Sephora Nostalgia, Memorabilia, History & Packaging Thread

[sister13]

Around Christmas, I remember discussing the past holiday special design packaging that Sephora used to make each year. I remember when they did free gift wrapping for several years, and had holiday designs for boxes, bags and cute little plastic envelopes/tubes. I still have a bunch from past years since they were so festive, and of high quality so we just fold them up and reuse them year after year!

I know someone mentioned it, and I kept thinking we should have a thread to catalog and document some of the Sephora items I come across from time to time. Then, finding a brochure from maybe around 2002 (pictured below) has spurred me into action today. I remember feeling so amazed and instantly in love with Sephora because of all the testers. I still have PTSD as a kid/teen of wanting to play with the department store testers and 

I am a bit of a pack rat, and I come across things that either I still can’t part with, or things that I actually want to declutter but will feel better if I can archive a photo somewhere, haha! I’m thinking of the following kinds of items, but feel free to post additional items or memories connected with Sephora that you want to share with us at BIC! 

• Sephora packages or shopping bags from any point in time
• Beauty Insider, VIB, VIB ROUGE/ROUGE Sephora-branded gifts (remember when you got a gift for differs tiers? (I’m sure I still have some of those old welcome card brochures around when I can find them).
• Sephora Ads or mailers or brochures that you like or come across when decluttering 
• Other Sephora merchandise or swag
• Sephora memories or stories
• Sephora or ‘brands at Sephora’ history or memories
• Beauty Insider Community/Beauty Talk swag or memorabilia
• Whatever else you think is relevant!

Hopefully I’m not the only one who has these random things lying around, but if so, feel free to laugh at me and my treasures!

Anyway, below is the brochure I found today! Isn’t it great? It mentions 74 stores, and it was folded up along with a product promo brochure and an online order form from 2002 when I lived in Vail. I totally forgot they ever sold Chanel! I also see Sue Devitt, Bourgois, Tony & Tina, Bliss, and DDF that used to be sold at Sephora (US anyway) but are no longer (unless I’m mistaken).

I remember feeling so amazed and instantly in love with Sephora because of all the testers available. I still have PTSD as a kid/teen of wanting to play with the department store testers and the sales ladies being so mean (we thought anyway!) I also remember such profound hope and disappointment at purchasing drugstore makeup with no testers available! It’s neat that it’s listed here in the Play, touch, smell, try. I also think it’s pretty funny they did an acronym (I think, is that what it is?)

NOTE: Sorry that BIC ruins the resolution on photos, but if you click on them, you can see more detail and text. I’ll try to repost pics from another device at a larger size some time, but right now BIC is preventing me from posting from the iPad! 

 

 

 

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[Kim888]

this is such a fun idea @sister13 ! I love looking at older packaging. A while ago a youtuber I sometimes watch (tarababyz) did a tour of her beauty room and she had all the cool old packaging for urban decay which I thought was neat to see. 

I'm not sure I have anything super old anymore! 

[sister13]

Thanks @Kim888 ! Two of my oldest (and treasured) items are two greens singles from Urban Decay and also two quad eyeshadows that I was enthralled with. I bought them all at Sephora and can still picture the display! 

[faeriegirl]

I love this thread @sister13 ! I still have my rouge card.  It’s pretty worn out!

[Lrearden1]

@faeriegirl I remember when my older sister got her rouge card in the mail, and I was in awe! Thanks for sharing this little memory!

[missjeanie]

@faeriegirl I still have mine too!!

[CookieGirl1]

@faeriegirl oh wow!

[sister13]

Awesome! Well loved! @faeriegirl ❤️❤️❤️

[sister13]

My Rouge card: 

 
Came across this box when I was packing, but I need to find this mini MJ lippie, I’m sure I have it somewhere!

 

 

 

 

[mishanyc]

@sister13 This brings back memories!  I was the first person to hit Rouge in one store at the mall when the program rolled out. They actually sounded a buzzer and handed me the Red Card.  I remember holding onto that card proudly for years being the makeup lover that I am.  

[sister13]

Omg, that’s awesome! A buzzer! @mishanyc 

[Mellmars1185]

@sister13 I never received an actual card (probably because my purchases are mostly online). What a fun and excellent idea for a thread. I have a few fun items I will share soon.

[sister13]

All, I know I’ve been a fan since at least 2002, and I guess they opened in 1998, so I’m old enough to be a fan since then, haha! Yes, they used to have physical cards for each level and usually a little gift or some benefits, like free shipping code or free makeover or actual gift items. I’m sure I’ll come across more items since I’m still packing/unpacking from our move! @Mellmars1185 

[SportyGirly125]

@Mellmars1185 @They mailed them out when the program started years ago or you could have got one in store. They got rid of the cards a couple of years ago. 

[Mellmars1185]

@SportyGirly125 Interesting to know! I never got one mailed to me, but that is ok. Now i can see all of the stuff here! It is crazy that I only discovered the community more recently. I have been a Sephora fan since they came to Canada!

[Kim888]

@Mellmars1185 I never got one either - I know when I became rouge people said to go to the store if you didn't but I was lazy lol 

[Mellmars1185]

@Kim888 It is probably for the best on my end. I would have shopped until I dropped lol

[SportyGirly125]

@Mellmars1185 I think I got mine in store after seeing other people get theirs in the mail. It’s been so long. I just remembered when the program started and they had Rouge exclusive items you could get online which I thought was cool. 

[Mellmars1185]

@SportyGirly125 That is so cool! I received items a while back for reaching rouge status. I still have the red makeup brush. I forget what I received the year before that.

[SportyGirly125]

@Mellmars1185 I know they have done lipstick and a Nars blush for the Rouge renewal.

[Mellmars1185]

@SportyGirly125 Ohh that brings back memories. Did they have 2 Nars stick lipsticks one year? In a pink and red? Or maybe I am getting that mixed up with a birthday present?

[SportyGirly125]

@Mellmars1185 They had a Nars blush in limited edition shade Goulue, Bite Beauty lippie, Formula X nail polish, Marc Jacobs lippie, 2 red brushes, one mirror, pouch