Sephora’s Very Important Beauty Insider (VIB) program is a loyalty program that rewards frequent Sephora shoppers with exclusive perks and benefits. One of the most commonly asked questions about the VIB program is whether VIB status resets every year or not.
In short, VIB status does not reset annually. Once you reach VIB status, you keep that status year after year as long as you continue to be an active Beauty Insider member and shop at Sephora. Your VIB benefits and discount remain constant and do not need to be reearned each year.
However, your annual spending does reset at the beginning of each year. This means you have to spend the required amount again within that new calendar year to reach VIB Rouge status. VIB Rouge status is the highest tier in the Beauty Insider program.
Below we’ll take a detailed look at how the Sephora VIB program works, the different status tiers, and what you need to do to maintain your status and benefits.
Sephora’s Beauty Insider Program
Sephora’s Beauty Insider program is free to join and open to anyone. There are three different tiers in the rewards program:
- Beauty Insider (free)
- Very Important Beauty Insider (VIB)
- Rouge VIB
Higher tiers provide more rewards and perks. Let’s look at each status level and the requirements:
Beauty Insider
The basic free tier is Beauty Insider. Anyone can sign up to become a Beauty Insider on the Sephora website or app. Benefits of basic Beauty Insider status include:
- Earning 1 point per $1 spent
- Redeeming points for deluxe samples and mini products
- Free birthday gift
- Access to exclusive Beauty Insider sales events
VIB
To reach VIB status, you need to spend $350 in a calendar year. Benefits include:
- Earning 1.25 points per $1 spent
- Free shipping with no minimum purchase
- Free gifts and advanced access to sales
- Invites to VIB-only events
Rouge VIB
For Rouge VIB status, you need to spend $1,000 in a calendar year. Perks include:
- Earning 1.5 points per $1 spent
- Free shipping and free returns
- Access to the Rouge Reward hotline
- VIB Rouge exclusive gifts and experiences
Do You Have to Requalify for VIB Status Each Year?
The short answer is no, you do not need to requalify for VIB status once earned. VIB status remains constant from year to year. However, annual spending does reset.
This means that if you qualified for VIB by spending $350 in 2021, you will remain at VIB status in 2022 and beyond without needing to respend $350. You keep the 1.25 points earning rate and VIB benefits.
However, to reach Rouge VIB status by spending $1,000 in a calendar year, this spending requirement does start over each new year. You would need to spend another $1,000 in 2022 to achieve Rouge status again.
Example of How VIB Status Works
Here is an example to demonstrate how VIB status carries over:
- In 2021, you spent $400 at Sephora and reached VIB status for the first time.
- In 2022, you only spend $200 at Sephora.
- In 2023, you spend $400 again.
In this example, you would remain at VIB status for 2021, 2022, and 2023. Your lower spending in 2022 does not affect your status. You keep your VIB perks each year without needing to requalify by spending $350 annually.
Do Points Reset Each Year?
Yes, Beauty Insider points do expire and reset at the end of each calendar year. However, there are a few things to know about points:
- Points earned in one year can be redeemed at any time, even in future years, until they expire after 12 months.
- Any points earned during a calendar year remain valid for 12 months from the date earned.
- Points do not need to be redeemed within the same calendar year they were earned.
For example, if you earn points in October 2022, those points would expire in October 2023. The points expiry is based on the specific date earned, not the calendar year end.
Tips to Maintain VIB Status
While you don’t need to respend $350 each year to keep VIB status, you will want to remain an active Beauty Insider member to avoid losing your status and benefits. Here are some tips to maintain your VIB status:
Make At Least One Purchase Per Year
Stay engaged with the Beauty Insider program by making at least one purchase per calendar year, no matter how small. This shows you are still an active member.
Link Your Purchases to Your Beauty Insider Account
Make sure to give your phone number or Beauty Insider number at checkout every time you shop. This links your purchase history to your account so your spending is properly tracked.
Take Advantage of Bonus Point Events
Occasional promotions will allow you to earn triple or 10x points on certain purchases. Use these opportunities to rack up points faster.
Redeem Your Points Before They Expire
Don’t let your hard-earned points go to waste. Make sure to use them within 12 months so they don’t disappear.
Give Feedback on Purchases
You can earn points by reviewing products you purchased. Give feedback regularly to gain extra points.
Can You Lose VIB Status?
Yes, it is possible to lose your VIB status if you become completely inactive as a Beauty Insider member. According to Sephora’s Terms of Use, if your account remains inactive for 18 consecutive months, your VIB status will be revoked.
Inactive means you made zero purchases and earned zero points for that 18 month timeframe. As long as you make a small purchase or earn any points at least once per 18 months, you won’t lose your status.
Pros and Cons of Sephora’s VIB Program
Here is a quick overview of some of the key pros and cons of Sephora’s VIB program:
Pros
- Rewards frequent shoppers with free products and discounts
- Easy to qualify for VIB status
- VIB perks are constant and don’t need to be reearned
- Exclusive access to sales and gifts
Cons
- Points expiration is restrictive
- No notification before points expire
- Rewards are mostly lower-end samples
- Rouge spending requirement is high for average shoppers
How Sephora’s Program Compares to Others
Sephora’s VIB program offers some nice rewards, but how does it compare to competitor programs? Here is an overview:
| Program | Key Perks | Earning Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Sephora VIB | Free shipping, free gifts | 1-1.5 points per $1 |
| Ulta Ultamate Rewards | Free birthday gift, free shipping | 1-3 points per $1 |
| Nordstrom The Club | Exclusive access to events | 1-3 points per $1 |
| Macys Star Rewards | Special VIP savings | 5-20% back in rewards |
Compared to other major retail rewards programs, Sephora offers a solid mid-tier program. While Ulta and Nordstrom offer faster points earning, Sephora provides nice perks and gifts.
Conclusion
The key takeaways about Sephora’s VIB program are:
- VIB status does not reset every year – once earned, you keep VIB perks.
- You need to spend $350 in one calendar year to qualify for VIB.
- VIB status stays active unless your account is inactive for 18 consecutive months.
- Make a small purchase or earn points once per year to keep VIB status.
- Beauty Insider points expire one year from the date earned.
- Sephora offers a solid rewards program compared to competitors.
With its attractive free gifts and member-only offerings, the Sephora VIB program is a rewarding loyalty program for beauty shoppers. Maintaining VIB status is easy with just a small annual purchase or point redemption needed. The ability to keep VIB benefits year after year makes it worthwhile to achieve this status tier.