The Lowdown On Sephora Rewards And Hacks
Do you truly ever have enough makeup? The 12 different shades of red lipstick, 7 highlighters and 4 brands of eyeliner just aren’t enough. Trust me, I get it. Sometimes my Sephora obsession gets the best of me. And my wallet.
I’d like to think I’m not alone when I say my bank account definitely takes a hurtin’ every time I browse through the aisles at Sephora. So how do you keep up with their new products and avoid eating Ramen for every single meal until payday? Well, have no fear. Because below you will find sneaky tips to save money on your Sephora favorites.
1. Become A Sephora Beauty Insider
This may sound rather obvious but I can’t believe how many people shop at Sephora without joining their free rewards program. Um, hello! Why would you pass up on free birthday gifts, beauty classes and samples?
How Sephora Rewards Work
You can sign up for a Beauty Insider account in-store or online. Earn points on nearly all purchases; one point is earned with every dollar spent. There are three different Beauty Insider membership levels based on the amount spent per calendar year.
- Insider: The Insider level is free and does not require a spend threshold. This membership level earns you goodies such as a free birthday gift, beauty classes, Rewards Bazaar and access to the Beauty Insider Community. Insider members also receive 2-day shipping on all orders for a fee of $10 a year.
- VIB (Very Important Beauty): Members must spend $350+ to reach VIB status. In addition to Insider perks (see above), VIBs receive monthly gifts and a free custom makeover.
- Rouge: This level is for those who drop $1,000 or more a year. Rouge status earns you Insider and VIB perks plus free 2-day shipping, invitations to events and a private hotline.
2. Don’t Skimp On The Sephora Free Samples
Stop everything. Did you know that you can get up to three free samples from the skincare, makeup and fragrance departments?!
Granny Tip: Did you know that you can get a fourth free sample with online orders? Visit Sephora’s Beauty Offers to find promo codes towards limited time freebies and offers. Customers are usually required to purchase a specific product or spend a certain amount.
3. Use Sephora Discount Gift Cards
News flash! There is a way that you can save every.single.time you shop at Sephora. How you ask? With Sephora discount gift cards from Gift Card Granny. Search for the gift card denomination of your choice and save money on your gift card purchase. Use the savings towards every day purchases such as makeup, clothing, restaurants, gas and groceries.
Granny Tip: You can also buy a JCPenney gift card and redeem at any Sephora location inside of JCPenney or jcpenney.com. Remember that JCPenney gift cards are not redeemable at non-JCPenney Sephora locations. Also keep in mind that you cannot earn Sephora points when making a purchase on jcpenney.com.
4. Get Free Shipping
Want to avoid shipping fees? Sephora will send out of stock items directly to your home for free. This also counts for items that are not sold at your local store.
5. Check Out Their All-Star Return Policy
If you’re unsatisfied with a product you can easily make a return in-store or online. This also goes for gently used products. You’re spending your hard-earned cash; make sure you use it on something you absolutely love.
6. Hello, Sephora Sales
Try and hold out for Sephora’s semi-annual sales to make your large purchases…even if that means you need to scrape out the lipstick from the bottom of the tube (Which, technically, you should be doing anyway because there’s a lot down there!). During the April sale, Beauty Insiders usually receive a 10% discount on purchases and usually around 15% off for the November sale. VIBs receive 15% off in April and a 20% discount in November.
7. Steer Clear Of Travel Size Products
I know the Beauty on the Fly section can be tempting. Especially when you’re waiting in line. But travel size products can get pretty pricey. Just ask for a free sample if you want to try something new!
FAQs: Sephora Points
Below are a few extra tips I keep in mind when racking up my points.
How do I check my Sephora points?
Log into your Beauty Insider account online to view your point balance and activity.
Do Sephora points expire?
As of July 2017, Sephora points expire when members are inactive for 18+ months.
Will I earn Sephora points with purchases through jcpenney.com?
You currently are unable to earn Beauty Insider points when purchasing through jcpenney.com.