Sephora is a happy place for beauty lovers. From swatching makeup to testing viral fragrances, a trip to Sephora is great for the soul—but not for your wallet! A few impulse buys can easily do a number on your credit card bill.

But as a longtime beauty lover (an OG Sephora kid, if you will) and shopping editor, I've got a few tips on how to shop smart and save. And they're not limited to official saving events. It's about hacking Sephora's benefits and timing your purchases right.

Secret #1: Join the brand's Beauty Insider program for freebies and rewards.

    To reap most of the benefits Sephora has to offer, the first step is to join their rewards membership program, which is completely free. When you reach certain spending thresholds, more rewards and perks are available to you, which come in handy during the bi-annual Sephora Beauty Insider Sales (more on that later).

    The membership program is broken down into three tiers: Beauty Insider at the first level, VIB at the next, and Rouge status at the top. If you spend $350 in a year, you upgrade from Beauty Insider to VIB status—and if you spend $1,000 in a year, you unlock Rouge status. All tiers are eligible for free standard shipping.

    For every purchase you make, you earn points that can be used to redeem products from Sephora's Rewards Bazaar, which includes travel-size and deluxe-size samples, accessories, and sometimes even full-size products and influencer-inspired experiences. However, we recommend saving your points to redeem Beauty Insider Cash, where you can exchange 500 points for $10 off. As a Rouge member, you can exchange 2,500 points for $100 off.

    Additionally, Beauty Insiders at any level can save when their birthday comes around. The retailer will treat you to a birthday exclusive sample set when you spend $25 online during your birthday month. Plus, you get a 20% off code at the beginning of your birthday month, so you can treat yourself to a beauty buy you’ve been eyeing.

    Editor's tip: My mom and I share a Sephora rewards membership account to make it easier to hit the $1,000 threshold and maintain Rouge status. Instead of spending a total of a $1,000 each, we both only need to spend an average of $500 per year (which is less than the cost of a Dyson Airwrap). The only caveat to using a shared account is not getting multiple birthday rewards, but in the grand scheme of things, we're saving cash versus getting a sample-size product.

    Secret #2: Plan to shop in the spring and fall.

    The best time to shop at Sephora is during its Beauty Insider sale events, which are held biannually, in the spring and fall.

    During the event, anyone enrolled in Sephora’s Beauty Insider program can get an exclusive discount on their Sephora purchase, no matter what they’re buying—but the discounts are tiered:

    • Beauty Insider members get 10% off their purchase
    • VIB members get 15% off their purchase
    • Rouge members get 20% off and get early access to the sale

    Plus, all Beauty Insiders (no matter your tier) score 30% off Sephora’s in-house beauty line, Sephora Collection.

    Beyond its famous tier-based savings events, the retailer has been rolling out more sales throughout the year, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Right now, through June 23, Sephora is hosting a Major Summer Deals event with up to 25% off shampoos and conditioners, and up to 50% off select beauty products.

    In past years, the retailer has also had a Gifts For All event, where shoppers received a one-time 20% off code for last-minute holiday shopping. We wouldn't be surprised if it makes a comeback in 2026.

    Editor's tip: I stock up on my beauty go-tos and holy grails around these major sale events—and I don't really shop at Sephora, or any beauty retailer, at any other time. I take into account what's running low and purchase enough to last until the next sale comes around. I know which products work for me, so I try not to add too many impulse buys and prioritize the picks I know I'll use.

    Secret #3: Frequent the sale section to find discounts of up to 50% year round.

    Like any other retailer, Sephora’s sale section is riddled with discounted beauty products. There have been plenty of times over the years that I've come across an under-the-radar deal that's a whopping 50% off. Sometimes, these align with brands hosting sales at other retailers—and other times, it's a way to snag products and gift sets that are limited edition or being phased out.

    Either way, it’s worth perusing every so often to take advantage of hidden markdowns. I've seen brands like Fenty Beauty, Too Faced, Youth to the People, Rare Beauty, and more on sale. This is where I snag a few impulse buys and gifts on a budget.

    Secret #4: Use your HSA and FSA benefits.

    If you didn't already know, you can use your HSA and FSA funds to stock up on your favorite problem-solving skincare at Sephora. Acne products, sunscreen above SPF 15, and other medicated skin treatments are considered over-the-counter healthcare products, making them eligible for HSA and FSA benefits.

    Sephora houses nearly 200 HSA and FSA-eligible products—and beyond acne treatments and SPF, you can shop for skincare that helps with eczema, keratosis pilaris, and psoriasis. You can even shop for acne patches and big-ticket items like LED face masks with your tax-free dollars—just be sure to save your receipt and submit it to your benefits provider for reimbursement. And yes, you still get Beauty Insider points on these purchases.

    Secret #5: Use Sephora’s buying guides to your advantage.

    Although Sephora’s offerings tend to lean high-end, you can snag plenty of high-quality, best-selling beauty products for under $50. The retailer has curated buying guides with affordable beauty products sorted by price point and product type so you can discover new finds. Here are some quick links to some of these sections:

    Secret #6: Shop Sephora's exclusive gift sets to get the most value.

    Although it's not the height of gifting season, Sephora's gift sets and value sets are a great way to try new products and stock up on old favorites without splurging too much.

    If you're vying for an LED mask, for instance, this Dr. Dennis Gross FaceWare Pro Bundle costs the same as the LED mask itself but comes with a full-size collagen cream and 10 of its iconic Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads, which saves you about $117.

    The Sephora Favorites perfume discovery sets are also perfect for gifting or trying out a new fragrance. With this $98 Father's Day cologne sampler set, for example, you'll get samples of best-sellers, plus a voucher that can be exchanged for a full-size version that usually retails for more than $100. (The retailer says it's a $175 value altogether!) These are great for holidays or birthdays, especially when you're shopping for someone who tends to be indecisive.