Suncreen. It protects us from sun damage, reduces our risk of skin cancer, prevents the early onset of wrinkles and starts to work within minutes of application. In other words, it’s one of the most effective beauty products around. Most of us already know the importance of SPF during the summer when the sun is shining down on us. But if you want to keep your skin looking radiant and healthy, you actually need to wear sunscreen every single day. Here are the reasons why:
Why Do I Need SPF? The Benefits Of Sunscreen
1. Reduces Your Risk of Skin Cancer
Sunscreen protects your skin and reduces your risk of developing skin cancer and skin pre-cancers. Applying SPF in conjunction with other sun protection behaviors — like covering up in dark clothing and wearing a hat and sunglasses — reduces the harmful effects of sun exposure. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation claims that applying sunscreen with an SPF factor of 15 reduces your chance of developing squamous cell carcinoma by 40% and your melanoma risk (the deadliest skin cancer) by 50%.
2. Protects Against Sunburn
Sunlight actually consists of two types of harmful rays, UVA and UVB. UVA rays from the sun (and the same ones you get in tanning booths) are mainly linked to long-term skin damage like the formation of wrinkles, and are also associated with some skin cancers. It’s UVB rays, however, that are responsible for sunburn and are thought to cause most skin cancers. Not only are sunburns painful, they have a direct link to the most deadly types of cancer. According to Healthline: “Even a single sunburn can increase a person’s risk of skin cancer. This is because when the skin absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight, it can damage the genetic material in skin cells.” Thankfully, sunscreen defends the skin against UV rays by absorbing, reflecting or scattering sunlight.
3. Helps Avoid Inflammation & Redness
Too much time in the sun will result in sunburn, severe skin reddening and inflammation of the skin. According to Medical News Today: “The ultraviolet rays from the sun damage the skin, which turns red as the body directs more blood to the affected area to repair the damage.”
4. Prevents The Early Onset Of Wrinkles & Fine Lines
When it comes to developing wrinkles, fine lines and crow’s feet, one of the most effective preventative formulas is sunscreen. Lengthy exposure to UVA rays prematurely ages your skin and results in the loss of collagen and skin elasticity. In fact, up to 90% of visible signs of aging are caused by sun damage. By introducing SPF into your daily skin care routine, you’re warding off the early signs of aging with minimal effort.
5. Helps Protect Against Blotchy Skin & Hyperpigmentation
Uneven skin pigmentation (or hyperpigmentation) refers to parts of the skin becoming discolored or darkening in an inconsistent way. This can be hereditary, but it can also be caused by sun exposure. Blotchy skin or dark spots may spring up on the face, hands and other parts of the body that are regularly exposed to the sun.
The good news? There is a simple way to avoid dark spots (as well as sunburn, wrinkles and skin cancer) — and the solution is wearing sunscreen rain or shine, not just in summer.
6. Stops DNA Damage
Scientific studies have found that sunlight induces DNA damage and can trigger skin carcinogenesis and photoaging. Studies state: “Many of the deleterious human health effects that result from sunlight exposure are associated with a chain of events that begins with the formation of DNA damage. These lesions can lead to inflammatory and immunosuppressive processes in the epithelial tissue as well as accelerated aging and tumor development.”
Clearly, sun exposure can have a profound effect and potentially cause premature skin aging, skin cancer and many other skin changes. If you think you can avoid the sun’s rays in winter or by sitting in the office, you might be surprised to learn about these next situations when SPF is still a must:
5 Surprising Situations When You Need To Wear SPF
1. Indoors
For those spending all day indoors, UVA light can still reach you by penetrating window glass. If your office is bright from sunlight streaming through the windows, you’re receiving a similar amount of UVA rays as you would be if you were outside.
2. At High Altitudes
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, UVB rays can cause sun damage and sunburn even if you’ve chosen a skiing holiday over a week at the beach. Snow reflects up to 80% of the sun’s damaging rays, so next time you’re on the slopes, apply sunscreen to the exposed parts of your face to protect against the increased UV exposure from the reflection.
3. During Winter
The ozone layer is the part of the atmosphere that absorbs the radiation from the sun. During the winter months, the ozone layer thins out, meaning you have less defense against the sun’s rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests applying SPF to your entire body before you get dressed. At a minimum, they recommend applying sunscreen to areas that aren’t covered by clothes, like your ears, neck, scalp, hands and your face (but you already knew that).
4. On Cloudy Days
The Skin Cancer Foundation also states that even when it’s cloudy, up to 80% of the sun’s UV radiation reaches Earth. Unfortunately, that means outside activity on an overcast day (any season of the year) can still result in skin damage.
5. Through Light Clothing
You would assume that all clothing protects us from sun damage, but some lightweight fabrics like silk, crepe or cotton tend to allow light through. Also, the lighter the color of the garment, the more likely sunlight will hit the skin. For example, a white cotton t-shirt only protects with the equivalency of SPF 5! For more protection, wear dark-colored, dense fabrics. Synthetic and semisynthetic fibers like polyester or rayon, plus heavy, tightly woven fabrics like wool, denim or corduroy, provide the most defense — though they may not be what you reach for on a sweltering summer day!
Watch Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar as she reveals her favorite all-mineral SPF moisturizers, perfect for daily use.
What SPF Is Best For Everyday Use?
When choosing a sunscreen, look for the phrase “broad spectrum.” This description signals that the formula protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Next, check the sun protection factor (SPF) number that rates the sunscreen’s effectiveness in blocking UV rays. For your best defense, select a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.
Our all-mineral SPF sunscreens are formulated specifically for the face and neck. Each formula is free from silicones and brimming with natural, organic botanicals and active ingredients to deliver targeted skin benefits, all while helping you stay protected from sun damage, every day.
Our all-mineral SPF formulas are:
Perfect for daily use
Made with zinc oxide for all-mineral SPF protection
Silicone free
1. Lilikoi Mineral Defense Sport Sunscreen
If you’re looking for more than an SPF moisturizer for your daily sunscreen, our all-mineral range includes the Lilikoi Mineral Defense Sport Sunscreen for protection from head to toe. Reach for this water-resistant sport sunscreen for face and body to stay protected during your favorite outdoor activities. Perfect for all skin types. For best results, reapply after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating.
2. Rosehip & Lemongrass Lip Balm
Moisturize, soften and protect your lips with this hydrating all-natural SPF 15 lip balm that defends dry lips against harmful UV exposure, while soothing rosehip oil relieves dryness and rejuvenating lavender restores softness. Dry, weather-ravaged lips will be perfectly moisturized and protected from future damage.
3. Radiant Protection SPF Fluid
The newest addition to our sunscreen collection, the Radiant Protection SPF Fluid combines the benefits of bakuchiol — a retinol alternative that smooths skin’s texture to minimize the visible signs of aging — and niacinamide, which helps support the skin barrier and hydration. This SPF 30 sunscreen is perfect for dry to combination skin types.
4. Tropical Vanilla Day Cream SPF 40
With a fresh tropical vanilla scent, this day cream is formulated with shea butter, vanilla and all mineral SPF 40 protection to revitalize skin and help prevent sunburn. Plus, it’s suitable for all skin types.
5. Bright Skin Moisturizer SPF 40
This daily moisturizer is complete with Natural Hydroquinone Alternative and Swiss Alpine Plant Extracts with SPF 40 all-mineral protection. This potent formula is designed to target the appearance of hyperpigmentation and help prevent sunburn. If you have normal to combination skin, this SPF is the one for you.
6. Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF 40
This all-in-one lightweight daily moisturizer is formulated with cocoa seed extract and satsuma mandarin peel. With SPF 40 all-mineral protection, this moisturizer improves the appearance of skin exposed to blue light stress and pollution. Customer Jess M. left an online review saying calling it “My new favorite moisturizer,” and saying “A little goes a long way … The smell is to die for!! I just can’t get enough!”
How To Apply An SPF Moisturizer
Treat skin first by applying a layer of serum or concentrate
Dispense a pea-sized amount of moisturizer onto hands
Rub hands to warm up moisturizer
Apply onto high points of the face first – forehead, nose, cheeks
Work moisturizer into the rest of the face, and apply to larger areas like neck and chest last
Jabra had done it again by raising the bar higher. The new Evolve2 55 wireless headset is the best solution available for the new norm of Hybrid work without compromising performance and not breaking the bank, and today we will compare it against other alternatives in the market.
The new Evolve2 55 wireless headset is designed to be the new entry wireless headset from Jabra, but compared with another headsets in the market the Evolve2 55 offers something the others don’t and that is Active Noise Canceling at an approachable price point. This feature is strongly useful for really loud environments for Remote workers or Hybrid workers as it helps to keep focus on the call without annoying distractions from the surroundings. The new and improved fit offers the Jabra Air Comfort technology which is greatly appreciated when using a headset all day long.
The new headband design offers more comfort to the user as it now can be adjusted not only on the sides, but on the top as well, thanks to its cushioned headband full of ultra-soft perforated foam layers provides ultra comfort to the user.
Thanks to its new design on the flexible rotating earcups, relieve pressure to the user, giving an out-of-the world comfort, besides that helps to storage the headset easier in small spaces such as backpacks or carrying cases.
The Evolve2 55 offers a microphone boom arm with noise-cancellation microphone technology that includes a smart chipset that powers the speech recognition on the microphone and separating it from the background noise, with this the other end of the call gets the most professional sound quality no matter where you are located. The added built in busy lights are noticeable from the distance and automatically turn on when in a call so you can people know when are on either a call or meeting.
The Jabra Evolve2 55 is certified for all mayor UC platforms included among, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet to mention a few. Thanks to its voice over USB feature the Evolve2 55 headset can be used as a corded headset thanks to its USB corded included, just in case if you forgot your Link 380 dongle and in need to jump into a meeting in a rush.
After mentioning all the features of the new Evovle2 55 headset will compare it against the closest competition.
The first thing we will notice here is the size of the headset, as the ear cups are slightly bigger 40mm versus 28mm, headband is thicker as the headband has memory foam surrounding the band. We will notice the slightly higher price as this was the main headset that started all the new Evolve2 family. Similar as the Evolve2 55 offers the voice over USB feature and offers fast charging as well making it a great contender, however the lack of the Active Noise Canceling tries to compensate for the size of the earcups.
B. Evolve2 75.
Here is the bigger sibling of the Evolve2 family, the Evolve2 75 differs by a bigger price difference, however you can see that this 40mm earcups offers the Jabra Advanced Active Noise Cancellation that offers different levels of adjustment. The boom arm can be easily stored away on its designed hide away place and thanks to this the Evolve2 75 can be used as a boom less mic headset thanks to its Discrete Mode and Open Office certified microphones. The advanced ANC and boom less feature compensates the price versus the Evolve2 55, mix of soft and harder memory foam are found in the earcups.
Poly offers the Focus 2 as an alternative, price point speaking its a close call. The Focus 2 offers Digital Hybrid technology with deferent levels of graduation, Acoustic Fence Technology in the boom arm and offers a comfortable headband similar as the Evolve2 55. This headset can be used not only for the computer and cell phone, but with your desk phone at the office as well, as long as you get the optional Office Base. On the downhill part of this, the Focus 2 offers a micro USB charging and voice over USB instead of a USB-C, and the built in busy light only lights on 1 side and can’t be as easy to notice as the Evolve2 55.
In it, he says: “I love everything about the swamp: the boulder out front, the modest interiors, the seclusion (ideal for singing karaoke late into the night), you get the picture”.
It features rough-hewn wooden furniture
The holiday home, which sleeps up to three guests, has an open-plan design, with a sturdy wooden bed leaning against one wall.
A matching table and two wooden chairs sit in front of an open fire on the opposite side of the house, which is held up by large tree trunks.
A fish-shaped lamp decorates the bedside table
Shrek’s Swamp Airbnb also features decorative touches, including a green “earwax candle” – a nod to a scene in which Shrek pulls out a stick of earwax from his ear and lights it.
It also has a bedside lamp that looks like a stuffed pufferfish.
The dining table sits in front of an open fire
Visitors can also make use of Shrek’s outhouse, a well-known location from multiple Shrek films, which is located about 20 metres away from the swamp itself.
Located in a forest in the Scottish Highlands, the hut is surrounded by signs reading “Stay out”, “Beware Ogre” and “Danger!” though these are “probably for decoration”, according to Donkey.
The home will be available to book from 13 October for a two-night stay between 27 and 29 October and comes with an on-site concierge who will arrange meals for the guests – including morning waffles and parfaits.
“This mud-laden, moss-covered, murky-watered oasis is a perfectly snug spot to escape from village life and embrace the beauty of nature,” Airbnb said.
The home has a bare-earth floor
The company will make a one-time donation to the HopScotch Children’s Charity as part of the project.
Our experts answer readers’ personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess personal loans). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.
When shopping for a personal loan, most borrowers make the interest rate their top priority. The lower the interest rate, the less the total cost of the loan will be. While other factors like fees and term lengths also are important when when selecting a lender, interest rates are critical in making your final choice.
Best Low-Interest Personal Loans
LightStream Personal Loan: Best for maximum loan amounts
Discover Personal Loan: Best for money-back guarantee
American Express Personal Loan: Best for low minimum APR
Upstart Personal Loan: Best for low credit scores
Wells Fargo Personal Loan: Best from a brick-and-mortar lender
Reach Financial Personal Loan: Best for debt consolidation
The best personal loans with low interest rates have a minimum rate below 8%, which is reflected in our list of top picks. Keep in mind that you’ll only qualify for the lowest personal loan rates if you have an excellent credit score.
Compare the Best Loans With Low Interest Rates
LightStream Personal Loan
Insider’s Rating
4.75/5
Perks
0.50% discount on regular rates with AutoPay
Regular APR
7.99% to 25.49% (with AutoPay discount, rates vary by loan purpose)
Loan Amount Range
$5,000 to $100,000
Pros
Competitive APR
Approval decisions should come shortly after applying
Loans can be funded the same day
Wide range of borrowing amounts and terms
No fees
Cons
Only available to people with good credit
No pre-approval option
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000
Loan term lengths range from 2 to 12 years
Apply online and you’ll receive a response shortly during business hours.
Compare rates from participating lenders via Fiona.
Insider’s Rating
3.5/5
Regular APR
5.91% to 17.97%
Loan Amount Range
$3,500 to $40,000
Minimum Credit Score
Undisclosed
Pros
No prepayment penalties or origination fees
Low starting APR
Funds available quickly
Ability to prequalify for a loan
Cons
Limited repayment term lengths
High minimum loan amount
Must be a card member to apply
Hefty late fee
Product Details
Loan term lengths range from 1 to 3 years
Receive your funds as soon as the next day
Upstart Personal Loan
Insider’s Rating
3.25/5
Perks
You can prepay your loan at any time with no fee or penalty
Regular APR
4.60% to 35.99%
Loan Amount Range
$1,000 to $50,000 (borrowers in four states are subject to higher minimum loan amounts: Massachusetts: $7,000, Ohio: $6,000, New Mexico: $5,100, Georgia: $3,100)
Pros
Small minimum loan amounts
No prepayment penalty
Quick loan fund disbursement
Cons
Only three and five year terms
Potential for high origination fees
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $50,000. However, borrowers in four states are subject to higher minimum loan amounts: Massachusetts: $7,000, Ohio: $6,000, New Mexico: $5,100, Georgia: $3,100
Loan term lengths are either 3 or 5 years
Can have origination fees up to 8%
Considers employment and education history when making loan approval decisions
Loans are made through one of several Upstart-powered bank partners
Wells Fargo Personal Loan
Insider’s Rating
3/5
Perks
Relationship discount of 0.25%
Regular APR
7.49% to 23.74% (with relationship discount)
Loan Amount Range
$3,000 to $100,000
Minimum Credit Score
Undisclosed
Pros
Large maximum loan amounts
Discounts for current customers
Established brick-and-mortar lender
No origination fee or prepayment penalty
Cons
Significant late fees
History of mismanaging customer information
No online applications for non-customers
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $3,000 to $100,000
Term lengths range from 1 to 7 years
Rate discounts to customers who have a checking account with the bank and who make their loan payments automatically through that account
Non-customers must apply by visiting a branch and talking with a banker
Compare rates from participating lenders via Fiona.
Insider’s Rating
3/5
Regular APR
6.99% to 35.99%
Loan Amount Range
$2,000 to $50,000
Pros
Able to add coborrower
Offers loans for a variety of uses
Cons
Many requirements to qualify
Prosper may not find an investor for your loan
Origination and late fee
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $2,000 to $40,000
Loan term lengths are either three or five years
Origination fee between 1% to 5%, depending on your financial situation
Late fees are 5% of the payment amount or $15, whichever is greater
Loans made by Prosper Funding LLC
Low-Interest Loan Frequently Asked Questions
Personal loan interest rates can be from around 5% to 32%, so a good rate would be one the lower end of that range. The interest rate on a personal loan that you qualify for will depend on variety of factors, including the term of the loan and your credit score.
Generally, the best way to get the lowest personal loan rates is to have an excellent credit score. While you can’t dramatically improve your credit score overnight, you can start by making sure you pay your bills on time and in full. Additionally, you can reduce your credit utilization ratio, or the amount of credit you’re using divided by the total credit available to you.
The lenders we have on our list are a great place to start looking for a low-interest loan. We’ve compiled lenders with the lowest minimum rates on the market, so you’ll likely find the best deals here — provided you have a great credit score.
Best Low-Interest Loan Company Reviews
LightStream Personal Loan
LightStream lends amounts of as much as $100,000 for borrowers looking to find large expenses with a loan that has low interest rates. The company offers same-day funding if the application is approved, verified, and signed before 2:30 p.m. ET.
LightStream also has a wide range of repayment term lengths, from two to 12 years. This is great if you’re looking to spread out the cost of your loan over a long period.
Watch out for: Lightstream doesn’t have preapproval. Borrowers looking for low-interest loans like to shop around to compare rates. Usually, this involves getting preapproved by several different companies and comparing the offers before settling on one. LightStream doesn’t offer preapprovals for its personal loans. You’ll have to go through the full approval process. That includes a hard pull of your credit report, which can temporarily lower your credit score.
Discover personal loans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, differentiating them from competitors. If you decide within 30 days of getting your loan that you don’t want it anymore, you may return the funds via check and won’t be charged any interest. This may be helpful if you find a lender with a lower interest rate or if you end up not needing the loan amount you initially requested.
Discover also has repayment terms ranging from three to seven years, so you have options if you want to spread out the cost of your loan. You’re also able to pay off your loan early at any time without a fee.
Watch out for: Hefty late fee. Discover charges up to $39 in late fees. If you fall behind on your payments, those fees will increase the overall cost of your loan. Some other lenders on our list don’t charge any fees.
American Express has some of the lowest minimum APRs available. If you have an excellent credit score and can qualify for the lowest interest rate, this could be a great lender for you.
The company also gets you funds quickly. Borrowers will usually get their money within one to two business days after loan approval.
Watch out for: Eligibility requirements. To get a personal loan with American Express, you need to be a card member. You need a relationship with the company outside of your personal loan, which may be an added step you prefer to avoid.
Upstart has low interest rates and can get you your money faster than many other lenders. You may be able to get your loan proceeds as soon as the day after you apply.
Upstart’s minimum credit score is 300. If you have a poor credit history, it may be easier to qualify for a loan with low rates from this lender than with some of the others on our list. Keep in mind that you’ll usually be charged a higher interest rate with a lower credit score.
Watch out for: High origination fees. Upstart’s personal loans can have origination fees up to 8%. On a $5,000 loan, for example, that would work out to an origination fee of $400.
Wells Fargo is one of the largest banks in the country, with roughly 4,700 locations in 36 states. Borrowers looking for a low-interest personal loan who prefer face-to-face interactions will find ample opportunities to connect with a Wells Fargo representative. States where branches aren’t available are Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Hawaii.
Wells Fargo also has a high maximum loan limit of $100,000, which is perfect for borrowers who need to finance a large purchase.
Watch out for: History of controversies. Wells Fargo’s recent past has been mired in scandals, including a December 2022 ruling from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordering the bank to pay a $3.7 billion penalty as a result of widespread legal violations, including in the auto and mortgage loan space. Other lenders on our list don’t come with the same baggage.
Reach Financial could be a good choice for borrowers looking for a low-interest personal loan for debt consolidation. It has very fast funding speed. The company pays off your creditors directly — you won’t have any money go into your account — and will do so within roughly 48 hours after your loan is approved.
The company’s loan minimum is relatively low — you’re able to take out a loan as small as $3,500. See our guide to the best debt consolidation loans for options with higher limits.
Watch out for: Limited loan purpose. You’re only able to use your loan funds to consolidate or refinance debt. The other lenders on our list allow borrowers to use a personal loan for pretty much any purpose. Borrowers looking to cover other expenses will have to choose a different lender.
Prosper allows you to add a co-borrower to your account, a feature not all lenders offer. Enlisting a co-signer can help you get a lower interest rate on your personal loan than you would’ve otherwise received, or qualify for a loan that was out of reach on your own.
The company also has a low loan minimum of $2,000 and may be a good option for borrowers who only need a little bit of cash.
Watch out for: Many eligibility requirements. You may have trouble meeting all of Prosper’s qualifications for a personal loan, particularly if your finances aren’t in great shape. These include a debt-to-income ratio below 50%, and fewer than nine credit bureau inquiries (excluding duplicate inquiries) within the last six months.
SoFi Personal Loan. SoFi is an excellent personal loan lender, with no fees and an unemployment protection program. However, it has a higher minimum credit score requirement than any of the lenders on our list, and its minimum rate isn’t as low as the lenders we’ve chosen.
Avant Personal Loan, Avant is a great lender for borrowers with bad credit, as it recommends a credit score between 600 and 700 to qualify for a loan. However, its minimum rate is higher than all of the lenders on our list.
PenFed Credit Union Personal Loan. PenFed is one of our best credit unions for personal loans, with a low loan minimum of just $600. However, you need to be a member to get a loan, and its lowest rates are higher than the lenders we picked.
Low-Interest Loan Company Trustworthiness
Whether you’re interested in taking out a $5,000 loan or a $50,000 loan, finding the right provider can help with your loan approval experience. We’ve looked at each institution’s Better Business Bureau score to offer you another piece of information to pick a company that provides low-interest personal loans. The BBB measures businesses based on factors like their responsiveness to customer complaints, truthfulness in advertising, and openness about business practices. Here is each company’s score:
Our top picks are rated A+ or higher by the BBB, with the exception of Wells Fargo, which has a history of problematic behavior.
Most recently, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in December 2022 ordered Wells Fargo to return $2 billion to customers and pay a $1.7 billion penalty for legal violations involving auto loans, mortgages, and deposit accounts. The bank illegally charged fees and interest penalties on auto and mortgage loans. Additionally, it misapplied payments to those loans for many customers.
If these and other legal issues with Wells Fargo in recent years make you uncomfortable, you may consider getting a personal loan from a different lender.
Know that a high BBB score does not ensure a positive relationship with a credit card consolidation loan provider, and you should keep researching and talk to others who have used the company to get the most complete information possible.
Why You Should Trust Us: Our Methodology
We rate all personal loan products in our reviews and guides on a 1-5 scale. The overall rating is a weighted average that takes into account seven different categories, some of which are judged more heavily than others. They are:
Interest rate (20% of rating)
Fees (20% of rating)
Term lengths and loan amounts (15% of rating)
Funding speed (15% of rating)
Borrower accessibility (15% of rating)
Customer support (7.5% of rating)
Ethics (7.5% of rating)
Each category’s weighting is based on its importance to your borrowing experience. Rates and fees have the most direct impact on the overall cost of your loan, so we weigh those the most heavily. Customer support and ethics are still very important parts of the borrowing experience, but do not directly tie to a personal loan’s terms, so they have less of an impact on the overall rating.
Ryan Wangman was a reporter at Personal Finance Insider reporting on personal loans, student loans, student loan refinancing, debt consolidation, auto loans, RV loans, and boat loans. He is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF). In his past experience writing about personal finance, he has written about credit scores, financial literacy, and homeownership. He graduated from Northwestern University and has previously written for The Boston Globe. Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services here >>
Elias Shaya is a junior compliance associate on the Personal Finance Insider team based in New York City. Personal Finance Insider is Insider’s personal finance section that incorporates affiliate and commerce partnerships into the news, insights, and advice about money that readers already know and love. The compliance team’s mission is to provide readers with stories that are fact-checked and current, so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by making sure language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team. Elias is the point person for the loans sub-vertical and works with the editorial team to ensure that all rates and information for personal and student loans are up to date and accurate. He joined Insider in February 2022 as a fellow on the compliance team. Elias has a Bachelor of Science in International Business from the CUNY College of Staten Island. Prior to joining Insider, he volunteered at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he worked with the biomedical engineering department. In his spare time, Elias enjoys exploring new restaurants, traveling to visit his family in Lebanon, and spending time with friends.
Fall is upon us, which means that sunny beach days and long night dining al fresco have been replaced by more structured routines, cozy sweaters and, possibly, some new habits. Being back on a schedule is a good thing, especially when it comes to self-care. Read on to find out which treatments will help your Clients replenish, refresh and pamper their post-summer skin.
A long summer of travel, fun at the beach and late nights by the campfire may be in the rearview mirror, but the evidence is still front and center on your Clients’ skin. Months of sun, chlorine, salt water (and maybe a few cocktails) may have stripped away moisture, and recent temperature fluctutations are no doubt causing some issues. Clients could use some major replenishing from head to toe.
Curb the wear and tear summer has had on your Clients’ skin with exfoliating and hydrating treatments that will help restore glow to dull skin and top up the lost moisture reserves. Guide your Clients through this transition and help them repair from the summer damage while preparing for the onslaught of fall and winter.
Facials
Let’s face it: There is never a bad time to get a facial. Clients can reap the benefits of a deep cleansing or restorative treatment all year round. And while many types of facials are pretty seasonally fluid, there are definitely a few facial treatments to lean into and others to avoid this time of year.
Some facials are a no-go in the summer because they can make skin especially sensitive to harmful UV rays. There is a risk that sun exposure on freshly lasered or chemically peeled skin can cause pigment damage (hyperpigmentation), increased inflammation and additional complications. But come fall, the skin is ready for a good peel and some hydration.
As summer turns to autumn, the combination of cold and rainy weather outside and hot air being circulated indoors can create the perfect storm of skin issues. If the summer fun dried out your Clients’ skin, expect the mixed bag of autumn temperatures to further dehydrate the complexion and make it look dull, patchy and parched. Fall is actually an ideal time for a peel for a few reasons. That post-summer glow fades quickly, leaving behind a tired complexion in need of some moisture. Gentle exfoliation in the form of a peel encourages faster cell turnover, which gently breaks down the glue that holds dead skin right where you don’t want it.
The Yam & Pumpkin Pro Enzyme Peel 20% leans right into the fall theme. Yam pulp purée — which is high in beta carotene and vitamins to fight the signs of aging — plays well with its fall counterpart, pumpkin — which is rich in smoothing enzymes, amino acids and antioxidants. With additional exfoliating power from glycolic acid, lactic acid and enzymes from papaya and pineapples, this peel is a powerhouse that can reduce the appearance of dark spots, fine lines and sun damage — leaving skin looking firm and radiant. And if your Clients love the results, send them home with the Yam & Pumpkin Enzyme Peel 5% so they can continue the natural exfoliation between spa visits.
Exfoliation
And while we’re on the theme, exfoliation is a great way to replenish the post-summer skin from head to toe. Excessive hours in the sun, sand and surf can do a number on the texture and hydration levels all over the body, but exfoliating skin can do wonders as we head into fall. A thorough scrub gets rid of the lingering dead skin cells to reveal fresher, smoother-looking skin. A beneficial treatment on its own, a body exfoliation is also a great add-on before another treatment, like a body wrap.
A professional scrub is great way to say goodbye to rough, dry summer-ravaged skin. And since we’re all about fall right now, our Cranberry Pomegranate Sugar Scrub creates the perfect mood for the season. Cranberry is high in vitamins and antioxidants, as are other ingredients like pomegranate and green tea. Our Stone Crop Revitalizing Body Scrub is another great option this season. Comforting stone crop paired with antioxidant-rich lemon peel works in tandem to brighten and smooth the skin. Follow with a wrap, massage, shower and a soothing moisturizer and your Client will leave with a major glow.
Body Wraps
Body wraps are great any time of year, but there is something extra special about being wrapped up and left under a heated blanket in the fall. Benefits to Clients can range from increasing circulation to the area to flushing out extra water weight and fluids, tightening the skin and firming the texture.
Eminence Organic Skin Care herbal body wraps are designed to heal dryness, detox and tighten the skin all over. The Paprika Herbal Treatment contains the spice, plus a safe amount of stinging nettle, to help energize the appearance of skin for a healthy-looking glow. This zippy wrap also contains honey to nourish and hydrate. Another spicy option is the Herbal Cellulite Treatment. Like the paprika treatment, this rejuvenating and toning body wrap makes the skin feel warm and results in a rosy glow.
For a real treat, the Chocolate Truffle Body Wrap is an irresistibly delicious option with lots of benefits. This wrap tightens and tones the look of crepey, wrinkled skin, making it an ideal choice for addressing signs of too much sun in summers past. Plus, cocoa is high in antioxidants, while almond, jojoba and macadamia nut oils soften and hydrate.
Massages
Expanding on the cozy theme, nothing feels better on a cool autumn day than a relaxing massage. Whether it’s deep tissue, Swedish, lymphatic drainage or a warming hot stone massage, autumn is a good time to encourage Clients to take some time for themselves during these hectic days of the season.
For the best slip and glide, our Product Support Team recommends the Apricot Body Oil, which contains apricot kernel, grape seed and jojoba oils, which help make the skin feel incredibly soft and smooth. Apricot kernel oil is high in Vitamins A, C and E, and both grape seed and jojoba are incredibly nourishing and hydrating.
Another Eminence Organics oil that is perfect for massage is the Stone Crop Body Oil, which is formulated with arnica and oils from stone crop, rosehip and avocado to moisturize. Spa Professional Lindsay O. left a website review singing the praises of this oil, writing: “I have been using the Stone Crop Oil in my massage treatment room … and I have to say it’s fantastic! It’s a great medium for deep tissue massage as you need very little, do not have to reapply and it smells fresh! Something we noticed is that the arnica is an added bonus for recovering after receiving a deep tissue massage!”
Finishing Touches And Home Care
Don’t let your Clients forget that sunscreen is a non-negotiable in their routine, even on cloudy fall days. Our Radiant Protection SPF Fluid is a moisturizing all-mineral fluid and contains bakuchiol, a gentle alternative to conventional retinol. Make sure to send them home with samples to try it out, or suggest another option like the Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF 40 which does double duty and works well for all skin types.
In the heart of Toronto’s vibrant art scene, one artist is captivating audiences with an explosion of colors and emotions. Meet Soon Cho, a creative force whose journey from South Korea to the corners of the world has etched its mark on her unique artistic vision. Soon Cho’s work is a celebration of joy, an offering of encouragement, and an invitation to find solace amidst life’s chaos.
The Artistic Odyssey:
Soon Cho’s artistic journey began in her childhood, as a shy girl finding solace in the corners while her imagination danced on paper. The dream of being an artist was ingrained in her, a dream that only grew stronger with time. Her journey across continents and cultures has fueled the tapestry of her art, each stroke echoing the beauty and diversity she has experienced.
Inspiration from Life’s Symphony:
Drawing inspiration from the canvas of life, Soon Cho’s art mirrors the simple yet profound moments of everyday life. The play of light, the rhythm of music, and the poetry of nature find their way into her masterpieces. Music is her constant companion during the creative process, amplifying her emotions and infusing life into her artwork.
A Symphony for the Senses:
Soon Cho views her art as a medium of communication, a way to express her very essence and vitality. Music is her muse and carefully curated playlists accompany her on this journey of creativity. Soon Cho’s choice of music ranges from instrumentals to indie tunes, from hip-hop beats to classical serenades, each resonating with her artistic spirit.
BonoBeats Lite: A Harmonious Experience:
Recently, Soon Cho had the pleasure of immersing herself in the world of BonoBeats Lite headphones, and the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. Melding functionality, portability, and elegance, these headphones seamlessly fit into her on-the-go lifestyle. The superb sound quality, noise isolation, and captivating aesthetics make the BonoBeats Lite headphones a cherished accessory, enhancing both work and leisure.
A Heartfelt Recommendation:
Soon Cho enthusiastically advocates for BonoBeats Lite headphones to fellow artists and those in pursuit of an active, dynamic lifestyle. The affordability, impeccable audio quality, and sophisticated design make them a must-have companion, embodying both form and function.
A Glimpse into the Future:
As Soon Cho peers into the horizon, she envisions expanding her canvas to encompass larger public art projects. Her passion for supporting fellow artists and creating impactful, monumental installations speaks volumes about her dedication and artistic integrity. Stay tuned as Soon Cho continues to grace the world with her creativity and artistry, leaving an indelible mark wherever her brushstrokes land.
Our experts answer readers’ personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess personal loans). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.
Who is SoFi Best For?
SoFi has great protection for borrowers in case they get laid off from their jobs. The company offers forbearance for any personal loan borrower who loses their job during their loan repayment. This unique feature allows borrowers to apply for a three-month forbearance, up to a total of 12 months.
SoFi also has a large maximum loan amount of $100,000, which is helpful for borrowers who need to fund a significant expense. It’s a top pick in our guide to the best debt consolidation loans.
However, SoFi doesn’t have any in-person support. If you like having the option of talking to a banker in person about your loan or make a payment in person, SoFi may not be the lender for you.
SoFi Personal Loan Features
Regular APR: 8.99% to 25.81% (with all discounts)
Loan amounts: $5,000 to $100,000
Fees: None required
SoFi Personal Loan Pros and Cons
How to Apply for a SoFi Personal Loan
1. Check your rate. SoFi allows borrowers to prequalify for its loans by applying through its website. That means you’ll be able to get your rate without impacting your credit score. You’ll need to input your name, email address, state of residence, desired loan amount and purpose, and other information.
2.Look over your loan offerings and choose the one that makes sense. After you submit your initial information, SoFi will send you potential loan terms. A shorter term length means bigger monthly payments — but you’ll save more in interest. You’ll need to send in a formal application, which may also require additional documents, like W-2s, pay stubs, or bank statements.
3. Confirm your loan terms and plan for repayment. After you sign the document accepting your loan terms, your loan will be approved and funded. Make sure you’ve added your loan payments into your budget.
SoFi Personal Loan
Insider’s Rating
4/5
Perks
0.25% AutoPay interest rate discount and a 0.25% direct deposit interest rate discount
8.99% to 25.81% (with all discounts)
Loan Amount Range
$5,000 to $100,000
Pros
High maximum loan limit
Unemployment protection
No fees required
Competitive APR
Cons
High minimum credit score requirement
High minimum loan amount
No in-person support
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000
Loan term lengths range from 2 to 7 years
Usually receive your money in a few business days after your application is approved
Unemployment protection if you lose your job during your loan repayment, allowing you to apply for a three-month forbearance, up to a total of 12 months
Loans are made by SoFi Lending Corp.
SoFi Personal Loan Frequently Asked Questions
SoFi requires a credit score of at least 680, which could make it difficult to get approved if you have less than fair credit. The lender also does not allow cosigners.
SoFi has a credit score minimum of 680. The higher your score, the more likely you are to qualify for a lower rate.
SoFi may approve your loan within minutes of applying, and you should receive your money within a few business days.
SoFi offers personal loans that may be best for borrowers with high credit scores.
You can borrow as much as $100,000 with a SoFi personal loan.
SoFi doesn’t specifiy a minimum income required for personal loan borrowers. However, all lenders will take income into account when deciding whether or not to approve you for a loan to ensure you can afford to repay it.
Compare SoFi Personal Loans
SoFi Personal Loans vs. LightStream Personal Loans
SoFi and LightStream Personal Loan both cater to borrowers with good or better credit. But for borrowers who don’t meet SoFi’s relatively high credit requirements, LightStream may be the better choice.
LightStream’s interest rates start lower than SoFi’s rates do, but LightStream’s maximum interest rates are higher. Your choice could depend on which lender offers you the better rate.
SoFi Personal Loans vs. Upstart Personal Loans
While SoFi does not require a origination fee, Upstart Personal Loan does charge an origination fee of up to 8% on its personal loans. Upstart has a much wider range of interest rates than SoFi. SoFi’s interest rates stop much lower than Upstart’s interest rates. See the best personal loans with no origination fee.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Rated SoFi Personal Loans
We rate all personal loan products in our reviews and guides on a 1-5 scale. The overall rating is a weighted average that takes into account seven different categories, some of which are judged more heavily than others. They are:
Interest rate (20% of rating)
Fees (20% of rating)
Term lengths and loan amounts (15% of rating)
Funding speed (15% of rating)
Borrower accessibility (15% of rating)
Customer support (7.5% of rating)
Ethics (7.5% of rating)
Each category’s weighting is based on its importance to your borrowing experience. Rates and fees have the most direct impact on the overall cost of your loan, so we weigh those the most heavily. Customer support and ethics are still very important parts of the borrowing experience, but do not directly tie to a personal loan’s terms, so they have less of an impact on the overall rating.
0.25% AutoPay interest rate discount and a 0.25% direct deposit interest rate discount
8.99% to 25.81% (with all discounts)
Loan Amount Range
$5,000 to $100,000
Pros
High maximum loan limit
Unemployment protection
No fees required
Competitive APR
Cons
High minimum credit score requirement
High minimum loan amount
No in-person support
Product Details
Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000
Loan term lengths range from 2 to 7 years
Usually receive your money in a few business days after your application is approved
Unemployment protection if you lose your job during your loan repayment, allowing you to apply for a three-month forbearance, up to a total of 12 months
Ryan Wangman was a reporter at Personal Finance Insider reporting on personal loans, student loans, student loan refinancing, debt consolidation, auto loans, RV loans, and boat loans. He is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF). In his past experience writing about personal finance, he has written about credit scores, financial literacy, and homeownership. He graduated from Northwestern University and has previously written for The Boston Globe. Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services here >>
Elias Shaya is a junior compliance associate on the Personal Finance Insider team based in New York City. Personal Finance Insider is Insider’s personal finance section that incorporates affiliate and commerce partnerships into the news, insights, and advice about money that readers already know and love. The compliance team’s mission is to provide readers with stories that are fact-checked and current, so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by making sure language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team. Elias is the point person for the loans sub-vertical and works with the editorial team to ensure that all rates and information for personal and student loans are up to date and accurate. He joined Insider in February 2022 as a fellow on the compliance team. Elias has a Bachelor of Science in International Business from the CUNY College of Staten Island. Prior to joining Insider, he volunteered at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he worked with the biomedical engineering department. In his spare time, Elias enjoys exploring new restaurants, traveling to visit his family in Lebanon, and spending time with friends.
Today we will discuss the acquisition from HP of Poly (Formerly known as Plantronics) and what this means for end users and product line up.
As you are aware, Plantronics about late 2020 and early 2021 finalized the bought of Polycom, this being one of the major big names on conference desk phones as in communications infrastructure and with a wide product catalog. After this merge both of the brands renamed as POLY and as you are aware most of their products switched on their products, their bases and boxes from the old “Plantronics” or “PLT” logo to the new and freshly for late 2021 “Poly” logo.
With this transition, the product lines of both brand continued the same with no bigger changes as it was mainly their logos on the boxes and items, making it almost unnoticeable for untrained eye on how to spot the changes.
Fast forwarding now on early 2023, to be more exact on March was when the news were out that HP had finalized the acquisition of the brand Poly and with this now Poly becomes a brand under the HP umbrella that is wide world know for all their electronic products including but not limiting as personal computers, laptops, printers among others and now with Poly’s technology on headsets, video conference and telecommunications makes it a jointly new adventure with a promising future. As the vision on this new venture is to focus on what is call the new norm of hybrid work solutions.
Thanks to HP Customer Service taking over and helping the Poly side, now the warranty and customer services inquiries have a faster response time and with a 24hr a day tech support alive either by phone or chat online, this being a promising experience for people in need of a helpful hand at different times of the day or night.
During the year 2023 Poly will continue to handle it’s tech support issues until the end of the year that is when HP will officially take over. The same is going to happen with authorized partners assistance as they all will be moved into the new HP platform and according to HP all this will get finalized by the end of Q4 of 2023.
Special mention as now this would be a little more confusing that with the previous merge and we will discuss this next to avoid miscommunications and frustrations down the road.
Poly SKU’s VS HP SKU’s
The first thing people will notice at the time of trying to order any Poly product would be the change of the SKU, when Poly manufactured their products most of their SKU’s would be consisting of only numbers such as the CS540 headset making it easy to identify and order on the most common headset setup. The more specialized products or known as “Special Products” line usually started with a number “9” before and with this you will automatically know that is a special division product such as the SMH 1783 Headset for the Visually Impaired.
To begin with this need to mention that the Poly products remain the same and they do work the same way that had been designed for and work with great performance. The changes will be coming in the part #’s, as part of the acquisition, all the Poly SKU’s must be transferred to HP SKU’s and this could take sometime and for the same reason perhaps the old Poly part # is not available anywhere as they already changed to the new HP part #. No need to freak out as if you got into this situation you can always give a call and speak with a live agent to help you as they would have a list of the part #’s change.
The part number change is not something that will be done on a over night move, this process will take some time and for the same reason as Poly is still running their production you might find that if you ordered the Poly part # perhaps you got shipped the HP part # or vice versa, nothing to get worried, as long as the item matches the name on the box you will be fine.
The new HP SKU nomenclature will be a mix of numbers, letters and special characters which is why this time it can become a little tricky for the untrained eye, a perfect example of one of the first ones on changing is the CA22CD-SC PTT Adapter, as this is one of the first ones on taking the new HP SKU and as you can see the new part has the mentioned mix.
Thanks to this acquisition now HP has an Ace under the sleeve, thanks to the knowledge and technology of telecommunications from Poly now can offer a full wide arrange of solutions for remote workers or hybrid workers as it mixes both of perfect worlds and with the trusty HP Customer Service support gives the end user a piece of mind when on duty and of assistance of help. With this move, there will be new products coming up, giving a huge advantage versus the competition today. As soon as these get out we will be reporting of them.
Parisian fashion brand Coperni has collaborated with Swiss furniture company USM Haller to create its first-ever boutique, a shop-in-shop at French department store Printemps Haussmann.
The shop-in-shop, installed at Printemps Haussmann in Paris, marks Coperni’s first-ever physical retail location and will be replicated at London’s Selfridges store and China’s Duty Free Mall in Hainan Island.
Coperni collaborated with Swiss furniture brand USM
Described by Coperni‘s co-founder as “techno-chic”, the interior is defined by its cubic, space-age-style look that was achieved by reinterpreting USM Haller‘s cubic storage systems as tables, walls and display areas.
The floor of the retail space was covered in Versailles parquet flooring, with each of the wooden floor panels separated by USM Haller’s silver tubing. This typically lines the corners and edges of its storage systems and furniture.
USM reinterpreted its iconic modular storage systems
The Versailles parquet flooring was chosen for its artisanal and timeless spirit that draws on Parisian craftsmanship, which Coperni said pays homage to its ethos as a brand.
The use of USM Haller’s silver tubing within the Versailles parquet flooring system marks the first time that USM has adapted and reinterpreted its modular systems into a wooden material.
USM Hallers modular systems also form arch-shaped display units along the perimeter of the shop-in-shop, which were fitted with rails allowing Coperni’s ready-to-wear collection to be displayed.
A display table constructed from larger cubic modules was placed at the centre of the space, while a wall behind was branded with the Coperni logo.
It marks the first time USM used its silver tubing in a wooden system
such as the 
automatically know that is a special division product such as the 
which is why this time it can become a little tricky for the untrained eye, a perfect example of one of the first ones on changing is the 
