ULTA Logo
star star star star star_half

6.0

Overall Score

Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: August 28th, 2021

ULTA Beauty is a chain of beauty retailer located in the United States. ULTA, through its stores and website, offers a combination of over 20,000 beauty products. This includes makeup products, fragrances, haircare, skincare, bath & body products, and styling tools. ULTA also offers a full-service salon and makeup artist in each store location.

Founded in 1990, ULTA Beauty currently employs more than 19,000 associates at over 125 locations across the United States. Its headquarters is located in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

Top Ranked Companies

thumb_up

The Good

  • Ulta Beauty Makeup Brands
  • Rewards Program
  • Tips and Video Tutorials
  • Customer Service

Ulta Beauty Makeup Brands

ULTA customers can choose from hundreds of brands, including the ULTA Collection. Their featured brands include bareMinerals, Urban Decay, It Cosmetics, Thrive, O.P.I., Dose of Colors, Meaningful Beauty, Skyn, NYX Professional Makeup, and Benefit Cosmetics - though they sell many more brands in addition to these.

This beauty hub supplies almost everything you could possibly need to perfect your routine from basic skincare products to amazonian clay. Obviously, the essential products you can find are: 

  • face primer
  • makeup remover
  • makeup bag
  • brow kit
  • waterproof concealer
  • blush palette
  • makeup brushes

Rewards Program

The ULTAmate Rewards Program is free to all customers. Members earn one point for every dollar they spend and can redeem earned points on skincare, mascara, fragrances, cosmetics, and other ULTA products. By signing up for ULTA emails, customers will be notified of any Ulta Beauty sale as well as receive a free gift from ULTA during the month of their birthday plus earn double points during that month.

ULTA also has a Platinum rewards program, which members have access to once they have spent at least $400.00 in a calendar year. When members are upgraded to Platinum status, they earn points 25% faster and receive an additional birthday gift - plus, their points never expire. Plus, all ULTA customers get free shipping on orders of $50.00 or more.

Tips and Video Tutorials

Online users have access to ULTA's tips, video tutorials, Beauty Buzz, photo galleries, and new product arrivals through the Get Inspired, Beauty Consultation, and Share & Play sections of the site. Mobile users can access all these features and their account information through ULTA's mobile app. These videos allow everyone the chance to learn from professional makeup artists and reinvent their makeup routine. Whether it's perfecting your eye shadow skills or learning how to use a highlighter palette these professionals can do it all.

Customer Service

ULTA also has a Guest Services Center, which features links to information about your online purchase, gift cards, the rewards program, the return policy, and other frequently asked questions. There is also an online form and an 866-number for contacting customer service. ULTA's customer service department is available 6am-12am CST, seven days a week.

thumb_down

The Bad

  • No Free Samples
  • No Wish List Feature

No Free Samples

While ULTA members can take advantage of online coupons and mailers, there is no mention on the website of free samples. Companies like Sephora offer customers the option to try out different beauty brands before purchasing them, so the lack of samples is a disadvantage of shopping with ULTA.

No Wish List Feature

ULTA also doesn't offer an online wishlist feature for customers to save future purchases. Customers who want to remember items to buy later will need to create a separate list on their own and then search for each of them when ready to make a purchase.

gavel

The Bottom Line

ULTA carries over 20,000 beauty products and offers customers the added convenience of being able to shop, return items, and the use of salon services at its many store locations. Customers who are on the go can also use the mobile app. Overall, ULTA provides an extensive selection of makeup brands to fit your beauty needs conveniently placed in one location. 

Also, take a look at the other makeup stores listed on our website to see how ULTA makeup compares.

Was this content helpful?
thumb_up Yes thumb_down No

Star Rating

info

4.3

star star star star star_half

358 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

60%

4 grade

25%

3 grade

5%

2 grade

1%

1 grade

8%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

star star star star star_half

Quality

star star star star star_half

Service

star star star star star_half

Trustworthiness

star star star star star_half
cancel
info
star star star star_border star_border

Vilma

I used to love going to Ulta. We are in the beauty industry and circle the United States 9 times a year. Every time I go I spend at least couple hundred dollars multiple times a month. I used to get samples and that made me feel good and special. Last few times I went shopping there, Ulta didn’t have samples to give out. It’s no big deal other stores don’t give out samples as well but that’s why Ulta stood out to me and that was the reason I would go out of the way to find Ulta rather than getting my makeup elsewhere.

7 years ago

star star star star_border star_border

Kaylee West Jordan, UT

The workers are a little stuck up but the ones in the salon are a lot nicer. The service is a little slow, and they are usually out of at least one of the products I'm looking for. However, their rewards program is useful and they send a lot of coupons for products in the mail.

8 years ago

star star star star_border star_border

Hyrum Sandy, UT

I've never bought anything here, but go often with my wife. We've been to a few different locations. You usually have to wait a few minutes in line to check out, but they are well staffed so it's not like waiting at an understaffed grocery store. My wife really likes their products.

8 years ago

star star star star_border star_border

daphjohnson Saratoga Springs, UT

Ulta is a good place to get your makeup. The last few times I have been there I have had a specific brand salesrep try to sell me on their brand. I like coming to makeup stores like this because you have many brands to chose from to get the look you want. However, when they have other reps working in the store, the sale feels biased and defeats the purpose of coming into Ulta.

5 years ago

star star star star_border star_border

Andrea Smith Idaho Falls, ID

When I first visited Ulta, I thought they would have everything you would ever need in a makeup store, but they don't. They have a lot of accessories, but not every brand or kind of makeup. Their prices are not better than buying at a department store cosmetics counter. But if you just want to browse and have a lot of basic things to choose from, this is a good place.

8 years ago

star star star star_border star_border

Mackenzie Gilbert, AZ

They sell good and bad products, but some of the products I can find at the drug store cheaper. It always smells heavily of chemicals when you walk in the door and it sets off my asthma.

7 years ago

star star star star_border star_border

Bessie B Gilbert, AZ

I went into the store with my daughter in Simsbury and she bought me some coverup makeup. The store was clean and customer service was available. It was hard to find what i was looking for. The store set up was confusing to me and i felt the prices were on the more expensive side. I probably would not return them myself to purchase makeup.

5 years ago

star star star star_border star_border

Mmwlp1315 Pleasant Grove, UT

I like that Ulta carries a variety of products at different price points, however I never feel like the workers really know what they’re talking about when I have questions. And the sample products are always broken or gross looking at the store I usually go to.

5 years ago

star star star star_border star_border

Michelle Hawker Las Vegas, NV

I will always choose Sephora over Ulta. I don't dislike Ulta...their products are good and competitively priced..I just have not had the best experiences. Staff has not seemed particularly helpful and/or knowledgeable. They often don't have products in stock.

8 years ago

star star star star_border star_border

Sheryl Wilson Salt Lake City, UT

The nice thing about Ulta is the wide range of products that they carry. They are the only store where I can find a tanning product that I like to use.

9 years ago

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star_border star_border

Emily Marlowe American Fork, UT

I like the products they offer, and the feel of the store. I have never had a very knowledgeable salesperson to help with my questions. I try to have all of my research done before I go.

5 years ago

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star_border star_border

Melissa Giddings Logan, UT

I have recently used car side pick up and was pleased with it. I don’t like going inside because the perfume smell is so strong.

5 years ago

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star_border star_border

Pcander Saint George, UT

I really like the variety of products ULTA carries. I like how the workers there are able to help you pick what products work best for you.

5 years ago

star star star star_border star_border

Schon Smithfield, UT

Good selection of items. I can usually find what I need but I can also find the same products for a little cheaper on amazon many times.

8 years ago

star star star star_border star_border

Cindy H Gilbert, AZ

I don't love going to this store but i will when there is a sell. I feel that the workers are not often eager to help.

5 years ago

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star_border star_border

Destini Ferguson Tallahassee, FL

There is not a lot of variety I feel. The workers are always clueless IF you can find one.

5 years ago

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star_border star_border

Devin Fayetteville, AR

Ulta is nice. I would say Sephora is superior, however. Makeup artists are a bit iffy.

5 years ago

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star_border star_border

Kristi Logan, UT

Prices tend to be a little higher than I can get elsewhere. Place is always very clean

5 years ago

check_circle

Review Source

star star star star_border star_border

hiitsperson Gulfport, MS

The people there are nice but they talk about you behind your back, so they are two face

6 years ago