Where a Sephora gift card works — and the Kohl’s catch
A Sephora gift card reaches further than you might expect: Sephora stores in the US and Canada, sephora.com, the Sephora app, and the Sephora shops inside Kohl’s. It isn’t accepted on kohls.com, and it won’t work anywhere outside the US and Canada. Here is the full map, how to redeem, and the rules on limits, refunds and scams.
By Maciej Kamieniak and Natalia Kamieniak · Last updated October 28, 2026- 16 digitscard number, on plastic and eGift cards
- 8 digitsPIN, under the scratch-off or at the bottom of the eGift
- No expiryand no fees on the unused balance
The acceptance map
Sephora issues three kinds of card in the US, and they don’t all go to the same places. Gift cards and eGift Cards are what you buy or receive as a present; store merchandise credits are physical cards (no PIN) that Sephora hands out for some in-store returns.
| Where | Gift card / eGift Card | Store merchandise credit |
|---|---|---|
| Sephora stores, US and Canada | Yes | Yes |
| sephora.com and sephora.ca | Yes | No |
| Sephora app | Yes | No |
| Sephora at Kohl’s stores | Yes | No |
| kohls.com | No | No |
| Sephora outside the US and Canada, and international Sephora sites | No | No |
Sephora at Kohl’s: in the store, not on the website
This is the question we see most. Sephora’s FAQ is clear that its gift cards and eGift Cards are redeemable at Sephora at Kohl’s stores, but not on kohls.com. Sephora’s US card terms, issued by LGCS Inc., likewise list “Sephora Kohl’s Stores” among the redemption locations.
At a Kohl’s store
- Sephora gift cards and eGift Cards accepted for Sephora at Kohl’s purchases
- Store merchandise credits not accepted
On kohls.com
- Sephora gift cards can’t be redeemed online at Kohl’s
- Spend the card on sephora.com or in the Sephora app instead
Using a US Sephora card in Canada — or anywhere else
Sephora operates a joint US and Canada card system. A US card used in Canada is converted at the daily exchange rate, and the same happens to a Canadian card used in the US. Beyond those two countries, the line is firm:
Gift cards purchased in the US or Canada cannot be used in other international locations or on international websites.— Sephora Gift Cards & eGift Cards FAQ
So a Sephora card makes sense for someone in the US or Canada, but not for a colleague in Europe or Asia, where Sephora runs separate businesses. Planning rewards for a spread-out team? See rewarding remote teams in different countries and tax-free employee gifts in Canada.
How to redeem
On sephora.com or in the app
- For a plastic card, gently scratch off the foil on the back to reveal the number and PIN — leave the clear sticker tape in place. For an eGift Card, open it and scroll to the bottom.
- At checkout, in the Payment section, enter the 16-digit card number and 8-digit PIN.
- Select Save & Continue. The card amount is deducted from your order total.
Still being asked for a credit card? The gift card probably doesn’t cover the full total, which includes tax and shipping. Sephora applies gift card funds first and asks for another payment method — card, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, Afterpay or Paze — for the rest. Any online credit already on your account is applied before the gift card.
In a Sephora store
Bring the physical card, a printout, or the eGift Card on your phone. A Beauty Advisor can redeem it or check its balance in US and Canada stores.
Limits worth knowing
- Two cards per online order. To use three or more Sephora gift cards at once, go to a store.
- Merchandise only. The cards have no cash value (except where the law requires) and can’t buy another gift card or eGift Card.
- Reloading is store-only and limited. You can add funds in a Sephora store to a card bought from Sephora, but not to eGift Cards or cards bought from other retailers.
- Buy only from Sephora or authorized retailers. A card obtained from an unauthorized seller, including auction sites, won’t be honored.
Expiry and fees
Sephora gift cards, eGift Cards and store credits don’t expire, and there are no inactivity or service fees. That is stricter in your favor than federal law: the CARD Act rules in 12 CFR 1005.20 let a store card’s funds expire after five years and allow inactivity fees once a card has gone 12 months without use.
Returns and refunds
Items bought with a Sephora gift card follow Sephora’s normal returns policy. If an eligible item paid for with a gift card is returned in a Sephora store within 30 days, the refund comes as a new Sephora gift card. Gift cards themselves are final sale and can’t be refunded except where the law requires.
Full balance routes, including the phone line and in-store checks, are in how to check a Sephora gift card balance.
Sephora gift card FAQ
Can I use a Sephora gift card at Kohl’s?
Yes, at Sephora at Kohl’s stores — but not on kohls.com, and store merchandise credits aren’t accepted at Kohl’s at all.
Can I use a US Sephora gift card in Canada?
Yes. It is accepted in Canadian Sephora stores and converted at the daily exchange rate.
Will it work at Sephora in France or the UK?
No. Cards bought in the US or Canada can’t be used at other international locations or on international Sephora websites.
How many gift cards can I use online?
Two per online order. Use more in a Sephora store.
Do Sephora gift cards expire?
No, and no fees are charged against the unused balance.
Can I add money to a Sephora eGift Card?
No. Only physical cards bought from Sephora can be reloaded, and only in a Sephora store.
The Rewordin Store is coming soon with digital Sephora gift cards for US accounts. Nothing is for sale yet — choose an amount above to join the waitlist, or see the whole store. Also planned: the Target GiftCard, Apple Gift Card and Starbucks Card.
Choosing gifts for a team rather than one person? Our employee appreciation ideas and milestone rewards guide help, the bulk order calculator sizes the order, and this explainer covers US payroll tax on gift cards.
Authors and fact-check
Wrote the guide and the acceptance map from Sephora’s published FAQ and card terms.