Sephora Visa Credit Card Review: Best for Sephora Fans Only

Overview of the Sephora Visa Credit Card

The Sephora Visa Credit Card provides excellent rewards for Sephora purchases. However, its low earning rates outside the store and limited redemption options make it a less favorable choice for most consumers. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐½

*Card rating reflects the views of TPG's editors and is not swayed by the card issuer.

Generally, we discourage the use of store credit cards here at TPG. While these cards may offer solid rewards for their specific retailers, most consumers would benefit more from opting for a general cash-back or travel rewards credit card instead.

The Sephora Visa Credit Card is no different. As tempting as it may be to sign up when a salesperson or during online checkout offers me a 25% discount on my Sephora purchase, I always say no.

It’s essential to understand that there are two types of Sephora Cards: the Sephora Credit Card and the Sephora Visa Credit Card. The former is a closed-loop card, usable only at Sephora, while the Sephora Visa Credit Card can be used anywhere that Visa is accepted, earning rewards accordingly.

Since the Visa version closely resembles other cards we review at TPG, I’ll focus this review on it instead of the closed-loop option.

The Sephora Visa has no annual fee and is recommended for those with a credit score of 670 or higher. Now, let’s explore the card details to understand why it may not suit me but could be right for you.

The details for the Sephora Credit Card and Sephora Visa Credit Card have been independently gathered by Dinogo. The information presented on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Pros and Cons of the Sephora Visa Credit Card

Sephora Visa Credit Card Introductory Offer

From now until September 25, new cardholders can receive $150 in Sephora Credit Card Rewards after spending $1,500 within the first 90 days of account opening.

Along with this introductory offer, new cardholders receive a 25% discount on their first Sephora purchase made with the card within the first 30 days of opening the account. There are no exclusions on products or services for this discount, meaning you can gain substantial value if you make a large purchase at Sephora.

While it’s easy to find more lucrative welcome offers on cash-back cards, the Sephora Visa can still provide significant value by utilizing the welcome offer and the 25% discount.

Benefits of the Sephora Visa Credit Card

The primary advantage of the Sephora Visa is that it enables cardholders to earn double Beauty Insider points on Sephora purchases.

Beauty Insider, Sephora's loyalty program, is free to join and allows members to accumulate points on their purchases. Members can redeem 500 points for a $10 discount.

Non-cardholders earn one Beauty Insider point for every dollar spent, whereas cardholders earn 2 points per dollar, resulting in a 4% return in Beauty Insider points in addition to the credit card rewards they accumulate.

Moreover, Sephora credit cardholders benefit from exclusive discounts and special promotions.

Although these perks can provide extra savings for cardholders, the Sephora Visa lacks the purchase protection offered by other credit cards. If you're considering buying electronic tools from Sephora, such as a Dyson Airwrap or red light therapy device, you might prefer to use a different card that provides additional protection.

How to Earn and Redeem Rewards on the Sephora Visa Credit Card

Sephora Visa cardholders earn 4% back on purchases made at Sephora and 1% back on all other transactions. Keep in mind that purchases made at Sephora locations within other stores, like Kohl's, will only yield 1% back.

The 4% earned in Sephora Rewards is in addition to the 4% accumulated in Beauty Insider rewards, resulting in a total effective return of 8% on Sephora purchases for cardholders.

Sephora Rewards are calculated at the end of each billing cycle and are issued in $5 increments. If your rewards don’t reach a $5 minimum, they will remain in your account until you accumulate enough to redeem them.

However, there are certain restrictions on how you can utilize your rewards. They are provided as Sephora Reward Dollars, which can exclusively be used at Sephora. These rewards expire 90 days from the issuance date and cannot be combined with other discounts, except for a Beauty Insider redemption.

Although the 8% return from the Sephora Visa is quite appealing, the redemption limitations are a major drawback for me. I prefer to wait for sales and stock up on my favorite items at a discount, but I can't use my Sephora Reward Dollars during those promotions.

Additionally, I would need to redeem any rewards earned within 90 days—shopping I probably wouldn’t do otherwise.

Instead, I opt to use a solid flat-rate cash-back credit card for my Sephora purchases, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. This allows me to earn 2% back in Beauty Insider rewards, plus cash-back credit card rewards that I can use for Sephora purchases or anything else I choose.

I also look for merchant offers (I often take advantage of a 5% or 10% Sephora offer through Chase) and shop via Rakuten to earn additional rewards.

What cards rival the Sephora Visa Credit Card?

If you're looking for more versatile rewards, one of these options may suit you better:

• For 2% back on everything: The Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) carries no annual fee and offers 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay). Similar to the Sephora Visa, it doesn't have an annual fee. For more details, check out our full review of the Citi Double Cash.
• For bonus rewards on online shopping: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and provides 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), making it a great choice for online Sephora shopping. Cash back is awarded as Reward Dollars redeemable for statement credits or at Amazon.com. For more information, see our full review of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday.
• For earning travel rewards: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card gives you 2 miles per dollar spent on all eligible purchases, including Sephora. This card allows you to redeem your miles for travel in various ways. It does have a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees), but its perks can offset that. For additional details, check out our full review of the Venture Rewards.

For more options, see our complete list of the best credit cards.

Is the Sephora Visa Credit Card a good choice?

If you frequently shop at Sephora and can use your Reward Dollars before they expire, the 8% return from the Sephora Visa might be worthwhile. However, if you're not a regular Sephora shopper or prefer more flexible rewards, consider choosing a different card.

Conclusion

If the iconic black and white stripes of a Sephora store draw you in, the Sephora Visa might be a great choice. It offers an impressive 8% return on your Sephora purchases—4% in rewards and another 4% through Beauty Insider points—along with exclusive discounts for cardholders.

However, if your beauty shopping habits are more moderate, you're likely better off with a general cash-back card instead.