Sephora
Complete VAT Refund Guide for Europe
Planning to shop at Sephora in Europe? This comprehensive guide shows you exactly how to maximize your VAT refund savings, where to find Sephora stores across Europe, and insider tips to get the most money back on your purchases.
About Sephora
Founded in 1969 in Limoges, France, Sephora launched its first Paris store in August 1970, taking its name from Zipporah (French: Séphora), the wife of Moses in the Bible. In 1993, Dominique Mandonnaud acquired Sephora and revolutionized beauty retail by designing the "assisted self-service" model—encouraging customers (primarily women) to test products in-store before purchasing, a radical departure from traditional cosmetics counters. In July 1997, LVMH acquired Sephora from Mandonnaud, expanding the brand globally while maintaining its innovative retail experience. Mandonnaud opened Sephora's iconic Champs-Élysées flagship in 1997, cementing Paris as the brand's spiritual home. By the late 1990s, Sephora had expanded throughout Europe, becoming a destination for beauty aficionados. In 2025, Sephora operates 2,700+ stores across 35 countries, offering 500+ brands plus its own Sephora Collection line. The brand continues to innovate: in February 2025, Sephora expanded K-beauty offerings by adding viral brand Biodance to shelves. Sephora at Kohl's (US partnership) has surpassed $1.4 billion in sales, with 2025 projections exceeding $2 billion.
Signature Products & Prices
Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain
€14
Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Foundation
€20–€25
Luxury Brand Fragrances (Dior, Chanel, YSL)
€80–€200
Skincare (La Mer, Drunk Elephant, The Ordinary)
€10–€300
Makeup (Fenty Beauty, NARS, MAC)
€20–€60
Why Shop Sephora in Europe?
Sephora was born in France and remains headquartered in Paris, making European stores the brand's home market with priority access to new launches, exclusive European collections, and the widest brand selection. The Champs-Élysées flagship offers an unparalleled beauty shopping experience with 500+ brands under one roof. France's €100 VAT minimum is achievable with beauty purchases (fragrances, skincare, makeup add up quickly), and you'll get 10-15% back. European Sephora stores carry K-beauty, French pharmacy brands, and European exclusives unavailable in other markets. Shopping in Paris means experiencing Sephora's original "assisted self-service" vision where it all began.
Best Cities to Shop Sephora
Paris
Brand birthplace—Champs-Élysées flagship, largest selection, €100 VAT minimum
Milan
Italian flagship (opened 2005), luxury beauty destination
Barcelona
Passeig de Gràcia location, Spanish beauty culture, easy VAT refunds
Why Shop Sephora with TravelMoney
Up to 100% VAT Refunds
Get significantly more money back compared to standard 12% refunds
18 Sephora Locations
Across 10 European cities
Instant Refunds
No waiting weeks for your money back
Digital Process
Upload receipts, scan at airport, done
Sephora Store Locations in Europe
Barcelona
Sephora Triangle
Carrer de Pelai, 13, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
📞 +34 933 063 900
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 22:00
tuesday: 10:00 - 22:00
wednesday: 10:00 - 22:00
thursday: 10:00 - 22:00
friday: 10:00 - 22:00
saturday: 10:00 - 22:00
sunday: Closed
Sephora Rambla Catalunya
Rambla Catalunya, 121, 08008 Barcelona, Spain
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 20:30
tuesday: 10:00 - 20:30
wednesday: 10:00 - 20:30
thursday: 10:00 - 20:30
friday: 10:00 - 20:30
saturday: 10:00 - 20:30
sunday: 11:00 - 20:00
Sephora Diagonal Mar
Avinguda Diagonal, 3, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 22:00
tuesday: 10:00 - 22:00
wednesday: 10:00 - 22:00
thursday: 10:00 - 22:00
friday: 10:00 - 22:00
saturday: 10:00 - 22:00
sunday: 11:00 - 21:00
Bordeaux
Sephora Mériadeck
Centre Commercial Mériadeck, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 20:00
tuesday: 10:00 - 20:00
wednesday: 10:00 - 20:00
thursday: 10:00 - 20:00
friday: 10:00 - 20:00
saturday: 10:00 - 20:00
sunday: Closed
Lyon
Sephora Confluence
112 Cours Charlemagne, 69002 Lyon, France
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 20:00
tuesday: 10:00 - 20:00
wednesday: 10:00 - 20:00
thursday: 10:00 - 20:00
friday: 10:00 - 20:00
saturday: 10:00 - 20:00
sunday: Closed
Madrid
Sephora Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol, 11, 28013 Madrid, Spain
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 21:00
tuesday: 10:00 - 21:00
wednesday: 10:00 - 21:00
thursday: 10:00 - 21:00
friday: 10:00 - 21:00
saturday: 10:00 - 21:00
sunday: 11:00 - 20:00
Sephora Velázquez
Calle de Velázquez, 41, 28001 Madrid, Spain
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 21:00
tuesday: 10:00 - 21:00
wednesday: 10:00 - 21:00
thursday: 10:00 - 21:00
friday: 10:00 - 21:00
saturday: 10:00 - 21:00
sunday: Closed
Marseille
Sephora Les Terrasses du Port
9 Quai du Lazaret, Niveau R1, 13002 Marseille, France
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 20:00
tuesday: 10:00 - 20:00
wednesday: 10:00 - 20:00
thursday: 10:00 - 20:00
friday: 10:00 - 20:00
saturday: 10:00 - 20:00
sunday: 11:00 - 19:00
Sephora Centre Bourse
Centre Bourse, 13001 Marseille, France
Sephora Grand Littoral
11 Avenue de Saint Antoine, Niveau 1, 13015 Marseille, France
📞 +33 4 91 09 88 60
Naples
Sephora Vomero
Via Alessandro Scarlatti, 85, 80129 Naples, Italy
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 21:00
tuesday: 10:00 - 21:00
wednesday: 10:00 - 21:00
thursday: 10:00 - 21:00
friday: 10:00 - 21:00
saturday: 10:00 - 21:00
sunday: 10:00 - 21:00
Paris
Sephora Champs-Élysées
70-72 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris, France
📞 +33 1 53 93 22 50
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 21:30
tuesday: 10:00 - 21:30
wednesday: 10:00 - 21:30
thursday: 10:00 - 21:30
friday: 10:00 - 21:30
saturday: 10:00 - 21:30
sunday: 10:00 - 21:30
Sephora Opera
4 Rue Halévy, 75009 Paris, France
📞 +33 1 44 55 36 80
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 20:00
tuesday: 10:00 - 20:00
wednesday: 10:00 - 20:00
thursday: 10:00 - 20:00
friday: 10:00 - 20:00
saturday: 10:00 - 20:00
sunday: 11:00 - 19:00
Sephora Haussmann
21-23 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
📞 +33 1 53 24 99 65
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 20:30
tuesday: 10:00 - 20:30
wednesday: 10:00 - 20:30
thursday: 10:00 - 20:30
friday: 10:00 - 20:30
saturday: 10:00 - 20:30
sunday: 10:00 - 20:30
Porto
Sephora Rua Santa Catarina
Rua de Santa Catarina, 4000-443 Porto, Portugal
Sephora Arrábida Shopping
Av. Da República 1435, 4430-999 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
san
Sephora Garbera
Garbera Shopping Center, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 22:00
tuesday: 10:00 - 22:00
wednesday: 10:00 - 22:00
thursday: 10:00 - 22:00
friday: 10:00 - 22:00
saturday: 10:00 - 22:00
sunday: Closed
Sevilla
Sephora Calle Sierpes
Calle Sierpes, 72, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
Opening Hours:
monday: 10:00 - 21:00
tuesday: 10:00 - 21:00
wednesday: 10:00 - 21:00
thursday: 10:00 - 21:00
friday: 10:00 - 21:00
saturday: 10:00 - 21:00
sunday: 11:00 - 20:00
How Much Can You Save?
VAT Refund Examples
Purchase: €1,000 → Get back €120-150 (standard refund) or up to €180 (TravelMoney)
Purchase: €5,000 → Get back €600-750 (standard refund) or up to €900 (TravelMoney)
Purchase: €10,000 → Get back €1,200-1,500 (standard refund) or up to €1,800 (TravelMoney)
How to Get Your VAT Refund: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Before making a purchase
Request Custom Invoice
When checking out at Sephora, request the invoice to be made out to "Travel Money" with our Paris address. This is critical for maximizing your refund.
Step 2: When making a purchase
Pay in Local Currency
Always choose to pay in euros (€) instead of your home currency to avoid poor exchange rates and maximize savings.
Step 3: After shopping
Upload Invoice & Receipt
Immediately upload your Sephora invoice and receipt in the TravelMoney app. Don't wait until you get to the airport.
Step 4: When leaving the EU
Scan Barcode at Point of Departure
At the airport, port, or train station, scan the barcode on your TravelMoney app at customs. Bring your Sephora purchase in carry-on for potential inspection.
VAT Refund Essentials
Core Requirements
- Minimum Spend: €100.01 in total purchase value
- Eligibility: Non-EU permanent residents, under 6-month stay, purchasing goods for personal use
- Time limits: 3 months to validate at point of departure + 6 months to claim refund
- VAT Rate: 20% standard rate (most luxury goods)
Pro Tips for Sephora Shoppers
- →France requires €100 minimum spend for VAT refunds—combine purchases across beauty categories to hit threshold
- →VAT refund: 10-15% effective rate (France has 20% VAT, but processing fees reduce final refund)
- →Champs-Élysées flagship is the largest Sephora in Europe—widest selection of brands and exclusive products
- →Test everything before buying—Sephora invented the "try before you buy" model for a reason
- →Sephora Collection offers excellent quality at 30-50% less than luxury brands—try lip stains and foundations
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get VAT refund on Sephora online purchases?
No. VAT refunds are only available for in-store purchases made in Europe. Online orders shipped internationally are already VAT-exempt.
Do I need to show my Sephora purchase at customs?
High-value items (typically over €1,000) may require physical inspection at customs. Keep your purchase in carry-on luggage, not checked bags.
What if I'm connecting through a non-EU airport?
You must validate your VAT refund at your last EU point of departure, not your final destination. For example, if flying Paris → London → New York, validate in Paris.
How long does it take to get my refund?
With TravelMoney, refunds are processed instantly once validated at customs. Standard tax-free services can take 4-12 weeks.
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