This place is a cosmetic outlet, except the prices aren't cheap. You can spritz as much perfume/cologne as you want without weird department store salespeople obligating you to buy it. You can paint your face like a clown for Halloween or even prep for an important meeting. You can walk out without buying anything at all. read more

I'll have to move it up two more stars than what I gave in my previous review. The last two times I came here, the makeup artists were very nice and helpful. Hopefully, i'll keep having good luck here. The first of the two times I came here, I just had a simple question. The girls over at shu uemura recommended I get two brushes for bronzer, one for contouring and one for all over. I bought a contour bronzer brush from shu uemura and I needed to know if I could also use it for all over. The makeup artist was very friendly, told me I had a, quote, great brush, unquote and let me know that I should save money, keep it simple and use the brush for both contouring and all over. The second time I came back, recently, was earlier Saturday. I happened to get lucky and I was helped by someone from corporate. She was very friendly and did not push products on me. Unlike most of the other artists, she did not make awkward moments by standing there after helping me wtih a product to force me to buy it on the spot. In fact, I didn't feel pressured to buy anything at all. Ironic, because I had intended on buying moisturizer before I left the building. Don't think she was a bad salesperson either though because I will be going back later, when I have made my decision. Made my decision about what you ask? When I asked about moisturizers, she told me about two she liked, and then offered to give me samples. I agreed and even asked her if she could make a sample of a clinique moisturizer I was interested in. She happily agreed and gave me my samples. I told her I would try them overnight and come back when I made my decision about which one fits best for my skin type and which locks in moisture the best overnight or all throughout the day. That was the other thing I liked. When i asked her which one she thought was best, she told me it really depends on your personal preference. She didn't try to push the one she liked the best on me. She wanted me to find the one that fit me best so that I would be fully satisfied with my purchase. The other makeup artists really need to learn from Mallory, my salesperson this time. I've only been given samples one time other than this and that was just because they had discontinued the product and there was no point in them having it out on the swatches. This time I got three! I was so amazed. I always feel pressured to buy right away, and to buy the most expensive products, but for the first time, in Sephora, i did not feel pressured at all. I got my samples which I can now use to make a thorough decision =] read more

I always feel intimidated walking in here since I'm not done up to the nines (I think I belong in the hot mess category). I usually shop here for gifts, but I do love the range of benefit products they have, and they have decent sales on lotions and whatnot. Most of the salesgirls here are snotty as hell for whatever reason, hence the low rating. read more

This place always has a lot of people inside for some reason. And when you need help, all the workers seem to disappear. But, the ones that do stop and help are almost always super nice. They have a good selection of things you might be looking for. read more

This is my favorite Sephora. It's the biggest I've ever been to and has the best inventory. The staff is very friendly and will help you find anything you are looking for. Keep in mind, this location is right in the heart of the Union Square shopping district so it will most likely always be busy and have a line at the cashiers. read more

Was there yesterday. Very helpful staff. They take time to help you. I was assisted by Kim. Great help. In general, you ask tips from the girls, they help you out and take time. Gives you great tips and advice. read more

This Sephora location is huge and filled with people willing to help you get color matched and answer any questions for you. It's clean and product testers are always present. Every girl should come here at least once. The sale section has good steals and the line is never as long as it seems. read more

After quite a long debate and hesitation, I finally went in. I've never been to any Sephora before cuz I was one of those girls who knew little about makeup and I always felt that I'd run into stuck up women but I was wrong. I started dabbling in some makeup after watching YouTube videos so I finally got the confidence and some extra $$ to spend on higher end brands. I was a drugstore makeup kinda lady and still am for certain items. Each time I visit, the staff members are always friendly, attentive and ready to answer questions or give suggestions. I try not to spend too much time here by just coming in whenever I need something. I pass by it 5 days a week going to and from work since I take bart so it's very convenient (not so much on my wallet) but the location is great! read more

Honestly it's not that bad of a place to visit. Even as someone who isn't interested in makeup, it can be fun to peruse the fragrance area and test all the different cheap and expensive scents. What's great is that the staff will even give you a sample of a couple scents if you ask for them, which they do by getting a little spray bottle and filling it up with the chosen scents. These can last a few days to a couple weeks depending on how heavily you use it, and it's a fantastic way to try on a scent to see if you or others like it, without having to pay a penny. I'll definitely be going back to grab a couple samples to test out! read more

It gets very busy, but that doesn't explain how bad and rube some of their employees are (NOT ALL I might say). It almost felt like I was getting stared down, but the store it self has many product you wouldn't be able to find in their Emeryville location. read more

A couple days ago I woke up to discover that my kittens and knocked my liquid eyeliner into another dimension because it has vanished. I was naturally pissed because I wear it every day and didn't have time before work to pick up another one. After work I walked over to Sephora and got their brand of liquid eyeliner for $10. I used it the next morning and it really is long lasting and I like it better than my old holy grail liquid eyeliner. Thank you Sephora! read more

Okay, I have to admit; I'm a total product whore. I even work in the cosmetics biz and I still can't get enough creams and lotions. This place is awesome; the selection is top notch. I was a little miffed that they didn't carry Chanel makeup, but, what can you do? I was in the market for a new fragrance and couldn't make up my mind. The saleswoman helped me find the perfect thing and even gave me samples of some to take home and try out. Also their clear sephora brand hair ties are fucking awesome. If you're looking for almost any makeup or product, they either have it or can point you in the right direction. read more

Ladies, this sephora store just brought back Laura Mercier!! A huge display of the entire line is there. 10 stars for that.

If I had money to burn I would go on a spending spree at Sephora, but probably not at this location because it's crowded and the staff seems miffed all the time. read more

If you have serious questions about what skin care products might work best for you, go see Jennifer B. She is THE EXPERT! She is friendly, patient, and honest! If you're not a "Beauty Insider" member, do it asap! The perks are awesome! This place has some of the best customer service ever! There's always someone there that knows something about something! read more

I love Sephora, but not all the locations are the same. The one in Los Angeles (Santa Monica) is total garbage, the entire store is messy and they never replace the free samples, it looks so dirty in there and I don't feel welcome to try (or buy) any of it. BUT. This location is great, they're so helpful and not at all pushy. I love to come in here and just browse and the workers don't seem to mind, but they're so nice and always offer to help. This one time I was buying nail polish and the lady at the register was caught up on the phone, but I wanted to get out of there fast so she processed my stuff anyway. And then when she hung up she felt so bad and offered me some free samples. It wasn't necessary but she was SO nice!! read more

This is the best Sephora! Haha, they seem to carry lines that that they don't have at other Sephoras (like the crappy one in the Marina where the workers don't know anything about any of the cosmetics). I had the best consultation from one of the SAs here, Jennifer B, who gave me so much great advice and knew so much about the products. I went away with a bunch of relevant samples, and purchased products suited for me. While this store is hard to get to and can be chaotic, I always have to stop by whenever I shop in Union Square! read more

Kind of crowded and some brands were difficult to find, but employees were happy to help and seemed to be full of product information.

I love Sephora. I can never walk past one. It's like a beacon calling my name. I just go in to browse because I prefer to order online. So when I passed this one, I had to go in. This store was super crowded and none of the workers seemed to be working. They were standing together and talking or they would pretend to be rearranging shelves when I made eye contact with them. Which was cool because I didn't need their help anyway. It's nice to not have a bunch of overbearing people breathing over my shoulder, but a simple hello would be nice. Three stars because of the one worker who did stop to compliment my makeup. read more

I EXPECT the store to be crowded. I EXPECT it to be busy. After all, you're in 2-3 blocks from Union Square, across the street from Westfield Mall, the entrance is footsteps away from one of SF's biggest tourist attraction, and you're in downtown. Can't really expect a slow store now there could you? Then something would be wrong... For as long as this store has been open, I have ALWAYS been approached by a sales lady. They are ALWAYS finding ways to please the customers. and i have ALWAYS had good vibes here. It's Sephora. It's a women's candy store. On my most recent visit, yesterday, besides the door greeter, a sales lady approached me within 1 minute of me being in the store. She could see I was searching for something. She made me feel comfortable, was knowledgeable about the product I was inquiring about (between Ojon Dry Recovery with Blue Agave Hydrating Shampoo & Phyto Phytokarite Ultra Nourishing Mask- Ultra Dry Hair) She wasn't pushy, LISTENED, and even offered a sample of the one I didn't pick. She was great with the add on suggestion and I walked out with the first product we looked at (Ojon), an add on (the conditioner) and a sample (Phyto) within 10 minutes with no regret. Her name is Sherii and shes been working there for years. read more

Good selection, easily navigated. It's hard to get staff help because it's such a busy location, and I also felt the staff didn't help me on "my level". Each time I went in looking for something (e.g. "I'm looking for nude lipstick") the person helping me asked me a zillion questions in what seemed like another language. I always leave with something I like, but also feeling a little helpless. read more

My most recent visit to Sephora was 3/7, and I had a great experience! I'd been trying to find the right shade of foundation for awhile (always a struggle, right??) and my fiance was doing his best to help me find the right shade. Luckily, one of the associates, Michael De Martini, swooped in to help! He spent a good 10 minutes with me finding my perfect match, and also recommended an awesome Urban Decay primer that I've been using every day! Michael was friendly, extremely knowledgable, and professional. He even came to the register when he saw us checking out to say thank you and goodbye, and gave me some free samples to boot! It was an awesome end to a great trip to Sephora. Thank you, Michael! I'll definitely be back to see you! read more

I hardly wear any makeup, but I have to admit, it is fun going in this store and playing dress-up. It's like a candy store for your face, and you get to nibble to your heart's content, or, well, until you get tired of rubbing makeup remover over your face with a tissue. Being a tree-hugger, the only thing more I could wish for is more knowledge of which products are tested on animals. The people at the counter all vaguely said, "Uhhhhhh, I think most products are cruelty-free" which I know isn't true. That aside, the staff is pretty friendly and helpful, and they give out samples if you ask. read more

i just realized how much crap i buy at sephora! shopping on their website is great. easy to navigate, great features, and nice looking. plus there's of tons of perks to buying online (samples, special promo codes, free shipping). easy to return or exchange online purchases at the store. browsing at the store is always fun too, an hour can go by very quickly in there. it is also very easy to end up with lots of other random little things you didn't know you needed. this location has most of their products in stock. even if it gets crowded at times, i usually don't wait long in line. even then, there's lots of mini sized products there to keep you entertained while waiting. i don't ask the salespeople for makeup or skincare advice, but they're usually very helpful in helping me locate brands, products, and sometimes even obscure items. you can also ask for samples of particular products. sephora's selection beats macy's or nordstrom's any day. a few sephora discoveries i'm grateful for: ojon, pop eyeshadow cakes, the wonderful world of nars lipsticks. they're pretty much the one stop beautification shop. read more

nice big location. I used to spend several hours looking at all the wonderful cosmetics and skin products.

The staff here is really helpful and knows the store selection really well. The last time I was here I was helped by not one, not two, but three salespeople to select a lip gloss. There is a huge selection of make-up, brushes, hair products, etc. and the staff is pretty good at helping you pick out the product that is good for you and fits the price range you're searching in. This is also a fun store to go into if you're just wanting to play with make-up without having to buy it. You can pretty much just give yourself a makeover (or have the staff do it) and go on with your day. Love it! read more

For someone who rarely wears makeup of any sort, Sephora is totally overwhelming. Upon telling my friend I intend to do my own makeup for my up coming wedding, she (a veteran) insisted we go. Aida really made me feel comfortable during my makeover, and was really sensitive to my naivety. I came out not feeling rushed or pressured to buy anything (though I did anyway), and looking "naturally" beautiful. A great experience overall. read more

How did we try makeup before there was sephora?? I dunno but I'm glad that this place now exists! Great place to test shadows, powders etc! You can ask for samples of products as well to see if it works at home. This location can get very busy but generally the staff does ask if you need help. My only complaint is that some of the makeup artists/staff have quite a "tude" when they are "helping" you. I think that's pretty ridiculous considering how much most folks wind up spend at this store for prestige cosmetics. read more

Sephora did an amazing job for my wedding makeup. My makeup artist I previously hired was a disaster, so on the day of the wedding, I went to Sephora. The head guy at Sephora was amazing, and did a great job. They have a package where they do your makeup for a special occasion for free if you buy a $50 gift card. It was a great deal, and salvaged my makeup disaster. read more

I can spend hours on end here - the testers are always reasonably clean and the store is organized well, the SA's are total dolls and happy to give samples of things I'm really interested in, and it's overall an inviting place. It can be a little crowded after work hours or on weekends but overall it's not too bad at all. I had my birthday certificate with me that I got in the mail, and although I had my ID with me they were not at all snippy about insisting on seeing it an scrutinizing it as a lot of other places often are about that kind of thing. The clerk was a doll about it and let me look at an upcoming product as well while I was in line. Patrick, a MA there, helped me pick out a shade of lipstick I was looking for, and not only did he swatch about 15 on his hand for me to demonstrate color and consistency, giving me a great consultation whilist doing so, he found me something entirely different which I loved. Overall this is a great place to shop around, and I'm not the kind of person to wander aimlessly, usually. Always fun just to drop in, whether you buy something or not. read more

All your beauty needs in one spot! This place has a large selection of everything from fragrances, to skin care, to make up, and to hair!

I made an appointment for a consultation during a lunch break. Sorry the manager who booked us (guy with green hair) was very short and rude with my friend and I, the point of having a consultation is to learn tips and tricks and have your questions answered but he made us feel really dumb for not knowing what we wanted. The next day we went in and my artist was Deborah, I was going for an everyday look with techniques on eyes. I was a little taken aback becuase the tone of the session was more of she training me as if I was getting a job there, very tough and harsh, not really for a person who knows little to nothing about techniques and products. It was not until mid session tha I finally got the hang of how the "game was played" that It became fun. Overall it was a good experience and I learned a lot. She chose a fantastic lipstick color and gave me a cheat sheet to take home. The store is fine and clean but I think the customer service will make or break it. read more

Visited this Sephora while I was on a trip to San Fran. I had the best makeup experience with Melissa G! I highly recommend her if you are looking for some new makeup. She was so helpful and very knowledgeable of every single product they carry. Other then that, the store is very crowded but seemed to be kept up and clean! Love this location (need one like this is Orange County!) read more

My makeup shopping experience has been forever changed. I just finished a one-on-one consultation with Kate and I learned so much! She knows practically everything about all the products, an impossible task. She is also EXTREMELY knowleabe when it comes to techniques, etc. I am so glad I took advantage of my VIB Rouge perks and made this appointment. She really knew the pros and cons of each product and gave some great suggestions about products I'm going to incorporate into my routine. I will definitely be back to this location. read more

I love Sephora overall, but like this store specifically because (a) they have enough people working; (b) the staff is trained, so they know a lot about the products they sell, if they don't know the answer to a questions, they take you to a colleague who does (c) they are professional in dress and demeanor; (d) they are happy to make personalized samples; (e) you are greeted upon entry and thanked when you leave by the folks at the door; (f) this location is very convenient from BART and Muni, so going on my lunch hour is easy to do (g) I've never been "pressured" to buy anything. read more

My friend and I came in last minute to get a mini makeup and they were able to squeeze us in even though it was super busy. Gina, one of the associates was very friendly,nice and helpful. She did a wonderful job on our make up. She knew what she was doing and know how to match colors and shades. I would recommend her if anyone wants a full face. read more

This place is right on Powell, so needless to say it's always packed, but the customer service is always incredibly fantastic. There is always someone ready to help you and offer honest advice for what you need and how to find it. The products they sell are awesome, it's my go to place and great for any gift. This sephora is by far my favorite one I've ever been to, wish I could rate it 6 stars. And MAKE SURE TO JOIN THE REWARDS PROGRAMS!! They give you awesome gifts read more

They don't honor appointments here and take walk ins over appointments. I had a wedding to attend and I made an appointment ahead of time confirmed and when I arrived 5 min late they had already taken someone off the wait list. Said they were short staffed etc...It was a lost of time, and Lyft and was left with no time to find someone to do my make up. read more

Yesterday I was passing by Saphora with my mom.. we were looking for nice perfume for the Valentine's Day. I must say that is a huge store and all the employees were very nice and helped us to find the best gift for Valentine's Day :) read more

Honestly love coming here customer service is great! They have everything you could think of only reason not 5 stars is because its always packed! read more