SEPHORA — Local services in Anaheim

The staff at this store got very aggressively stalkerish with me for no reason. I was approached at least 7 or 8 times repeatedly by multiple workers in about a 30 minute timespan, unprompted, for seemingly no reason? At first it was normal and I was asked if I needed help finding anything, to which I said I was interested in browsing the Glossier section. The worker led me to where it was, told me her name, and said to find her if I had any questions. She didn’t bother me again. All good there. However, as I began walking around trying to swatch different foundations across multiple brands to identify whether I have a more neutral or olive undertone, at least 3 or other 4 workers kept repeatedly approaching me and politely (but obviously) pressuring me to either get shade-matched or ask them questions I just didn’t have. I even had one employee somewhat gaslight me about my undertone and tell me I’m neutral instead of olive for some reason, even after explaining how it looked off when I would wear warm neutral shades. My guess is she was desperate to sell the foundation I was sampling because she gushed how that brand in particular was, coincidentally, one of the best they had and how she had worn it herself recently. I had two things in my hand at that point: a concealer and a lash primer. The final straw for me was when yet another worker who had interacted with me once previously ran up to me again with a basket and pressured me to take it with a smile. Keep in mind, I had already been in the store at least 15-20 minutes at this point and was only holding two tiny, compact items. It didn’t make any sense given the situation, and, again, I didn’t approach her or signal in any way I wanted this. I then told her no and put everything I was planning on getting back onto the proper shelves and left. I’ve read reviews about racial profiling, and although my skin isn’t super dark, I’m also not the fairest person out there either and had a noticeable deep/golden tan along my arms from the summer sun. I didn’t notice this treatment being directed toward anybody else, but it got to the point I felt like everybody was intently watching me and thinking I was going to steal something. Because of that, I didn’t feel the need to give them my business. I did nothing weird or off-putting that deserved being constantly followed around, watched, and pressured to either buy products that didn’t match my skin or more than I was originally seeking to get by handing me a basket. I’ve never had this happen at this location before, but now that it has, I don’t feel the...

This evening at around 10pm, I walked into the Sephora store located near Disney, intending to make several high-end purchases. I had planned to pick up items like the Tom Ford Oud Wood, and La Mer’s Crème de la Mer — luxury products that Sephora proudly stocks and advertises. What I encountered, however, was a deeply troubling display of selective attention — or more accurately, blatant neglect.

The store, to its credit, was well-stocked with premium items, offering the vast array of beauty products that Sephora is known for. But for male customers like myself, the experience quickly became a lesson in how a brand can fail to live up to its inclusive promise. Despite visibly searching for assistance and walking through multiple aisles, I was not once acknowledged by the sales staff. I wasn’t just overlooked; I was actively avoided.

This lack of attention wasn’t due to busyness — the store wasn’t crowded at the time. The only interaction came as I was heading for the exit, at which point I was finally noticed, but only to be seen off as I left, still ready to spend hundreds of dollars, but instead, empty-handed.

Sephora prides itself on being a champion of diversity and inclusivity, but this experience sharply contradicted that image. The brand’s messaging about breaking down beauty boundaries and serving all customers rings hollow when certain demographics are subtly — or not so subtly — made to feel unwelcome. This wasn’t just poor customer service; it reflected a deeper issue with the culture at this location, one that suggests male customers are an afterthought.

For a brand that has built its reputation on being a leader in the beauty industry, this encounter raises serious questions about Sephora’s commitment to its values. When male customers are ignored in a well-stocked store simply because they don’t fit the expected mold, it’s hard not to question whether Sephora’s inclusivity is only skin-deep.

Sephora might benefit from reevaluating not just its in-store policies but also the culture that allows this type of exclusionary behavior to thrive, especially when customers are prepared to...

This review is for the Downtown Disney Sephora: I have to start out by saying that the makeup artists here were fantastic. They did an excellent job in making me and my friend look beautiful. They were also friendly and kind. I am giving 4 stars because there was a mixup where Sephora was offering a deal of spending $50 and getting a free makeover. I had spent $50 online and had booked the next available makeover. The problem was with this deal, the purchase had to be the same day as the makeover. This was not completely clear to me given that there was no way of receiving the makeover on the same day as purchase given that there was no appointments on that day. I took my friend to this Sephora and had called the day before to verify that I could still get a free makeover. They told me "yes" that because I had booked it online, as long as I showed them the receipt, I could get a free makeover. We came in, my friend got her makeover and then I was told that it was not free! I told the first manager and she did not show me any validation or understanding of my situation, which only heightened the situation and made me more upset. The 2nd manager, Cynthia, however was much more understanding and accommodating. She validated the situation, my feelings, and more sincerely felt bad about the mix up and the Sephora policy of same day purchase with free makeover. I appreciate Cynthia's understanding, sincerity, and professionalism. Thank you for being willing to listen and help in making the situation better. I also want to thank the makeup artist who did an amazing job on my...