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If you frequently shop at Sephora, you may have considered getting one of the store's credit cards — The Sephora Credit Card, Sephora Visa® Credit Card and the Sephora Visa® Signature Credit Card — to potentially save on your purchases. And if you're buying beauty products in bulk (or close to it), then one of these cards might make sense. But more likely than not, you'll get more savings from a non-branded cash-back or rewards credit card.
Below, CNBC Select breaks down what you need to know about the Sephora credit cards and how to decide if it's worth it for you.
Sephora Credit Card
Rewards
4% back in rewards in stores or online at Sephora and 2X Beauty Insider Points per $1 spent at Sephora
Welcome bonus
25% off your first purchase when you open and use your credit card within 30 days of account opening.
Annual fee
None
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
31.99%
Foreign transaction fee
None
Balance transfer fee
None
Pros
- No annual fee
- Rewards are combinable with the Beauty Insider Rewards program
Cons
- Small welcome bonus
- Limited reward benefits
- Rewards expire after 90 days from the date of issue
- High APR
Sephora Visa® Credit Card
Rewards
4% back in rewards in stores or online at Sephora, 2X Beauty Insider Points per $1 spent at Sephora, and 1% back in rewards on purchases outside of Sephora
Welcome bonus
25% off your first purchase when you open and use your credit card within 30 days of account opening and a $20 Sephora Credit Card Reward for your first $500 spent outside Sephora within the first 90 days of account opening .
Annual fee
None
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
31.99% or 23.24% when you open your account, based upon your creditworthiness.
Foreign transaction fee
3.0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Balance transfer fee
Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Rewards are combinable with the Beauty Insider Rewards program
Cons
- Small welcome bonus
- Limited reward benefits
- Rewards expire after 90 days from the date of issue
- High APR
Sephora Credit Card Review
Welcome bonus
Issued by Comenity Bank, all of the Sephora credit cards offer 25% off your first purchase when you open and use the card at checkout. If you apply for a Sephora card without making a purchase first, you can still apply this 25% discount to any eligible purchase made within 30 days of account opening.
The Sephora Visa cards also offer a $20 Sephora Credit Card Reward for your first $500 spent outside Sephora within the first 90 days after opening the account.
Benefits and perks
Cardholders can enjoy various benefits and exclusive offers when shopping both in-store and online. You'll be able to earn credit card rewards, along with points through Sephora's Beauty Insider loyalty rewards program, which comes with benefits like free birthday gifts per year and free standard shipping. Both Beauty Insider points and credit card rewards can be applied toward eligible Sephora purchases.
How to earn and redeem rewards
Earning
The Sephora Credit Card and the Sephora Visa cards earn rewards at the following rates:
- 4% back in rewards on every $1 spent in stores or online at Sephora
- 2X Beauty Insider Points per $1 spent at Sephora
In addition to these benefits, the Sephora Visa cards also provide a 1% back in rewards on purchases outside of Sephora.
While the Sephora Visa Signature Credit Card and the Sephora Visa Credit Card earn rewards at the same rate, it's important to note that the Signature card offers additional Visa Signature benefits such as Visa Concierge, Roadside Dispatch, and Visa Signature travel. These services are great if you're looking to get assistance with travel planning, dinner reservations or roadside assistance.
Redeeming
Every time you earn 125 in reward dollars from using your card, you'll receive a $5 credit card reward that you can apply toward an eligible Sephora purchase, either in-store or online.
However, these rewards expire after 90 days from the date of issue, making it challenging to accumulate enough over time to offset a substantial purchase. You also can't partially cash in your rewards, otherwise, any leftover bit will be forfeited. For example, if you have $100 in credit card rewards, you cannot redeem $50 in one transaction and the remaining $50 on another day.
Rates and fees
The Sephora Credit Card and Sephora Visa cards are free of annual fees. However, the Sephora Credit Card carries a standard APR of 31.99%, while the Sephora Visa cards offer APRs ranging from 23.24% to 31.99%, depending on creditworthiness. Note that there's no introductory APR period, so you can't swiftly reduce debt at a low interest rate if you exceed your limits.
Each card also has a returned payment and late payment fee of up to $41. While the Sephora Credit Card doesn't impose transaction fees, the Sephora Visa cards charge either $10 or 5% of each balance transfer amount and either $10.00 or 3.0% of each cash advance amount, whichever is greater.
Card comparison
Sephora Visa Credit Cards vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus.
- Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
- Purchases and balance transfers get long intro APR
- No annual fee
- Travelers face a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Opting for a rewards credit card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® might be more beneficial since it offers superior opportunities to earn rewards across various spending categories compared to Sephora's offerings (see rates and fees). For an introductory APR of 0% for the first 15 months from account opening and then 18.24% - 27.74% variable, you can earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
You can also utilize the Chase Ultimate Rewards Shopping portal, where you can earn extra points or cash back on online purchases. On top of that, you can take advantage of Chase Offers, which are card-linked offers that allow you to earn extra cash back on purchases at specific merchants, including Sephora or beauty brands like Aveda, Clinique or Estee Lauder.
Sephora Visa Credit Cards vs. Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a low-fee card with generous cash-back rewards and useful ongoing benefits, such as a monthly Disney Bundle credit. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High cash-back earnings for U.S. supermarkets and streaming services
- Intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee for the first year
- It's less rewarding after the first year because of the annual fee
- Bonus rewards for U.S. supermarkets are capped
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don't have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you'll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Like the Freedom Unlimited card, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is not a direct competitor of the Sephora card, but it can significantly boost your rewards for everyday purchases beyond Sephora and will eventually go a long way. This card offers a 12-month 0% introductory APR period and then 19.49% - 28.49% variable (see rates and fees), along with 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%) and 1% on all other purchases.
You can also take advantage of the Amex Offers feature that can help save you money on shopping, including with brands like Honest Beauty, Dior Beauty or Fenty Beauty. (enrollment required)
Are the Sephora credit cards right for you?
The Sephora credit cards may be ideal if you're a frequent shopper. However, you may also get more value for your rewards with another credit card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. By using one of these cards and making the most of your Beauty Insider Rewards Program, your rewards will gradually become more advantageous for you.
Bottom line
Given the Sephora Credit Card's high APR at 31.99% and the Sephora Visa cards with APRs ranging from 23.24% to 31.99%, it's tough to see these cards as worthwhile for casual Sephora shoppers given their limited benefits. Still, if you frequently shop at Sephora and want a card that can help you knock off a few bucks from your purchases there, you might consider one of these options. Just make sure you look at a non-branded rewards credit card first before making a decision.
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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.
