How to save money at Ulta Beauty

How to save money at Ulta Beauty.

I never pay full price at Ulta. I keep track of my inventory of items and when I start running low I look for a way to not pay full price. Generally I stock up on items during the bi-annual sales but sometimes they don’t offer my product(s) so I look for other sales all year or coupons. Here are all the ways to save money at Ulta.

Join the Ulta Rewards program (It’s free)

Members of Ulta Rewards earn points for every dollar spent depending on your level of membership. The basic level “Membership” offers 1 point per dollar. You can redeem points as follows: 100 points/$3, 250 points $8 and so on. With a basic membership your points will expire at the end of the quarter one year after the date they were earned. To reach Platinum status you must spend $500 and Diamond $1200 per year. These higher levels offer additional benefits such as 1.25-1.50 points earned per dollar spent. More info here Terms and conditions

Sign up for the Birthday reward

When you set up your account provide your birthday info. During your birthday month you earn double points on all purchases. So instead of spending $100 to get a $3 reward you only have to spend $50; spend $125 for $8 etc. Some people make their birthday month March or September to coincide with one of the bi-annual sales.

You also get a free gift on your birthday. Platinum or Diamond members get an extra birthday gift. You don’t have to buy anything to redeem. I just walk in and show them my coupon on my phone. There are usually a couple options and I always take the hair care treatment worth probably $5. You can also use the birthday coupon online.

Opt-in to receive email

You will receive coupons periodically for say $5 off $10+ purchase, discount codes for free shipping, bonus point offers, free product samples offers and sale alerts. When I get one of these coupons ($5 off $10) I use it in-store because shipping is only free for purchases of $50+. Lately, I suspect due to covid, free shipping has been $35+. You can order online and pick up in-store if the item is in stock. These $5 off $10 coupons aren’t accepted for items such as perfume, prestige brands, etc. Exclusions Two or three times a year Ulta will send out a 20% off prestige brands coupon so that’s a good time to stock up on those items if you never find them on sale.

Look for coupons online or in-app

Ulta always has a $3.50 off $15 purchase coupon on it’s website that can be used online or in-store. This coupon can’t be used during the sales and aren’t accepted for items such as perfume, prestige brands, etc. Exclusions You can find a link to coupons at “Sale & Coupons” on the home page.

Wednesday Beauty Break

Every Wednesday from 10AM-2PM CST, Ulta has a special online-only sale. It’s usually more expensive products that I don’t use.

Look for Buy More, Save More deals

Ulta has sales constantly on various products. You can find these items on “Sale and Coupons” link on the home page. Items can be BOGO or BOGO 30-40% off.

Bi-annual 21 Days of Beauty sales in March and September

Ulta has two sales annually where many products are up to 50% off. Each day during the sale specific items go on sale for 24 hours or while supplies last. The list of sale items and dates they are on sale is available in advance. There are also 30% off Hot Buys for a week during the sale.

In March, 2021 I stockpiled some Skyn Iceland products. I did notice that they restricted the quantities more than they have in prior years but I still got enough of what I needed for half off! Last year I stocked up on Klorane dry shampoo for 50% off. Because these are “While supplies last” deal I make my purchase at midnight on the day of the sale. So I’m done within 5 minutes of when the sale starts. They definitely run out!

Love Your Skin Event January

This Daily Deal 21 day sale that takes place in January offering up to 50% off on skincare items including high end brands.

Spring Haul Going on now April 9-17, 2021

This sale is on now. Make up, sun and skincare, bath and hair care products are 30$-50% off.

Bi-annual Jumbo Love Hair Sale June/July and December

This is a bi-annual sale, usually in summer and winter, where they sell one liter bottles drugstore and prestige brand shampoo and condition for up to 50% off.

Summer Sale around July 4

This sale takes place around and including July 4. Save up to 50% on summer skincare, makeup and hair care. Items are sold as under $10, $20 or $30.

Fall Haul event September

Save up to 50% on skincare, makeup and hair care. Items are sold as under $10, $20 or $30.

Gorgeous Hair Event October

The Ulta Beauty Gorgeous Hair Event is usually in May and October. It’s a 21-day event with mostly prestige brand hair products are up to 50% off for one day only. Some items are available online only.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals November

If I’m running low on something I couldn’t find at a 21 Days of Beauty sale I check both these sales. I once found Skyn Iceland products 50% off. Rumor has it that the items on sale in-store and online are the same so I’ve never shopped in-store on Black Friday. At this time they also offer 5 for $5 stocking stuffers that are 60% off.

Check for freebies

Click on Sales and Coupons on the home page and then click on the “Gift with purchase” tab. When you see a freebie you would like click on it and it will take you to the items you need to purchase to be eligible for the freebie.

Clearance rack

All Ulta’s have a clearance rack, I’ve bought some hair treatments there for next to nothing. I always check it as I do in all stores that have them!

Ulta sells drugstore brands

They sell drugstore product lines such as Boots No. 7 and Cetaphil. Their regular prices are not cheaper than Walgreens, CVS or Target. You’re much better off waiting for a sale at those stores. However if you run out of something and there is no sale at the drugstore you can use a $3.50 off $15.00 coupon at Ulta (see above) in an emergency and get a discount. It’s best to just not run out.

Stockpile points for expensive purchases

If you’re a big spender ($500 or more a year) your points don’t expire so you can stockpile them to purchase something that rarely goes on sale.

Shop through the Ibotta app and get 2% off Don’t do this

You can make an Ulta purchase through the Ibotta app. I have never done this because you won’t get the 2% cashback if you use a coupon.The coupon is almost always worth more than the 2% cash back.

Use an Ulta gift card that you purchased with a credit card that offers bonus points

Ulta gift cards are sold at grocery stores and drugstores. If you have a credit card that offers cash back at either of these type of retailers buy a gift card there and then make your Ulta purchase.

Use an Ulta gift card that you got a deal on

Sometimes Jewel will offer deals on third party gift cards. Recently if you purchased a $50 Happy Beauty gift card you earned points worth $5 in groceries (plus cash back if you used a grocery rewards credit card).

Never pay for shipping

Platinum and Diamond members get coupons from time-to-time for free shipping and Diamond get free shipping on orders of $25+. The rest of us mere mortals get free shipping on purchases of $50+. Lately, I suspect due to covid, free shipping has been $35+. In regular times they will have short periods of free shipping for orders of $35+. Still if your cart is at $32 or $47 and you don’t want to schlep to the store to pick up then look for sale items to top up your order. Standard shipping is usually $5.95.

Go to “Sales and Coupon” then filter. I choose Ulta products. They always have something I can use for 50% off that I can add to avoid shipping.

Summary

Sign up for rewards and opt-in to receive emails. Enter your birth date when signing up.
Check your email for coupons, offers and sales.
Shop the sales all year.
Look for coupons and sale items on Ulta’s website.
Don’t pay for shipping.
Purchase with a discount gift card.
Enjoy your savings!