A Sephora gift card lets you pay for makeup, skincare, fragrance and haircare at Sephora, online or in a store. You enter the card number and PIN at checkout, and the balance covers your order, fully or in part. This guide explains how the card works, which country to choose, how to use it online, in the app and in store, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Whether you are treating yourself or buying a present for someone who loves beauty, the rules are simple once you know them. So, let us start with the basics.
What Is a Sephora Gift Card
A Sephora gift card is a prepaid card with a fixed value, for example 25 USD, 50 GBP or 200 PLN. Typically, each card has a card number and a PIN. When you shop, you enter both at checkout, and Sephora takes the price of your order from the card balance.
In other words, the card works like prepaid money that only Sephora accepts. You can spend it on almost anything Sephora sells, from big beauty brands to Sephora’s own collection. Moreover, you can use one card for a single order or spread the balance across several orders.
Sephora gift card at a glance
In general, there are two main formats. Physical cards come in stores and hide the PIN under a scratch-off panel. Digital cards, or eGift cards, arrive by email or in your order, which makes them ideal for last-minute presents.
How a Sephora Gift Card Works
Overall, the idea behind a Sephora gift card is simple. First, you buy a card for the country where you shop. Next, you add products to your basket on the Sephora website or in the app, or you take them to a store till. Finally, you enter the card number and PIN, and the balance pays for your order.
A few rules shape how the balance behaves:
- Leftovers stay on the card. If your order costs less than the balance, the rest remains for next time.
- You can top up the difference. If the order costs more, you pay the remainder with another method, such as a bank card or PayPal.
- Taxes and shipping count. In the US, Sephora applies the card to the full order total, including tax and shipping.
- No cash out. Sephora does not exchange the balance for money, except where the law requires it.
Because of these rules, it makes sense to keep the card details safe until the balance reaches zero. A screenshot of the code or the order email is usually enough.
Which Sephora Gift Card Region to Choose
To begin with, Sephora runs separate shops in different countries, and each gift card belongs to one of them. Therefore, you should buy the card for the country where you will shop, not the country where you live or the brand you want.
Sephora gift card regions on TopGift
| Region | Currency | Where to use it |
|---|---|---|
| United StatesMost popular | USD | sephora.com, the app and US stores |
| Canada | CAD | sephora.com/ca, the app and Canadian stores |
| United Kingdom | GBP | sephora.co.uk, the app and UK stores |
| Poland | PLN | sephora.pl and Polish stores |
| New Zealand | NZD | sephora.nz and New Zealand stores |
According to Sephora, cards from the US and Canada do not work on other international Sephora websites. Sephora also notes that a US card used in Canada, or a Canadian card used in the US, is valued at the daily exchange rate. Even so, the safest choice is always the card for the country where you shop most.
Pick the shop, not the brandSephora gift cards are tied to one country’s Sephora. A UK card works on sephora.co.uk, while a US card works on sephora.com, so choose the card for the shop you will actually use.
How to Use a Sephora Gift Card Online
Fortunately, paying online with a Sephora gift card takes about a minute. The exact screen differs a little between countries, but the steps are almost the same everywhere.
How to use a Sephora gift card online
In the UK, you enter the 13-digit card number in the box for a promo code or gift card code, and then the site asks for the 4-digit PIN. Be careful, though: entering the wrong PIN three times blocks the card, and you then need to contact customer care.
In the US and Canada, the gift card section sits in the payment step of checkout. After you apply the card, the order summary shows how much of the total the card covers.
5 regions
Sephora Gift Card
Pay for makeup, skincare and fragrance at Sephora online or in store. The code arrives within minutes.
Buy Sephora Gift CardUsing Your Card in the Sephora App
Similarly, the Sephora app works in much the same way as the website. Add your products to the basket, go to checkout and look for the gift card option in the payment section. Then enter the card number and PIN and apply the balance.
The app is also a handy place to keep track of your orders and rewards. In addition, in some countries you can check your gift card balance or saved payment details from your account section in the app.
How to Use a Sephora Gift Card In Store
By comparison, using a Sephora gift card in a store is even easier. Pick your products, go to the till and tell the Beauty Advisor that you want to pay with a gift card. Then show the physical card or the code on your phone, and the team scans or enters it for you.
If the card does not cover the full amount, you can pay the rest with cash or a bank card. However, keep in mind one UK rule: online-only gift cards and some reward vouchers in the UK work only on the website, not in stores. So, check your card details before you visit a shop.
Sephora Shops Inside Other Stores
In the US, Sephora also runs beauty areas inside Kohl’s stores. According to Sephora, both physical and digital Sephora gift cards work at Sephora at Kohl’s stores. They do not, however, work on the Kohl’s website.
Outside the US, Sephora shops inside department stores may follow their own rules. Therefore, if you plan to pay at a counter inside another store, ask the staff first whether they accept Sephora gift cards.
Paying With More Than One Card
Of course, sometimes one card is not enough, especially for a bigger beauty haul. In that case, you can often combine cards, but the limits differ by country.
- United States and Canada: you can use up to two gift cards or eGift cards per online order. For more cards, pay in a store.
- United Kingdom: you can use up to five gift cards per transaction, with a maximum of 1,000 GBP per transaction.
- Other countries: check the checkout page or the local terms on the Sephora website.
After the cards, you can pay any remaining amount with another method. In the US, for example, Sephora accepts cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and several buy-now-pay-later options.
Gift Cards, eGift Cards and Store Credit
Sephora uses three similar-looking payment types, and it helps to tell them apart. A physical gift card is the plastic card you buy in a store or receive in the post. An eGift card is the digital version, which arrives by email or as a code. Both work online, in the app and in stores in the US and Canada.
Store merchandise credit is different. Sephora usually issues it for certain returns, and in the US and Canada it comes as a physical card with a 16-digit number and no PIN. Importantly, store credit works only in Sephora stores, for merchandise, and not online, in the app or at Kohl’s. So, if a card has no PIN, it is probably store credit rather than a gift card.
How to Check Your Sephora Gift Card Balance
Knowing your balance before you shop saves time at checkout. In the US and Canada, there are several ways to check it:
- Online: sign in, open Payments & Credits in your account and enter the card number and PIN.
- On the website or in the app: use the gift card balance check page.
- In store: ask a Beauty Advisor to check the card for you.
- By phone: call Sephora customer service.
In the UK, you can check the gift cards section of your Sephora account, ask a team member in store or contact customer care. Above all, avoid third-party balance-check websites. Sephora itself warns against them, since some exist only to steal card details.
Does a Sephora Gift Card Expire
In the US and Canada, Sephora gift cards and eGift cards do not expire. Sephora also says there are no fees on the unused balance, so the card keeps its full value for as long as you need.
Rules in other countries can differ, so check the local terms if you are unsure. Even so, the best habit is the same everywhere: use the card within a reasonable time and keep the details safe until the balance is gone.
No rush in the US and CanadaSephora gift cards in the US and Canada never expire and have no inactivity fees. You can save the balance for a bigger order or a seasonal sale.
Can You Add Money to a Sephora Gift Card
In the US and Canada, you can add value only to physical gift cards that you bought directly from Sephora, in a store, on the website or in the app, and only in a Sephora store. eGift cards, cards bought from other retailers and store credits cannot be reloaded.
In practice, this means a digital code works best as a one-off balance. When it runs out, you simply buy a new card. Many people actually prefer this, since a fixed amount keeps beauty spending under control.
Returns and Refunds
As for returns, they follow the normal Sephora returns policy. If you return an eligible item that you paid for with a gift card, the refund usually goes back as a new gift card, not as cash.
- US and Canada: eligible items paid with a gift card and returned in store within 30 days are refunded on a new Sephora gift card.
- UK store returns: refunded on another gift card.
- UK online returns: refunded on a digital gift card.
In short, the value stays with Sephora. That is worth remembering if you buy a product you are not sure about.
What You Cannot Buy With It
A Sephora gift card covers almost everything Sephora sells. Still, there are a few limits:
- Other gift cards: you cannot use a gift card to buy another gift card or eGift card.
- Cash: you cannot withdraw the balance, except where the law requires it.
- Other shops: the card works only at Sephora, not at other beauty retailers.
- Lost cards: Sephora does not replace lost or stolen cards, so treat the code like cash.
Tips to Get More From Your Sephora Gift Card
A gift card goes further with a little planning. Here are a few simple habits that help:
- Wait for seasonal sales. Sephora runs regular promotions, so a card used during a sale buys more.
- Look at value sets. Gift sets and minis often cost less than buying each product on its own.
- Check promo codes. Where the checkout allows it, a promo code can lower the total before the gift card pays.
- Ask for samples. Trying a product first helps you avoid returns and get exactly what suits you.
- Split the balance. Use part of the card now and keep the rest for a restock of your favourites later.
In short, a gift card is not only a payment method but also a budget. Plan your basket first, and the balance will cover more of what you really want.
Sephora Gift Card Problems and Fixes
Generally, most payments work on the first try. Still, a few problems come up often. Here is how to fix them.
Common Sephora gift card problems
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Card not accepted onlineMost common | Wrong country site | Use the Sephora website for the country of your card |
| PIN error | Typo in the PIN | Enter the PIN carefully; in the UK, three wrong tries block the card |
| Card blocked | Too many wrong PIN attempts | Contact Sephora customer care with your card details |
| Card not accepted in store | Online-only card | Use it on the website instead |
| Only two cards allowed | US and Canada online limit | Pay with more cards in a store |
If none of these fixes helps, contact Sephora customer service. Likewise, if you bought the card on TopGift and the code itself does not work, reach out to our support team with your order number, and we will check it for you.
A Sephora Gift Card as a Present
A Sephora gift card is one of the most popular beauty presents, and for good reason. The recipient chooses exactly what they want, whether that is a new perfume, a skincare routine or a full makeup set. As a result, you never have to guess shades, skin types or favourite scents.
It also works for almost any occasion, from birthdays and Christmas to graduations and thank-you gifts. Since a digital card arrives in minutes, it is ideal for last-minute presents too.
Before you send the code, however, check the recipient’s country. A UK card for a friend in London and a US card for a cousin in New York are not interchangeable. For more ideas, see our Black Friday gift card guide.
How to Avoid Sephora Gift Card Scams
Because gift cards work like cash, scammers often target them. Fortunately, a few simple rules keep you safe:
- Never pay a stranger with gift card codes. Real companies, tax offices and support teams do not ask for payment in Sephora gift cards.
- Never share your card number and PIN with anyone who calls or messages you.
- Use only official balance checks on the Sephora website, app or in store.
- Avoid huge discounts on social media or marketplaces, since they often sell used or stolen codes.
- Buy from established sellers that deliver a working code and offer support.
If someone pressures you to buy gift cards and read out the codes, stop immediately. That request is always a scam.
Where to Buy a Sephora Gift Card
TopGift offers Sephora gift cards for the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland and New Zealand, with instant digital delivery. To order, choose the country of the Sephora shop you will use, select the value and pay with one of our payment methods. The card number and PIN then arrive in your order within minutes.
Here are two popular options:
USD
Sephora Gift Card United States
Shop sephora.com, the Sephora app and US stores with a USD gift card. Values from 10 to 200 USD.
Buy Sephora Gift Card USA
GBP
Sephora Gift Card United Kingdom
Use your balance on sephora.co.uk and in UK Sephora stores. Values from 10 to 100 GBP.
Buy a Sephora Gift Card UKFrequently Asked Questions
Add products to your basket on the Sephora website for your card’s country, open the gift card section at checkout, enter the card number and PIN, then pay any remainder with another method.
Yes. Show the card or the code to a Beauty Advisor at the till. In the UK, some online-only gift cards work only on the website.
In the US and Canada, Sephora gift cards and eGift cards never expire and have no fees. Check local terms in other countries.
In the US and Canada, up to two per online order. In the UK, up to five per transaction, with a maximum of 1,000 GBP.
US and Canadian cards do not work on other international Sephora websites. Buy the card for the country where you shop.
Yes, at Sephora at Kohl’s stores in the US, but not on the Kohl’s website.
Key Takeaways
