The Sephora story
Sephora's story begins in 1969, when Dominique Mandonnaud opened a perfume store in Limoges, France. He introduced open-sell, letting shoppers pick up and try products without asking a sales assistant. He bought the Sephora name in 1993, and LVMH acquired the business in 1997. Sephora then expanded to the United States and around the world.
What makes Sephora powerful
Sephora redefined beauty retail. Its black-and-white stores, wide brand selection and free testing put the customer in charge. Its loyalty programme has tens of millions of members, and its own label, Sephora Collection, sits alongside prestige and emerging brands. A launch at Sephora can turn a young brand into a global name.
Sephora today
Sephora is part of LVMH's selective retailing division and is led by Guillaume Motte. It operates stores in many countries, together with its online channels. The brand uses its Clean at Sephora and Planet Aware labels to help customers find products that meet set standards.
What comes next for Sephora
Sephora's road ahead is to keep its stores exciting as more beauty shopping moves online and to stay the place where new brands break through.
Why Sephora ranks #14
Sephora ranks #31 in WCRC's World's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026 with a Power Score of 77.52.
Europe's ranking carries the same score, which places Sephora at #14 among brands of core European origin.
Pillar profile
Sephora was assessed on all five pillars and 50 parameters in the World's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026. See its full global profile.
Versus its nearest rivals
5 Beauty & Personal Care brands are in the Europe 100. Sephora is #2 in its sector.
Questions people ask
What rank is Sephora in WCRC's Europe's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026?
Sephora ranks #14 of 100 in Europe's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026, with a WCRC Power Score of 77.52 out of 100. It also ranks #31 in WCRC's World's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026.
When was Sephora founded and who founded it?
Sephora was founded in 1969. Founder(s): Dominique Mandonnaud.
Who leads Sephora today?
Guillaume Motte, President and CEO of Sephora. The brand is owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
Where is Sephora headquartered?
Sephora is based in Paris, France. Its country of origin is France.
What is Sephora's revenue?
€80.8bn LVMH group revenue (FY2025), according to the company's published results.
What is a signature fact about Sephora?
Sephora pioneered open-sell beauty retail, letting customers test products freely instead of asking at a counter.
Key facts
| Brand | Sephora |
|---|---|
| Company / owner | LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder(s) | Dominique Mandonnaud |
| Leadership | Guillaume Motte, President and CEO of Sephora |
| Latest revenue | €80.8bn LVMH group revenue (FY2025) Source |
| Sector | Beauty & Personal Care |
| Country of origin | France |
| Signature fact | Sephora pioneered open-sell beauty retail, letting customers test products freely instead of asking at a counter. |
| Official website | sephora.com |
Sephora is ranked #14 in WCRC's Europe's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026 (Power Score 77.52).