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.

[Anonymous]

This revised insiders program is still a joke. I have been Rouge for years and do not anticipate continuing that trend. The rewards program has always been awful and clear that the customer means nothing. I'm no longer going to continue to spend in excess for nothing in return. You can keep your $10 off and I will continue to shop at Ulta where the rewards actually add up to something for the customer. 

[Trini1105]

Whoever thought of this “new” reward offers/program needs to be fired!

[NED62]

Companies always increase the number of points required for rewards, or make the programs worse for the customer but better for the company. I like to save my points for better rewards, but while you put off cashing them out, you risk getting screwed over when they make the change. At times they send out advanced warding so that you can cash them out before the changes take effect but at times certain companies don’t have the courtesy to do so and you are stuck with less reward for more points.

[Katherinelynne]

I have been rouge for a few years. I do not benefit from makeovers, events in store or experiences because it would be a 12 hour drive for myself. I am a bit confused of what exactly the beta test is and have tried to click the FAQ in the latest email. The email is coming from shop@beauty.sephora.com

 I tried to click the link in the beta email but I get the following warning which is very concerning:

[DaneeBT]

Hi @Katherinelynne, I'm so sorry about that! We are testing an idea that would allow members to apply points to their purchase for an amount off. Please see more information above. I will also send you a private message with a link!

[gonerogue]

@DaneeBT  Will you forward me the link as well? I’ve been having the same issue since Friday and haven’t gotten any responses from the email provided in the FAQ’s.

[keelybt]

@gonerogue I will send you a PM.

[gonerogue]

@keelybt  Thank you! ❤️

[Roadwarrior81]

I’m rouge. I’ve never taken advantage of the makeovers or any of that stuff. Ive been rouge for several years. I am finished after this year. I spent 500 dollars and you want me to redeem it for a $10 coupon? You truly do not care about your loyal customers. I’d rather buy direct from the companies or I’m going to consider Ulta. You do not deserve my business or my loyalty.

[amder]

Unfortunate your promotions department really missed the mark with this one. I can spend 500 points for $10 or 2500 for $100. 5x the points for 10x the benefit. I like the idea of being able to use points for cash off but there are companies that do it better (a great one to check out is PC Optimum in Canada). Not only is it simple to get bonus points but I can redeem easily. When I received the beta email I honestly felt a bit insulted by the offer. I really hope that the rest of the changes are better than this as I know it’s just the start.

[Katherinelynne]

I keep forgetting that you can use your points at Shoppers and they are carrying a lot of the high end brands now. Plus you get lots of points for shopping there. They currently have where if you spend $125 you get 45,000 points which is $45.

[Rachel22456]

Shoppers does not have Sephora’s selection. Have you ever tried calling Beauty at SDM? I was waiting on the phone for more than 20 minutes. Also, 45 000 PC points would only give you $40.00, not $45.00.

[cangirl84]

@Rachel22456  I would wait until bonus redemption which happens quite often now at Shoppers to redeem my points lol! 

[Rachel22456]

Yes.  Not sure why I am clicking on all of these SDM texts and emails and doing the scratch tickets when I can just refresh the app and all new deals are there and on my card.  No birthday gift though! Isn’t there a bonus redemption event going on now? How often do they happen? Does it matter where you live? I only scanned the fine print (no short and sweet versions sadly).  At my stores, they do not give samples with purchases.  You have to ask for them, which is always a little awkward.

[Dublincalling]

Yes and I just took advantage of it and even got some very nice gifts with purchases and 3 very nice high end samples. And if you visit some of the stores they have very high end products like Chanel and Dior and the saleswomen are more than happy to give you a quick makeup application and plenty and I mean plenty of samples. This week I could not even get samples at the biggest Sephora in Montreal because they had no vials or jars???? Isn’t that like a pizza place with no toppings? Shoppers and the brands themselves will now get my $$$. Just need to use up my points. Sigh.

[RGbrown]

The signup is finally working for anyone interested

[gonerogue]

@RGbrown  Will you PM me the link? I haven’t had success with any of the links so far and no one seems to be replying to emails 😔

[RGbrown]

@gonerogue 

Of course, done! 

[angi123]

10$ for 500 points is a joke. You can get 125$ for 2000 points at Ulta. Your rewards get worse and worse. With all the competition you have anymore I’d think you would want to keep and/or gain more customers, not lose them. I just hoard my points because you have nothing worth using them on anymore. Disappointing 

[Cassandramo]

I emailed the provided feedback address to explain why this is very disappointing, and why Sephora is losing a Rouge member this year. Hopefully pages and pages of similar viewpoints here will speak to their wallets.* (*by wallets do we mean emotions?)

[Rachel22456]

I read the above post and the Forbes article and I am still unclear as to what the new benefits are for the program in 2020. What are the new benefits? Where are the tangible benefits for the Rouge tier? Points no longer expire after x months of inactivity? I am not excited about the500 points for $10 off because it is not a good deal. Since I can redeem 2500 points for $100 off, shouldn’t the Beauty Insider Cash be 500 points for $20 off? $20.00 would be truly competitive. I think transactional and emotional perks are equallyimportant. I unsubscribed from Sephora emails because they were becoming very intrusive and now I have missed the test invitation. Additionally, the name “Beauty Insider Cash” may want to be reconsidered. A perk that made Sephora a good experience for me but wastaken away recently is the ability to earn andredeem points in the same transaction. Members should be notified of any changes, both positive and negative, to the Beauty Insider program to avoid surprises and confusion. In 2020, Iwould like to see improvements in Sephora’s customer service and I would like to see the Canadian samples, beauty offers, and Rewards Bazaar be just as good asthe USA samples,beautyoffers, and Rewards Bazaar. It should be easier to redeem the $100 Rouge Reward and redeem points for rewards over 750points. As forsamples, the two samples selected during the order process should be the two samples received. If a sample is missing, 25 points are given to the customer, but I think 25 is a little stingy. Does anyone agree? Samples are important to me because I am many hours away from a store so I cannot take advantage of storesamples or store experiences. Other improvement ideas include making the return limit clear to customers and removing the glitches from the app. Thank you for considering my feedback.