Don’t Love Your Beauty Products? These 13 Stores Let You Return Used Makeup
Just because the latest product in beauty is a bestseller doesn’t mean it’s best for you—and these retailers totally get it! Check out these popular stores with expansive makeup and skincare selections that actually let you return used beauty products when they’re just not working out for you.
1. Birchbox
- Return Timeframe: 90 days
- With invoice policy: Full original payment refund of the purchase price.
When ordering full-size products from Birchbox, you’ve got three months to determine if something just isn’t working for you. For more details, check out their full return policy.
2. CVS
- Return Timeframe: 60 days
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full original payment refund of the purchase price.
- Without receipt/invoice policy: A refund will be issued as CVS store credit based on the lowest advertised price within the last 60 days.
CVS offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of their beauty products, so if you don’t love it, take it back! For more details, check out their full return policy.
3. Dermstore
- Return Timeframe: 30-60 days
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full original payment refund of the purchase price within 30 days, store credit within 60 days.
The makeup selection on Dermstore is massive, but knowing you’re going to like a specific shade without testing it in person is tough. Good thing you have a month to try it. For more details, check out their full return policy.
4. JCPenney (Sephora)
- Return Timeframe: 60 days
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full refund of the purchase price.
- Without receipt/invoice policy: The cashier can perform a receipt lookup via credit card or Beauty Insider account. Without either, no return can be made.
You can often find tester products inside the Sephora at JCP, but if your purchase isn’t performing as expected long term, take it back within two months. For more details, check out their full return policy.
5. Kohl’s
- Return Timeframe: 30 days
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full refund of the purchase price.
- Without receipt/invoice policy: The cashier can perform a receipt lookup via credit card, but without it, a refund will be issued as Kohl’s Merchandise Credit based on a discounted lowest 13-week sale price of the item.
It looked great in the store, but you quickly realize that plum-colored lip gloss is just not for you. Take it back within 30 days for a hassle-free return. For more details, check out their full return policy.
6. Macy’s
- Return Timeframe: 180 days
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full refund of the purchase price.
- Without receipt/invoice policy: The cashier can perform a receipt lookup via credit card, but without it, a refund will be issued as Macy’s store credit of the lowest price of the item over the last 180 days.
If you discover a forgotten product in the back of your makeup drawer you no longer care for, you have a six-month window to return it at Macy’s. For more details, check out their full return policy.
7. Nordstrom
- Return Timeframe: Anytime
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full refund of the purchase price.
- Without receipt/invoice policy: The cashier can perform a receipt lookup via credit card, but without it, a refund will be issued as Nordstrom gift card of the current price of the item.
Talk about flexibility! At Nordstrom, there’s no return deadline. Their only ask? Take products back if you truly don’t like them, but don’t abuse the return system. For more details, check out their full return policy.
8. Rite Aid
- Return Timeframe: 90 days
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full refund of the purchase price.
- Without receipt/invoice policy: The cashier can perform a receipt lookup via wellness+ card or phone number, but without it, a refund will be issued as a Rite Aid gift card based on the lowest advertised promotion price of the item within the last 45 days.
Rite Aid offers a risk-free beauty buying experience with a generous three-month window on returns. This allows customers to be daring with their makeup choices but safe with their wallet. For more details, check out their full return policy.
9. Sephora
- Return Timeframe: 60/90 days
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full refund of the purchase price within 60 days, store credit for returns within 61-90 days.
- Without receipt/invoice policy: The cashier may perform a receipt lookup via Beauty Insider rewards program for a full refund, but without it, no return accepted.
Saw it, liked it, wanted it, got it…but onlinepletely changed your mind? No worries! Take it back to Sephora, but be sure to have your receipt or Beauty Insider account info for the return. For more details, check out their full return policy.
10. Target
- Return Timeframe: 90/120 days
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full refund of the purchase price within 90 days, up to 120 days if Target RedCard was used on the purchase.
- Without receipt/invoice policy: The cashier can perform a receipt lookup via credit card, but without it, a refund will be issued as Target merchandise return card.
We all know how easy it is to get caught up in adding products to carts at Target, but returning them is also a simple process. Better yet, you have a 90-day return window, plus an extra 30 days if you used your Target RedCard. For more details, check out their full return policy.
11. Ulta
- Return Timeframe: 60 days
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full refund of the purchase price.
- Without receipt/invoice policy: The cashier can perform a receipt lookup via Ultamate Rewards account for a full refund, but without it, a refund will be issued as Ulta store credit based on the lowest selling price within the last 90 days.
Run in and out, only to find you grabbed non-waterproof mascara instead of your favorite water-resistant formula (speaking from experience here)? At Ulta, you can take it back within two months for quick exchange or full refund. For more details, check out their full return policy.
12. Walgreens
- Return Timeframe: 30 days
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full refund of the purchase price.
- Without receipt/invoice policy: A refund will be issued as Walgreens store credit based on the lowest advertised price.
Walgreens has quite the selection on their website (they acquired Beauty.online), so you can send any unloved cosmetics back within 30 days for a full refund. For more details, check out their full return policy.
13. Walmart
- Return Timeframe: 90 days
- With receipt/invoice policy: Full refund of the purchase price.
- Without receipt/invoice policy: A refund will be issued as a Walmart gift card for refund values $25 and up, and you may receive cash as a refund for values under $25.
You can buy pretty much everything at Walmart! Better yet, they accept a majority of opened items for return, including beauty products, within 90 days. For more details, check out their full return policy.
Retailers may be tracking your returns—here’s what you need to know.
