Looking back, I'm disappointed I didn't get the name of the salesperson who helped me; she truly made the experience. I stopped in because I'm running low on my usual moisturizer and was planning to restock. I've been loyal to the same one for a while, but I recently fell in love with a different brand's face wash and was considering switching to their moisturizer as well. The only downside? It was significantly more expensive and my partner's immediate reaction was basically, "Expensive = no." Sensing my hesitation, a salesperson came over and offered to help. After I explained what I was looking for, she actually suggested a completely different brand. She gave me a sample to try, and even hours later, my skin still felt moisturized. The best part? It performed just as well (if not better) than the others I was considering and it was cheaper. What made the whole experience even funnier was that another customer nearby had the exact same dilemma. She overheard the recommendation and ended up grabbing the product too. At checkout, they were also giving out additional samples of the brands other products, which was a nice bonus. Overall, a great experience thanks to thoughtful and helpful service. Note: Yes, I've selected not to mention any brands by name. read more

I got a full face of makeup done by Naomi she was AMAZING. Professional and just a good person. I will definitely be returning to book with her. read more

SEPHORA - BC gala - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me - Emeryville, California

I had such a wonderful time in Sephora today with Courtney. She was so nice, helpful, and really took her time not only sharing recommendations on products and techniques for applying them but she also made me feel really good about myself while doing so. She was just really professional and warm! I spoke to and received support from some other associates as well, a tall Leo man, and the Giorgio Armani rep with gorgeous long brown hair in loose curls. Wish I got their names so I could shout them out properly. Last time I came in I got a really in depth explanation from someone else about types of sunscreen and the science of how they function as well. I just really love this location, I've been coming here for years and I feel like they have a really great crew right now! People go into Sephora to buy makeup, skin, and hair care to feel beautiful and confident. And sure the products can do that but true beauty radiates from the inside out, and can be brought out in others too. Based on my recent experiences I would say the staff here are truly beautiful people and want their customers to feel beautiful as well. read more

Review for Sephora - Emeryville, CA Date of Visit: May 16, 2025 After a discouraging and disheartening experience at another beauty retailer closer to home, I reached out to the Sephora in Emeryville feeling defeated. My daughter and I were searching for makeup for her prom--her first time wearing makeup--and I needed support to ensure she not only looked beautiful but also felt confident and celebrated. From the very first call, Autry made all the difference. Autry was friendly, reassuring, and immediately put my concerns at ease. He confidently told me someone would be available to assist us with foundation matching and a makeup consultation. That reassurance alone gave us the motivation to make the 20-minute drive--and I'm so grateful we did. Upon arriving, we were warmly greeted by security and several Sephora team members, including Autry, who quickly introduced us to Naomi, their licensed makeup artist. Naomi was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable, discussing skin type, texture, preferences, and skincare with such ease and kindness. Although she had a prior appointment and couldn't stay with us the entire time, she thoughtfully connected us with Nestor and assured us we were in good hands. She was absolutely right. Nestor was phenomenal. He was warm, patient, personable, and incredibly skilled. He went above and beyond to make sure my daughter's needs were met. He didn't just help us pick products--he educated us. He explained every detail behind the products he recommended, from their benefits to how they would work with my daughter's skin, both for appearance and long-term care. He was thorough, compassionate, and even stayed late to ensure everything was perfect. What touched me most was that Nestor didn't treat us like a sale--he treated us like people. He listened to my daughter's preferences, offered thoughtful suggestions across various brands, and matched her makeup with such precision and care. He created a safe, welcoming space where my daughter felt acknowledged and respected, something we desperately needed after the previous experience. The level of kindness, attentiveness, and expertise from Autry, Naomi, and Nestor turned what had been a painful day into one filled with hope, celebration, and joy. Prom is a milestone, and your first time purchasing makeup should be a moment of excitement--not anxiety. Thanks to this team, my daughter left not just with the perfect products, but with her confidence restored. I've shopped at Sephora Emeryville for over 10 years and have never had a negative experience. The team is consistently friendly, approachable, and professional--but today was truly exceptional. I cannot thank Autry, Naomi, and Nestor enough for their compassion and dedication. Their kindness didn't cost a thing, but it meant *everything* to us. Thank you for helping my daughter feel seen. Thank you for restoring her excitement for prom. And thank you for reminding us what true customer service looks like. 10/10 - Highly recommend to anyone and everyone. Forever grateful. read more

Love the experience! Came in for a cologne purchase for my boo. I was immediately greeted and helped!

I'm very disappointed with my recent experience at this Sephora location. I was waiting in line to make a return, and when I finally reached the front, an employee who was new asked if I was purchasing and whether I'd be paying with credit or cash. I told her I was returning an item and had originally paid with a credit card. She then took me aside with her handheld device and began to help me. Before we could continue, the manager came over and said she couldn't process my return there and that I needed to go back and wait in the regular line at the counter. By that point, the line had already become long and zigzagged again. I had already waited once, and being told to start over felt unfair and incredibly frustrating. I ended up leaving without completing my return. As a customer who had already done my part by waiting in line, I feel I should have been helped next at the counter instead of being sent to the back again because of an internal miscommunication. read more

I was able to find the perfect shade of foundation thanks to one of the store clerks. She was so nice and knowledgeable about the different brands and shades. I wish I could remember her name. She was awesome! read more

I see why this location got bad reviews. No one working. The few working don't acknowledge your presence. Walked around for a few to give them the opportunity and still not a single word. Maybe being a black male says I don't need any help. read more

I truly only leaved negative reviews for the worst experiences and let ithers slide off my back. However, I've visited this Sephora location numerous times and I am always given the same sub par treatment and treated as a theif every visit. It's ideally located within the mall and I believe it has the potential for excellent metrics and customer satisfaction if they focused on hiring the right staff and maintaining store standards. On my recent visit, I was excited to use about $300 in gift cards I'd accumulated. As I entered, a tall Asian man in all black and a Sephora jacket made eye contact, which immediately gave me an uneasy feeling due to the fact he did not say anything to me upon my arrival. I brushed it off and began browsing in hopes to remind myself what brands they carries and cross reference my online cart I built prior. When I was ready to shop, I was going to look for a basket. Sephora is known for offering baskets to enhance the shopping experience and deter theft, which is generally a positive for both the customer and company. However, the manner in which they're offered significantly impacts a customer's perception. As I turned around, the same man was already approaching me with a stack of baskets, which instantly irritated me. I asked for one, and he left me alone. As someone who works in retail, I appreciate genuine help, but if the vibe is off, I prefer to shop independently. I'm also aware of how many stores unfortunately discriminate against people of color, and as a white-presenting person who is actually Latina, I can only imagine how much worse the treatment might be, given other reviews. Throughout my visit, I noticed staff members following me or asking if I needed help every couple of minutes. Sensing their inquiries weren't genuine, I politely declined each time. The only person I allowed to assist me was Alacia/Alicia, who offered recommendations upon my request and provided good customer service. The gentleman who initially made eye contact seemed to follow me the most, along with another shorter female employee with black glasses. While cleaning and organizing are a good way to pretend you are busy while monitoring for theft, it's different when staff pretend to be busy while doing absolutely nothing but walk around and look down aisles to conceal the fact they are clearly monitoring my basket and hands for potential theft. The taller gentleman was particularly noticeable in this regard. To be clear, effective loss prevention should definitely be subtly integrated with cleaning and organizing, especially given the store's usual disarray. I believe this would help people shop more comfortably while you proactively clean and prevent theft in a more mindful way. Products are often coated in residue, the perfume area is overwhelming, eyeshadows and powders are damaged, and lipsticks are frequently ruined from people swatching on their lips and smashing them. What truly frustrates me is the lack of self-awareness from employees who make faces, react inappropriately, or discuss inappropriate topics on the sales floor within earshot of customers. I genuinely want to give this Sephora a positive review, especially with the recent mall remodels and upgrades. As a luxury cosmetic retailer carrying prestige brands, I'd expect them to hire upbeat staff who are properly trained in customer service and asset protection. My main reason for this review is the increasing discomfort I felt from being targeted for something I wasn't doing. I still used my gift cards for the products I wanted, but I'm extremely disappointed with my experience at this location. I would like to be clear that this should in no way be completely be pinned on management. These issues could all be solved with proper retraining and rehiring strategies. I miss the old Sephora I knew and loved, which caused me to eventually work for the company in High School. The standards have definitely declined over the past 5 years. Very unfortunate as I mostly shop at Ulta now, unless I cannot purchase the items I need at their stores. read more

I've had it with Sephora. Yesterday I went to the store in Emeryville. Today I went to the Berkeley store. Both trips require a 20 min. drive and difficult parking. I went to Sephora because they have a wide selection and you can try on samples. The problem is that in both stores, almost every product I was interested in was not available. Either there were no samples to try, or the samples were there but they were broken or used up. In Berkeley I finally found two products I wanted. The samples were on the shelf but there weren't any I could actually buy. A sign said if the product isn't in stock, they'll ship it to you for free. I stood in a long line clutching my samples. When I got to the front, a guy told me to GO BACK to the woman standing at the front of the store and she would "take good care" of me. I went back. The woman asked my phone number and spent a long time awkwardly typing into a phone-sized computer with her long fingernails. Finally she told me that one of the products isn't unavailable in the store OR online. I didn't want to wait for another lengthy typing procedure. I gave up and went home. I was prepared to spend about $60 on products but instead wasted two hours of my time and went home with nothing but frustration. There are a lot of sales people standing around "helping" people in Sephora, although many of them are either not doing much or are not very helpful. These people would be better employed refreshing the stock. The empty, broken or disgustingly melted, gooey products need to be replaced. The empty or unavailable samples are that way because THOSE ARE THE PRODUCTS PEOPLE WANT MOST! The samples that are on the shelf but no longer available for purchase should be removed SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T WASTE THEIR TIME TRYING TO BUY THEM. In the meantime, don't waste your time going there. read more

Love Naomi!! SHE DOES THAT GLAM!! NESTOR is also extremely knowledgeable when you need help with questions or products.

I've been a long-time fan of Sephora, but lately, I find myself questioning if it truly tops Ulta. On my recent visit to Sephora, I was on the hunt for some Kiehl's products and a few other items. The selection was solid, as always, but I found myself increasingly leaning towards Korean skincare products like Snail Mucin. Unfortunately, COSRX (C-O-S-R-X) products, which have become my skincare staples, were nowhere to be found at Sephora. One thing I've noticed during my visits is that I'm rarely approached for assistance. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a guy or maybe it's the sunglasses I tend to wear indoors, but it's a bit off-putting. Shopping should feel welcoming, and sometimes, that extra help can make a difference. On this visit alone, I ended up spending over $600. When someone is making that kind of investment, you'd think the staff would be more attentive, perhaps even suggesting other products I might not have considered (upsell)‍ but hey who am I to tell you how to run your business. Sephora still holds its ground when it comes to variety and quality, but with my growing preference for Korean skincare and a desire for a more personalized shopping experience, I'm starting to think that Ulta might be the better option for my future skincare needs. read more

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Really bad customer service, my partner asked for sample and overhead the worker saying "Since when do we do that" "This is such a waste of time". read more

The stuff I am looking for is rarely in stock and the line is always impossibly long. I avoid this location whenever possible or order same day delivery to skip the lines and wasted trip. read more

I went to this store with my sister. We were pleasantly surprised with the welcoming and the service. Our servicer's name was Amina, it was a pleasure working with her. She was very knowledgeable about the products we were looking for. She made sure we were satisfied with our purchases. She didn't try to push other makeup, just to make a sale. She was honest, told us what we need and also what was not needed. This store is usually very crowded, the earlier you are there the more attention from the sales people you'll get. Thanks again Amina, you're a good salesperson. read more

I was going to rate my experience a negative 20 but Tara saved the day. Her energy is positive and she's just down right kind. Kindness goes a long way and I appreciate her knowledge and kindness. She was the ONLY pleasant employee!!!!! read more

I had almost given up hope of finding my favorite lip color, African Violet, when Nestor stepped in to help. He informed me that the shade had been discontinued but thought there might still be a few left in the back. To my surprise, Nestor returned with seven tubes of my signature lipstick! I couldn't be happier. Thank you, Nestor, for delivering exceptional customer service. As a fan of RuPaul's Drag Race, I'm giving you 10s across the board! read more

SEPHORA - #12 African Violet lip - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me - Emeryville, California

this sephora targets minorities and accuses them of stealing. my friend was shopping and was harasssed by security for supposedly putting makeup in her pockets. even after emptying her belongings to prove she didn't, they still berated and embarassed her in front of the whole store. take your buisness elsewhere read more

Worst Sephora ever. I called in to see if an item was in stock. The girl said she would hold it for me until end of the day. I drove 1 hour to get here. I have a skin condition that cannot stand water, nor sun nor sweat. It's super painful. It is all over my face, neck, chest, arms a body. I am in pain. I literally have to cover my face and body just to be outside . It took a lot just to drive here. I tried walking into this Sephora. They say it is closed. They say they have an emergency and have to close. There are still a ton of people in line. They said they are trying to get the people to leave. It is not an emergency if you are still letting people wait it line for 20 minutes to purchase something. I asked them I just need to pick something up. They said no. Pick it up tomorrow. The rudest staff I have ever encountered. 6 pm on July 31st. Never coming back here again. read more

Lack of workers and most are standing in a huddle discussing things not related to work. Incompetence is not even a word for these workers and the place is trashy. Opened and used makeup spilled all over and dirty used tissue and tips everywhere. Spend less time chatting and clean your store. Famous line if it's not on the shelves then we are out. Ahh you are not even going to check in your drawer or in the back? The place is always packed with customers and not enough room to walk around need to either limit customers or make the isle wider. Keep the doors open or turn up the AC. Always warm and smelly body odor. Don't think I will be back any time soon. I have tried going back at various times to avoid incompetence workers and odors. No Mayer what time I still end up with the same issues. read more

Now that I've gone Fifty Shades of Grey, I find the upkeep of colored hair requires much more attention to detail. Dry Bar purple shampoo, the blonde conditioner, and their dry shampoo are my staples. I decided to grow my hair longer. It's entering the mullet stage. I needed a light product to keep it under control and to achieve "That 70's Show" look. Dry Bar's Mai Tai Sea Salt Spritzer is the answer. While salt dries out my already dry colored hair, the product contains natural oils and vitamins to help condition my doo. I like the fact you use it on damp hair. If I used a blow dryer, I would have achieved the George Clinton Funkadelic look. No. That's not what I want. With my longer hair and the sea salt, it creates the beachy waves for the Kamaaina look I've been hoping for. I'm just hoping that I can wait it out six more months to get my hair length longer. read more

We'll everyone was so warm. Everytime I turned left or right, we were greeted and told their names. They also said again." My name is ________ if you need anything please let me know." This way being greeted twice by name I wont forget. I Loved how well the employees were trained or how well it just came natural. Oh my the greeter at the door. Opened thr doir for us. She greeted us by her name twice. Warm smile and directed us to exactly where we needed to go. I was so happy with all the help. I came to spend $28 on mascara. End up spending a while lot more. So worth it! Never tried lip scrub or a lip masks. Very nice Sephora Thank You. read more

SEPHORA - Buying Mi Madee' her Birthday gifts Big 70 11.16.2018 - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me - Emeryville, California

This was my first time in a retail store since Covid, so I was dumb excited. They greet you outside and provide sanitizer and ask how they can expedite your experience. I was helped immediately and was able to get what I needed ASAP and leave. The store was not packed and I could see that the frequently sanitized. Sadly, no samples, but the are still taking returns for refunds (up to 30 days) and store credit after that. read more

SEPHORA - Tried Fenty Beauty foundation [the hydration kind] A little goes a long way!! - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me - Emeryville, California

This review is solely for staff member, Andrea. She was extremely helpful in my search for the perfect, my lips but better lipstick. I was walking around the store swatching multiple lipsticks to try and match my beloved and discontinued Too Faced La Creme lipstick in Spice Spice Baby. I probably swatched about 15 lipsticks before she kindly asked if I needed help with anything. She was so thorough and motivated to help me find a true match. We went all over the store and probably swatched another 15 lipsticks until we found a damn near perfect match, MUF Rouge Artist Shine in 182 Jolly Blush. I just wanted to give her credit and show some appreciation! Thank you, Andrea! read more

Bay St in Emeryville has become somewhat of a ghost town since the covid 19 shut down. The shopping center still had a good population of consumers , however, not as much as I am used to seeing. I wanted to visit Sephora , because it was time to replace my foundation and concealer. The line was not long at all. The employees had an organized line outside of the store, adhering to the 6ft rule with hand sanitizer ready for all customers. All employees wore masks and I was all for it. The employees made me feel so welcomed and wanted. It made me feel beautiful honestly. I was all dressed up from head to toe and they noticed. Hey, I know it sounds a little narcissistic , but we have been trapped in the house for so long, that a compliment feels different. The store was in great condition. You can really tell the employees take great pride in their store's appearance and cleanliness. Their product displays were also neat and clean ! Usually , I am use to seeing smashed products , but there was none in sight. I was assisted by Sephora employee Domonique or Domo for short. She was an absolutely beautiful and positive woman. I needed to replace my foundation and concealer. She was so knowledgeable and helpful to make sure my foundation matched perfectly, even with the color matching restrictions now implemented. As quick as I was helped , it was quick to check out. Domo made sure I was assisted the entire way and it was amazing. I would recommend this store to anyone needing a little retail therapy to bring some normalcy to their lives. read more

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Went in today, had a great experience with the employees. The darling young lady that try to help me, couldn't find what I was looking for, but she did not stop there. I told her I was also looking for something else, and will be back to find her in the store. She was talking to two wonderful co-workers to help me. They no longer had the product, but they made sure I was heard, and continued to help me. The young adult person who helped me in the end was so nice, at 68 years young you just don't find that anymore. All I can say Thank You Sephora for my experience today. read more

I just had the most horrible customer service experience at the Sephora in Emeryville. I was asked to wait for 7-10 minutes so I could get help, and I was basically forgotten. Just atrocious! Never going back again. read more

I visited this store to purchase makeup for the very first time in my life. Max was incredibly helpful as I tried to get a hang of the plethora of products and brands, and made recommendations for each. He listened patiently to all my requirements and answered all of my makeup newbie questions with clarity. He even added the items that we decided on to my online shopping list so I would have it handy when I got home. Overall, I had a far less overwhelming experience shopping for makeup than I would have otherwise. Super grateful for all your help, Max!! read more

False advertising, refused to sell an item when there's a sticker that says it's for sale :( read more

SEPHORA - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me - Emeryville, California

Basically book an appointment with Jazlyn (at Sephora on Bay Street in Emeryville) and the rest is BEAUTY!! I LOVE my make up, Jazlyn did such an amazing job!! I shared that I wanted a natural look with Smokey eye and voila !! It was perfect!! I'm DEFINITELY going back! Also the vibe and atmosphere was very chill and lowkey all store associates were very nice, sweet, fun, and friendly!! I had great time! Thank youuu!! read more

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Store was messy & a lot of the product was out of stock. They were out of the birthday gifts too. The staff was friendly and helpful though, so points for that. Overall one of the yuckiest Sephoras I've visited. read more

Popped in to buy this amazing lip balm that was recommended, and ended up gaining some amazing contour tips from Carly. Bonus points for her not laughing at my rookie questions. Sephora usually overwhelms me, but Carly made it seamless. I'm usually all about MAC but I'll definitely be back. read more

we had an appointment for makeup for my Nice's wedding we made the appointment a month in advance we called multiple times to confirm and they called us to confirm we asked if we should go online to do anything who ever the manager of that place said no we made sure we are ok because it was a wedding and we couldn't be late our appointment originally was at noon foe 2 of us then the manger called and said 11:00 is better because there's 2 people we got there at 11:00 and waited to be helped she comes and says that we do not have an appointment the did not call the makeup artist we called every where to get someone to do it we couldn't at the end we went without make up and the manger didn't look sorry or feel it. That was 09/04/2022 read more

My daughter and I love having our girl bonding here! The staff is super helpful/friendly/nice. We go around all the stations, and try everything on. By the time I'm done, there's always something extra in my basket. My passion is lipstick, and they have all the best brands, YSL, Givenchy, Christian Dior. When you think the fun is over after you put everything in your basket, the cashiers are also SUPER FUN. Initially Susanna was so complimentary of us, and so psyched she had to take a picture of the mother/daughter team, then she couldn't resist, and had to come around the counter to join in on the Selfie. We had a blast! But you could tell the other patrons in line were getting irritated w/our laughing (queue was building longer as we were laughing away w/no apologies). Oh well, we love to have fun no matter where we go. read more

SEPHORA - mother/daughter team+fun Susanna, our cashier! - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me - Emeryville, California

Went here for an eyebrow application and they had no colors for dark brown powders. We checked 2 different products and they were not in stock. Not sure how much they carry but I ended up leaving with a different item. Not a terrible experience but I was let down a little. Staff was helpful and nice but overall the store didn't have what I needed. read more

Tori is THE MOST HELPFUL AND DEDICATED associate at this store. She was so patient in helping me get matched with my first ever concealer product. She listened to my concerns of how i wanted to use the products and she matched me with a perfect shade AND additional products to make my new ones work their best. Right off the bat she understood I was looking for medium-light coverage and took her time to explain the different products in the store. Her knowledge is immense and I feel so bad for not filling out her survey since their job is commission based. read more

SEPHORA - I'm wearing the YSL under eye concealer and Rare beauty concealer that tori perfectly matched me with. - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me - Emeryville, California

They do not value the diverse customers at the location I walked around the store for 5mins to look for someone to help me and when I finally got the help she had to go fill out an online order I asked the next employee if I saw and she said couldn't help because she had to fill orders so I just left I felt like that was so unprofessional I was over the fact that I have to. Keep in mind I told them my birthday is next week but did they care no poor customer service!!!!!!! DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!!!! read more

Following all Covid cleaning and distance procedures. You'll get hand sanitizer at the entrance. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. read more

This is my one stop shop for all beauty products and FREE samples. On most occasions, the associates are nice and helpful. Tara and Autry are extremely helpful. I spend way too much money here and I'm a constant customer and they are both old skool and know how to treat a valued customer. I like the variety of items and brand products. They change the layout often and sometimes I can't find my usual products. I also find new products like the Unicorn nail polish that is my new fav. I'm not sure who does the ordering or how, but they tend to get liw on certain items or completely out. How is that possible on your own brand items like Natural lip gloss? Overall, the best Sephora in the Bay. read more

I don't wear makeup, but I've been wanting to try it out. So I made an appointment for a makeover at Sephora (free with $50+ purchase) to learn some tips and tricks. I was going to make my purchase after the makeover, since I don't really know what to buy/wear. I'm glad I held off. I had an appointment at noon. I arrived at 11:50. It took a couple minutes to find someone available to ask where to wait, since it wasn't clear. They were friendly and seated me, then told me to wait for my beauty advisor to come over. So I waited. And waited. I waited for 20-25 minutes for someone to show up so I could ask them makeup questions and try the makeup. No one ever came. But as soon as a different girl sat down, someone was there to help her immediately. Sephora made me feel ugly and pitifully small and like I just wasn't good enough. When I went nextdoor to MAC, I had the exact opposite experience. I would never come back here. Intentional or not, it really hurt. read more