Sephora began in Limoges, France, in 1969 under Dominique Mandonnaud.
The original business was a perfume shop, and Mandonnaud later developed a self-service format that allowed customers to browse and test products more freely. That approach contrasted with traditional cosmetics counters, where shoppers generally waited for a sales assistant to retrieve merchandise.
The company took the Sephora name in 1993, combining the Greek name Zipporah with the biblical name Sephora. LVMH acquired the French chain in 1997, giving it resources for international expansion. Sephora subsequently opened stores in many countries and expanded its online business.
Sephora is often confused with Marionnaud and Nocibé because all are major French beauty retailers. They are separate chains. Sephora’s black-and-white stores and open product displays became particularly associated with its modern retail concept.