Is Sephora Still Worth the Cost?
For years, Sephora has been the motherland of exclusive products, high-end names, and luxury brands you couldn’t find anywhere else. We all proudly walked around the mall with our striped bags, showing off the latest cosmetics to our friends—but times have changed. People aren’t as quick to spend money amid rude staff and mucky testers, and we’re here to break down why that might be.
1. It’s Overwhelming
For seasoned shoppers, Sephora is a convenient, one-stop shop for luxury brands. However, any newcomers are quickly overwhelmed by the selection. To make matters worse, a lot of brands promise the same thing, which makes the right choice even harder.
2. Testers Are a Mess
One of the biggest perks of Sephora is its testers—if you can find one that hasn’t gone through the ringer. No one wants to stick their fingers in a disgusting tester or smear something on their hand when dozens of other people have done the same thing.
Jennie Robinson Faber from Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Wikimedia
3. High Prices
Sephora is all about luxury, and they know it. Their prices reflect that. Sure, that lipstick might be “exclusive,” but that doesn’t mean it’s worth $40, and for a lot of people, the prices just aren’t worth the hassle.
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4. Inconsistent Customer Service
If you’re lucky, you’ll find a helpful customer service rep who provides top-notch recommendations. If you’re like 90% of customers, however, you’ll find a snooty cashier who rolls their eyes when you approach them.
5. Shoddy Online Reviews
Sephora came under fire for its supposed shoddy reviews. A lot of customers suspected that a good chunk of online reviews came from so-called influencers who were paid for their kind words. As you can imagine, people weren’t happy. If you’re asking people to spend $50 on foundation, at least give real reviews!
6. Lackluster Reward System
Beauty Insider rewards promise everything from special promotions to points on every order. That sounds good on paper, but those points go faster than you can earn them, and they aren’t worth very much at the register.
7. Items Are Always Out of Stock
Sephora may have a lot of brands, but they likely won’t have what you’re looking for. If it’s good, it won’t be on shelves, leaving subpar alternatives behind. You can head to another location, but we doubt you’ll have better luck.
8. Terrible Return Policies
Companies like to make you jump through hoops before they pony up any returns—Sephora is no different. If anything, they’re worse than your everyday stores. More often than not, they drag their feet getting back to you or find the smallest reason why you can’t return that item.
9. Surprisingly Small Selection
Funnily enough, Sephora doesn’t actually have that many products. Sure, they have a ton of brands, but that doesn’t mean you’ll score a wide selection within them. Plenty of customers have left empty-handed.
10. A Lot of Rude People
We can’t blame you if you’re nervous about Sephora’s employees. However, the clientele is just as bad. There’s a certain…air in Sephora that turns a lot of people off. It’s hard to peacefully browse for new items when you’re surrounded by enemy fire.
Philippe Murray-Pietsch on Unsplash
Sephora may have its faults, but that doesn’t mean people will turn their backs on it. In fact, devoted customers still swear by its selection and impressive deals! Let’s explore a few reasons why people love it so much.
1. Convenience
Sephora is sort of like Starbucks—there’s one on every corner, which makes it plenty convenient. You can easily pop into any number of locations for a quick purchase, or nab free shipping on the site.
2. Affordable Sephora Collection
Sephora is best known for its pricey brands, but it also has affordable options that cater to modest budgets. The Sephora Collection offers all the basics: concealer, foundation, makeup removing wipes, tools, etc. They’re far less expensive than anything else you’ll find, too.
3. Birthday Freebies
Did you know that it’s free to sign up for Sephora’s rewards? Not only that, but even the lowest tiers can score freebies on their birthday. With a simple $25+ purchase, you can nab exclusive sets or deluxe samples with your order.
4. Decent Shipping Costs
Those Beauty Insider points aren’t great, but the program’s perks definitely are. In addition to your birthday freebie and first access to new products, you can also score free shipping on any order. When you only need one thing, that’s more than convenient!
5. Exclusive Products
Sephora always lures us in with its exclusive makeup. Truth be told, you won’t find certain products or gift sets anywhere else, which is more than enough reason to go. Sephora also has its own line of cosmetics only found in-house.
6. Sephora Favorites
Who doesn’t love a good gift set? Sephora Favorites stuffs the year’s bestsellers into a handy set, allowing you to try a wide range of products for a discounted price. You can get anything from nail polish sets, mascaras, or lip products, too, all in their own kits.
7. Luxury Brands
What you find in Sephora isn’t always available elsewhere. Luxury brands fill the shelves, making it easier for you to treat yourself. If you want the best, the reality is that there really isn’t anywhere else to go.
8. You Can Actually Try the Products
We won’t lie: it’s not always easy to find a clean tester. When you do, however, you can easily swatch in stores. It’s way better to test something before you buy it, and considering a lot of stores don’t have the option, Sephora has a leg up on the competition. It’s also a great way to save money; you’ll actually buy something that suits you!
Philippe Murray-Pietsch on Unsplash
9. Great Holiday Deals
It’s not unheard of for companies to offer holiday deals, but Sephora has some pretty incredible markdowns. You can score bestselling products and top-name brands for a fraction of the cost, and customers often wait until they splurge.
10. Knowledgeable Staff
Sephora certainly has a reputation for its employees—but they’re not all intimidating. If you can find a genuinely helpful employee, they’ll work with your budget and make solid recommendations based on your needs.
