Sephora vs. Ulta: We compared the perks of each shop's membership programs and more than

Sephora v. Ulta 4x3

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  • As one-stop shops for all things beauty, Sephora and Ulta are often compared.
  • Both are actually pretty similar and great for stocking up on makeup, skincare, and haircare.
  • Here we break down their differences, from membership programs to shipping costs.

If you lot're an gorging shopper of all things beauty, yous've probably been to a Sephora or an Ulta — maybe fifty-fifty both. Equally i-stop shops for everything from makeup to skincare to haircare and all else in between, many people compare the two stores.

Sephora has a reputation for selling more than luxury beauty brands while Ulta has long been considered a retailer for drugstore brands. The reality is that these 2 stores aren't then different. With competitive rewards programs, strong selections, beauty services, and more, both stores offering a great shopping experience.

Wondering where you should get to get what? Below we've covered the membership programs, rewards, product and brand selections, ways to store, and how to decide which store is best for y'all.

Keep reading for a complete breakdown of what you tin expect to observe at Sephora and Ulta.

Brands and product selection

Sephora carries a host of brands, including its popular in-house Sephora Collection.
Sephora/Facebook

Both stores comport a wide range of products beyond all cost ranges, and there is a lot of overlap betwixt the two when information technology comes to brand selection. Generally, Sephora stocks more high-terminate brands and Ulta more drugstore options.

Sephora:Sephora carries hundreds of brands, along with its own private label. Sephora Collection, the store'due south in-business firm line, offers affordable dazzler products starting equally depression every bit $ane. The store too stocks a host of mid-tier brands, too every bit high-stop ones like Dior, La Mer, and Chanel. Fenty Dazzler, Huda Beauty, and Charlotte Tilbury are some of Sephora's standout brands you can't find at Ulta.

Ulta: Ulta Dazzler Collection is the shop's in-firm label offering affordable beauty products — prices start below $one for a sheet mask — with everything from skincare to beauty tools. Like Sephora, you can find plenty of mid-tier brands, but what stands out about Ulta is its curation of upkeep beauty brands. NYX, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and L'Oréal are some of the drugstore brands you can't find at Sephora.

Sales and deals

Some of the brands at Sephora yous can salvage on.
Sephora/Facebook

Both dazzler stores have online sale sections and express-time deals. Ulta tends to host sales more often, just Sephora gives greater savings during atypical events. And similar many retailers, the sales are even greater when you enroll in their membership programs.

Sephora: The beauty retailer has weekly sales on trial and mini sizes, and with online orders, you can choose two free samples at checkout. Sephora also hosts a massive annual spring sale where Beauty Insiders tin salvage big on popular brand names. If you sign up for the rewards programme, you can use an exclusive promo code to have 10% off nearly every product Sephora carries. And for Rouge and VIB members, the deals are even greater — saving 15% and twenty% off, respectively. Right now, everyone can get free shipping with the lawmaking "FREESHIP."

Ulta: Constantly releasing coupons, buy more save more deals, and sale items, Ulta makes it easy for people to shop discounted beauty products both in-shop and online. Its large sale events — like the 21 Days of Beauty, the Gorgeous Pilus Event, and the Love Your Skin Event — are notorious for featuring Beauty Steals, where customers can shop upward to 50% off pinnacle brands like Tarte and Glamglow and the deals refresh every 24 hours. These events come and go quickly, so yous tin can sign up for Ulta Beauty emails to stay in the know for big upcoming events.

Memberships

I of the photo-gear up products you can find at Ulta right at present.
Ulta/Facebook

Both stores offer membership programs that reward shoppers through points programs, granting them special access to promotions, and more.

Sephora: Dazzler Insider is Sephora's membership plan. In that location are three levels of membership: Beauty Insider, VIB, and VIB Rouge. Any shopper can become a Beauty Insider since there's no minimum spend necessary. To become a VIB member, you lot must spend $350 a yr, and to get a VIB Rouge fellow member that number goes up to $1,000 a year.

Ulta: Ultamate Rewards is Ulta's membership for loyal shoppers. At that place are three tiers of membership: member, platinum member, and diamond member. There is no minimum spend required to become a regular member. You must spend $500 a year to go a platinum fellow member and $1,200 to get a diamond member.

Rewards programme benefits

This Laneige skincare set is one of the three eligible altogether gifts for Dazzler Insiders.
Sephora

Both the Beauty Insider and Ultamate Rewards programs offer keen perks to shoppers, whether yous're spending lots of money at the store each yr or none at all. Sephora offers its members more promotions while Ulta offers more altogether perks, only ultimately both programs reward shoppers very similarly.

Sephora: There are many benefits of becoming a Dazzler Insider. One of the most notable is the points system, which turns your spending into points that y'all can redeem at the Rewards Baazar in commutation for products. Here'south a rundown of the rewards you get, at every membership tier:

  • Insider:1 betoken for every $i you spend, two free birthday gifts, 10% off during seasonal savings events
  • VIB: i point for every $ane you spend, 2 free birthday gifts, 15% off during seasonal savings events, exclusive gifts with a monthly purchase
  • VIB Rouge: 1 point for every $1 y'all spend, two free birthday gifts, 20% off during seasonal savings events, exclusive gifts with a monthly purchase, complimentary standard shipping, access to exclusive events, first-in-line for new product launches

Ulta: Ultamate Rewards members go lots of benefits that make hereafter shopping hauls more affordable. Unlike Sephora where points are redeemed every bit products, at Ulta points are redeemed as cash discounts on hereafter purposes. Here'south a breakdown of the rewards at every level:

  • Fellow member: 1 point for every $1 you spend, free altogether gift, double points during your birthday calendar month
  • Platinum: 1.25 points for every $i you spend, gratis altogether gift, double points during your birthday calendar month, $10 birthday coupon, points never expire
  • Diamond:1.5 points for every $ane you lot spend, free birthday souvenir, double points during your birthday month, $10 birthday coupon, points never expire, everyday free aircraft on orders of $25 or more, annual $25 beauty service reward menu

Aircraft costs

Ulta

Both Sephora and Ulta accept well-organized stores where y'all tin can find (and be tempted by) thousands of products on display. Both also offer pretty similar online shopping experiences, though Ulta offers an incredibly convenient in-store pickup option.

Sephora:Sephora's shipping offering is pretty standard. If you lot spend $l or more, y'all're eligible for free, standard three-day aircraft. For orders less than $50, this same aircraft costs $vi.50. To get two- or one-day shipping, you lot'll pay $10.95 or $16.95, respectively. If y'all shop online at Sephora often, it may exist worth it for you to enroll in its wink aircraft plan. It costs only $15 a yr and gives you free shipping for the unabridged year, no minimums required.

Ulta: Ulta'due south shipping rates and policies are pretty standard too. Regardless of how much you spend on your order, standard shipping costs $5.95 (3-8 concern days), expedited shipping costs $9.95 (3-4 business days), and premium shipping costs $sixteen.95 (2-iii business days).

If y'all want to avoid shipping costs and alive shut to an Ulta store location, use Ulta's in-store pickup service. All you have to practise is choose "Buy Online & Choice Up in Shop" as your buy option. When your order'southward prepare, you lot'll get an email from Ulta — just head over to the called shop with that electronic mail confirmation and an ID, and you're good to go.

And so, where should you go?

Ulta

Truthfully, it'southward up to you. You tin can't go wrong shopping at Sephora or Ulta. For many shoppers, it's a matter of what they know. For example, I grew upwards going to a local Sephora and got a Beauty Insider bill of fare at that time. It's still worth it for me to shop there as I've accumulated points over the years and it'due south proved to be a brand I can really trust. If yous grew up going to an Ulta instead, you'd probably say the aforementioned well-nigh that brand.

Another factor in choosing where to store is looking at what you desire to buy. If e.l.f. Cosmetics is your favorite brand, go to Ulta — Sephora doesn't stock the make. If you love Charlotte Tilbury, you'll desire to go to Sephora, as Ulta doesn't have information technology. Luckily, both Sephora and Ulta stock a number of pop beauty brands like Nars, Clinique, and Besides Faced, amid others — so if that'south what you need, you're set up wherever you lot go.

Shop makeup, skincare, beauty tools, and more at Ulta.

Shop makeup, skincare, dazzler tools, and more at Sephora.

Remi Rosmarin

Commerce Reporter

Remi is a reporter for Business Insider'due south affiliate commerce team, Insider Reviews. After graduating from Colgate University with a degree in Creative Writing and Political Science, Remi joined Business organisation Insider to aid readers notice the best products worth buying. Since joining the team in 2018, Remi has reviewed hundreds of products and interviewed founders of industry disruptors, such as straight-to-consumer startups Koio and Absolut Fine art. She specializes in women's lifestyle, merely loves to learn about any and all products that add together value and excitement to our everyday lives. Say hello at rrosmarin@businessinsider.com. Acquire more than about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider hither.

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