2014 Sephora VIB Welcome Kit Unveiled

Sephora VIB Welcome Kit!

Hidy ho! One of my most visited posts was reviewing the VIB welcome kit in 2012. That must mean y'all like to learn about it! I just re-qualified last week while at a JCP Sephora. I'm excited to learn that dollars spent at JCP now qualify towards VIB status. (They didn't used to.)

{In case you're dying to know - in order to qualify, I snatched Ole Henriksen's Sheer Transformation and Bare Minerals' Exfoliating Powder Cleanser while getting a makeover for a wedding. I started my #100DaysofEmpties challenge over on my IG with the Sheer Transformation review. Check it out!}

First obvious difference from 2012 - no physical kit*. (With a janky mirror that won't open). It's all e-mail and coupon codes now. Not bad - less waste, and you don't have to keep track of little paper rectangles. Just show the email in the store. At the bottom of the email there are directions for Sephora associates on how to process the coupons.

*Note - I am a) requalifying, not a new VIB and b) I was not in a free standing store. So, there may be a card given to new VIBs or folks who re-qualify or newly qualify in a free standing location (not JCP).

Note that I didn't get re-qualified for an entire calendar year but until the end of 2015 - 16 whole months! That's nice!

Same as last year - 10% off next order for 30 days and free shipping coupon code for 60 days. I really love the latter, because sometimes you just want something for $25 + 3 free samples (& to maybe use 100 or 500 points for a perk) without having to add stuff in there to get it to $50. Paying for shipping makes me curl up in the corner, weeping; so anything to avoid it is prime. 

The 10% off one - smarter to save for an over $50 order, but do it quick. With the 100 day challenge in play, I may have to spend some (breaking my rules) to not lose the coupons. But if I promise to not use it until I use the equivalent # of empties, will y'all give me permission?? Please?! K. Thanks. :)

Free makeover (normally $50 of product purchased for VIBs, or free for VIB Rouge). And you can put your VIB card on your Passbook on the iPhone for easy scanning at check out.

I've never used this, but there's an 877 number for a free beauty concierge. And after personalizing my VIB account on Sephora.com, it recommends products for me. I've never really bought anything recommended. I already have a hard enough not buying everything other bloggers favorably review. I gotta draw the line somewhere.

Here's the fine print on how to earn points, to re-qualify, etc (in case you were wondering). 

Now if I can just rein it in on my spending and not blow it out with these coupons! #100DaysofEmpties, please help a sister (and her wallet) out.

Hope this helps! What are you most excited about??

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The Sephora VIB Welcome Kit Unveiled

The Sephora VIB Welcome Kit Unveiled

So... I'm a dork, and I love to ask and answer questions over at Sephora's Beauty Talk. I'm currently a "Beauty Buff" which basically means... well, nothing. BUT I like sharing my fave products (surprised?). Anyways, I see a lot of curiosity about the new VIB welcome kit on the forum. I've been VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) for about 3 years and have never had a special card or received a welcome kit.  Until today! I was so stoked I thought I'd share my unveiling with y'all!

P.S. If you've re-qualified recently but didn't get anything, just walk into your nearest Sephora, and they'll give you one. 

To become a VIB member, you must spend $350 per year (um... easy peasy!!). In the past there wasn't a kit or special card, just an increase in emails with coupons and invites to special closed store events (that I never found time for). However, they've definitely improved the specials offered to VIBs first (normally a few days to a week before the normal Beauty Insiders get their emails). 

The new kit includes the following:

• VIB membership rewards card
• 10% off  coupon
• 45 minute makeup session with a Beauty Advisor
• VIB gift - mirror compact
• Free shipping coupon

Reward card on the left and special gift on the right.

The Card:

Open the kit (like a book) and this is in the first fold.

It's plastic, silver and simple. On the back (sorry... I didn't think to take a picture of it) it says:

"OFFERS ARE SENT VIA E-MAIL. CALL 1-877-VIB-ONLY OR GO ONLINE TO VERIFY YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS TODAY."

Then you fold it open one more time, and...

There are 2 cards w/ benefits:

First, we have the classic VIB 10% off your next purchase. You probably can't read what it says before SEPHORA. "*WITHIN 90 DAYS OF V.I.B. QUALIFICATION." 

Promo code to use online is on the back if you don't plan to use it in the store.

Next we have the VIB Private Access 45-Minute Dedicated Makeover Session with an Expert Beauty Advisor*

(And, again, "*Within 90 days of V.I.B. Qualification")

To the right is the "gift." It's a compact mirror. I'm sad to say this was a huge let down. First of all, I don't need another mirror. I have random ones from stores and companies that give them as swag and even an engraved one from a wedding I was in at some point. I never use them. Do you??

To make it worst, I couldn't open it. Seriously. I had to ask my husband to after it messed up the polish on my thumb nail. (And that's probably what did it in - mess up my nails and we're no longer friends).

If I could open it without my husband's assistance I might use it at some point... maybe to look at the back of my hair?

The one good thing about the mirror was when you pulled it out it revealed the last coupon, and my personal favorite:

VIB Free Shipping at Sephora.com

Yeah!!! I love to shop the website for the online exclusive deals and Lorac products they stopped carrying in store, so this is perfect. I can actually spend less than $50 and not feel guilty.

 So, are you close to VIB? Do you have more than 350 points in your Beauty Bank and aren't sure? I wasn't sure recently if I had qualified this year, so I just called the 877 # listed above, and they quickly told me I only had to spend $14 more dollars to qualify. I made sure to rectify that immediately! :)

Other than the benefits mentioned so far, what other benefits have you seen as a VIB member? Share the wealth!

---------8/21/13 note: I just requalified for VIB for another year, and the new kit comes with all that is mentioned above minus the mirror. Guess they learned!---------

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