Sephora Visa Credit Card review: Only for Sephora devotees
Editor's Note
Sephora Visa Credit Card overview
The Sephora Visa Credit Card offers a strong return on Sephora purchases. However, its limited earning rates outside of Sephora and its restrictive redemption options make it a poor choice for most shoppers. Card rating*: ⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Typically, we advise against store credit cards here at TPG. While store cards usually have decent earning rates for their specific store, most shoppers are better off skipping these cards and keeping a more general cash-back or travel rewards credit card in their wallets instead.
The Sephora Visa Credit Card is no exception. As tempting as it is to sign up for the card when a salesperson or online checkout asks if I want to save 25% on my Sephora purchase, I always decline.
It is important to note that there are two versions of the Sephora Card: the Sephora Credit Card and the Sephora Visa Credit Card. The first is a closed-loop option, meaning you can only use (and earn rewards on) it at Sephora. The Sephora Visa Credit Card, meanwhile, can be used and earns rewards anywhere Visa is accepted.
Since the Visa version is the most similar to other cards we cover at TPG, I'm focusing this review on it rather than the closed-loop card.
This Sephora Visa has no annual fee and a recommended credit score of 670 or above. Now, let's dive into the card details to see why it's not a fit for me but could be for you.
The information for the Sephora Credit Card and the Sephora Visa Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Sephora Visa Credit Card pros and cons
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Sephora Visa Credit Card welcome offer
New cardholders will get 25% off their first Sephora purchase when they use their card at Sephora within the first 30 days of account opening. There are no product or service exclusions to this discount, so it's possible to get significant value from it if you're spending a lot at Sephora at once.
Finally, new cardholders can earn a $20 Sephora Credit Card Reward after spending $500 in the first 90 days of account opening on purchases outside of Sephora. Even though this card isn't ideal for non-Sephora shopping, if you're a frequent Sephora shopper, this part of the welcome offer may be worth making some purchases at other stores.
It's not hard to find a more valuable welcome offer on a cash-back card, but you can get decent value from the Sephora Visa by earning the welcome offer and taking advantage of the 25% discount. This is a great time to apply for this card, considering the limited-time benefit cosmetics gift that's part of the current welcome offer when you apply in-store.
Related: The best credit card welcome offers currently available
Sephora Visa Credit Card benefits
The most significant benefit of the Sephora Visa is that it allows cardholders to earn double Beauty Insider points on Sephora purchases.
Beauty Insider, Sephora's loyalty program, is free to join and allows members to earn points on Sephora purchases. Members can cash in 500 points for a $10 discount.
Noncardholders earn one Beauty Insider point per dollar spent, but cardholders earn 2 points per dollar spent, giving them a 4% return in Beauty Insider points on top of the credit card rewards they earn.
Additionally, those with a Sephora credit card receive exclusive discounts and promotions.
While these benefits can offer additional savings for cardholders, the Sephora Visa does not offer the purchase protection you'll find on other cards. If you plan on purchasing electronic tools from Sephora, like a Dyson Airwrap or a red light therapy tool, you may want to put your purchase on a different card that offers additional protection.
Related: Best cash-back credit cards
Earning and redeeming rewards on the Sephora Visa Credit Card
Sephora Visa cardholders earn 4% back on Sephora purchases and 1% back on all other purchases. Note that purchases made at Sephora locations inside other stores, such as Kohl's, will only earn 1% back.
The 4% you'll earn in Sephora Rewards are on top of the 4% you'll earn in Beauty Insider rewards, so cardholders earn an effective 8% return on Sephora purchases.
Sephora Credit Card Rewards are calculated at the end of each billing cycle and issued in $5 increments for every 125 Reward Dollars you earn. If you have not reached a $5 increment, your rewards will stay in your account and be issued once you reach the $5 amount.
However, there are some restrictions on how you use your rewards. They can only be used at Sephora. These rewards expire 90 days from the date of issue and cannot be combined with any other discounts other than a Beauty Insider redemption.
While the 8% return I could earn on the Sephora Visa is impressive, the redemption restrictions are the deal breaker for me. I like to wait for sales and stock up on my favorite items at a discount, but I wouldn't be able to use my Sephora Reward Dollars with those sales.
Plus, I would have to use any rewards I earned within the next 90 days— shopping I likely wouldn't do otherwise.
I prefer instead to put my Sephora purchases on a good flat-rate cash-back credit card, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees). I still earn 2% back in Beauty Insider rewards by being part of Sephora's loyalty program, plus cash-back credit card rewards that I can use toward Sephora purchases or anything else I want.
I also keep an eye out for merchant offers (I can regularly take advantage of a 5% or 10% Sephora offer from Chase) and shop through Rakuten to earn additional rewards.
Related: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category
Which cards compete with the Sephora Visa Credit Card?
If you want more flexible rewards, one of these may be a better fit:
- If you want to earn 2% back on everything: The Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) has no annual fee and earns 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (1% as you buy and 1% as you pay). Like the Sephora Visa, it doesn't have an annual fee. To learn more, check out our full review of the Citi Double Cash.
- If you want bonus rewards on online shopping: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and earns 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), making it a good option if you're doing your Sephora shopping online. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday.
- If you want to earn travel rewards: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on all eligible purchases. This card gives you the option to redeem your miles for travel in a variety of ways. While it has a $95 annual fee, it can be offset by the card's perks. To learn more, check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.
For additional options, see our full list of the best credit cards.
Related: Why the Citi Double Cash will always have a place in my wallet
Is the Sephora Visa Credit Card worth it?
If you spend a significant amount at Sephora and won't have any issues using your Reward Dollars before they expire, the 8% you'll earn with the Sephora Visa might be worth it. However, those who aren't as consistent in their Sephora spending or who want more flexible rewards will want to go with a different card.
Bottom line
If the black and white stripes of a Sephora store are your siren song, the Sephora Visa may be a good option. It allows you to earn an 8% return on your Sephora purchases — 4% in rewards and 4% through Beauty Insider points — and gets you exclusive cardholder discounts.
If, however, you have only a moderate beauty shopping habit, you'll be better off using a more general cash-back card instead.
Related: Store vs. cash-back credit cards: Which one should I get?
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday, click here.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.