Searching for beauty stores like Ulta that offer amazing makeup, skincare, hair care, fragrances, and more at affordable prices? As one of the largest beauty retailers in the United States, Ulta Beauty offers an impressive selection of premium and mass-market beauty brands.
But what if you’re looking to shop at similar stores? The good news is that there are plenty of Ulta competitors and alternatives out there. I’ve rounded up the best beauty brands like Ulta that you’ll love.
11 Best Beauty Shops Similar To Ulta For Shopping
From drugstore favorites to high-end splurges, keep reading to explore all the Ulta competitors!
1. BeautyBay
BeautyBay is an online-only beauty store based in the UK. They stock over 300 top brands, both drugstore and luxury. Some popular names include The Ordinary, Revolution Beauty, NYX, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and more.
What makes BeautyBay stand out is their impressive range of makeup and skincare. They have all the latest launches well before other retailers. Delivery is speedy too – most items ship worldwide within 2 business days.
While prices are mixed, BeautyBay often has promotions like 20% off sitewide. Sign up for emails and you’ll get personalized coupon codes as a new customer.
Key Benefits:
- Huge range of makeup and skincare
- Fast worldwide shipping
- Regular site-wide sales
2. Sephora
Sephora is one of Ulta’s biggest competitors. This international beauty giant carries an unrivaled selection of prestige makeup, skincare, hair care, fragrances and more. With an impressive in-store experience and user-friendly app, it’s easy to shop Sephora’s extensive product range.
Founded in France in 1970, Sephora has grown to over 2,600 stores in 35 countries worldwide. They are the go-to retailer for new and cult favorite brands like Fenty Beauty, Olaplex, Pat McGrath Labs and Natasha Denona. Known for their exceptional customer service, free samples and special promotions, Sephora makes beauty shopping exciting.
Key Benefits:
- Massive selection of premium beauty brands
- Interactive in-store experience
- Mobile app with special offers
- Extensive skincare range
3. Dermstore
Looking for clinical skincare and salon-quality hair products? Dermstore is one of the top beauty stores similar to Ulta. With over 200 skincare brands like SkinCeuticals, EltaMD, and Dr. Dennis Gross, Dermstore is a skincare lover’s paradise.
Founded in 1999, this online beauty superstore provides medical-grade skincare, professional hair care, makeup and beauty tools. Enjoy free shipping on purchases over $49 or take advantage of their auto-replenish program for a 20% discount on select brands. Known for exceptional customer service and an easy shopping experience, Dermstore makes it simple to shop top beauty brands.
Key Benefits:
- Massive selection of clinical skincare
- Pro hair care range
- Free shipping over $49
- Loyalty program with discounts
4. Lookfantastic
Lookfantastic is among the popular European beauty stores like Ulta with worldwide delivery. They stock over 300 must-have cosmetics brands – think NARS, Olaplex, CeraVe, The Inkey List, and many more.
This beauty site shines for its curated range of new, trending, and luxury products. Discover limited edition collabs and hard-to-find beauty before other retailers. They also has exclusives from British brands like Elemis and Rodial.
Enjoy free worldwide delivery on orders over £30. Standard shipping to the US takes 7-10 business days. Sign up for a Lookfantastic account to get tailored product recommendations and birthday treats.
Key Benefits:
- Wide selection of trending beauty
- Free worldwide delivery
- Personalized recommendations
5. Beautylish
Beautylish focuses on indie, luxury, and emerging beauty brands you won’t easily find elsewhere. They’re the exclusive retailer for brands like Natasha Denona, Good Molecules, Charlotte Tilbury, R+Co, and more.
This beauty site handpicks products that are innovative and effective. Shop clean beauty, multi-use palettes, customizable kits, pro brushes, and top shelf skincare. They often has new and limited edition launches not sold anywhere else.
Enjoy free shipping to the US and Canada on orders over $35. For the best deals, shop during events like Gift Card Fest where popular items are 10-20% off.
Key Benefits:
- Exclusive and limited edition beauty
- Free US/Canada shipping
- Gift Card sale events
6. Fragrancenet
Boasting itself as the internet’s most popular beauty discount site, Fragrancenet lives up to the claim. Home to over 15,000 beauty products at up to 80% off, Fragrancenet offers unbeatable deals on premium hair care, makeup, skincare, tools, bath and body products.
Founded in 1997, this beauty discount haven offers designer fragrances at dramatically discounted prices. Take advantage of frequent coupon codes, special offers and their reliable loyalty program for extra savings.
With reliable shipping methods and exceptional customer service, Fragrancenet makes scoring beauty products at stunning prices effortless.
Key Benefits:
- Huge selection of discounted fragrances
- Fast worldwide shipping
- Frequent percent-off promos
7. Wet n Wild
Wet n Wild is an affordable drugstore brand best known for their huge range of makeup. Browse foundation, eyeshadow palettes, blushes, lip products, nail polish, tools, and more. Prices start at just $1!
Shop the Wet n Wild website to find limited edition collections not in stores. Fan favorites include the Mega Cushion foundation, megaglo highlighters, and liquid catsuit lipsticks.
Wet n Wild offers free shipping to the US and Canada on orders over $25 USD. Expect delivery in 5-7 business days. For deals, watch out for flash sales of up to 50% off.
Key Benefits:
- Insanely cheap makeup
- Limited edition products online
- Free shipping over $25
8. Gilt
Gilt provides access to coveted beauty products and premium brands at dramatically reduced prices. Boasting up to 60% off department store prices daily across makeup, skincare, haircare, nails, fragrance and more, Gilt makes savvy beauty shopping a breeze.
It was founded in 2007, this innovative e-commerce site offers limited-time sales on top beauty brands like Kerastase, Stila, Anastasia Beverly Hills and Kiehl’s.
Enjoy free shipping on all orders and shop beauty exclusives you won’t find elsewhere. For serious steals on lusted-after beauty products, Gilt is a superb option.
Key Benefits:
- Major savings on luxury beauty
- Limited time sales up to 90% off
- Free shipping over $50
9. Follain
Follain only sells non-toxic, ethically sourced beauty products that are better for you and the planet. They focus on clean self-care, skincare, makeup, haircare, aromatherapy, baby products, and sustainability tools.
All items at Follain are EWG-verified, cruelty-free, reef-safe, and formulated without over 2,000 questionable chemicals. Discover green brands like Innersense, Ellis Brooklyn, Lilah B, and more.
Expect free carbon neutral shipping on US orders over $50. Follain also offers a refill program to reduce packaging waste. Plus, they donate 1% of sales to environmental nonprofits.
Key Benefits:
- Strict safety standards for clean beauty
- Free carbon neutral shipping
- Refill and recycling programs
10. Sally Beauty
Sally Beauty Supply is a longtime favorite for salon-quality haircare, tools, and coloring products. Browse brands like Ion, Generic Value Products, Silk Elements, One ‘N Only, and explains more about every name to appear natural.
This budget retailer provides a wide selection of products for all hair types and textures. Shop damage repair, styling products, accessories, updos, treatments, and more. Sally’s also offers a huge range of professional hair colors starting under $5.
Whether shopping online or in-store, Sally Beauty offers free shipping over $25. They also provide frequent coupon codes like $5 off $10 or buy-one-get-one deals.
Key Benefits:
- Huge range of salon hair products
- Professional hair colors for less
- Regular free shipping and BOGO deals
11. Cult Beauty
Cult Beauty is a UK-based online beauty brand like Ulta that ship worldwide. They’re renowned for stocking the newest, hard-to-find, limited-edition products. Expect unique beauty you won’t see anywhere else.
Cult Beauty excels at curating a mix of luxury, indie, vegan, clean, Korean beauty, natural – you name it. Popular products include Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, Sunday Riley Good Genes, and the Color Wow collection.
Enjoy free worldwide shipping on orders over £40. Delivery to the US takes roughly 5 business days. Sign up for their emails to get 10% off your first order.
Key Benefits:
- Hard-to-find and limited edition beauty
- Free worldwide shipping
- 10% off first order
Conclusion
Ulta Beauty has certainly revolutionized shopping for makeup, skincare, hair care, and tools. Their massive selection, deals, rewards program, and helpful services keep customers coming back again and again.
But Ulta doesn’t have every brand or product you may want in their stores. Testing out different beauty retailers lets you discover fresh finds, take advantage of deals, and expand your collection.
Hopefully these top stores like Ulta provide even more convenient ways for you to shop quality beauty products. Whether you’re looking for clean finds, salon brands, discounted fragrances, or limited edition drops – there’s a perfect alternative retailer waiting for you!
FAQs
Does Ulta offer samples?
Ulta provides free samples with qualifying purchases. Get packets or trial sizes of skincare, makeup, hair products. Also sample services like facials.
What payment methods does Ulta accept?
Ulta accepts all major credit cards, Paypal, Ulta gift cards, and you can pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay in stores.
How do I earn points at Ulta?
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent with the Ultamate Rewards program. Redeem points for money off purchases. Get bonus points with promotions.
Does Ulta allow in-store pick up?
Yes. Order online and select in-store pick up. Get free next day pick up on qualifying orders. Pick up at customer service.
What skin care brands does Ulta have?
Top skincare brands at Ulta include Clinique, First Aid Beauty, Perricone MD, Peter Thomas Roth, philosophy, Estée Lauder and Strivectin.
Does Ulta have its own brand of makeup?
Yes. Ulta has their own makeup line called Ulta Beauty Collection with affordable makeup essentials.
Does Ulta offer hair services?
Yes. Ulta salons offer haircuts, styling, coloring, treatments and more. Book online. Loyalty members get discounts on services.
What is Ulta’s return policy?
60 day returns from original date of purchase for most items in new condition with receipt. Some exclusions apply. Return by mail or in stores.
How often does Ulta have sales?
Ulta runs weekly deals and specials. Major sales include 21 Days of Beauty spring/fall sales, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and holiday sales. Sign up for emails.
Are there any retailers similar to Ulta that offer rewards programs?
Yes, Sephora has a popular Beauty Insider program with free birthday gifts, free samples, and frequent beauty rewards.
