Beauty Insider Updates + Beta FAQs

[SephoraBIC]

UPDATE 1/25/2020: Thank you for sharing your feedback. The functionality has been fixed to opt into the Beta. Please continue to share your feedback with your experience by commenting below or by emailing beautyinsidercash@sephora.com.

UPDATE 1/24/2020: Thank you for sharing your feedback. We also know that the functionality isn't working for everyone. Due to the overwhelming response, we’re actively working to get the site back up and we recommend checking back Saturday, 1/25, in the afternoon.

How will the Beauty Insider program be evolving? What can we expect to see?

We will continue to evolve the Beauty Insider program throughout 2020 to bring members more access to savings, more sampling choices than ever and new, unique experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. Stay tuned for more updates in the months ahead!

What will be included in the new savings offering?

We will continue to offer all Beauty Insiders premier access to more opportunities for savings. Members will be able to take advantage of new types of savings events, including points multiplier events and new shipping deals. More details about savings benefits will be shared in the coming months, so be sure to check your emails and the Beauty Insider Community regularly.

What are the new experiences you are offering to members? Sephora has always offered premier beauty experiences to our BI members, and in 2020, we will go beyond beauty to offer our clients access to wellness and lifestyle events as well. On top of the tiered choices and never-expiring points that all members will continue to benefit from, we are excited to offer early access to new brand launches, as well as a range of new premium reward experiences, where clients can use their points to gain exclusive access to the most coveted beauty events and experiences.

What will more access to sampling look like in the new Beauty Insider program?

We will bring Beauty Insiders exclusive access to even more sample choices, trial sets, and birthday gifts so they can try more products from the brands they love. We will be sharing more details throughout 2020, so stay tuned for more updates!

Which program benefits are going away as part of these changes?

We are always looking for ways to improve and enhance the client experience. In order to implement some of the program updates, we’ve retired the choice of a tier celebration gift and unlimited custom makeovers for Rouge.

What’s evolving and new in the BI program?

We are always looking for ways to improve and enhance our client experience and bring the best to our most loyal beauty enthusiasts. Clients’ needs and preferences are always changing and we want to ensure the Sephora experience and Beauty Insider program evolves with them.

Can you share more details about the Beauty Insider Cash Beta test?  

We are testing an idea that would allow members to apply points to their purchase for an amount off. The beta test is a limited trial online and at select stores in the U.S. and Canada until 2/28/2020. At Sephora we are always looking to evolve our loyalty experience and look forward to hearing from our clients.

How many times per purchase can I use Beauty Insider Cash offerings during the Beta test?

Participating Beauty Insider Beta members can apply the test offer once per transaction. Your transaction must be $10 USD/CAD or more before tax, shipping and handling to use Beauty Insider Cash.

How does the Beta test work? Is there a difference between online and in store?

We have selected nine stores in the U.S. and eight stores in Canada to participate in the cash Beta test.  For our online Beta test, we invited Rouge members via email to participate on a first-come, first-served basis.  Please see below for the stores that are participating.

U.S.

(Limited to participating stores in the Bay Area, California)

Sephora Corte Madera Town Center

Sephora Daly City

Sephora Embarcadero

Sephora Laurel Village

Sephora San Francisco Centre

Sephora Santa Rosa Plaza

Sephora Stonestown Galleria

Sephora Union Street

Sephora Vintage Oaks Shopping Center 

Canada

(Limited to participating stores in Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver, British Columbia)

Sephora Coquitlam

Sephora Guildford

Sephora High Street

Sephora Metropolis

Sephora Park Royal

Sephora Richmond

Sephora Robson

Sephora Ste Catherine

Who can participate in the online Beta test?

We invited our Rouge members to be part of the test on a first-come, first-served basis.  The sign-up period will close on 1/29/2020, or as soon as all spots are full.

I opted in to the Beta test. If I don’t use my points for $10 off before the end of the pilot, will I lose them?

No. The Beta test is an opportunity to try out a new offer, but you will not lose points if you ultimately decide not to participate in the test before 2/28/2020.

How do I give my feedback about my experience/benefit?

We will be sending a survey to anyone who applied the offer in the Beta test. To share feedback outside of the survey, members can email us at beautyinsidercash@sephora.com or comment on this thread.

I was invited to take part in the online Beta test, but it’s closed. How can I join? 

Unfortunately, our online Beta test is limited to a certain number of participants. A closed page means we have a full list of participants. You can still share your thoughts on the Beta test with us at beautyinsidercash@sephora.com or by leaving a comment on this thread.

I am Rouge—why didn’t I get an invite to the online Beta test?

The invitation was sent to Rouge members who signed up to receive emails from Sephora and acquired their status by 1/15/2020.

Does this Beta test mean Rouge Reward is going away?

Not to worry, Rouge Reward is not going away and will not be affected by this test. With your help, we want to test a new experience offering instant savings.

Are there any exclusions when I redeem my 500 Beauty Insider points for $10 off?

Yes, please see restrictions here: Benefit cannot be applied to gift card purchases, in-store services, previous purchases, gift wrapping, packaging, taxes, or shipping & handling charges. Return of discounted merchandise will be for the price actually paid after the $10 benefit, neither the 500 BI points deducted from your BI account or the $10 benefit will be refunded. Exchanges of the same item will be credited for the full transaction value including the $10 benefit. Sephora is not responsible for damaged, lost, or stolen offer materials. Offer has no cash value without a purchase and may not be altered, sold, bartered or transferred. Rouge status must be attained prior to participation in the pilot, by 1/15/2020. Minimum qualifying merchandise purchase of $10 (before tax, shipping and handling) is required to redeem 500 BI points for $10 off and benefit may only be used once per transaction. Due to heavy demand, Sephora FLASH delivery times cannot be guaranteed for orders using this benefit. Not valid on orders shipping outside the U.S. or Canada. Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers or rewards. Sephora may modify or cancel the pilot at any time for any or no reason. Sephora may exclude a Rouge member from the pilot for any abuse of the pilot or violation of the pilot rules.

[ashleyjena]

I'm confused, the current offer is $100 coupon for 2500 points, but if we opt into this then it will essentially become $50 for 2500 points, isn't this a worse offer? Are we excluded from doing the $100 coupon if we opt into this?

[oasisfan]

Really unhappy about the makeovers being taken away. 

[kalala08]

Could someone explain how is using 500 points (~ equivalent to $500) to get $10 off a good deal? this is my last year being Rouge, this rewards program keeps getting worse!

[ArmyChick84]

ULTA here I cooooooome!

I only purchase products from Sephora now when ULTA doesn't carry them.

[grayreb]

Why do these changes require you to get rid of the tier celebration gift? I thought evolution was about improvement, but nothing listed makes the program better. It sounds like more of the same, but with fewer benefits.

[heartsmyface]

So we’re essentially getting the same value as $50 for 2500 points at first glance but not at all.  
Redeeming $10 once per transaction diminishes the points value further cause you would have to spend even more money to use them.  It’s common knowledge that it’s hard enough for people to find something $10 and less at Sephora to tack onto a purchase for free shipping so you would most certainly be forced to spend more money to use your earned points.  
then on top of that, you’d be forfeiting your deluxe sample in order to plug in the point redemption ultimately losing an average value of (cough cough) $8

will the rewards bazaar still be a thing?  

just some quick math.  Say some of us have 30000 points saved up cause we’ve been  point hoarders in the hopes of snagging a trip one day.   The average Sephora product is maybe what...$42?  How much money do I have to further spend to use up all my points? 

that’s 60 transactions 

spending $42 (-$10) each time =$2500-600

=$1900 more money I’d have to spend just to use my points - which up til now I thought I had earned by spending tens of thousands of dollars.

feeling testy but I suppose this is a test so appropriate?   

[RGbrown]

@heartsmyface 

Agreed with most points...but we don't yet know if the $10 off will be a promo code, or some other mechanism, do we? I keep trying to sign up just so I can see how it works, but it just keeps erroring out (sigh). It doesn't start until Feb anyways, so we may not know for sure before then. 

[Siun]

Was doing the same - wanted to see if there were more details, etc but nonstop error message.

I don't understand a retailer ticking off their entire top tier of customers.  

[heartsmyface]

@RGbrown   Fair enough.  I haven’t even received an email so I’ll have to wait for one of you to get through to see and hopefully screenshot for me;)

[RGbrown]

@heartsmyface 

https://insider.sephora.com/pilot/enroll

Linky! (no worky right now, but there it is lol)

[heartsmyface]

@RGbrown  Thank you!!!      So excited?  Curious at best.  

[RGbrown]

@heartsmyface 

I think they meant

"damn, we didn't think anyone would actually sign up for this garbage. Hold on while we source a couple more hamsters to get the server back up"

[Brutalitops]

@RGbrowntoo real 🤣

[GG84]

@heartsmyface

[grizzlymaze]

What a lot of words for something so incredibly lame.

[quspork]

Oh.

🤦

Edit: I just got the email invite. I will not be participating in these shenanigans. Do better, Sephora.

[Brutalitops]

@qusporkI signed up with the express purpose of not using it. If enough people sign up and take those spaces and then don't use the points maybe that'll help send the message we're not interested (and save someone else their points)

[quspork]

Unfortunately, @Brutalitops I don't think Sephora will pay that much attention to that strategy. But I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. They've just shown time and time again that they are more interested in "throwing us a bone" then in actual positive changes that we've all advocated for years. 

[Brutalitops]

True @quspork , but a digital sit-in is the best I've got

[Buootiful]

Good idea! @Brutalitops  I will sign up and test it.

[suzannem80]

That's exactly what I'm doing too.