I think Ulta’s system is quite good–lots of opportunities for point multiplier events and good conversion rate of points to $X off purchases. I would like to see things like free expedited shipping for higher spending tiers.
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
Personally I prefer a “reward” or frequent shopper program where I will be rewarded with a cash option similar to the one I have at my favorite dept store. After spend so much I get $25 dollars to spend there
free shipping or expedited isn’t that important to me would sooner have points accumulated to $$
I love the Shoppers Drug Mart program. With any purchase, you get Optimum points but every few weeks (or more), they have 20X the points events and that’s when I really rack up my points, often purchasing every day items – bandaids, vitamins, toothpaste, etc. On Thursdays, as I’ve mentioned before, they have 20% off for “seniors” (and basically anyone who looks like they might be considered over 40 or 50 can get it; others, like my daughter, can get me to make the purchases for them). The combination of the 2 programs means I can get high end cosmetics for very little. I wish Sephora has more 20% off events (they’d more than earn their profits back) or that the SDM stores near me carried Chanel, Dior, Urban Decay, Darphin, etc. (some stores do but none anywhere near me).
You can always order the higher end brands from their website beautyboutique.ca. It’s nice being about to redeem almost $200 in free chanel product 🙂
It’s a Canadian one and it’s changing somewhat this year, but Shoppers Drug Matt’s Optimum program is great. Points can be rewarded for merchandise, lots of bonus opportunities both through proud t purchases and total spend, and they have a good selection of beauty products from basic to prestige.
Kate, while I still don’t quite understand the changes, the cosmetics gals at my 2 regular SDMs have assured me that nothing much will change (I was honestly concerned about my husband using the points to shop at the grocery store since we also have Presidents Choice Mastercards and those are what we use for groceries at our local Loblaws affiliate; I don’t think this will actually happen and the points are kept separate).
Combine Ulta and Sephora’s rewards because most of the time I would rather have the $$ off but some of Sephora’s weekly specials and point perks are really good. I’ve been able to test a lot of things to find out what works for me and what doesn’t without purchasing full size. Also I love Ulta’s regular $3.50 off $15 coupons and Sephora’s Flash shipping.
I like Urban Decay’s early access and last chance notifications for beauty junkies members and also their full size birthday gifts. Though getting to pick from a selection of 2-4 birthday gift options would be nice, with choices of single full size items or kits with 4-5 deluxe minis (like a Sephora 500pt perk).
I really like MAC and Lush’s program where you can return certain empties for free product, I wish more brands did that.
I also wish more brands did in-store events for customers, like when I worked at a jewelry store we had after hours VIP events 5 times per year where we had food, drinks, gift bags and/or raffles, and various other activities (like for ladies night we had 15 minute mini massages and had the ladies fill out wishlists that we then printed on postcards and sent to their s/o’s). Some of them were put on solely by us and some were sponsored by our big brands.
Of the programs that I am aware of and take part in, I prefer Ulta’s reward program. I really don’t like Sephora’s program at all. It is practically useless for me. I can only redeem points to get sample or deluxe samples of products I don’t really want in the first place. My purchases have switched to Ulta for anything I can get there rather than Sephora. My only real complaint at Ulta is that for in store purchases, unless you ask for the discount, gift with purchase, or show a coupon code they will not automatically give it to you. At least that is how it is at my local Ulta (by local I mean 3 hours away!). If there are gifts with purchase they run out very quickly and I think over all the years I have probably received 4-5 of the gifts with purchase. I do like free shipping and would like to see that perk upgraded. I live in the back of beyond so free shipping really is a perk for me.
I think I would rather a cashback option – like either Ebates, the Plenti program at Macy’s or Nordstrom Notes. Out of those, I think I like the Plenti system the best because any money you spend, the points are immediately available for your very next purchase (at other retailers as well).
Getting a gift card after spending a certain threshold is nice but often the threshold is very high and there is a waiting period until you can access those funds.
The VIB Rouge program at Sephora doesn’t really seem all that effective to me – the products I was intrested in buying for this year’s big sale were not available during the Rouge window but were available after the window closed, and Rouges couldn’t use their 20%off during the VIB window! What’s the point of spending all that money if I don’t get access as promised? Also their 2-day Flash shipping has turned out to be about 4-6 days lately, not to mention customer service seems to have taken a nosedive in the last year. I have Rouge status until the end of this year but I do not plan on renewing – there are only 2 or 3 brands that I buy from Sephora anymore and I can’t imagine reaching that threshold again, nor am I intrested in any of the ‘benefits’ anymore.
Rewards programs are great, but customer service to me counts for more. Beauty Bay, for example, has terrible service and won’t resolve issues if they occur, so I wouldn’t care even if they did have rewards. Beautylish on the other hand have excellent customer service and will resolve any issues immediately no questions asked – so even though they don’t have rewards I would prefer to buy from them. They also throw in ad hoc upgrades to shipping or give discounts occasionally if they recommend something so you get your value that way. A great company who cares about their customers is where I want to spend my money!
I agree! I love Ulta’s program, however, I wish they had something like Sephora with some type of program add-on where you could have free two-day shipping! There is so much that I buy from Ulta, but I hate having to spend $50 for free shipping! I mean, I sure spend enough money in a year there, I think that should count for something! Haha!
Have you guys seen the Ulta Diamond Status? Gotta say, I’ve been Platinum since 2015, but, $1200 to reach Diamond Status, with free shipping over $25 dollars, $25 off a Beauty service and 1.5, instead of 1.25 with Platinum…I think it’s silly.
At Sephora, once you spend $1000 you are Rouge. I get frustrated with Sephora when they don’t bother to put ANY samples, even though I have chosen samples, In the order. I don’t mind substitutions because I know things go out of stock sometimes. Sorry for the mini rant.
I think you nailed it perfectly, Christine: $’s back towards future purchases as opposed to points towards some deluxe sample would be far more appealing!
And a resounding “YES” to free expedited shipping for all higher tiers with NO minimum amount spent! It would be wonderful to see Sephora convert over to the fabulous incentive program that Ulta uses!
Agree with you both.
I don’t really care either way. If a retailer offers any type of reward, I just see that as a bonus to what I would buy anyway. I’d rather retailers focus on keeping items on the shelves in B&M stores, as I don’t care for online shopping for a litany of reasons. In regard to free shipping thresholds, I don’t really mind; when I do order online, I try my best to wait and do a larger haul, anyway-there is just so much waste when retailers use a huge box, stuffed with packing materials, just for a tube of gloss… If retailers just made items available in stores, it would cut down on all the waste. Although I do like the idea of points =money, I will still buy from Sephora (or Macy’s) if I can’t find something at ULTA.
I have never found the Sephora program very enticing. Much of my spending there is with gift cards I purchase with reward points from one of my credit cards. I wish Ulta would have a similar arrangement with a credit card company. Free shipping at higher Ulta tiers would be wonderful but even a 2 day flash shipping program like Sephora has would be a great upgrade for Ulta.
I like Ulta’s, although I wish they’d offer free shipping. They are going to start, but you have to spend $1200 and be at their new “Diamond Level.” I like Sephora’s Flash Shipping. I like Sephora’s birthday rewards better, too. Sephora: A few choices, all are available throughout the year. Ulta: One item; changes every three months with no rhyme or reason; often they’re just deluxe samples of crap you could get on your own any time of the year. So the elements I like from both of these.
I like how e.l.f’s program gives you different coupon codes you can buy with your points: Free shipping, a free item, give $5 off to a friend, etc. So you get several perks and you can choose when to use them.
No expiring points/reward dollars would be ideal. I hate the most programs’ lowest level or two don’t let points carry over. I understand why, but it sucks for customers.
Rachel R. I completely agree with you!!
Perhaps points to buy minis of what we want to try. Most times we exchange points for tthings that are there not what we really want…
Anything is better than we have going here in Aus. Our major beauty retailer Priceline has just revamped their rewards scheme and I hope it’s better than the last one they had going. However Priceline just really offers the general DS brands for cosmetics and a few upmarket skincare brands and that’s it.
I am not sure about Mecca Cosmetica and Sephora Aus. – as both retailers are pretty expensive. If you want Tarte, Too Faced, UD, Nars etc. you have go here and they don’t have all the products, just a select few……
They certainly don’t have the sales here that you seem to have in the US.
I do like one that offers generous rewards for you to spend on whatever you like – even if the product is on sale.
I like Ulta. Lots of extra point opportunities and cash equivalent. I choose what my points go towards. I don’t buy from Sephora any longer unless the item isn’t sold elsewhere.
Rachel R. I completely agree with you!!
Donya,
I also like Ulta. I do have a few things I like from Sephora. I think Ulta kind of blew it with the Diamond Status. $1200 a year spending..it’s more than Sephora, and, the “Perks” are ovwer$25 free shipping. 1.5 points VS 1.25, and a $25 off of services. I do think Sephora has a better birthday gift program.
I do agree the spending for diamond is high but depending on where you sit, things look different at Sephora . I am a January birthday and last yr, it was something lame or a dark matte lip color (nars I think) i took the lip kit and gave away. At 53, that won’t ever work for me. Just looked for this month and it is another dark matte lip, some acne skin thing and shampoo I won’t use. For me, it isn’t worth even bothering to go out of my way. 🙁 I just dropped their Play box for similar reasons
Last month, Ulta gave a 20% off hair tool including Dyson, concurrent with 5x points. With the coupon and points, I had enough points for $125 in free product which I was getting anyway. (hello I fill my own stocking at Xmas!) this got me that dryer for $194. With a gift card I earned at work, I paid $76 for the whole thing.
If diamond status takes away from platinum in that we get less extra points offers, I may change my mind.
I still like and go to Sephora but if I find something I like and it is at Ulta, I get it there. All extras are appreciated but for this question, I still like Ulta.
I like a program where you accumulate points and points translate to money off purchase. I don’t participate in most programs. Just Sephora, MAC , Walgreens and Ulta. As for beauty, Ulta is probably the best bc you can rack up points fairly quick and get money off. At Christmas, that comes in handy! I got the Jaclyn Hill Morphe palette plus 3 brushes and only paid $3! Walgreens gives money off too and I have often redeemed up to $20 off my purchase. However, Ulta needs much improvement. In comparison to Sephora, they often do not keep their gifts in stock. A lot of time they run out and if they give you something, it’s a poor substitute. For example, the birthday gift. For the last 3 years, I’ve either got nothing bc they ran out or something junky from their crappy Ulta line. Yes, it’s just a free gift and I shouldn’t complain but you spend A LOT to be a platinum member so you should get ALL the perks and not be short changed but I will say if you DM Ulta, they are usually understanding and they compensate.
I like MAC too bc on your anniversary date, they give you a free full size product and being a higher tier gives perks like a free makeover. I still have to use mine? And they have their back to MAC program where you can recycle empty products for a free lipstick!
I too like Ulta’s system. I don’t really care about the free or expedited shipping because it’s already free over &50 (easy to reach) and the regular shipping is pretty quick (2-5 days normally).
While I understand that most retailers have NO rewards program, or a pretty damn pathetic one (I am lookin’ at you Sephora!), Ulta’s was pretty decent for Platinum. However the new Diamond Tier rewards are fairly insulting, in my opinion, given the $750 increase in spending in order to receive them compared to Platinum. I also feel like the fact that people who met that spending threshold in 2017 and weren’t grandfathered into it were just given the finger. Requiring a significant spending increase to get those “perks” which still don’t provide free shipping on all orders and instead a minimum of $25 spend–and even then, basic shipping, not even expedited shipping–and not a significant increase in points multiplier (only a .25x increase over platinum), a gift card of $25 to their salon (which is NOT an incentive to me whatsoever, maybe to someone else it might be)…. Those need to be seriously re-evaluated for that significant spend increase.
If I had any input on the Ulta changes whatsoever, I would have:
–made Diamond a $1000 spend and grandfathered everyone in from this year (to directly compete with Sephora)
–2x points on all orders with more multipliers than Platinum
–free expedited shipping of overnight or 2 day on all orders (to directly compete or exceed Sephora)
–a monthly 20% off code, with a 25% off everything code on your Ulta-versary
–a birthday gift certificate of $25 to use however they choose (Salon or on Merch, not just Salon.)
–up to 3 deluxe samples of your choice available with all orders
–The 10x points day would be 15 or 20x points day for the Diamond members.
If they want to truly blow Sephora out of the water, they need to bring their A game. This Diamond tier as they have it now is some seriously insulting fuckery, in my opinion.
I agree that the Diamond tier rewards are a bit disappointing. However, many people are arguing that the Diamond tier is meant to be a true Ulta loyalty program as a whole – it’s meant for the people who not only purchase products, but also utilize their salon, skin, and nail bar services. A $1,200 spend seems crazy, sure… if you’re only buying products. But not if you’re using their other services even semi-regularly. That’s why a $25 off coupon for the Salon is a perk – if you’re only buying products though, it’s obviously not going to appeal to you. Frankly, it doesn’t appeal to me either because I don’t use them.
And unfortunately, because Ulta offers a wider selection of inexpensive products than Sephora does, having unlimited free 2-day shipping with no minimums would literally put Ulta in the ground as a business. You’re hard-pressed to find anything under $12 in Sephora (unless it’s a small item or it’s on clearance), and most of the regularly priced items they carry are well over $20, so they can more easily eat the cost of expedited shipping and no minimums – basically anything you buy would still give them a profit, shipped and all. But Ulta stocks a TON of cheap drugstore products, and a bunch of people only buying a $2 tube of lip balm in a purchase because “oops, forgot to add it to my last order” or “need it now” and having that shipped express would be very costly for them. They need that $25 minimum to stay afloat.
I do agree they could’ve upped the everyday point multiplier to 2X, though. And I do think they need to up their game with the birthday gifts in general. I got a full-sized UD eyeshadow for my birthday in 2016 which was awesome, but then in 2017 I got totally screwed over because they ran out of the NYX palette. They tried to sub a crappy 7-day sample of Clinique foundation and a deluxe sample of a Clinique mascara – I didn’t even bother redeeming because Clinique foundations never match me and I have so many mini mascaras.
I prefer programs like what Rite Aid offers you can redeem your points on your next purchase I usually do cause I don’t buy that much there or can wait and gather more points. Simple!
About Nyx, I’m not liking how they handle their ‘free’ gifts when ordering on website. In the store they let you choose something but on the website they did not include it last time I ordered I had to remind them and you cannot choose anyways. It was their black beauty sponge. I placed yet another order and when I asked them about the free gift as they claim, I received an email that I had no more gifts for the year. I wrote to them and they said because I did not purchase something else before some due date that was before New Years. So I’m asking them why can you just email the gift separate them? After spending $75.00 and nothing?! Come on. Also a gift is a gift to me it means free. You’ve earned it but they expect you to keep buying more junk. I’ve told them I don’t need to purchase a thing at the present just send the darn gift you promised. They should stated as gift with purchase not as bait to keep buying even a minimal thing that’s not a gift and I see it as lacking honesty. Goodbye Nyx! Give me a break! Seriously? ?