who designed the Washington Square Arch in New York City, in 1898.

West Point Club, another event venue, featured a semicircular wall of windows overlooking the Hudson River.

Members of the public can also book events at the West Point Club.

When it was built in 1911, Thayer Hall was the world's largest indoor riding arena.

"In 1959, they repurposed it as a classroom building and an office building, but the cadets say on a hot day, they can still smell the horses," our tour guide said.

We caught a brief glimpse of the new Cyber and Engineering Academic Center that is under construction before returning to the Visitors Center.

The building will house the departments of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Systems Engineering.

"Cyber warfare is the latest thing in national defense, so West Point's getting ready," our guide said.

After the tour ended, I stopped at the West Point Museum, where I saw artifacts like President Dwight D. Eisenhower's military uniform.

Eisenhower graduated from West Point in 1915.

The West Point tour offered a combination of US history and contemporary Army education, providing a fascinating look into the past, present, and future of America's military.

Evidence of West Point's distinguished history and unbroken lineage, known as "The Long Gray Line," was visible at every turn.

While admiring a view of the Hudson River and the surrounding mountains, my gaze was drawn up to a particularly striking tree along the sidewalk. Above its enormous trunk, its knarled branches had begun to flower with spring blooms. Then I noticed the plaque. It was a gift from the class of 1888.

• Walmart has made a big bet on ultrafast delivery across its US stores.
• Now the company is bringing the perk to Sam's Club, with a new one-hour service option for members.
• Sam's Club says its 10 fastest orders were fulfilled in under 12 minutes — way faster than Costco.

Walmart is doubling down on ultrafast delivery with a new option at its warehouse chain Sam's Club.

On Wednesday, Sam's Club e-commerce head Greg Pulsifer said a new "enhanced" express delivery option in the US has posted impressive numbers since it was rolled out three weeks ago.

"Our 10 fastest deliveries to date were all fulfilled in less than 12 minutes," he said in a statement.

Members can now get Sam's Club's jumbo pack sizes with Walmart's blazing-fast fulfillment.

The move ramps up pressure on warehouse club rival Costco, and underscores Walmart's focus on growing e-commerce sales through a combination of convenience and value.

Last September, Walmart's then-US CEO John Furner said Walmart's fastest delivery time was under five minutes. The company also says more than 5% of store-fulfilled orders arrive in less than 30 minutes.

Sam's Club has also had significant success with rapid fulfillment at international locations, most notably in China.

Faster fulfillment with a flat fee instead of higher prices per item

At Sam's Club, sub-three-hour deliveries cost $17 for standard members and $5 for higher-tier Plus members and arrive within three hours, while the faster delivery option costs an additional $5 to get the order in less than an hour for both membership types.

Ralph Asher, founder of Data Driven Supply Chain, told Business Insider that this ultrafast delivery option could give Sam's Club an advantage over its larger rival, Costco, especially since the product prices online match those at the warehouse.

Costco's same-day services, which offer delivery in as little as an hour, are fulfilled by Instacart, and items are typically priced higher than those in-store. Costco says the higher prices allow most orders to avoid additional delivery fees, though long-distance orders are subject to a $10 fee.

Costco did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its delivery strategy.

Sam's Club says it has now fulfilled nearly 65,000 orders under its three-hours-or-less delivery option, with an average delivery time of 55 minutes.

Top categories for express orders include water, produce, paper goods, and baby items, with more urgent items like baby formula and rotisserie chickens arriving in as little as 10 minutes. The fastest order Sam's Club says it fulfilled was the delivery of Member's Mark baby formula to a day care in Fargo, North Dakota, in nine minutes.

Asher said the logistics of delivering club-sized products aren't all that different from delivering typical retail pack sizes — so long as the order fits in a gig driver's car — but the lower unit cost of the club-sized item could make it a better deal for consumers.

And Sam's Club isn't doing this for fun. There's a significant upside for sales growth.

Walmart has said that its fast delivery shoppers spend twice as much as the average digital customer. That figure jumps to three times as much when shoppers use fast delivery four or more times.

Your move, Costco.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at dreuter@businessinsider.com or text/call/Signal at 646-768-4750. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

Update: We've scoured the internet for Peacock promo codes, but we haven't found any active coupons at this time. We'll keep an eye out for potential discounts and update this page as we find and verify them, so make sure to check back soon. In the meantime, you can learn more about saving with Peacock's annual plans and bundles below or head back to checkout.

Peacock has risen through the ranks of the best streaming services since its 2020 launch. The streamer offers a massive collection of programming, carrying everything from network classics to original streaming exclusives. The service has also built out an impressive selection of live sports programming, reality TV shows, and popular films, so there's something for every viewer in the NBCUniversal app's lineup. The streaming service offers multiple tiers of service, including an ultra budget-friendly tier, but customers can unlock additional savings by using one of the best Peacock promo codes.

While NBC hits like "Law & Order: SVU" and "The Office" might be the initial selling point for Peacock, the streaming service's catalog reaches far beyond that. Reality TV fans can binge Bravo hits like "Vanderpump Rules" and the "Real Housewives" franchise, as well as Peacock reality originals such as "The Traitors" and "Love Island USA." There's an enticing selection of films, from horror flicks like "Nope" to Academy Award-nominated titles such as "Bugonia" and "Hamnet."

Peacock also carries an impressive slate of original TV series, including hits like "All Her Fault," "Ponies," and "The Burbs." The streaming service even offers select live sports events, including multiple NFL and NBA games each season. Some of the games are streaming exclusives, meaning even cable subscribers might need to sign up for Peacock if they want to watch every game of the season.

To learn even more about the streaming service, you can check out our official Peacock TV guide, where we break down everything you need to know about prices, plans, and bundles. The streamer has remained competitively priced amid recent industry-wide increases, even launching a new budget-friendly plan, but deals and promo codes (when available) remain some of the best ways to keep subscription costs low. We've rounded up the best ongoing Peacock discounts in one place, so make sure to browse the top offers below before you subscribe.

Today's best Peacock coupons and promo codes

Previous Peacock promo codes

Are there any other Peacock sales running at the moment?

Peacock isn't offering any limited-time sales right now, and deals from the streaming service have become pretty rare over the past year. However, there are still plenty of ways to save on a subscription, including bundles and annual plans. Peacock annual plans always offer savings year over year compared to the total amount you'd pay over 12 months with a monthly subscription. The Peacock and Apple TV bundles offer savings each month when compared to the price of subscribing to multiple services separately. Check out the savings below:

• Follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp for more deals and buying guides

How to use Peacock promo codes

You must create an account to take advantage of the Peacock promo code. From the Peacock landing page, you can click "Pick Your Plan" and then hit "Choose" on the option you want. From there, you'll be taken to a checkout page where you can create an account by entering your name, email, password, ZIP code, and birthday. On this page, you can apply the promo code by clicking "Have a promo code?," pasting the code into the text box, and clicking "Apply."

Can you stack Peacock promo codes?

Peacock promo codes cannot be stacked together. Only one code may be applied per account at a time. In the past, we've found that there's usually only one Peacock promo code active at a time, if at all, so this issue shouldn't come up much.

Peacock promo code frequently asked questions

Does Peacock offer discounts for teachers, students, or the military?

Peacock offers a student discount, allowing eligible students to pay $5.99 monthly for the first 12 months of their Peacock Premium subscription instead of the original $10.99. Eligible teachers and military members can also receive a discounted Peacock Premium subscription for $6.99 monthly for the first 12 months. Even if you're not a student, Peacock also offers a young adult discount of $5.99 a month for the first 12 months of Peacock Premium for those who are ages 18-24.

All of these discounts are subject to required verification. Those who are still eligible after the first 12 months might be able to renew (with further verification) at the then-standard discount rate.

Be sure to check out our roundups of the best student discounts and the best teacher discounts for more savings.

What is the difference between Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus?

Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus are the two main tiers of the streaming service. There's also Peacock Select, which we'll dig into further down the page.

Peacock Premium costs $10.99 a month or $109.99 a year. It gives you access to the streaming service's full catalog (including movies, NBC shows, Peacock originals, and Bravo programming), but it's supported by ads. Premium also offers access to select live sports and events, including full coverage of the Olympics.

Peacock Premium Plus costs $16.99 a month or $169.99 a year. Like Premium, it gives subscribers access to Peacock's full catalog of content, although you'll be able to watch on-demand programming ad-free. Premium also unlocks 24/7 live streams of your local NBC station and gives you the ability to download certain programming so that you can watch it later offline.

Does Peacock offer a free trial?

While Peacock initially offered users a weeklong free trial, they have since removed this option, so you'll have to subscribe to a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus plan to watch.

Do Instacart Plus and Walmart Plus members get Peacock?

Multiple grocery delivery services offer Peacock subscriptions at no extra cost. Instacart Plus added Peacock as a perk in 2023, and members can access Peacock Premium to get the streaming service's full library of ad-supported content. Walmart Plus members also have access to Peacock. A Walmart Plus membership grants access to either Paramount Plus Essential or Peacock Premium. Members can choose between the two ad-supported services every 90 days, so customers can switch back and forth or just use one service continuously.

Where can I watch Peacock?

Peacock's streaming app is available on iOS and Android mobile devices, Roku, LG Smart TV, Samsung Smart TV, Google TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Xfinity, and more. Peacock is also available on gaming consoles like PlayStation (4 and 5) and Xbox (One, Series X, and Series S). For a full list of supported devices (along with required generations and operating systems), see Peacock's website.

Is Peacock available outside the United States?

Peacock is available to watch within the United States and certain US territories, such as Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin Islands. However, there are no international versions of Peacock, unlike some of its main competitors. If you're hoping to use the service while traveling in other regions, it will be worth trying one of the best VPNs.

Which live sports events are available on Peacock?

If you're a sports fan, Peacock has you covered. Subscribers get access to Sunday Night Football during the NFL season, NBA games, soccer matches from the Premier League, golf tournaments, cycling races, and more. NBC had the broadcast rights to Super Bowl LX and to the 2026 NBA All-Star game, both of which aired in February.

Peacock is also the main US streaming hub for the Olympics. NBC and other NBCUniversal networks offer loads of broadcasts from the most notable events, but if you're hoping to watch everything that the Olympics has to offer, including live coverage at off-hours and less mainstream sports, then Peacock is the best option. Peacock most recently carried the 2026 Winter Olympics, and NBCUniversal holds the US broadcast rights to the Olympics through the 2036 Summer Games. You can learn more about sports coverage on Peacock's website.

What's new on Peacock?

Recently, Peacock subscribers got access to hit TV shows, like the season premieres of "Saturday Night Live" and "Vanderpump Rules." New movies, such as "Hamnet," "Song Sung Blue," "Wicked: For Good," and "Bugonia," have also joined the platform.

The streamer also recently dropped new original series like "The Burbs" and "All Her Fault," as well as the latest season of the Emmy Award-winning reality series "The Traitors (US)." Peacock also carries various international versions of "The Traitors," including the UK iteration. Learn more about what's new on Peacock on their website.

What is Peacock Select?

Peacock Select is the streaming service's newest tier, rolled out in 2025. At $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year, Select is the cheapest of Peacock's subscription plans. Select plans grant subscribers access to TV favorites from NBC, Bravo, and more. However, Select is missing quite a few programming categories, including movies, Peacock originals, and live sports/events.

Since it's so pared-down, we mainly recommend this tier for those who don't mind advertisements and are simply looking for a budget-friendly way to get caught up on-demand with broadcast favorites. Otherwise, it's worth shelling out a bit extra each month for Premium or Premium Plus.

Check out more streaming discounts in our guides to the best streaming deals and bundles and the latest Paramount Plus coupons.

• Citadel has reshaped its investor recruitment unit in recent months, following a string of exits.
• The $67 billion firm has focused on internal promotions and younger hires rather than poaching from rivals.
• Sjoerd Gehring and Eleanor Sharkey are notable recent departures from Citadel's talent team.

One of the world's largest and most influential hedge funds has been overhauling a crucial unit within its recruitment army.

Citadel, the $67 billion firm run by Ken Griffin, has developed into a magnet for some of the industry's premier talent during its three decades in business. But, amid a war for elite investment pros at top hedge funds, the recruitment machine behind Griffin's multistrategy giant has undergone a makeover, with a slew of significant departures over the past two years.

The latest move came last week, when chief people officer Sjoerd Gehring, a former Apple and Accenture executive, departed after less than two years on the job. Eleanor Sharkey, head of business development for the International Equities business, also left earlier this year. Their departures were preceded by a string of exits last year in business development — the professionals who recruit and vet investment talent, freeing up time for Citadel's business unit leaders to focus on strategy and making money.

Citadel has taken a different approach to some peers in retooling its BD ranks. Whereas competitors have been poaching BD execs from rivals, driving up compensation packages into the millions, Citadel has been promoting from within and hiring younger sales professionals — often bankers who interact with hedge funds on a daily basis — with less direct business development experience.

"Our People Team remains focused on their important work attracting top talent and developing colleagues to build unparalleled careers at Citadel faster than they could anywhere else," reads a statement the Miami-based firm provided to Business Insider. The manager, according to a person close to the firm, has more than 100 people across human resources roles, including the BD teams.

Citadel's recent hires and promotions include:

As Business Insider previously reported, Sharkey's deputy, Freya Maynard, has taken the helm of International Equities BD. The firm promoted Mackenzie Snyder to recruit for Surveyor, another stockpicking group, and Olivia Cascio to head recruiting for its Fixed Income and Macro group.

Sapna Vir, a managing director in BD at $14 billion Verition for the last three years, is joining Citadel in December as head of BD for credit and convertibles.

One unit that remains shorthanded is Global Equities, which is run by Justin Lubell. Sarah Wexler, who joined in 2019, recently left, according to people familiar with the matter. Laura Sterner, a long-time Point72 investor relations leader, joined the group as head of BD last September but left after only two months on the job.

Global Equities has gone through at least four BD heads in the last three years. Tom DeAngelis, now president at Walleye Capital, left in 2023. Jennifer Corwin left the team in early 2024 but stayed on at Citadel in a new role, and Alex Topkins left last year and recently resurfaced at Soros Fund Management.

An individual close to Citadel notes that business leaders such as Lubell are a critical part of the recruiting process, and GE has been able to attract strong talent in recent years.

Noteworthy departures in Citadel's recruiting team over the last two years include:

• Tesla signed a contract with Sourcewell for an "indefinite quantity" of vehicle sales.
• The deal gives Tesla easier access to sell to municipalities — a sector that has accounted for less than 1% of its sales.
• Detroit giants Ford and GM have dominated the government fleet market for years.

A Tesla police car? A Tesla Parks and Recreation fleet vehicle?

Those are now more likely to whiz through North American streets.

The EV maker signed a master purchasing agreement with Sourcewell, a cooperative that lets public agencies buy products without running their own bidding processes. The deal gives Tesla faster access to sell to more than 50,000 potential buyers in the US and Canada, including cities, school districts, and state agencies.

It also adds another automaker to the pipeline of potential municipal vehicles — a market historically dominated by Detroit's two biggest automakers, General Motors and Ford. Both companies have contracts with Sourcewell that run to November 2028.

Tesla and Sourcewell inked the contract in December, according to public documents.

The contract, which could run up to seven years, allows for an "indefinite quantity" of sales, meaning there's no cap on how many cars agencies can purchase during the agreement. Tesla can sell small cars, SUVs, vans, and light trucks — and allows third parties to modify them with wheelchair-accessible ramps, utility truck beds, and police lights.

Until now, Tesla has had a limited presence in government fleets. In its application to Sourcewell, which was released with the contract, the company said just over 800 vehicles — less than 1% of its annual sales — currently go to public-sector customers.

It reported that the state of California has been its biggest municipal customer, buying around 500 EVs each year. Maine has been its smallest, buying one Tesla annually.

That's created a sizable, untapped market, the carmaker said in its application. Tesla estimates there are roughly 1.5 million to 2 million light-duty vehicles operated by state and local agencies in the US, many of which it expects to transition to electric over time.

"Tesla's mission is to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy," the company wrote in the contract application. "This is an opportunity to do good for a great country."

The push into government fleets comes as Tesla seeks new sources of vehicle demand. Tesla's consumer deliveries missed Wall Street's expectations in the first three months of 2026. The company produced 50,000 more units than it delivered during the quarter, the largest inventory glut the company has ever reported.

And, there are limitations with Tesla's new contract. Tesla doesn't offer direct fleet financing or leasing, which are common in government procurement. And its direct-sales model continues to face restrictions in some states due to dealership laws.

Tesla said it can immediately sell in 30 US states. It's also offering incentives to win the government's business, including waiving delivery fees for government customers.

• Lithuania said Wednesday that it is buying the American-made Merops counter-drone system.
• Merops has been battle-tested in Ukraine and was also recently deployed to the Middle East.
• Lithuania is the latest NATO country to acquire the low-cost system.

Another NATO ally is acquiring an American-made interceptor drone that has been battle-tested in Ukraine. The move will boost the alliance's air defenses along the Russian border.

Lithuania's national defense ministry announced Wednesday that it is purchasing the Merops system to strengthen its air defenses, adding that Vilnius "has approved a simplified process: bureaucracy and lengthy procurement must not stand in the way."

Merops is a counter-drone system that launches a small interceptor, costing $15,000 apiece, to hunt down and destroy targets such as the Iranian Shahed-136 or its Russian-made variant, the Geran-2.

Developed by the American initiative Project Eagle, Merops was first deployed to Ukraine, where it has intercepted more than 1,000 strike drones launched by Russian forces.

Last year, Poland, an ally on NATO's eastern flank that shares a border with Russian territory, and Romania, which, like Poland, borders Ukraine, purchased and deployed the Merops system after Russian drone incursions into alliance airspace. Lithuania is now the third European ally to acknowledge purchasing the system.

Lithuania's national defense ministry did not immediately respond to Business Insider's queries on how many Merops systems and interceptors it plans to purchase.

Merops is flexible — interceptor drones launch from mobile platforms like a pickup truck or from ground stations — and can be operated by a small crew trained in days.

Soldiers use off-the-shelf Xbox controllers to operate the Surveyor, a propeller-powered interceptor that can reach over 175 mph and uses artificial intelligence to navigate areas saturated with electronic warfare. It can destroy targets by colliding with them or exploding in proximity.

Lithuania's acquisition of Merops comes as NATO's front-line forces are seeking ways to reduce the cost of air defense in the face of a growing drone threat across Europe, with numerous airspace violations in recent months.

For Lithuania and its allies, Merops is a far more cost-effective air defense option than multimillion-dollar missiles, which NATO fighter jets used to counter the threat when Russian drones violated Polish airspace in September.

Outside of Europe, the US military also operates the Merops system and deployed it to the Middle East in early March amid Iranian missile and drone attacks in the region following the start of Operation Epic Fury.

The US Army has deployed dozens of Merops systems — including a ground control station, radar, launcher, and interceptor — and more than 1,000 armed and unarmed interceptors to the Middle East.

A US defense official told Business Insider that more interceptors are on the way. Last week, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said the US purchased 13,000 Surveryor interceptors within the first few days of the Iran war and sent many to the Middle East.

The acquisitions by the US and Lithuania come as NATO forces show rising interest in the development and fielding of interceptor drones, which have been pioneered by Ukraine to counter the regular Russian drone attacks on its cities and civilian infrastructure.

• Citi shared its best investment ideas as it sees the US economy at risk of overheating.
• The bank sees signs that markets are shifting from an ideal state to one where growth & inflation are hot.
• Across the market, stock prices and earnings momentum face "downside risks," analysts warned.

The US economy could be in tricky territory, Citi analysts are warning.

In a note to clients on Monday, the bank's research arm said it believes the Iran war was pushing the macro environment from a "Goldilocks" state — an ideal scenario of robust growth and low inflation that helps fuel stock returns — to an "overheating" state. That's an environment where growth is high, but inflation is running hot as well.

Though it's more likely that the US will remain in a "Goldilocks" regime, signs are beginning to emerge that the economy is headed for the overheated zone, analysts said. The bank said there is a 62% probability that the global economy would transition into an overheated state within the next three months, citing "observed economic and market behavior," such as the trend of investors rotating away from defensive stocks.

Inflation has also already started to creep higher since the war started. Consumer price growth accelerated to a 3.3% yearly pace in March, driven largely by hotter energy prices.

Concerns over inflation have swelled since the start of the Iran war, which has caused the price of oil, a major economic input that could influence inflation in other areas, to soar.

"With inflation risk elevated and the economic transmission of the energy shock still playing out, we examine what these binding constraints mean for factor performance," analysts said. "Price and Earnings Momentum face downside risks, while upside is more conditional and skewed to a renewed supply shock," they added of the outlook for the broader market.

The bank laid out a market playbook for investors navigating an overheated US economy, with various assets analysts believed would outperform in such an environment.

Here's how investors should be positioned to avoid getting burned.

Quality stocks

Quality stocks, which are generally defined by companies with healthy financials and consistent earnings growth, are likely to outperform in the US and Europe, Citi said.

"Given the elevated level of uncertainty—around both the durability of any ceasefire and the future trajectory of inflation—Quality appears to offer the most attractive risk-adjusted positioning at this juncture," the bank said.

The Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF, one fund that tracks quality stocks, is up 6% year-to-date, outpacing the S&P 500's 3% gain from the start of the year.

Value stocks

Value stocks, which trade at a lower price than implied by a company's earnings and financials, are also a good bet.

"Our findings suggest that Value isn't always a universe inflation hedge but works when growth expectations exist (Overheating)," analysts wrote. "Quality offers a potential 'all-weather' solution for the US."

The Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF is up 5% year-to-date, also beating the market.

Cyclical stocks

Cyclical stocks, which tend to do well when the economy is growing, are expected to hold up across most "overheating" scenarios, barring a scenario in which economic growth is strong but "not exceptional," Citi said.

The Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund ETF, one cyclical fund, is up 1% year-to-date.

If growth is weak, turn to defensives

Defensive stocks tend to see improving returns in an overheated economy when growth is at its lowest level, but inflation is hot, Citi said.

The Invesco Defensive Equity ETF is flat year-to-date, shedding less than 1%.

Be wary of growth stocks

Growth stocks tend to underperform in overheating scenarios that see elevated inflation, the analysts noted. In a scenario where economic growth and inflation are at their highest levels, the bank sees growth stocks declining by an average of 1%.

Growth stocks, particularly in the tech sector, have been hit hard amid concerns about AI and the broader risk-off move during the Iran war, but have rebounded sharply in recent weeks as hope for a ceasefire has grown. The Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF is up 1% for the year.

• A few years ago, my wife and I quit our corporate jobs to travel the US for a year.
• We started documenting our adventures online to capture our experiences and make some money.
• Four years later, we're still going thanks to some small tweaks to our travel style.

As my wife Julie and I hiked along the rugged shores of Acadia National Park, the scents of pine and sea salt felt intoxicating. I couldn't help but smile as my troubles melted away.

At the time, we had both been working together at the same company for nearly 30 years, raising four kids along the way. Although we were grateful for the steady income and benefits, the stressful, nonstop grind led to burnout.

This feeling of unease only intensified when a few of our friends received news of serious health conditions shortly before or after retirement. Those scares shook us and made us question why we were saving all our dreams for "later" when there was no guarantee we would reach retirement in the way we imagined.

After returning home from that trip, we took a hard look at our future. The idea of taking a year off to travel sounded unrealistic, but the thought of waiting another decade felt even riskier.

Once we dug into our finances, we realized that years of frugal living had quietly given us more flexibility than we expected.

So, six months later, when I was 51, and Julie was 48, we quit our corporate jobs with the intention of taking a one‑year break to travel — not knowing it would eventually turn into four years.

Travel opened the door to our second act

A few days after leaving our jobs, we packed the car and drove from our home in Ohio to Niagara Falls, continuing through Vermont and New Hampshire to take in the New England fall foliage.

We spent nearly two weeks wandering through painted forests, stopping at small towns, and letting the pace of our old lives fall away.

Before heading home, we lingered along the Finger Lakes, sipping wine and soaking in the views. Without a care in the world, we took each moment as it came, laughing, smiling, and enjoying each other's company as we discovered new places and experiences.

When we got home, we immediately started planning our next trip and sharing stories about the experience with our loved ones. After seeing our pictures, our friends were struck by how beautiful the places we visited were, and encouraged us to document our travels.

Their enthusiasm stuck with us, and as we planned our second trip to Arizona, we decided to be more intentional about capturing video and turning our experiences into helpful travel guides.

Julie created a YouTube channel to share the videos from our trips, and I started a travel blog where I wrote guides for the destinations we visited.

Neither of us had ever created content before, and we weren't especially tech‑savvy, so there was definitely a learning curve. Simple tasks took us longer at first, but we gradually improved with each trip.

As we settled into our new lifestyle, I felt reinvigorated. Our travels opened us up to incredible experiences across the country, and also helped us to find greater joy in the quiet moments at home. Making coffee and walking the dog brought me a feeling of peace, and they no longer felt like chores that had to get done between work.

This feeling began to follow me everywhere we went. During a trip to the Oregon Coast, we stood on Cannon Beach at sunset, and it hit me — Julie and I were happy. In that moment, I knew I didn't want our journey to end.

We delighted in the windswept shores, towering sea stacks, and historic lighthouses, and I returned home determined to stretch our gap year into a meaningful second act.

With a few tweaks to our travel style, we decided to keep going

In order to extend our gap year, we knew we'd have to make a few changes to our current style.

For example, to give ourselves more time to create content and reduce expenses, we scaled back from monthly trips to about eight or nine a year.

We also worked hard to diversify the types of trips we were taking, crossing off the national parks on my bucket list and the cruises and Disney parks on Julie's.

Luckily, content creation also gave us some extra income to work with — and became a side gig we both loved. It felt surprisingly liberating to create something simply because I enjoyed it, and it opened my eyes to the possibility of a second career I had never allowed myself to imagine.

Nowadays, our income is definitely less than it was when we were both working full-time jobs. Julie works a remote part‑time job, and I earn a small income from the travel content I create. Still, we've never regretted taking the risk that has brought us so many rewards.

Over the past four years, we realized we don't have to be defined by our careers, and reinvention is absolutely possible, even if that means starting over in your 50s. And now, we finally have a life that feels like our own.

• If you hate shopping or have trouble finding clothing that fits your body, personal style, and budget, you might want to try an online styling service. 
• It combines algorithms with real human stylists to help you find clothing you'll love. In the end, it's more convenient and could be more cost-effective than shopping in person or online by yourself. 
• Stitch Fix is the best online personal styling service for most people because of its large inventory of brands and sizes, and its user-friendly experience. Its clothing options cater to a variety of styles, fit well, and are reasonably priced. 

If I told you 10 years ago that I had a personal stylist, you might think, "Who has the time and money to do that?" 

Today, you'd know that my personal stylist is a woman I've likely only ever met online. She sends me clothing pieces that fit my style and budget, and I try all of them on in my own home. 

Online personal styling services bring a previously inaccessible experience to the mainstream through the use of algorithms, human stylists, and a streamlined shipping process. They're popular because they save time and are pretty accurate when it comes to understanding your clothing style and fit. 

The services generally have the following design:

When you sign up, you fill out a Style Profile that serves as a summary of all your clothing sizes and style preferences (you can change your answers at any time).

Then, you receive a box of anywhere from five to 12 pieces and have a set amount of time to try them on and figure out whether you'd like to keep them.

While all the services below charge "styling fees" of $20-$40, these fees are waived if you ultimately buy something from your box.

It's just as easy to return the pieces you don't want. Your box should contain a bag and free return shipping label, so you can simply drop off your return at your post office or local shipping center. 

In the end, using an online personal styling service is a more convenient way to shop for all types of clothing, from activewear to workwear. Since you're working with a dedicated stylist who understands what you're looking for, you'll also have a better chance of finding something that you'll actually like and wear often. If you hate shopping for clothing for yourself, an online personal styling service is something worth trying. 

Here are the best online personal styling services to try: 

• Best online styling service overall: Stitch Fix
• Best premium styling service: Dailylook
• Best styling service for customer service and rewards: Trunk Club
• Best styling service for quality basics: Frank and Oak
• Best plus-size styling service: Dia & Co.

The best online styling service overall

Stitch Fix is a well-rounded, well-oiled machine, with the built-in flexibility and clothing variety to cater to your personal style (or where you want your style to be). 

With an active client base of 3 million people, Stitch Fix is the most popular and well-known personal styling service, and for good reason. 

Its large inventory of brands, styles, and sizes (0-24W and XS-3X, including maternity) at every price point caters to a wide audience. Anyone from a budget-conscious recent grad looking for stylish workwear to a mom who wants to invest in comfortable everyday looks can use Stitch Fix to find a quality clothing piece. 

In addition to the Style Profile that runs standard across all the online styling services in this guide, you can make it even easier on Stitch Fix's algorithm and stylists by filling out short quizzes about specific style preferences or challenges you have, or requesting specific items through a "Fix Note" before you schedule a shipment. 

Every box contains five pieces of clothing, shoes, and/or accessories like handbags or jewelry. They'll come from a mix of up-and-coming, established, and in-house brands. Don't overlook these in-house brands — they're reasonably priced and made well, and in fact many of my most-worn closet pieces are these Stitch Fix exclusives.

You can also add extras (basics like underwear, bras, and socks) to your Fix in sizes XS-3X (44DDD is the largest bra size), for $10 to $60 per item.

In my experience, Stitch Fix generally got my style right, though it tended toward the safer side, and they nailed fit the majority of the time. Reviewers at The Wirecutter agree about the accuracy of the clothing fits, which ranked the highest of the online styling services they tested. 

While you can schedule automatic shipments at designated dates, Stitch Fix is not a formal subscription. It's easy to reschedule or cancel a shipment online. 

Other details you should know:

• Styling fee: $20, applied as credit to any items you purchase 
• Number of days to try on and return clothes: 3 
• Shipping and returns: free 
• Referral bonus: $25 
• iOS app available 

The best premium styling service

Premium and luxury brands are the name of the game at Dailylook. If you're willing to pay the higher cost, you won't be disappointed.

While other personal styling services are careful to point out that they work for all types of budgets, Dailylook places itself squarely in the "premium" camp.

It has the most expensive styling fee and its clothing pieces all start at $60 each. Example brands include Furla and Badgley Mischka. Even the blue, ribbon-wrapped box your clothing arrives in makes the experience feel extra special. 

However, this higher price point works, perhaps because it's combined with the use of full-time stylists (rather than part-time or ad-hoc stylists) who understand the brands and business inside and out, and a feature that lets you "favorite" pre-curated looks to further clarify your own style beyond the Style Profile. This system works so well that Dailylook told Business Insider its customers receive something they like and purchase it 80% of the time. 

At least you can save a little money as a member: buy three or more items from your box and you'll get 50% off the lowest priced item. In case you don't decide to buy anything, the $40 styling fee credit doesn't just disappear. You can use it to buy clothing on the Dailylook website. 

Compared to those of the other styling services, Dailylook's online user experience feels like it's lacking a little. I found it more difficult to navigate and get the hang of, even though (or perhaps because) the layout is simple.

Still, the actual pieces I received were impressive. Dailylook is best for finding premium pieces that you'll wear in all aspects of your life. I personally kept three (of the 12 total) pieces I tried: a light cami for casual summer days, a comfortable and stretchy jumpsuit that could be dressed up or down, and a bright pink dress that would look excellent at weddings and cocktail hours.

Other details you should know:

• Styling fee: $40, applied as credit to any items you purchase
• Number of days to try on and return clothes: 5
• Shipping and returns: free
• Referral bonus: $40 
• iOS app available 

The best styling service for customer service and rewards

Friendly service, free perks, and fashion-forward inventory make Nordstrom-owned Trunk Club the most enjoyable personal styling experience you can try — if you have the time to invest in it. 

Nordstrom is known for its great customer service, so it should come as no surprise that getting styled through Trunk Club, which is owned by Nordstrom, comes with top-notch service, extras, and rewards. 

Trunk Club sources all of its styles from Nordstrom's inventory, which tend toward the pricier side (ready-to-wear pieces range from $40-$300, while outerwear and boots start at $90). Familiar brands you'll see include Theory, DL1961, J.Crew, and Vince. 

Unique to the styling process at Trunk Club is the ability to live chat with your stylist. You can also talk to them on the phone and via email, or meet them in real life at a Clubhouse. If you want more personal interactions with the person who will be picking your clothes, it will take more time on your end, but the payoff could be worth it.

When I tested Trunk Club myself, I loved chatting with and meeting my very friendly stylist. Though Style Profiles do a good job of summarizing your style and preferences, talking to a real person helps fill in any gaps. 

Trunk Club lets you preview and approve your pieces before they're shipped so you only try on everything that you want to try. It sends more pieces than other services — 12 total, compared to the average of five. 

There are many extra perks of using Trunk Club:

• When Nordy Club members purchase Trunk Club pieces, they earn points that add up to Notes, which are redeemable online and in store at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, and HauteLook. 
• The styling fee is waived for Nordy Club members. 
• Alterations on select items are free of charge (others require a fee) and offered at Clubhouses and Nordstrom stores. 
• In-person styling sessions at a Clubhouse are free of charge. 

Other details you should know:

• Styling fee: $25, applied as credit to any items you purchase; free for Nordy Club members 
• Number of days to try on and return clothes: 5 
• Shipping and returns: free 
• Referral bonus: $50 
• iOS and Android apps available 

The best styling service for quality basics

Frank and Oak makes some of the best-fitting, most comfortable basics we've tried, plus they're sustainably made. Its Style Plan helps whittle down the best pieces for you. 

Frank and Oak is a Canadian online clothing brand that focuses on making the high-quality essentials like sweaters, T-shirts, and denim that are often, surprisingly, the most difficult to shop for. The company does this using eco-conscious processes and high performance materials, which is why its clothing is more expensive than average competitors. 

When it comes to sustainable fashion that's appealing inside and out, Frank and Oak is ahead of the pack. To make its jeans, for example, it turns post-consumer waste into denim fabric, uses organic cotton, and employs manufacturing techniques that use up to 79% less energy and 95% less water than traditional methods. 

Frank and Oak's Style Plan shows you three to five seasonal pieces from this repository of sustainable fashion and each box generally costs about $150-$250 total. Insider Picks reporter Mara Leighton tried the service and surprised herself when she loved and kept all three pieces she received. 

The thing about Frank and Oak's style is that it's simple — think slim-fit polo shirts, wool cardigans, wide-legged cropped pants. Amidst the chaos of the fast-moving (and often wasteful) fashion world, however, that simplicity is a welcome change. 

Environmentally conscious shoppers with a minimalist aesthetic will also love the Style Plan because it grants them exclusive member pricing of 20% off the rest of the site. The subscription box ships every month, but they can skip any month and directly pick out something they like from the site, too. 

Other details you should know:

• Styling fee: $25, applied as credit to any items you purchase
• Number of days to try on and return clothes: 7 
• Shipping and returns: free 

The best plus-size styling service

The stylists at Dia & Co. understand body types and plus-size brands inside and out. For women sizes 14-32, this expertise and the access to inclusive fashion aren't always easy to come by. 

Founder Nadia Boujarwah says she has been everything from a size 12 to a size 22. No matter what size she was, she wasn't happy with the clothing options presented to her, so she cofounded Dia & Co. to help women facing the same problem. 

Dia & Co. carries sizes 14-32 (0x-5x) and brands ranging from direct-to-consumer favorites like Warp + Weft to fashion designers like Nanette Lepore. Since sizing across brands can differ drastically, and particularly among plus sizes, using Dia & Co. saves you the time and frustration trying on multiple sizes of the same piece. Its expert stylists understand these sizing inconsistencies, as well as what types of fabrics and cuts work on various body shapes. 

At its core, Dia & Co. doesn't differ too much from other online styling services — you fill out a profile detailing your style and preferences, receive clothing you will probably like or that pushes the boundaries of your style, give feedback, and continue using the service at a flexible frequency that works for you.

However, based on a number of online reviews, where Dia & Co. really excels is flouting the idea that plus-size style should be relegated to ill-fitting, flowy, and boring clothing. More than a styling service, it provides a community for plus-sized women who want to improve their style, receive stylish clothing in a convenient way, and embrace fashion that makes them feel more confident. 

Dia & Co. is part of a new and exciting wave of size-inclusive companies like Gwynnie Bee and Universal Standard that are built by plus-sized women, for plus-sized women. While other styling services have expanded size offerings, Dia & Co.'s design as a plus-size-first company makes it the best choice for women sizes 14 and up. 

Other details you should know:

• Styling fee: $20, applied as credit to any items you purchase
• Number of days to try on and return clothes: 5
• Shipping and returns: free 
• Referral bonus: $20 

• Short Story is a subscription service that helps women find petite-sized clothing.
• Stylists use a questionnaire to personalize your box and continue to learn your style over time.
• After giving the service a try for myself, I can't stop recommending it to my friends.

Shopping for clothes that fit right on the first try is a tall order when you're petite. Unless I shop the junior section, blouses, jackets, bottoms, and especially one-and-done outfits like dresses and jumpsuits nearly always require some form of tailoring or tucking in.

I realize the obvious answer is to shop in the petite section, but oftentimes that inventory is limited, so I'm left searching for an alternative. When I came across Short Story, a personal styling service created by petite women, for petite women, I knew I had to give it a try.

What is Short Story and how much does it cost?

Short Story was founded by Isabella Sun back in 2019, with the intention of putting an end to the inevitable "ugh" that transpires when petite sizes shop for clothes. Currently, the service caters to women 5'4" and under, with sizes ranging from 00P-18P. Short Story carries its own exclusive clothing lines but also collaborates with brands like Vince Camuto, Vero Moda, and Liverpool, among others. 

Subscribers can receive stylist-curated boxes every few weeks, monthly, every few months, etc., depending on their preference and the total cost of each box varies by budget. You will be charged a $25 styling fee per box, and the 5-6 clothing items that are included in your box start at $32. 

How it works

One of the best parts of Short Story's service is how easy the process is from start to finish. First, you'll take the style quiz. Questions range from which items you have the most trouble shopping for, to how you feel about specific styles, your sizes, and budget preferences. 

Once you've completed the questionnaire, you fill out your shipping and payment information. When your order is processed, a stylist will use your response to personalize your box.

You have five days from the time you receive your box to try everything on and decide what you love, and what you don't. Shipping is free, as are returns and exchanges. 

My overall impression

I was impressed with Short Story from the very beginning. I found the service questionnaire to be thorough and thoughtful and received my box within two weeks of ordering. 

Inside my box were six items: A leather jacket, a maxi dress, a jumpsuit, a pair of black denim pants, a button-down shirt, and a gold paperclip chain necklace. 

The stylist assigned to my box did an excellent job choosing pieces that filled a gap in my wardrobe. Usually, I have a lot of trouble finding dresses, jumpsuits, and bottoms that fit me well and complement my petite shape and frame, but every article of clothing I received fits like a glove.

It may take some time for Short Story to learn your style

While all of the pieces included in my box fit nicely, there were one or two items that didn't quite align with my personal style. That said, this was my first time working with Short Story. It's highly possible that over time, Short Story stylists get a better understanding of the type of clothing you love and don't love based on what you keep versus what you return.

The bottom line

I would (and have already started to) recommend Short Story to any petite woman tired of sifting through countless clothing items only to come out empty-handed, or scheduling an appointment with their tailor. The clothing is high quality, and comfortable, and the stylists behind the site are experts in the space who curate a selection of items you'll not only want to wear but that you love to wear.

• Clothing rental services are becoming more and more popular, and Vince is one of the latest brands to take part with its rental service, Vince Unfold. 
• For $160 a month, this service gives you four Vince pieces at a time with unlimited swaps.
• As a regular user of Rent the Runway, I tried Vince Unfold for two months to see how the rental services compared. While I love Vince's aesthetic and enjoyed all of the pieces I rented, ultimately I will be keeping my Rent the Runway subscription.
• With access to a plethora of brands rather than just one, RTR is a better value for my lifestyle. You can find more of my thoughts on the service below.

A few years ago, the idea of sharing clothing with strangers would have been foreign, but today it's pretty standard. 

The clothing rental industry is thriving. Retail unicorn Rent the Runway has accumulated a community of over nine million members who use the service to rent everything from gowns fit for black-tie events to casual items like sweatshirts and jeans. More affordable subscription options, like Haverdash and Nuuly, let users bring new pieces to their clothing rotation for less than $100 a month. More and more clothing brands are seeing the merit of the sharing economy. Rebecca Taylor, American Eagle, and Banana Republic are just a few of the brands that have started in-house rental services of their own. 

One of the latest rental services to join is Vince Unfold. Vince, a luxury clothing brand based out of California, makes beautiful basics and minimalist pieces that work for just about any occasion. I've always loved the brand, but shop there selectively because the items are pricey — a classic black blazer goes for $445, while a simple white T-shirt runs about $85. That's why I was so excited to discover this service that costs just $160 a month (the same cost as RTR Unlimited) for unlimited access to Vince pieces. As a Rent the Runway subscriber myself, I thought it would be interesting to see how the service compares. For transparency, I got to try the service for two months for free. Below, I'll dive into my experience. 

How to get started

If you've ever used a clothing rental service before, Vince Unfold will seem familiar to you. If not, it's still an easy service to get used to. 

First, you'll sign up and create an account, which allows you to browse the Vince Unfold selection. The selection doesn't include everything you would find on the Vince site, though there are plenty of different options to choose from. You'll find a lot of tops, bottoms, dresses, jackets, and sweaters. When you find a piece you like, just pick out your size and add it to your Edit — this is essentially where all of your tentative rentals will live. 

Once you have at least 10 items in your Edit, Vince Unfold will curate a box of four pieces for you. You don't know exactly which pieces will arrive, which I found to be part of the fun. If there's something you really want to try, you can prioritize it in your Edit, which signals that you want it to be in your next shipment, though nothing is guaranteed.

Your shipment should arrive in two to three days. Wear the pieces as often as you'd like, and when you're ready for a new batch, send them back in the pre-paid bag that came with the delivery. Shipping and returns are always free. So long as you're subscribed to the service, you can swap out or keep pieces for as often as you'd like. 

The pros

Vince Unfold lets you try new styles without making any long-term closet commitments. Considering most items of clothing at Vince cost more than $160 on their own, the monthly fee is a pretty good deal. If you love to shop at Vince, this service lets you try pieces from the brand before you buy them. Plus, you'll be able to buy the pieces you do love at a discounted price.

Renting from one brand also has its perks. If you love the Vince aesthetic, you can be sure you'll be pleased with the selection of pieces. Additionally, I appreciated how easy it was to get the right size every time. When using Rent the Runway, I sometimes miss the mark in terms of sizing because all the brands size their clothing differently. With Vince, I know what size I am and that translates across most items. The fact that there are no major sizing discrepancies made placing orders a breeze. Even if I didn't love every style I received, each piece still fit me well. 

If you're indecisive like me, you'll probably appreciate that Vince Unfold chooses the pieces they send you.  I often spend hours mulling through the options on Rent the Runway, but when using Vince Unfold I was able to cut that time down. Instead, I picked a few items I really liked and was pleasantly surprised by the ones that ended up in my shipment. One of my favorite items was a long purple satin skirt. I paired it with a plain black t-shirt and white sneakers for a look that was on-trend, comfortable, and compliment-inducing. I still think about that skirt and wonder if I made a mistake by not purchasing it. 

The cons

Renting from solely one brand also has its disadvantages. If you like experimenting with a lot of different styles, you'll probably get tired of having access to only one brand, but that's the whole premise of the service after all. 

If you want to know which pieces you'll be receiving in advance of your shipment, Vince Unfold is probably not right for you. You can prioritize items in your "Edit" so that there's a greater chance they end up in your shipment, but there's no way to know what you're getting until it ships out. If you want to rent clothing for a specific event like a wedding, I could see the unpredictability being a problem. 

If you don't know your size in the brand, you may have some misses. Because the service is relatively new, most items don't have any reviews. All items have size guides to help you find the best option, and I find that Vince generally runs pretty true to size. But, if you are new to the brand, this may be an issue at first. 

Additionally, there are no prices listed alongside the pieces on the rental site. I actually didn't find this feature to be a bother at all, but if you are hoping to buy an item in the long run, you may be hit with higher prices than you expected.

One of my main qualms with the service was the shipping. As a Rent the Runway user, I've gotten accustomed to the speedy same-day shipping and easy-to-carry garment bags. I understand that's not a reality for all services just yet, but I did miss that while using Vince Unfold. The boxes are a little bulky, which was a bit of a nuisance to me as I had to carry them home from my office, where I chose to have them delivered. You also have to ship the four items back together, so you won't be able to return as frequently as other services where you can ship rentals back one at a time. 

Bottom line

I think Vince Unfold is a great service. If you love the brand's clothing, you'll probably love getting to wear all sorts of pieces and having the option to buy them at a discounted price. Personally, I find that Rent the Runway is better for my lifestyle. While I love Vince styles and was impressed with most of the pieces I rented, ultimately I like the variety that comes with having access to multiple brands. If Vince is totally your speed, though, I think you'll really appreciate the value and convenience. 

Sign up for Vince Unfold for $160 a month here

Shop all Vince clothing here

Orlando and Detroit go head-to-head once again in the first round of the NBA Playoffs after the Magic upset the Pistons in Game 1. Below, you can find everything you need to know about Game 2, including where to watch Magic vs. Pistons, the schedule for the rest of the series, and more.

If you don't want to read any further, you can live stream Magic vs. Pistons Game 2 on ESPN Unlimited in the US and on NBA League Pass in several other countries, including the UK and Australia. We'll break down a few other watch options below, including US services with free trials.

After a stellar regular season, the No. 1 Detroit Pistons are off to a rocky start in the NBA Playoffs. The top-seeded team lost 112-101 to the No. 8 Orlando Magic. The Pistons lead the Eastern Conference, while the Magic sits in eighth. Orlando clinched a playoff spot during the Play-in tournament after defeating the Charlotte Hornets.

Where to watch Magic vs. Pistons in the US

The Magic vs. Pistons game will air on ESPN in the US. The game is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. Cord-cutters have a few different live streaming options to explore when it comes to ESPN. The network's direct streaming counterpart, ESPN Unlimited, costs $30 a month and offers total live stream to ESPN's full family of networks (including ESPN on ABC content).

You can also live stream ESPN through one of the best live TV streaming services we've tested. DirecTV, Fubo, and Sling TV are three of our favorites. ESPN is available in DirecTV's MySports plan, which starts at $65 a month ($45 a month for your first two months) and comes with a five-day free trial. ESPN can also be found in Fubo's Sports + News plan, which costs $56 a month ($46 in your first month) and comes with a five-day free trial. ESPN is also available in Sling's Orange and Essentials plans, which cost $46 a month and $20 a month, respectively. Additionally, Sling Orange is available in budget-friendly short-term passes, which start at $5 for a single-day pass.

Where to watch Magic vs. Pistons in the other regions

In several regions (with a few exceptions, including Canada after the first round and the United States), fans can catch the NBA Playoffs live on the NBA League Pass. Many countries also have traditional broadcast agreements to show games, but you can still stream them through the NBA League Pass. Prices vary from region to region (plans start at AU$25 a month in Australia and £17 a month in the UK). You can see prices and availability in your country by clicking through to the NBA League Pass purchase landing page.

How to watch Magic vs. Pistons from anywhere

If you're traveling away from home and still hoping to keep up with your usual streaming options, you can do so with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are handy cybersecurity tools that let people change their electronic devices' virtual locations. This way, their favorite websites and apps work just like they would back home. The services we've recommended above require country-specific payment methods, so this option will work best for those who are simply traveling abroad right now.

NordVPN is one of the best VPN services on the market right now. It's fast, user-friendly, and has a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not what you're looking for. You can learn more in our NordVPN review.

Pistons vs. Magic First Round schedule

Pistons vs. Magic Game 2 odds

According to BetMGM, the Detroit Pistons are the favorites to win the game. At the time of writing, the spread is -8.5 for Detroit, and the over/under is 218.5.

Where is the Pistons vs. Magic Game 2?

The Pistons vs. Magic Game 2 will be held at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. This is the Pistons' second home game in the series. After this, the series will head to Orlando for the next two games.

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

• I gave in to another fashion trend and bought the TikTok-famous Halara pleated skirt.
• My order shipped surprisingly fast and delivered just in time for a weekend trip.
• Although the skirt is sold out now, similar styles from the brand are still available to shop.

Micro mini skirts of all silhouettes and colors have been making a comeback, and I've been determined to hop on the wave. After a friend recommended Halara in our group chat, I started getting ads from Instagram (more confirmation we're all being listened to) and decided to check it out.

Halara isn't like my other go-to online clothing stores that drop new styles daily. Less trendy but still affordable, it's where you'll find solid color essentials with varying details that are simple enough to be worn over and over again. Although I'd fallen for another trend by thinking my closet needed a micro mini skirt, what I needed most was to be more intentional with my clothing purchases. The brand's High Waisted Plain Mini Pleated Skirt in black felt like the perfect buy because it was compatible with 70% of my summer wardrobe.

Trying clothing stores for the first time can be tricky, especially when they're online, but from the moment I scrolled through this skirt's reviews section full of previous buyers to the day it arrived on my doorstep, I was constantly reassured. Originally just under $45, the skirt, like most things on the site, was on sale for $10 off. After downloading the Halara app and buying on my phone instead, I got an extra discount that was just enough to take care of shipping, and I was even given a free gift for being a first-time customer. With tax added at checkout, it brought my purchase back up a bit, but the Ivory Plain Pleated Scrunchie they gifted me sweetened the price. 

This is when it starts to get almost unbelievable. My order shipped hours after I purchased and was delivered a week and a half later. I hadn't planned on packing it for a trip I was taking that weekend because I hadn't even considered it'd get to me in time. After trying it on, I instantly made room in my suitcase.

While the front falls well above my fingertips, the skirt angles downward around the sides and dips lower in the back to prevent any cheeky hiccups. Despite its name and description, the skirt has shorts underneath of the same color as an extra precaution. The only thing better than a skirt is a skort, so it felt like this purchase just kept getting better and better.

That's the cool part about Halara. Not only do they offer stylish basics that can be worn repeatedly, but there's an emphasis on athletic wear that makes even its most trendy pieces functional. So even if what you originally had your eye on is sold out, like my skirt is now, there are countless similar items to replace it, like this 2-in-1 skirt with frilly layers or this tennis skirt with pockets. When a clothing site prioritizes the tiny details in both construction and customer satisfaction, it's hard not to go back and shop the site for more.

Although my skirt is now sold out, you can still shop these similar options from Halara:

Getting dressed in the morning is often complicated. However, the process is easier when your wardrobe is filled with basics that look great and feel great, too. That kind of uncomplicated comfort is exactly what Richer Poorer does best.

For those unfamiliar, Richer Poorer is a California-based clothing brand that got its start in the socks and intimates space before expanding into seriously comfortable basics and loungewear for everyone. What makes Richer Poorer so great, you ask? The fabrics are the kind of soft you want to wrap yourself up in whenever you get the chance. The styles are spot-on — simple, stylish, and universally flattering. And for the most part, the prices feel pretty fair.

Everyone needs a great basics brand in their back pocket. One you can rely on when they need a new T-shirt, cozy sweatshirt, or even just a pair of underwear. Richer Poorer is just that, with the California-cool aesthetic that, let's face it, we all want to embody so effortlessly. Here's why Richer Poorer is on our highly-vetted list of the best women's basic brands.

Linen Maxi Dress

In Insider Reviews' guide to the best maxi dresses, style writer Talia Ergas writes: "Richer Poorer's Linen Maxi Dress has a flattering babydoll cut that I like to wear with a denim maxi jacket draped over my shoulders." 

The dress is made of a linen blend that's perfect for summer months. Plus, it's incredibly comfortable — so comfortable you could even wear it to bed. 

Women's Relaxed Crop Tee

This top is one of the best T-shirts for women because of its buttery-soft material, ability to hold up over multiple washes, and breezy silhouette. Richer Poorer even pre-washes most of its products so that they arrive soft and already broken in. Made from 100% cotton, this is the perfect shirt if you want something cropped but still a little oversized.

"I cannot say enough good things about the material and feel. The only issue I have is that, personally, I like my T-shirts to be a little more fitted, so this wasn't my white whale. But if you're into a more relaxed cut, it could be yours." —Samantha Crozier, style editor, Insider Reviews. 

The Men's Pima Crew Pocket Tee

If you ask us, T-shirts are some of Richer Poorer's best work. The soft Pima cotton feels super smooth to the touch. The color options, ranging from simple neutrals to vivid neons, have something for everyone. A workwear style pocket makes the tee feel a bit more casual. These tees are pill-resistant and more durable than your average cotton, so you can wear them time and time again, making them worth the upgrade. 

 

• Stitch Fix combines the smart efficiency of data with the personal touch of clothing stylists to help millions of women, men, and kids shop for their closets. 
• In the eight years since its launch, it has already gone public and crossed the $1 billion annual revenue mark. 
• Learn more about how the service works and why it has been so successful in disrupting the online retail world below. 
• Sign up for Stitch Fix here to receive your first personalized box of clothing. 

In 2011, Katrina Lake was a student at Harvard Business School who had been inspired by her experience as a retail and restaurant consultant to create a personalized shopping experience driven by data. Out of her Cambridge apartment, she shipped boxes of clothing to friends who needed help shopping for their closets. 

From a creative idea and small apartment emerged Stitch Fix, a retail disruptor that has since gone public, posted a net revenue of $1.2 billion in the 2018 fiscal year, and attracted an active client base of 3 million people.

The San Francisco-based online personal styling service is making headlines for its rapid ascent from fledgling startup to widely recognized industry contender. This is how Stitch Fix is commanding the attentions of anyone interested in shopping, tech, and their innovative union. 

How Stitch Fix works

New users begin with a Style Profile questionnaire, where you hand over your personal measurements and sizes, preferred clothing fit and styles, budget, and freeform thoughts about what you want out of the Stitch Fix experience. 

After being matched with one of Stitch Fix's more than 3,900 stylists, your Personal Stylist will handpick clothing, shoes, and accessories to fit your profile and ship five pieces to your door at a date of your choosing. 

You have three days to try on the pieces and decide what you want to keep and send back. Each shipment includes Style Cards with recommendations of how to style the pieces. 

Read more: I tried Stitch Fix, a popular personal styling service, and I loved it — here's how it works

You only pay for the items you decide to keep, while the rest go back into the prepaid envelope to ship back to Stitch Fix. There's a $20 styling fee for each "Fix," but it's automatically applied as credit toward any items you purchase. If you buy everything in your Fix, you receive a 25% discount off the entire order. After completing your order, you give your feedback online, which helps inform future Fixes. 

Stitch Fix is not a membership or subscription service, so you're not locked into recurring fees or shipments. However, you do have the option to set up automatic deliveries, which can always be adjusted or stopped at any time. 

The types of clothing you'll receive from Stitch Fix

Since it launched as a women's service, its Women's clothing collection is most robust, drawing from more than 250 up-and-coming, established, and in-house brands. In your Fix, you might find names like AYR, Citizens of Humanity, and Warp+Weft, as well as Stitch Fix-exclusive brands like 41 Hawthorn and Fairlane. It serves maternity, petite, and plus clients, carrying sizes 0-24W and XS-3X. 

You can also add extras — basics like underwear, bras, and socks from brands like Free People and Wacoal — to your Fix in sizes XS-3X (44DDD is the largest bra size), for $10 to $60 per item. 

For Men, a service that launched in 2016, the company offers more than 30 brands including Original Penguin, Scotch & Soda, and 7 For All Mankind in sizes XS-3XL. Extras, from some of our favorite brands including Mack Weldon, Stance, and Tommy John, come in sizes XS-3X and cost $12 to $36 per item. 

Women's and Men's clothing items cost anywhere from $25 to $500 each. With Stitch Fix, you'll be able to find stylish options while staying within your budget, whether you need an affordable pair of shoes or want to splurge for a luxurious evening coat. 

In 2018, Stitch Fix further expanded its services with kids clothing, available for ages 2 through 12 and sizes 2T-14. The kids' service differs slightly in that you receive eight to 12 items per Fix, with prices ranging from $10 to $35 per item. 

Why Stitch Fix is so successful:

When nearly every part of the shopping experience — your personal characteristics, clothing characteristics, and post-Fix feedback — can be condensed into a data point, the company ends up with a lot of useful information that it can plug into an algorithm.

Stitch Fix's team of more than 100 data scientists, led by Eric Colson, the former VP of Data Science and Engineering at Netflix, is in charge of the predictive algorithms that keep users happy.

Through a combination of the user's Style Profile, historical interactions with the service (e.g. when and how often they schedule Fixes), merchandise data (e.g. color, length, price, brand), and recommendation algorithms, Stitch Fix can efficiently streamline a traditionally frustrating experience. Style Shuffle, a feature introduced in 2018 and available on the Stitch Fix iOS app and online, gamifies clothing preferences with a simple thumbs up or thumbs down rating system, and further improves understanding of the user. If this all sounds suspiciously artificial and robotic, the incorporation of human stylists is meant to retain the personal aspect of shopping. 

While there's certainly a proportion of the population who revel in the winding, unpredictable journey of wandering into stores, trying on armfuls of clothing, and eventually stumbling upon The Dress (if they're lucky), there's also a significant chunk who hate shopping, don't have the time for it, or don't know what they want.

And as people get busier with their lives, that's why so many are drawn to Stitch Fix, which cuts out the logistical and mental work of shopping and lets you enjoy both its functional and creative purposes. You get clothes that fit properly and that you can afford, but you still get to show your personality through clothing and discover new favorite brands. 

The free-range flexibility of the service is another factor that has users coming back. With no restrictive commitment to abide by, they can use Stitch Fix every month as a full-on replacement for traditional shopping, once in a while to refresh their wardrobe before specific events, or any reason in between. 

Finally, by gradually expanding into newer categories like maternity and mids, the company can stay with a user throughout their life and serve the entire family. In its March 2019 Investor Presentation, it detailed the real user journey of a 37-year-old woman who was referred (both parties get $25 credit for referrals) to Stitch Fix in 2013 and has used it throughout the years for maternity clothing, back-to-work clothing, then kids clothing. Select, dedicated users can also take advantage of the Style Pass, a $49 one-time charge that gets them 12 months of free styling and is then credited to the next item purchased. 

The future of Stitch Fix and online shopping as we know it 

In November 2017, with just $42 million in venture capital funding, Stitch Fix began trading publicly (NASDAQ: SFIX) and became the first woman-led tech company to go public in over a year. Lake is also the youngest female to launch an IPO. 

Now, the company is valued at $2 billion, and based on its past success and future trajectory, it only has room to grow. Like fellow retail innovator Rent the Runway, Stitch Fix is shifting traditional conceptions and creating new definitions of shopping. 

Get started with Stitch Fix here

• For Days is a zero-waste fashion brand.
• All of its clothing are made from recycled and recyclable materials
• I tried some of the bestsellers and the clothes feel good as new

If you've never heard of For Days, it's only a matter of time before you do. The clothing brand is one of many on a mission to make zero-waste fashion mainstream and, to their credit, they're making it look easy.  

Founded in 2018 by Kristy Caylor and Mary Saunders, For Days is both an online store and an experience where customers can shop for new clothes and upcycle their old ones through a donation initiative run by the brand. The clothes come in sizes for men and women, along with a number of gender-neutral styles, and range from everyday T-shirts and button-downs to sweats and sweaters. 

Because many (including myself) see the transition back to the office as an opportunity to revisit their wardrobe, now felt like the perfect time to get better acquainted with the label that's seemingly not only better for my closet, but better for the environment as well.

Read on for my favorite picks, plus info on For Days' Take Back Bag, a program that allows you to earn $20 in "Closet Cash" (basically store credit) in exchange for sending a filled bag of old clothes you don't use anymore. It's a win-win for everyone. 

For Better Days Original Sweatshirt

The Original Sweatshirt comes in a handful of colors, from neutral cement and black to brighter shades like teaberry and blazing orange, and has an oversized fit. I got a lot of use out of this piece when vacationing in South Carolina. It was perfect for cool evenings lounging on the couch or running a quick errand, but I wouldn't say it's built for optimal warmth.

In colder conditions, you'll want to layer it over a turtleneck (the way we did in the '90s) or pair it with a scarf under a heavier coat. I've been looking for a basic crewneck sweatshirt, and I really like this one from For Days, but if you don't have $68 to spend on a sweatshirt, you can definitely find something similar for less.

Vintage V

I can't tell you how many white t-shirts I have purchased and tried on in search of my perfect one. The search is over. The For Days Vintage V is it. First, I love a v-neck, but I also just adore the construction of this top. It's made from 20% recycled cotton and 80% organic cotton, is shorter in length (but not cropped), and offers the slightest curve at your natural waist. Its product description says the shirt runs small, but I found it fit true to size for me. I love it in white, and now I want every color. 

Relaxing Long Sleeve Romper

The For Days Relaxing Long Sleeve Romper is an elite one-and-done ensemble. It's made from 100% organic, recyclable cotton jersey material, and feels like the footie pajamas you wore as a kid, minus the foot coverings. It has a zip front and drawstring waist, and while it fits true to size, it is roomy enough so that it's comfortable to lounge in. I wore this romper with a pair of slip-on sneakers to get a massage, and it was the perfect outfit to slip into afterward to prolong my relaxation. It's well worth the splurge.

Carefree Mini Dress

In my experience, casual dresses that are comfortable and cute can be hard to find. So when you do find one that fits well, looks cute, and you can get a ton of wear out of, buy it. Then buy it in every color it comes in. That's how I feel about the Carefree Mini Dress. It's simple, but beautiful and can be dressed up or down. It's made from a VISCOSE fabric that's breathable, and lightweight, making it the perfect foundation for layering in colder conditions. As far as I'm concerned, it's only con is that it doesn't come in more colors.

How the Take Back Bag program works

For Days aims to be part of the solution to one of fashion's most pressing issues: unnecessary waste. The brand prides itself on being a zero-waste operation in which all of its products are made from sustainable and recycled materials and, in turn, are 100% recyclable.

But selling recyclable clothing is only part of their mission. Caylor and Saunders also hope to encourage customers to recycle their unwanted clothes through the For Days Take Back Bag initiative.

The Take Back Bag program is a sustainable way to get rid of unwanted clothes in your closet. Here's how it works: Choose between three bag sizes (small, medium, or large), and once it arrives, stuff it with your old clothes before sending it back using the prepaid shipping label.

For Days accepts all brands in any condition. Just make sure to wash them prior to donating! For every bag purchased, For Days will add either a $6, $10, or $20 credit to your account. If you're ready to return a For Days-made item, the brand will buy it back from you and properly upcycle the garment. 

The bottom line

For Days offers consumers a quality alternative to fast fashion that adds to the waste problem. To me, the cost of For Days clothing reflects the brand's offerings, as well as its morals making this sustainable brand one worth supporting. 

• Rent the Runway has partnered with Nordstrom to expand its drop-off box network to four Nordstrom stores in the LA area.
• RTR customers can drop off their rentals in person and immediately pick their next rentals on the spot.
• RTR customers will also have access to Nordstrom services like try-on and gift-wrapping. 
• In 2018, the company partnered with select WeWork offices to bring drop-off boxes to its lobbies to increase the convenience of subscriptions, which now accounts for 70% of its business.

In its early days, women came to Rent the Runway (RTR) to rent an aspirational $500 designer dress for a wedding for $50. Fast-forward one decade later to 2019, and that limited usage is a foreign concept.

The advent of two highly successful subscription services beginning in 2016 — RTR Update (four items per month, $89) and RTR Unlimited (unlimited rentals of four items at a time, $159) — has shifted the company from helping women shop designer for special occasions to altering the way women shop for their day-to-day wardrobes. Subscriber acquisition is up 160% year-over-year. In response, RTR's selections emphasize women's daily lives —workwear, weekend, and date-night clothes — far more than a rotating carousel of floor-length gala options. Subscriptions now represent nearly 70% of the business and, according to the company, the most active RTR subscribers wear rented clothes more than 120 days (over 30%) of the year.  

Read more: We used RTR to rent $4,862 worth of designer clothes in a week — here's how it works, and why we're so willing to pay the $160 monthly fee

In 2018, the company partnered with WeWork to bring RTR drop-off boxes to select WeWork office lobbies, making it so that subscribers could return clothes in person and select their next rentals immediately after — skipping the waiting period of sending it through the mail. By nature, WeWorks are located in highly central locations, making the service even more convenient for 90% of RTR customers who work.  

Now, Rent the Runway has partnered with Nordstrom to bring drop-off boxes to select Nordstrom locations.

As of Thursday, June 27, RTR subscribers can find drop-off boxes in four Nordstrom stores in the LA area, including Brentwood, Downtown LA, and West Hollywood.

In addition to the new drop-off boxes, the company says the partnership will allow RTR members to experience Nordstrom services like try-on, tailoring, styling, gift-wrapping, easy returns, and a variety of beauty services. In the future, it will also include the opportunity for RTR customers to ship their orders directly for pick-up and make RTR x Nordstrom styling appointments in which a trained stylist will work with RTR members to build out their ideal closet with a mix of rented and owned items from RTR and Nordstrom.

Since both RTR and Nordstrom are highly data-driven, an expansion of these drop-off locations will inevitably hinge on customer feedback and utilization. But it wouldn't be crazy to assume that, given RTR's aggressive growth and Nordstrom's 370+ stores, that this could be the start of something much larger.

Sign up for your first month of RTR Update now to get your first two months for $69 (originally $89) [use code "FF40" at checkout]

Sign up for your first month of RTR Unlimited now to get your first two months for $119 (originally $159) [use code "FF80" at checkout]