Sephora is a French multinational retailer company of beauty and personal care products. Founded in 1969, Sephora is a multinational beauty retailer that has become a prominent force in the world’s top cosmetics industry. In this article, we discuss the top Sephora Competitors and Alternatives.
With its headquarters in Paris, France, Sephora boasts a vast network of physical stores across the country and the globe and a solid online presence. The brand prides itself on offering an extensive range of beauty products, including makeup, skincare, haircare, fragrance, and more, catering to diverse needs and preferences.
Sephora, renowned for its innovative and inclusive stance on consumer and beauty, furnishes a unique shopping experience with interactive displays to explore new products. With a selection spanning acclaimed and budding beauty brands, sephora’s that it accommodates individual customer preferences seamlessly. Services at the store include personalized beauty consultations and expert advice from “beauty advisors,” making Sephora a go-to for beauty connoisseurs and beginners.
- Product Type: Beauty and personal care products.
- Industry: Retail.
- Founded Date: 1970.
- Founders: Dominique Mandonnaud.
- Headquarters: Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Jean-André Rougeot.
Table of Contents
The top Sephora competitors are
1. Ulta Beauty
- Product Type: Beauty and personal care products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1990
- Founders: Richard E. George
- Headquarters: Bolingbrook, Illinois, United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: Mary Dillon
Ulta Beauty is a significant competitor of Sephora. It is a popular beauty retailer that offers a wide range of cosmetics, skincare, and haircare products. Ulta Beauty combines high-end, affordable brands and salon and spa services. With its extensive selection and emphasis on customer experience, Ulta Beauty has become a go-to destination for beauty enthusiasts.
2. Nordstrom
- Product Type: Clothing, footwear, accessories, beauty, and home decor
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1901
- Founders: John W. Nordstrom, Carl F. Wallin
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
- Area Served: United States, Canada
- Current CEO: Erik Nordstrom, Peter Nordstrom, Anne Bramman
Nordstrom is another strong competitor of Sephora. As a well-known department store, Nordstrom has established itself as a trusted fashion, accessories, and beauty product retailer. It carries various high-end and luxury beauty brands, making it an attractive choice for customers looking for premium beauty options. Nordstrom’s commitment to providing personalized customer service and creating a luxurious shopping experience in department stores also sets it apart from competitors.
3. Macy’s
- Product Type: Clothing, footwear, accessories, beauty, and home decor
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1858
- Founders: Rowland Hussey Macy
- Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: Jeff Gennette
Macy’s is a renowned department store with a significant presence in the beauty industry, making it a direct competitor of Sephora. With a wide range of beauty offerings, Macy’s caters to diverse customer needs and preferences. Customers can find high-end and affordable beauty products from various well-known brands at Macy’s. In addition to its product selection, Macy’s convenient online platform and in-store events contribute to its success in the beauty market.
4. The Estée Lauder Companies
- Product Type: Beauty and personal care products
- Industry: Cosmetics
- Founded Date: 1946
- Founders: Estée Lauder, Joseph Lauder
- Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Fabrizio Freda
The Estée Lauder Companies, as a global beauty conglomerate, encompasses and owns several well-known brands like Estée Lauder, Clinique, MAC Cosmetics, and more. This makes it a formidable competitor for Sephora, as its comprehensive brand portfolio offers customers diverse choices in cosmetics, skincare, and fragrances. The Estée Lauder Companies’ dedication to quality, innovative products, and strong brand reputation ensures its continued success in the beauty industry.
5. L’Oréal
- Product Type: Beauty and personal care products
- Industry: Cosmetics
- Founded Date: 1909
- Founders: Eugène Schueller
- Headquarters: Clichy, France
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Nicolas Hieronimus
L’Oréal, a leading beauty company, competes with Sephora by offering an extensive range of beauty products across different categories and price points. With brands like Maybelline, Lancôme, and Garnier, L’Oréal caters to a wide range of customer preferences. L’Oréal’s commitment to research and development and its focus on inclusivity and sustainability contribute to its strong position in the beauty market.
6. Douglas
- Product Type: Beauty and personal care products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1821
- Founders: John Sharp Douglas
- Headquarters: Hagen, Germany
- Area Served: Europe
- Current CEO: Tina Müller
Douglas is a significant European beauty retailer and a competitor to Sephora. It offers an extensive range of beauty products in selected stores, including skincare, makeup, fragrances, and more. Douglas distinguishes itself by creating a unique shopping experience through its physical stores, where customers can receive personalized beauty advice. Douglas’ online platform lets customers conveniently explore and purchase their favorite beauty products.
7. Sally Beauty
- Product Type: Beauty and personal care products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1964
- Founders: C. Ray Farber
- Headquarters: Denton, Texas, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Chris Brickman
Sally Beauty is a leading supplier of professional-grade beauty products, targeting consumers and professionals in the beauty industry. Its vast selection of haircare, skincare, and nail products makes Sally Beauty a competitor to Sephora. Sally Beauty has maintained a strong presence and customer base by providing retailers with a wide range of specialty products and catering to consumers and beauty professionals.
8. Birchbox
- Product Type: Beauty and personal care products
- Industry: Subscription box service
- Founded Date: 2010
- Founders: Katia Beauchamp, Hayley Barna
- Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States
- Area Served: United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Belgium, Ireland
- Current CEO: Katia Beauchamp
Birchbox is a subscription-based beauty service offering curated boxes of beauty samples. It differentiates itself from similar companies by allowing customers to explore and discover new beauty products without committing to full-sized purchases. Birchbox’s personalized approach and the element of surprise have made it a popular choice for beauty enthusiasts looking to discover and try new products.
9. Cult Beauty
- Product Type: Beauty and personal care products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 2008
- Founders: Alexia Inge, Jessica DeLuca
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Alexia Inge
Cult Beauty is an online beauty retailer focusing on curating a selection of high-quality, niche beauty brands. Its carefully curated product lineup sets Cult Beauty apart from other competitors. Cult Beauty is a destination website for beauty enthusiasts seeking unique and innovative products. It offers a platform for emerging beauty brands and gives customers expert advice and recommendations.
10. Beauty Bay
- Product Type: Beauty and personal care products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 2009
- Founders: David Gabbie, Arron Gabbie
- Headquarters: Manchester, United Kingdom
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: David Gabbie
Beauty Bay is an online beauty retailer known for its vast selection of makeup, skincare, and haircare products. It competes with Sephora by providing customers with a wide range of affordable and high-end beauty brands. Beauty Bay’s emphasis on affordability, frequent promotions, and international shipping options attract a global customer base, making it a strong competitor in the beauty industry.
11. The Body Shop
- Product Type: Beauty and personal care products
- Industry: Cosmetics
- Founded Date: 1976
- Founders: Anita Roddick
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Lionel Thoreau
The Body Shop is a well-known brand that offers its shoppers a wide range of ethical and sustainable beauty products. With a strong emphasis on natural ingredients and environmental concerns, The Body Shop has carved out a niche in the beauty industry. It provides customers with an array of skincare, body care, and makeup products that are cruelty-free and ethically sourced. The Body Shop’s commitment to sustainability and social activism resonates with younger consumers and customers who prioritize conscious consumption.
12. Blue Mercury
- Product Type: Beauty and skincare products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1999
- Founders: Marla Malcolm Beck
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: Marla Malcolm Beck
Blue Mercury is a luxury beauty retailer that offers a curated selection of high-end beauty and hair care products. Blue Mercury focuses on customer experience and combines expert advice and personalized service to create a luxurious shopping atmosphere. Blue Mercury provides customers with a wide range of premium beauty offerings, from skincare and makeup to fragrance and haircare. Blue Mercury sets itself apart in the competitive beauty market by offering a carefully selected collection of brands and an elevated shopping experience.
13. L’Occitane
- Product Type: Beauty and skincare products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1976
- Founders: Olivier Baussan
- Headquarters: Manosque, France
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Reinold Geiger
L’Occitane is a renowned brand specializing in high-quality skincare, body care, and fragrance products. With a strong focus on natural ingredients and traditional French craftsmanship, L’Occitane offers customers a luxurious and sensory experience. L’Occitane’s commitment to sustainability and its partnerships with local farmers contribute to its authentic image and resonate with customers seeking high-quality, environmentally conscious beauty and skin care products.
14. MAC Cosmetics
- Product Type: Beauty and skincare products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1984
- Founders: Frank Angelo, Frank Toskan
- Headquarters: New York, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Philippe Pinatel
MAC Cosmetics is a renowned makeup brand for its wide range of professional-quality cosmetics. With a strong emphasis on inclusivity and diversity in body products, MAC Cosmetics offers an extensive range of shades and formulas suitable for people of all skin tones and types. MAC Cosmetics prides itself on its collaborative efforts with makeup artists and industry professionals, ensuring its products meet the highest quality and performance standards.
15. Avon
- Product Type: Beauty and skincare products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1886
- Founders: David H. McConnell
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Angela Cretu
With a strong presence in the direct sales industry, Avon offers a diverse range of beauty, skincare, and personal care products for women. Avon’s direct selling model allows representatives to connect with customers and provide personalized beauty recommendations. Avon’s commitment to empowering women and philanthropic efforts have contributed to its brand identity and customer and loyalty program.
16. Oriflame
- Product Type: Beauty and skincare products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1967
- Founders: Jonas af Jochnick, Robert af Jochnick
- Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Magnus Brännström
Oriflame is a multinational beauty company that operates through a network of independent consultants. It offers its retailers a wide range of beauty products, including skincare, makeup, fragrance, and wellness items. Oriflame’s direct selling approach allows consultants to build meaningful customer relationships while providing personalized beauty advice. Oriflame has established a strong presence in the beauty market by offering diverse products and empowering individuals through entrepreneurship and digital marketing.
17. Purplle
- Product Type: Beauty and skincare products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 2011
- Founders: Manish Taneja, Rahul Dash
- Headquarters: Mumbai, India
- Area Served: India
- Current CEO: Manish Taneja
Purplle is an online beauty platform that offers a curated selection of skincare, makeup, haircare, and personal care products. It provides customers a seamless online shopping experience, featuring product recommendations, customer reviews, and beauty tutorials. Purplle’s focus on affordability and accessibility has made it a popular choice for customers looking for a wide range of beauty and hair care products at competitive prices.
18. Marionnaud
- Product Type: Beauty and skincare products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1984
- Founders: Bernard Marionnaud
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Area Served: Europe
- Current CEO: Richard Girardot
Marionnaud is a leading European beauty retailer, offering an extensive selection of skincare, makeup, fragrances, and beauty accessories. With a focus on luxury and premium brands, Marionnaud caters to customers seeking high-end beauty products. Its physical stores and online platforms provide customers expert advice and beauty services, creating an all-encompassing beauty shopping experience.
19. Notino
- Product Type: Beauty and skincare products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 2004
- Founders: Michal Zamec
- Headquarters: Brno, Czech Republic
- Area Served: Europe
- Current CEO: Michal Zamec
Notino, previously known as BeautySpin, is an online beauty retailer that offers a diverse range of skincare, makeup, haircare, and fragrance products. It provides customers with a wide selection of brands and product options at competitive prices. Notino’s efficient online platform and customer service commitment contribute to its beauty market success.
20. Beauty Brands
- Product Type: Beauty and skincare products
- Industry: Retail
- Founded Date: 1995
- Founders: Bob Bernstein
- Headquarters: Kansas City, United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: Caryn Lerner
Beauty Brands is a beauty retailer that offers a comprehensive range of beauty products across the country in various categories, including skincare, makeup, haircare, and fragrance. With an emphasis on professional-quality products and an array of salon services, Beauty Brands caters to customers who desire a complete beauty experience. Its physical stores and online platform provide customers easy access to a wide range of beauty brands and expertise.
These were all the competitors of Sephora. If you know any other competitors, please write in the comments below.
Liked this post? Check out the complete series on Competitors