Best Credit Card for Sephora in 2026
Sephora is classified under MCC 5977 (Cosmetic Stores). The best card for Sephora purchases is the Active Cash (no annual fee), earning 2x on cosmetic stores — an effective return of 2.00%.
Cosmetic stores like Sephora offer a world of beauty products and often provide great rewards if you use the right credit card. Cards in the travel or cash back category usually cover this MCC well.
To maximize your rewards, consider cards that offer higher than usual rates for beauty and personal care purchases at stores like Sephora.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 per month at Sephora, using a flat-rate 2% cash-back card will earn you $4 monthly ($48 yearly), compared to just $2 monthly ($24 yearly) with a basic 1% card.
Sephora purchases are classified under MCC 5977 (Cosmetic Stores).
MCC Details for Sephora
Best Credit Cards for Sephora (2026)
How Sephora Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Sephora at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5977 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a cosmetic stores merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "cosmetic stores" purchases, Sephora transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Sephora specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Sephora transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5977 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Sephora
About MCC 5977: Cosmetic Stores
Merchant Category Code 5977 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Cosmetic Stores industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5977, all qualifying card programs that include cosmetic stores as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Retail industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Cosmetic Stores merchants: Bath & Body Works, MAC Cosmetics, Sally Beauty.
What You Could Earn at Sephora
Spending $200/month at Sephora with the Active Cash (2x on cosmetic stores) earns approximately $48/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $24 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Signify Business Cash earns 2x at Sephora merchants, earning $48/year with no annual fee.