For beauty newbs, or really anyone, if we’re being real, shopping at Sephora can be pretty daunting. Its huge, bright stores are filled with rows on rows of different brands of mascaras, foundations, eyeliners, skincare, and more, which sounds like heaven, but it’s easy to get intimidated. Become one with the beauty mavens with these tips and tricks that are super beneficial to shopping at Sephora.
Here are the best tips and tricks for shopping at Sephora.
Sign up for the Beauty Insider Program – It’s worth it
Reward programs can be super annoying, but Sephora’s is not – we swear! By signing up, you’ll get 1 reward point for every dollar you spend, which you can redeem on products in stores. On top of that, you’ll get a free gift on your birthday, seasonal promotions, personalized recommendations, and free product beauty classes. Plus, the more you spend, you can upgrade your “status” – the top tier being “Rouge” which earns you extra perks. Sign up for Sephora’s Beauty Insider Program here.
If you’re looking to save up on beauty products, check the bottom row
Brands often pay more to be merchandised in more visible and central locations, so you’ll typically find cheaper items along the bottom of stands or the outer perimeters of the store. Newer, more expensive products are always kept at eye level, so keep your eyes peeled for those deals!
Sephora will refund you the difference of an item if the item you’ve purchased has gone on sale
If an item you’ve purchased from Sephora goes on sale within two weeks of original purchase, call up customer service and they’ll reimburse you the difference! All you need is ID and the original receipt number or order number.
Don’t forget your free samples!
If you’re shopping online with Sephora, with every purchase, you’re able to choose two samples from a variety of products provided. If you’re shopping in-store, there are samples available at checkout, or if you want to try a particular product, just ask an employee and they’ll almost always be able to get you one.
You can return products you bought and didn’t like
We’ve all fallen into the trap of buying something that looks good in-store, but doesn’t end up working out for one reason or another. The beauty with Sephora is that if you, for example, bought a bronzer that was a bit too sparkly, you take it back to the store and they’ll let you exchange it or give you a store credit – even if it’s been used.
Wait for the semi-annual sales
Sephora typically has two major sales every year for its Beauty Insiders. You’ll usually get a Sephora promo code for unlimited use at 10% off, VIB members get 15% off and Rouge members get 20% off. Rouge members typically get first access to the sale with a week’s head start.
Don’t fall victim to the cute little goodies in the bins in front of the cash register
They’re cute and fun-sized, but typically not the best deals! If you’re looking for samples, it’s way cheaper to implement #4.
Sephora Collection makes dupes for tons of pricier products
Don’t miss out on the Sephora Collection with a major range of lipsticks, bronzers, highlighters, skincare, and more. Apparently, Sephora products are either discontinued or reformulated if it receives ratings of anything lower than four stars. So, you know that you’re getting great quality products without the high-end price tag.
You Can Get A Free Personal Shopping Experience
It’s totally free to get a 20 minute personal shopping experience from a pro! Plus, anytime you enter a Sephora their staff are always happy to help! If you’re a little intimidated, don’t be afraid to ask for some guidance.
Despite the lack of sales that Sephora has, they do have sale items
And you’ll find them hidden at the edges of stores or in the bins on the end of displays.
Follow Sephora on Socials To Learn About New Products & Deals
If you never want to miss an update, make sure to follow Sephora on socials! Its Instagram in particular is always being updated with the latest beauty tips, drops, and news.
Always Read Reviews
Sephora’s website has an amazing review section where you can see the reviewers eye colour, hair colour, skin tone, and skin type to better assess if a particular product might work for you! For example, if you have dry skin and someone reviewing a product has oily skin, you may have a completely different experience. So, you can find a reviewer with similar characteristics to yourself and see how the product worked for them!
Redeem Your Beauty Insider Points Online
As we mentioned above, every dollar you spend as a Beauty Insider, you get a point. Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem for rewards (products). Although all Sephora locations have a selection of rewards to choose from in-store, there are way more options online.
If It’s Sold Out In-Store, Try Online
It may sound simple enough, but don’t just assume that because a product is sold out in-store, it means it’s sold out online. Online has way more products available than a single Sephora could carry. You’re more likely to snag those viral items while shopping on the Sephora website (or app).
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