Store Return PoliciesLast updated October 14, 202610 min read
Sephora Return Policy 2026: 30-Day Rules, Refunds, Exchanges and Cancellations
Sephora now gives you 30 days, not 60. Here is what you can return, what happens without a receipt, how refunds work, and how to cancel an order in time.
Sephora accepts returns of new or gently used products within 30 days of purchase, as long as the purchase can be verified with a receipt, order confirmation email, packing slip, or your Beauty Insider account. Most refunds go back to your original payment method. Sephora.com orders can be mailed back with a prepaid label at no return shipping cost, or returned at any freestanding Sephora store.
A foundation that oxidizes two shades darker, a perfume that smells different on your skin, a serum that breaks you out. It happens to every beauty shopper. The good news is that Sephora still accepts gently used products. The catch is that the rules changed, and a lot of older advice online (including the earlier version of this guide) still quotes a 60-day window that no longer applies.
This guide covers the current Sephora US return policy for purchases made on or after April 24, 2025, based on Sephora's official Returns & Exchanges page, so you know exactly what you can return, how to do it, and when your money comes back.
Just shopped at Sephora?Snap the receipt or save the order email in Manage Receipt now, so your proof of purchase is ready if you need to return within 30 days.
30 days from purchase (30 days from pickup for Buy Online, Pick Up In Store orders)
Product condition
New or gently used
Proof of purchase
Required: receipt, packing slip, order or shipping email, order on your phone, or Beauty Insider info
Return by mail
No return shipping or handling fee for Sephora.com orders; original shipping is not refunded unless Sephora made an error
Return in store
Any freestanding Sephora store (not Sephora at Kohl's)
Refund time by mail
Up to 30 days to process, plus your bank's posting time
Final sale items
Gift cards, certain Sephora Favorites kits, some intimate care items
Sephora at Kohl's purchases
Return to Kohl's only, within 30 days, with a receipt
Did Sephora Change Its Return Policy?
Yes. Sephora used to give shoppers 60 days, with full refunds in the first 30 days and store credit from day 31 to day 60. For purchases made on or after April 24, 2025, the official policy is a single 30-day window, and the 31 to 60 day store credit option is no longer listed.
Watch out for outdated guides
If a page tells you Sephora takes returns for 60 days or always gives store credit without a receipt, it is describing the old policy. Always check the date on the source, and confirm on Sephora's returns page before you head to the store.
Sephora Return Policy After 30 Days
Under the current policy, items returned after 30 days are generally not eligible for a refund, exchange, or store credit. Sephora's wording is "within 30 days of purchase, in most cases," so a store may occasionally make an exception, but you should not plan around one.
Sephora's US returns page also does not list a standing extended holiday return window. If you buy gifts in November or December, plan for the standard 30 days, or ask Sephora Customer Service about any seasonal terms before you buy.
What Can You Return to Sephora?
Sephora's rule for every product type is the same: it must be new or gently used and returned within 30 days. Here is how that plays out for the products people ask about most.
Can you return used or opened makeup to Sephora?
Yes. Opened and gently used makeup and skincare can be returned. Swatching a lipstick, trying a foundation a few times, or testing a cleanser for a week usually qualifies. A nearly empty palette or a product that has clearly been used for weeks may be refused. Sephora does not publish an exact usage limit, so the store team makes the call.
Can you return perfume or cologne to Sephora?
Yes. Opened perfume and cologne fall under the same gently used rule, so a few test sprays are fine. If you return a fragrance by mail, note that Sephora requires hazmat items to be shipped with USPS, not FedEx.
Can you return foundation to Sephora?
Yes. Foundation is one of the most commonly returned items because shades look different in daylight. Return it within 30 days in gently used condition. To avoid a second mismatch, ask for a sample of the new shade before you exchange.
Can you return Sephora items without the box?
Usually, yes. For mail returns, Sephora asks you to use the manufacturer's box and Sephora packaging if available, and otherwise a well-padded box or envelope. The original box helps, but the condition of the product and proof of purchase matter more.
Certain Sephora Favorites kits and some intimate care items marked final sale
Items past the 30-day window or not in new or gently used condition
Products that were not bought at Sephora
Sephora at Kohl's purchases (these go back to Kohl's)
Items Sephora believes were delivered to a parcel forwarding company and then reported missing or damaged
Can You Return to Sephora Without a Receipt?
Only if Sephora can find the purchase in its system. A paper receipt is not the only option. Sephora accepts an original packing slip, an order or shipping confirmation email, the order on your mobile device, or your Beauty Insider account information.
If the purchase cannot be verified, the item is ineligible for a refund, exchange, or credit. This is a big change from older policies that offered store credit at the lowest selling price, so linking purchases to your Beauty Insider account and keeping your receipts matters more than ever.
Pro tip
Give your Beauty Insider email or phone number at checkout every time, even for small purchases. It turns your account into a backup receipt.
How to Return a Sephora Online Order
You can return Sephora.com orders by mail or in a store. Pick the method based on how fast you need the refund and how you paid.
Return by mail
Open the returns linkGo to Sephora's Returns & Exchanges page and open the returns link (powered by Narvar).
Pick your itemsEnter your order details and select the items you are returning.
Get the labelPrint the prepaid return label, or use a printerless FedEx Mobile Return Code if offered. No packing slip is needed.
Pack itPack items in their original box and Sephora packaging if you have them, or in a well-padded box or envelope.
Drop it offDrop the package at a listed FedEx location. Ship hazmat items such as fragrances and aerosols with USPS.
Watch for the emailWatch for Sephora's email confirming your return has been processed.
Not returnable by mail: in-store purchases, Buy Online, Pick Up In Store orders, and Instacart, DoorDash, or Uber Eats orders. These go back to a Sephora store. TikTok Shop orders must be returned through TikTok Shop.
Return in store
Take the item, your proof of purchase, and the debit or credit card you paid with to any freestanding Sephora store. In-store returns are processed at the counter, which makes this the faster option if a store is nearby.
How Long Do Sephora Refunds Take?
In-store returns are processed on the spot, although your bank may need a few business days to show the credit. Mail returns can take up to 30 days to process after Sephora receives them, and you get an email once the refund is issued. Applicable taxes are refunded, and any Beauty Insider points earned on the purchase are removed.
Where your money goes depends on how you paid and how you return:
How you paid
Refund for mail returns
Refund for in-store returns
Credit or debit card (incl. Apple Pay, Google Pay)
Original card
Original card
PayPal
PayPal account
Store credit (stores only)
Venmo
Venmo account
Venmo account
Klarna
Klarna account, plan adjusted
Klarna account, plan adjusted
Afterpay
Afterpay account, plan adjusted
Card of your choice (keep paying Afterpay)
Sephora gift card
Online credit (Sephora.com only)
Merchandise credit (stores only)
About Sephora store credit
Store credit has no expiration date, but it can only be used in Sephora stores, not on Sephora.com. It cannot be exchanged for cash (unless required by law), transferred, or replaced if lost.
Does Sephora Do Exchanges?
Sephora's return and exchange policy offers exchanges only in some cases, mainly gifts and purchases made with Player's Club Points at the Mohegan Sun location. For a different shade or product, the usual route is to return the item for a refund and buy the one you want.
Returning or exchanging a gift
Do not mail gifts back. If you do not want the refund sent to the person who bought it, take the gift to a Sephora store with the packing slip, order confirmation email, or gift receipt email. The store can give you an exchange or merchandise credit instead.
Can You Return Sephora Items at Kohl's?
Sephora at Kohl's runs on its own return rules, and the two do not mix:
Items bought at Sephora at Kohl's or kohls.com must go back to Kohl's, not to a Sephora store or by mail to Sephora.
Sephora.com and freestanding Sephora store purchases cannot be returned at Sephora at Kohl's.
Kohl's returns must be made within 30 days, with a receipt, in new or gently used condition. Non-receipted returns are not accepted.
Refunds go to the original payment method, except Sephora gift card or PayPal purchases, which get Kohl's merchandise credit.
According to Sephora's billing and order help page, most orders can be canceled up to an hour after they are placed, and orders cannot be changed once submitted. To swap a shade or fix an address, cancel within that hour and place a new order.
Sign inSign in to your Sephora account on the website or app.
Open Order DetailsOpen your order history and select the order to view its Order Details page.
CancelChoose the cancel option if it is still available.
Call if neededIf you do not see it, contact Sephora Customer Service at 1-877-737-4672 right away.
Missed the window? Let the order arrive and return it by mail or in store within 30 days. If a canceled order left a pending charge, the pre-authorization usually drops off within 1 to 7 business days, depending on your bank.
Canceling a pickup order and how long Sephora holds it
Sephora holds Buy Online, Pick Up In Store orders for five full days. You can cancel any time before the pickup window ends from the link in your email or on the Order Details page. If you do not pick it up, the order is canceled automatically and the payment is reversed. Details are on Sephora's pickup FAQ.
Sephora Customer Service hours
Customer Service is not open 24 hours. Phone and live chat run Monday to Friday 5am to 9pm PT and Saturday to Sunday 6am to 9pm PT.
Does Sephora Do Price Adjustments?
Sephora's official help pages do not describe a price adjustment program. If an item goes on sale right after you buy it, contact Customer Service to ask, but do not count on a partial refund.
Sephora Returns Outside the US
The policy above covers Sephora US only. Sephora Canada has its own returns page. Sephora India follows a separate cancellation and refund policy: returns must be requested within 14 days of delivery, fragrances need their seal intact, and refunds go to the original payment method.
Tips for a Smooth Sephora Return
Mark the 30-day deadline the day you buy, especially for gifts.
Test early. Try new skincare and foundation in the first week so you have time to decide.
Keep packaging until you are sure, even though it is not strictly required.
Think about the payment method. PayPal purchases returned in store become store credit, so mail them back if you want the money in PayPal.
Know where you bought it. Kohl's purchases go back to Kohl's.
Keep proof of purchase handy, because unverified returns are refused.
Never Lose a Sephora Return Over a Missing Receipt
Under the new policy, proof of purchase decides whether you get your money back. A crumpled receipt at the bottom of a tote bag, or an order email buried under promotions, can turn a refund into a loss.
Manage Receipt keeps every beauty purchase findable in seconds:
Snap the receipt at checkout with the AI receipt scanner, so the date, store, and items are saved before the paper fades.
Save Sephora order emails in one place with email receipts, ready to show at the counter for online orders.
Keep gift receipts and packing slips together in the Doc Wallet, so a gift exchange takes minutes.
Search by store or date when you are standing at the register and need the purchase now.
Sephora Return Policy FAQs
What is Sephora's return policy?
Sephora accepts new or gently used products within 30 days of purchase with verifiable proof of purchase. Most refunds go to the original payment method, and Sephora.com orders can be returned by mail at no return shipping cost or in any freestanding store.
How long is Sephora's return policy?
For purchases made on or after April 24, 2025, the return window is 30 days. Pickup orders can be returned in store within 30 days of pickup.
Can I return Sephora products after 30 days?
Generally no. The 31 to 60 day store credit option from the old policy is no longer listed. Exceptions are rare and up to Sephora.
Can you return used products to Sephora?
Yes, if they are gently used. Lightly tested makeup, skincare, and perfume are accepted, while heavily used or nearly empty products may be refused.
Can you return perfume to Sephora if it is opened?
Yes. Opened fragrance that has only been tested is accepted within 30 days. Mail fragrances back with USPS because they count as hazmat.
Can I return to Sephora without a receipt?
Only if Sephora can verify the purchase through an order email, packing slip, your phone, or your Beauty Insider account. Unverified items are not eligible for a refund, exchange, or credit.
Can I return Sephora items at Kohl's?
Only items bought at Sephora at Kohl's or kohls.com. Purchases from Sephora.com or Sephora stores cannot be returned at Kohl's.
How long do Sephora refunds take?
In-store refunds are processed immediately. Mail returns can take up to 30 days to process, plus the time your bank needs to post the credit.
Can I return a Sephora online order in store?
Yes. Bring the item, your order confirmation or packing slip, and the card you paid with to any freestanding Sephora store.
How do I cancel a Sephora order?
Most orders can be canceled up to an hour after you place them from the Order Details page in your account. After that, call Customer Service or return the items once they arrive.
How long does Sephora hold pickup orders?
Five full days. After that the order is canceled automatically and your payment is reversed.
Keep every Sephora receipt within reachScan it at the counter or save the order email, and see how much of your 30-day window is left.
This guide is based on the Returns & Exchanges, Billing, Buy Online Pick Up In Store and Final Sale pages published in the Sephora help center as of October 2026. Store practices can vary and policies can change, so confirm with Sephora before making a return.
