There’s a lot to love about Sephora. Not only do they have one of the widest selections of beauty and skincare products, but they also have a mission to supply clean and green products to protect your body and the environment.
Beauty influencers advertise Sephora, their products, and their mission all the time and they run great sales from time to time, but what’s the Sephora return policy like? Can you get your money back if you don’t like something?
Beauty products aren’t cheap, so it’s a valid concern. Here’s everything you should know about Sephora returns.
You Can Return for 30 Days
Sephora wants its customers to love their purchases, so they offer a generous 30-day return policy whether you bought it yourself or received the product as a gift.
But it gets better.
You can return new and gently used products. This means if you try something and didn’t like it, you can return it. You’ll get a full refund if you return the product within 30 days back to the original payment method.
They aren’t very clear on how much of the product must be left, though. In other words, you probably can’t return an empty jar and say you didn’t like it. You must show that you tried the product a handful of times and decide it wasn’t for you.
You May Return at Sephora for up to 60 Days
If you miss the 30-day window, you still have options. If you return an item to Sephora within 31 – 60 days of the purchase date, you can return it but you won’t get a cash refund. Instead, you’ll get store credit or online credit depending on how you return it (in-store or via mail).
This generous policy gives you more time to make your return. Even though you won’t get your money back, chances are you will shop at Sephora again, so a store credit isn’t a bad thing. Just know if you get a credit in-store, you can only use it in a store and if you get it online (returning by mail), you can only use the credit online.
A Receipt is Recommended
Like most stores, Sephora prefers if you have your receipt when returning an item. If you bought the item online, the packing slip and the debit or credit card used to purchase the item work too.
If you don’t have a receipt, you may still return the item but you won’t get a cash refund. Instead, you’ll get store credit. If you bought the item online, it’s easy enough to look up your purchase in your account, but if you bought the item in-store and don’t have a receipt, a store credit will have to do.
You Can’t Return Everything
Sephora has a flexible return policy, but they can’t accept everything back. A few items you cannot return include:
- Gift cards
- Sephora Favorites Kits
- Intimate care items
- Final sale items
Don’t Abuse the Return Policy
Sephora keeps track of the number and frequency of returns shoppers make. If they feel you’re abusing the policy, they may restrict your right to return. This often happens when shoppers buy products often, use them for a week or two and then return them. The policy is there for customer satisfaction, not overuse.
Online Returns are Simple (and free)
If you bought your products on Sephora.com or any third-party sites like Facebook or Instagram, you get the same return policy and window. You are welcome to return the items to your local Sephora and get your refund right away.
You can also get a free prepaid return label to send the items back for free. You’ll receive a full refund minus any shipping charges you paid for the purchase. Keep in mind, it can take up to 30 days to process your refund if you do it by mail.
How to Process an Online Return
- Click here to start the return
- Enter your order number and shipping zip code
- Select the items you’re returning
- Select a reason for the return
- Pack the items in original packaging if possible
- Print the provided prepaid label
- Take the box to your local FedEx location
- Track your shipment and wait for your refund
You Can Return Gifts at Sephora
If you received a Sephora product by mail as a gift and you want to return it, first call Sephora at 1-877-SEPHORA. You must set up the return under your account rather than the purchaser’s account. If you return it under the purchaser’s account the money will go directly back to the original method the purchaser paid.
When you set up your account, you’ll receive a store credit for the purchase amount. You can use the store credit anywhere on Sephora’s website.
The Holiday Return Policy is Nothing Special
Most stores offer extended holiday return policies so you can buy gifts early and know that your recipients can return or exchange products easily.
Sephora advertises that they have an extended holiday return policy, but it’s really nothing more than their regular 60-day return policy plus a few days. Their extended policy starts mid-October and goes through January 15th. So if you did buy gifts in mid-October, you’d get a couple of extra weeks to return them since January 15th is more than 60 days later, but anyone who buys gifts in November or later will have the same standard return policy.
You can Earn Kohl’s Cash at Sephora at Kohl’s
Here’s a fun fact you might love! If you shop at Kohl’s and love earning Kohl’s cash, your Sephora at Kohl’s purchases can earn you more Kohl’s cash. But you should know that you can only earn cash at Sephora at Kohl’s, you can’t spend it there.
Any Kohl’s cash you earn can only be redeemed at Kohl’s or Kohl’s.com.
Sephora Returns from Sephora at Kohl’s or Sephora at JCPenney
If you bought a product at Sephora at Kohl’s or Sephora at JCPenney, you may only return the items at the same type of Sephora. You cannot return the product to a standalone Sephora store.
FAQs – Sephora Return Policy
Can you return opened items to Sephora?
Yes, you can return opened items to Sephora. They stand behind their 100% guarantee. However, they do make sure no one abuses the policy. Make sure you’re buying products you truly want to try and plan to keep. If you aren’t happy with them, by all means, return them. But if it becomes a habit, Sephora may limit what you can return.
You’ll never receive the shipping fees you paid for the purchase and if you wait more than 30 days to return it, you will only receive a store credit and not credit back to your original purchase method.
Can Sephora deny returns?
Yes, Sephora has the right to deny returns and they have done so. They watch for customers who abuse the policy.
If you occasionally return items, especially unopened items, you don’t have to worry about being banned from making returns. However, if you return too often, they may restrict your return options to avoid anyone abusing the policy and ruining it for others.
Can you return items to Sephora without the box?
Sephora would prefer it if you return items in their original packaging but they understand life happens. If you don’t have the original packaging, they ask that you place the item in a safe box or container to ship it back. If you are returning it to the store, you can return it without the package, just don’t do it often.
Where do you return products from Sephora at Kohl’s?
If you purchased items at Sephora at Kohl’s, you can return them only at Sephora at Kohl’s. You cannot return it online or in a regular Sephora store. You have 60 days to return products there and they can be unopened or in slightly used condition and you’ll get a refund. Sephora at Kohl’s does not allow returns without a receipt.
Final Thoughts – The Sephora Return Policy is Better than Average
The Sephora return policy gives you options. You can buy with confidence knowing you can either return the unopened item or return a product you tried. If you received gifts you don’t like from Sephora, you can return them too even without a receipt.
They make returns easy, just don’t abuse the policy or you might find yourself banned from making future returns. If you want your money back, make sure you bring the products back within 30 days, otherwise you’ll get a store credit.
