I'm a makeup artist so I come here often to stock up for myself and clients . These employees are so rude . If you don't come in with makeup on you're for sure going to either be ignored or get rude stares . It blows my mind , especially as a fellow artist you know you don't look like that all the time so why act like it ? Maybe it's cause I'm from Texas but ya'lls customer service is very poor . Also I was there returning items (bc they color matched me wrong twice ) and as I was looking at items while holding my Sephora bag , a lady with no name tag or Sephora smock is staring at me then approaches me to see if I needed "help" . You made me feel like I was stealing or something . Completely unprofessional. I'd rather deal with the girls at MAC bc they do better makeup . read more

Sephora does a great job of representing the best cosmetic/skin care brands out there. I love the Philosophy and L'Occitane products, as well as their store brand, which offers relatively cheap and seriously legit makeup for all the newbies, poor girls, and tomboy femmes like me who just want to get pretty a few nights a week. What's more, every item from lotion to eyeliner can be sampled in-store. As for service, the ladies in black aren't as intimidating as they appear. Their advice is always helpful and delivered in a refreshingly unpretentious manner. As with most retail businesses in Union Square, shopping here can sometimes be so hectic that it feels like a competitive sport, but it's a minor drawback to an otherwise fantastic store. read more

Why the one star? Where shall I begin? I walked in and the Asian male employee at the door tapped his female coworker on the arm and pointed to me. I ignored it and walk to the fragrance section. I turned around and that female employee was next to me watching me. She saw me stare at her and she pretended that she was looking and fixing other fragrances. I walked to another section and she followed me there too. She was "straightening" the makeup there too. *sarcastic voice* What a coincidence huh? The guy that tapped her arm earlier, he was there too. I looked at him and he turned to the other aisle. Just a warning if you're wearing jeans and sneakers don't come into the store. You will be watched and followed around like a hawk.....or should I say thief? I hope while they follow around the people who dress down because they think they're stealing, the real thieves are making away with ishloads of their makeup products. Other than the horrible employees here (Asian male greeter at door), they have a good selection of makeup products. read more

I love love love that particular location!!! Better than the Town Square Las Vegas location by far! This place is always soooo Crawded but the staff is always extremely attentive and helpful (expect of one gay makeup artist that think he is the shit and will totally ignore you and roll his eyes when you ask a question but he can go to hell) I Love that I can try on the makeup before i buy them and the MUA will show me how to apply it for best result (I am still an amateur who really want to learn) I Love that I can get as many samples as I need of ANY product in store so I can try them on at home before purchase. If I have to buy a $80 Kate Sommerville face scrub or a $90 vitamin C serum then I want to know if they work for me and I do not get any type of reaction. By the way, Yes they worked and Yes I came back to purchase the both of them. I Love that they carry my favorite Hair Care line called Carol's Daughter (wish they had the full line available) but they carry the best basics from that brand. I Love that I always get extra freebees on my way out. Can't wait to come back and blow some more money on those addictive and exquisite junk! Im like a kid in a candy store in there. The Location is Amazing... Best of the best, on POWELL in the heart of my beloved Union Square!!! Can't wait to come back and see you dear Sephora on Powell street! read more

Fantastic service from Tomi, a sweet young woman with a boy's name and fierce eyeliner. She made three complimentary perfume samples for me in tiny bottles. Super super nice and personable. read more

The Costco of cosmetics. Both places instantly make me heady and glassy-eyed upon walking in, but at Sephora there are these lovely, black-clad angels to guide you right to what you need. (Er, want.) And they supposedly aren't there to promote any particular brand, even their own line, so it really seems like you are getting unbiased advice. There are some weird rules about what they can and cannot carry (like MAC can only be sold at department stores or their own stores and Channel is conspicuously absent, thus the minus one star), but if you can't find what you need here, you are one picky-assed beatch! And a plug for the Sephora brand--the lip liners, eyeliners and even the lipsticks are quite good, especially for the price. Lastly, and most interestingly to you, I'm sure, they even let me park my bike inside while I shop so I don't get bike #4 stolen from the streets of San Francisco. read more

I love everything Sephora and this one is definitely awesome! It's huge! I can spend a whole day there trying on all the stuff =) Best part is the self stations where you can pick a look on an app and it tells you what products to use. You can sit there in front of your own vanity trying on fun stuff! It can get packed and the last time I was there the line was about 30 deep. If you've got nothing to do, then this Sephora's a great place to spend your free time! read more

For a San Francisco location, I expected their service to be better, but unfortunately my experience was not the best. I asked for a foundation match, and the worker assisting me did not bother wiping the foundation that was already on my face. I've been to other Sephoras and the workers ALWAYS asked me if I have makeup on my face and if they are able to remove a bit of it to match it clearly. The worker at this Sephora, however, simply put the foundation on my neck. Keep in mind, your face color often times can be different than your neck! When I doubted her color suggestion, she ensured me that the color she chose was correct and that I was wrong. I later went home that night to try it on again, and tada, the foundation was actually lighter than my face and the other color I was looking into was a the better shade for me. I'm giving this location two stars because the cashier who rang me up was super friendly and nice. read more

If you want a sample, go to the hot BORBA guy. He gave me a Caudalie eye cream sample that lasted me more than a week. (Seriously, it was the most generous sample I'd ever gotten from any Sephora before.) He also gave me 4 sample packets of the Borba eye cream for me to try. If you're subscribed to Sephora online, this is the store that has the promotional products. Not too long ago, if you brought in a coupon, you got a brush bag for free. They have a really great return policy. You don't have to return it within a certain amount of time. (Or maybe you do?) If you tell them that the product was a gift, or you lost the receipt they'll most likely accommodate you. :) read more

Just visited and Edith was SOOOOO nice to my daughter, who was getting her first foundation makeup. Beautiful store, vast array of products but it is the special people who work here who make it great!!! read more

Oh Sephora, my love, how I adore thee. I pranced into the store because that's the only way you could really make an entrance. Brightly lit, clean, and a wonderful cache of bountiful beautifying products. Sephora on Powell Street, you are the only Sephora I've been to in the Bay Area that sells my beloved Time Balm concealer. I love the rainbow palettes of your cosmetics sections, I love the gleam and sheen from all the bottles of perfume you have lined up so prettily, and I love that every holiday season, you offer great gift packages that I buy for myself. Philosophy makes me clean, Fresh makes me smell good, Benefit makes me glow, and Clinique makes my lips utterly kissable for you. So KISS KISS, Sephora. I do all this for you, baby. read more

I'm writing a review on the birthday make-up makeover that I received from Jenna this past weekend. Right off of the bat, Jenna was patient, kind, and tthe type of person that you know you'd want to invite out for some drinks... but, I'm digressing. I was looking for a glamorous look for a night out for my birthday. Jenny was soo thorough with her make-up application on me: I asked for a purplish glittery "sandwich" eye shadow application (dark on the outside, light on the inside) and she executed professionally and (seemingly) effortlessly. I could tell that this girl knew her stuff, as she did have an artistic air about her - she's been doing this for years for herself, her friends, and finally professionally. Furthermore, I am not the type of person who wears very much makeup on the regular (powder, eyeliner on my top lid, eyebrows, pretty much) and she did an incredible job of staying true to my facial features (I still looked myself) but was able to amplify my features x100. I definitely had a huge pop of glam on the night of my birthday, and the pictures turned out great. Go to Jenna for any type of make-up application - I could bet that she is well-trained in all types, but especially for a glam night out on the town. She says she loves doing makeup for special occasions, and it's obvious that what she loves is what she is best at. The other makeup artists kept coming back in awe of what a great job she was doing. read more

I wasn't into make-up until I found sephora. And I was shy at first... Do I really get to spend an hour here and not feel bad about not buying anything. woo hoo! I like to go and try on everything. And i was afraid of the make-up remover at first, but i figured out it doesn't sting or anything. haha, like i said, not a make-up person. The prices are a little high for me, which is why i now shop from my mary kay consultant, but this store is girl heaven i tell you. girl freaking heaven. all those blushes and stains and powders and just every thing you could ever imagine to put on your body. good gift place. Expect to pay at least $15 for one item, but more likely $25. The best face stuff in the world is there, but it was $85 so after i fell in love with it i quickly wandered over to the lipsticks i could afford. i always spend at least $100 when i come here(and actually buy something). drool drool drool. sales people are generally unhelpful. which is cool cuz they don't bother you. :) read more

it costs good money to roll out of bed looking like i do ;) HAHA.. i kid.. anyway.. this place is awesome.. make up, perfume, beauty supplies.. all in one place?? amazing.. huge huge selection of EVERYTHING.. i love walking through their perfume section.. i smell almost every single one until they all start to smell the same.. and then i head over to the cologne.. and think.. "if i had a bf.. i'd want him to wear this" i'm an impulsive shopper.. and the fact that they have all those goodies lined up alongside the queue to the cash register is not got for me.. satisfied.. i walk out with the one thing i came for.. along many MANY things i didnt read more

This is a good Sephora. They always have what I am looking for. Sure sure, I can spend hours and hours just mindlessly wandering the aisles of Sephora. But it's always nice to come in for one or two things and actually leave with only one or two things. They carry any and everything that any other Sephora would. Staff is very sweet and friendly without being overly pushy or bossy. (Some Sephoras are staffed with crazy people) And this specific Sephora just started carrying Bumble and Bumble. SSSWWWOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNN. So, I popped right in to grab my secret weapon of Bumble and Bumble Hair Tonic Spray and some Boscia Pore Strips and I was out the door. Thanks Sephora. read more

ATMOSPHERE: Everything was as organized as it could be on a busy day. Everything was spaced out well, but it was still cramped because there was hellluh people in the store. SERVICE: I loved it! They're extremely friendly and sweet lol and like to compliment you lol. QUALITY/PRICE: You get what you pay for. It is more expensive here, but it's better quality products. But if you don't want to drain your wallet, I'd suggest not coming here because you'll just get tempted...like me :'( read more

When they're not stalking you in fear of shoplifting they are screaming in your face while all pilled up. The three of us as regular customers made our frequent trip to the local Sephora but today were greeted by a hostess who was shouting at us as we entered the store. I smiled in confusion which I guess is an invitation for more shouting and eventually, really weird singing and shuffling around. The girl's make up was drippy and over done, something more like I would see at 6th and Mission than at Powell and Market. She didn't offer me a basket, I had to ask. When I finally got away, my friend asked if I knew the girl personally because, aside from drugs or extreme mental illness, there is no reason for her to be talking to me like that. When I informed the manager(Kenya), I was gentle. I made sure to mention that the girl wasn't intentionally rude but that she was over whelming to the point of being rude. The manager responded with some of the most severely passive agressive contempt I have ever bothered to endure and had the register girl not looked so absolutely embarrassed by her superior I probably wouldn't have been so polite. The manager then also very loudly began "explaining" (quotes because oh thank you I have no idea what a hostess is supposed to be doing and I live in a cave and what is 2012?) how the door girl is the store cheerleader but, being a total idiot, seemed to forget that there is no distanced and noisy crowd of hundreds, just 3 women standing about 2 feet away, 1 of whom most likely won't be going back to that location. read more

2 years later an I still love Sephora! This is still my regular store! Everyone is always helpful and friendly!

Usually, I am at a loss when it comes to makeup, but I've been watching youtube tutorials for a while. 3 people asked if I needed help. Usually, that doesn't happen when I go shopping in general because I typically wear Asics sneakers and a hoodie. Today, I had on my good luck leather jacket and matching leather boots. Somehow, more than $50 flew out of the matching leather wallet. But I got my Sephora birthday gift, which was a free MUFE mascara and lipstick set! read more

This is probably the best Sephora store in the Bay Area! I avoid going to the bay st Sephora since their customer service is really bad and they're always out of stock for most of the stuff I'm looking for. But this one is really good. The staff is always helpful and even though it's extremely busy, they make sure you're taken care of! Elisa and chaimae are two very helpful people there, they make me samples of everything I want to try and help me with all the questions that I have. I also get my makeup done here for events and have never been disappointed so far! read more

2 words: MAKEUP HEAVEN!!!! I'm not a huge makeup junkie since most of the stuff here are over priced and I would not wanna spend my money on makeup I hardly use. With that said, when I used to shop here, I know that they have an amazing return policy, the employees are super nice but some can be snobby and kinda fake (just like their 10lb of makeup on their faces). I like that we can try on almost all makeup before splurging on it, and they give decent size samples if needed. read more

Great full face makeover and consultation today with Chelsea! I didn't make an appt. and I told her that I wanted to learn a quick (7 min) routine for work and maybe add a fun lip for the weekend/evening. She was AMAZING! Seriously, took a lot of time explaining all the products to me and introduced me to great multi tasking products. I can't wait to try the new routine on Monday morning (the true test of any habit). I ultimately got about $200 worth of products but a lot of them do multiple things (lip & cheek, tinted moisturizer+ SPF, blush & eyeshadow) and my makeup bag needed an overhaul. Most were NARS but I was introduced to nudestix which are awesome! I got a great slanted brush too. I felt pampered and had such a great experience! Will definitely be back for one of the 15 min tutorials (maybe the smokey eye or lips). read more

I came here to return some moisturizer I bought a week earlier, and the saleslady acted very dismissively and almost bitter toward me. I thought she was reacting to the fact that I was returning a product, which is still rude but at least marginally understandable, but she acted the same to my friend who bought $100 in products immediately after me. Everyone else we talked to was friendly and helpful, but no store manager in his or her right mind would treat a customer so poorly. Bonus points for the dude wearing makeup. I want him to show me some pointers. read more

I have a love and hate relationship with this Sephora... I love visiting the store to try different products but I'm never feeling welcomed so I always end up just buying stuff on their website. So I went to the store today looking for a primer. I was approached by an associate in front of the Hourglass section. She asked me to try the N° 28 Primer Serum so I said sure. After trying it on my hand, I honestly couldn't tell if I liked it or not. She said, Isn't it nice? I was like ugh, um...Can I get a sample of this? To my surprise, she said I can't make you a sample but you can buy the travel size ($22) to try. I was thinking, you are kidding right? You are asking me to spend $22 on something I don't even know if I'll like or not. And this is Sephora! You guys pride at giving out samples for customers to try! Anyway, needless to say, I left the store after that. The thing is, I usually don't ask for samples and I think that's how I hit VIB Rouge status. But I was being good by trying to try products first before buying and this crap happened. Oh and their website said they have the FORMULA X DELETE - Nail Polish Remover but it's a lie! Apparently it's only for sale online...ugh I was very disappointed with Sephora today so I had to share my two cents. read more

The VIB is back! Hello Sephora and holiday shopping has begun! I was impressed that the gal at the front genuinely assisted me and radio'd my question to another Sephora associate who came within a few minutes! I miss being next door to you, the Mac Pro store took our building but it doesn't seem like the public is responding well. Rock on Sephora Powell!! read more

Any Sephora, for the most part with get no more than four stars from me, but that's because I worked for the company for [haha] four years! In response to a lot of the reviews, let me clarify a few things: -samples are given out, or should be, for allergy/sensitivity purposes. Only enough for two days, because if you are truely sensitive to something, you'll be able to tell within 48 hours of putting it on your skin. So, if you are a cronic sampler just for the sake of getting samples, people will remember you and not want to give you samples... FYI, testers cost the company money, often times money they don't have the budget for at the time. -makeup and skincare consultations are FREE[!!!!!!!] at Sephora. Have one of their artist's sit down with you. They'll apply different items on your face, explain what they are doing, and why and how. They'll teach you how to do your own makeup. Skincare consultants will do their best to find an item that is compatible with your skin type. And, will happily give you a sample so you can try it for a couple days before you commit to it. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE INITIATIVES!!! If you do, you'll probably have to avoid returning anything you purchase... -If you need help, ask for it. If a sales associate approaches you, letting you know they are available to help when you don't need it, THANK THEM and let them know you may need assistance later. I swear, not asking for help and lingering around waiting for it is only acceptable when you are 5 years old. Otherwise, be big girls and ask for help. -usual money smarts: DON'T BUY ANYTHING IF YOU AREN'T SURE YOU LIKE IT or KNOW YOU'LL RETURN IT! If it really didn't work for you, or if it was a gift, let the sales people know the moment you walk in that you'd like to exchange the product for something better suited to your needs. Just be smart about what you spend your money on. -beauty insider cards... yes, waste of space. yes, marketing strategy. yes, quotas have to be filled. don't get annoyed that you get asked if you want to sign up for it and they tell you all about it. IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!!! Yes, often times the BI gifts aren't great. But, as humans, you have free will, which allows you to contact customer service at sephora.com and let them know how they can make their BI program better. Hey, enough people contacted customer service about dotcom shipping. Any order $50+ gets free shipping, instead of $75+... That's the power of mass communication. With that said, Sephora is a great store to shop in. You get to play. You get to touch. You get to smell. You deal with people who aren't on comission. Make your shopping experience the most worthwhile by being positive, being sure of what you want, and being strong and confident. Don't get butthurt over little things, and you're experiences anywhere you shop will be great. ASK FOR HELP! Don't wait for it to come to you... Isn't there a book that is called "Ask and you shall recieve"? Or isn't that some kind of spiritual mantra? And, seriously, "The Secret" is freakin' mad-crazy flying off the shelves. Work the law of attraction magic and your Sephora experience will ROCK! [PS. Oprah loves an s-load of stuff that's sold in Sephora... Just FYI.] read more

When I think I need to buy makeup the only place I want to go to is this Sephora location. I love the perfume smell and it always feels like Christmas! They carry a lot of brands and I especially like the Popular stand that has on display all buyer favorites! It's like searching the product by online reviews but in the store :) Join the loyalty program, its free and those 500-point gifts are pretty cool. If you shop online and have Chase card, you can earn 3 points per dollar spent :) read more

Sephora is super great for classes, mini-lessons, dashing in to buy this or that. They have excellent customer service, in general, and I love the diversity of the peeps I have met there over the years. read more

This review is written on behalf of me and my wife. We visit this store quite often to buy things like moisturizing lotions and deodorants and such. The selection they have is pretty decent and I think the prices are ok. However, the service in this particular location is absolute horrible. I don't know where they find the staff, but it seems like they are all part of some male bimbo club that are not interested in serving you at all. They basically do anything they can to avoid serving you. You might end up chasing them down the aisles -- if you work in a pair, suggest trying to approach them from both directions -- this way they cannot escape. However, if you happen to catch one of these people, it might not be of a lot of help, since they in generally don't know anything about their products. They are also not afraid to show how annoyed they are if you dare to distract them from flirting with their co-workers. One of them claimed that they don't have deodorants at all. Two minutes later I located the products myself. This was not an isolated incident -- more like a way things work in this store. read more

I love Sephora! Probably since I am a product whore! LOL! I could probably spend hours in here looking at all the cosmetics, makeup tools and beauty skin care lines. I would have actually given this store 5 stars, but the find the customer service to be very lacking. The last two times I've been here, the cashiers have been very rude and unaccommodating. Other than that, I love this location and it's layout. I would venture here again just cuz of the products! read more

I came here on a busy Saturday afternoon and the place seemed really really packed. However, when I approaches an employee, she was nonetheless very willing to help me find what I needed. To my surprise, she also patiently helped me try on different shades so I could make the correct purchase. It felt like she really cared about helping me. She then asked if I needed help finding anything else and also proceeded in helping me with finding other products. It was a very positive experience that I will remember well. Thanks for showing me that I can still have a great experience despite the craziness in the store! read more

When I was younger, my family went to Paris and we stopped by the Sephora on the Champs-Elysees. My brother sprayed someone with perfume and we quickly left afterwards. This location is always packed with tourists but if you go during the week in the morning, you'll be able to browse at your leisure. The sales associates are friendly and on my last visit, helped me quickly locate a Shiseido sunscreen. My brother's yet to visit me since I've moved to San Francisco, but I foresee perfume spraying incident happening all over again. Eh, what are little brothers for? read more

I would say that I am a pretty simple girl and I pay attention to the small things in life, but every once in awhile I like to indulge in the finer things - food, clothes, purses, and in this case...makeup. I have always purchased my makeup from drugstores and have literally tried a product from every single brand. Time and time again I would hate how cakey those foundations made me look or how awful the quality of some of their products are. Now steps in Sephora...thank god for this place! I started coming to Sephora once they opened a store Downtown. I had heard so much about it and decided to try it out. Years later, I am still shopping here. Most of the sales reps are very helpful and have always been honest with me about products. I recently just went in to try some Bare Minerals/Escentuals foundation and the lady who helped me out was kind and honest about the products. She did half my face with the BE mineral makeup so that I could see how it differed from my own. Thanks to her, I am now in love with BE makeup. This location has so many different brands to offer, also they have perfumes/cologne and shampoos/conditioners, hair tools, everything you could want or need! Does tend to get a little crowded, it is Downtown...but seriously, stop in if you need some beauty products! +If you shop online and spend over $50 you get free shipping and free samples! read more

I grew up in central Pennsylvania, where only the lucky ones of us had cars and electricity. And by lucky I mean not Amish. We had to drive hours uphill both ways in the snow to go to a mall with an Abercrombie (even longer by buggy). Yes, I was just a small town girl with a YM magazine and a dream. I read about this amazing store called Sephora, where they sold every cosmetic and you could try them on before purchasing. I dreamed about wearing every brand of mascara at once and finally establishing the appropriate lip gloss for my skin tone. When I finally made it to Sephora, my youthful dreams were shattered. Because, um, look around the room. Do you really want to rub your face in the face of every other person in Sephora? Do you even want all of them to touch your face? No. So the whole 'hey look you can test makeup' thing is really kind of nasty. Better selection here than in all of Central PA though. read more

With a case of, since this isn't my diary or blog, let's call it "the Monday blues", I recently self-medicated with a quickie visit to Sephora in Union Square and if you weren't already aware of the greatness that is Sephora, well, I'd like to pass on to you a little secret - this place has healing powers too! (for your person, not your wallet) Shopping last night after work was easy, the store was not crowded like I had expected and the best thing about shopping on a Monday night? Waking up Tuesday morning to play with all my new beautiful goodies!!! I usually hate giving/getting gift cards as gifts, but I would take a Sephora gift card any day =) read more

Brought my daughter for her first make up session and she had both thumbs up for Giselle; the make up artist. Two thumbs up is hard to achieve from a 14 yr old. She was very patient with my daughter, answering every question and explaining skin care routines, products, etc. The associates on the sales floor were also very friendly. Thank you Giselle and team at Powell for making my daughter's first make up experience a huge win!! Teens are often intimidated but the Powell Street associates made her feel comfortable and welcomed. We love Sephora! read more

Sephora is great in that you can browse and mess with their stuff for as long as you want without being harrassed and hard-selled by cosmetic counter people. The Sephora people will also custom make samples of any products you want to try out at home. But the Powell Street Sephora really needs to better maintain their shelves and throw out old products that nobody is buying. I've noticed products collecting dust on their shelves. That's just nasty... read more

Today, I went in for brown eyeshadow and I came out spending only $97. (Usually, I'm well over $100--way to go, self restraint!) There is one manager in particular who is a GENIUS and I LOVE her!!!! She knows which products actually work and which ones are all marketing. And she knows which products are expensive but worth it and which ones are simply overpriced. She gets 5 stars. The downside is that the store is located in my least favorite part of San Francisco, at the Cable Car turnaround. Soooo many annoying people! Minus one star for any place that requires me to talk myself down from an anxiety attack just to get there. read more

Normally I try not to review chains since my experience at one store is usually the same as at another location, but I have to give mad props to the customer service at this Sephora location. I went in there yesterday looking for my new signature scent, and after 20 bottles and a total loss of smell, I gave up and asked one of the sales gals for help. Not only did she come up with at least five recommendations, almost all of which I liked, she also made up some samples so that I'd be free to try them at home in my own time. And not once did she push me into making a decision right away. This is exactly the kind of customer service that every store should be offering. It doesn't hurt that this is one of the larger Sephoras in the Bay Area and therefore has a wider selection! read more

Horrible return after buying perfume online for Christmas! Their dc was backed up from returns and claimed I then didn't return until after their 30 day policy. SO NOT TRUE. gave me store credit that I don't want. Will never do business here again. read more