Stores Like Ulta: 12 Beauty Retailers Worth Switching To
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About Ulta
Founded
1990
USA
Ships to
US, Canada
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
The thing Ulta got right — having Maybelline Sky High mascara two aisles away from a Tom Ford foundation, then booking a Benefit brow wax on the way out — is exactly the thing that's getting harder to count on. The mix that made Ulta feel like the whole beauty world at once is now spread thinner and copied better: Target's beauty floor poached the drugstore-meets-prestige energy, DTC brands took the cult products straight to your inbox, and Sephora's Kohl's shop-in-shops put prestige in your suburban strip mall.
Ultamate Rewards still does the heavy lifting for a lot of loyal shoppers — the points stacking, the 21 Days of Beauty doorbusters, the birthday gift. But the program reshuffles have left people watching their points value quietly erode, and inventory between two Ulta locations ten miles apart can feel like two different chains.
A salon chair you can't always get an appointment in is not a moat.
The places that now hold the pieces Ulta used to own each have a sharper version of what you actually came for.
Ultamate Rewards still does the heavy lifting for a lot of loyal shoppers — the points stacking, the 21 Days of Beauty doorbusters, the birthday gift. But the program reshuffles have left people watching their points value quietly erode, and inventory between two Ulta locations ten miles apart can feel like two different chains.
A salon chair you can't always get an appointment in is not a moat.
The places that now hold the pieces Ulta used to own each have a sharper version of what you actually came for.
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12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to Ulta
1
Sephora
Est. 1970
Paris, France
≈
similar
Prestige-leaning shoppers who want the widest luxury brand wall and a points system that converts to real product
The closest prestige-beauty analog, with a deep clean-beauty seal program and the Beauty Insider rewards that rival Ultamate. Strong tester culture and trained advisors.
Pros
- Beauty Insider rewards and Rouge perks are genuinely generous
- Widest prestige and indie-luxury brand selection
- Kohl's shop-in-shops bring it to more locations
Cons
- Far fewer drugstore and mass brands than Ulta
- No full-service salon
- Rewards points expire if your account goes inactive
Visit Sephora
Full guide: Stores Like Sephora
2
Target Beauty
Est. 1902
Minneapolis, USA
$
cheaper
Everyday shoppers grabbing mascara, skincare, and a cart of groceries in one trip
The best mass-market answer to Ulta's drugstore half, now with rotating prestige drops and Ulta Beauty at Target shop-in-shops blurring the line entirely.
Pros
- Ulta Beauty at Target shop-in-shops add prestige names
- Circle rewards and frequent 5% off via RedCard
- Great clean and indie beauty buys like Versed and Pacifica
Cons
- No salon services
- Prestige selection is curated, not comprehensive
- In-store beauty staffing is thin
3
Bluemercury
Est. 1999
Washington, D.C., USA
$$$
pricier
Skincare-focused shoppers who want consultation and prestige treatment without the warehouse vibe
A more boutique, service-forward take on Ulta's prestige side with skincare expertise, in-store facials, and the M-61 in-house line.
Pros
- Knowledgeable, low-pressure skincare advisors
- In-store facials and spa services
- Strong M-61 and Lune+Aster house brands
Cons
- Pricier and prestige-only
- Fewer locations
- No drugstore mass-market options
4
Credo Beauty
Est. 2015
San Francisco, USA
$$$
pricier
Shoppers who want vetted clean and sustainable beauty without reading every label
Factory Disclosure
Scratches the clean-beauty itch Ulta's Conscious Beauty section gestures at, but with a stricter standard and real ingredient transparency.
Pros
- The Credo Clean Standard is genuinely rigorous
- Great for indie and emerging clean brands
- In-store makeup and skincare consultations
Cons
- No conventional or drugstore brands at all
- Higher average price point
- Limited physical footprint
5
Sally Beauty
Est. 1964
Denton, Texas, USA
$
cheaper
DIY hair color, nails, and tools at salon-supply prices
Owns the hair-care and salon-supply territory Ulta only dabbles in, from professional color to nail and tool aisles at lower prices.
Pros
- Deepest professional hair-color and tool selection
- Low prices and frequent promos
- Pro card discounts for stylists
Cons
- Minimal prestige cosmetics
- Stores skew utilitarian
- Little skincare or fragrance
6
Beauty Brands
Est. 1995
Kansas City, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers in the Midwest who want Ulta's exact format with salon services
A near-identical concept to Ulta — prestige plus mass beauty alongside a full-service salon and spa under one roof.
Pros
- True salon-plus-store format like Ulta
- Mix of prestige and mass brands
- Frequent Liter Sale and box deals
Cons
- Mostly limited to the Midwest
- Smaller brand range than Ulta
- Website less polished
7
CVS
Est. 1963
Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA
$
cheaper
Convenient drugstore beauty and skincare runs with pharmacy in the same stop
The drugstore-beauty backbone Ulta competes with, now upgraded with the BeautyIRL concept and a strong ExtraCare beauty rewards angle.
Pros
- Everywhere, open late, with pharmacy nearby
- ExtraCare and ExtraBucks beauty rewards
- Expanded skincare and clean-beauty assortment
Cons
- No prestige cosmetics or salon
- In-store experience varies wildly
- Limited tester access
8
Nordstrom Beauty
Est. 1901
Seattle, USA
$$$
pricier
Luxury beauty shoppers who value returns, gifting, and white-glove counter service
Delivers Ulta's prestige counter experience with department-store service, free samples, and the Nordy Club rewards stack.
Pros
- Best-in-class returns and customer service
- Generous gift-with-purchase events
- Nordy Club rewards across the whole store
Cons
- Prestige-only, no drugstore brands
- Higher prices
- Beauty floor only in full-line stores
9
Macy's Beauty
Est. 1858
New York, USA
≈
similar
Fragrance and prestige gifting with regular promotions
Classic department-store prestige beauty with frequent gift sets and the bluemercury-owned counters, plus Star Rewards.
Pros
- Strong fragrance and gift-set selection
- Star Rewards and frequent sales
- Owns Bluemercury for skincare expertise
Cons
- Counter experience can feel dated
- No mass-market drugstore brands
- No full salon services
10
The Detox Market
Est. 2010
Los Angeles, USA
$$$
pricier
Green-beauty devotees hunting emerging, ingredient-forward brands
Factory Disclosure
A clean-beauty destination in the Credo vein, heavy on green skincare and indie founders Ulta wouldn't stock at scale.
Pros
- Tightly vetted clean and green brands
- Great discovery of indie founders
- Helpful in-store and virtual consults
Cons
- Clean-only, no conventional brands
- Few locations
- Premium pricing
11
Walmart Beauty
Est. 1962
Bentonville, Arkansas, USA
$
cheaper
Maximum value on drugstore beauty staples and growing clean lines
The mass-market beauty floor at the lowest prices, now stocking buzzy clean lines like e.l.f. and even some prestige drops.
Pros
- Lowest prices on mass beauty
- Growing clean and indie assortment
- Widely available with pickup
Cons
- No prestige brands or salon
- Beauty aisles can be picked over
- Little staff expertise
12
Cult Beauty
Est. 2008
London, UK
≈
similar
Online shoppers chasing buzzy, harder-to-find prestige and indie brands
An online beauty edit that captures the discovery thrill Ulta's shelves used to give, heavy on cult and hard-to-find prestige brands.
Pros
- Sharp editorial curation and discovery
- Carries cult and UK-exclusive brands
- Detailed reviews and ingredient info
Cons
- Online only, no in-store
- Shipping and duties from the UK
- No salon or services
Best for chasing cult and clean brands
If you left because Ulta's Conscious Beauty section felt like marketing more than a standard, Credo Beauty and The Detox Market vet every ingredient with real rigor. For buzzy, hard-to-find launches and indie discovery, Cult Beauty's editorial edit does what Ulta's shelves used to before everything went mass.
Cheapest drugstore swaps
For the Maybelline-and-CeraVe half of your basket, Target Beauty, Walmart Beauty, and CVS beat Ulta on price every time — and Target's Ulta Beauty shop-in-shops sneak prestige names into the bargain. Sally Beauty wins on DIY hair color and tools.
Where the salon and service live
Beauty Brands replicates Ulta's exact store-plus-salon format if you can reach one in the Midwest. For prestige skincare with actual consultation and facials, Bluemercury and Nordstrom Beauty deliver the white-glove treatment Ulta's busy counters rarely have time for.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Go to Sephora if your basket skews prestige and you want the closest brand wall plus a rewards program that holds value. Choose Target Beauty or Walmart Beauty if you mostly buy drugstore staples and want to save on every trip. Pick Bluemercury or Nordstrom Beauty when you want skincare expertise and service over self-serve aisles. If clean beauty is the whole point, Credo Beauty and The Detox Market apply a far stricter standard than Ulta's Conscious Beauty seal. And if you specifically miss the store-plus-salon combo, Beauty Brands is the most literal replacement — assuming there's one near you. Frequently Asked Questions
QIs Sephora or Ulta better for prestige makeup?
Sephora carries a wider and deeper prestige and luxury wall, with stronger clean-beauty vetting and the Beauty Insider rewards. Ulta wins if you want prestige and drugstore in the same trip plus salon services. For pure prestige shopping, Sephora edges it.
QWhere can I buy the same drugstore brands as Ulta for less?
Target, Walmart, and CVS all stock the same mass brands like Maybelline, CeraVe, and e.l.f. at lower prices than Ulta. Target's Ulta Beauty shop-in-shops even add some prestige names while keeping mass pricing.
QWhat store is most like Ulta with a salon inside?
Beauty Brands is the closest match — a prestige-plus-mass store with a full salon and spa under one roof, much like Ulta. Its footprint is mostly the Midwest, so availability depends on your region.
QAre there better clean-beauty stores than Ulta's Conscious Beauty section?
Yes. Credo Beauty and The Detox Market apply far stricter ingredient standards and carry vetted indie and green brands Ulta won't stock at scale. Both also offer consultations focused on clean formulas.
QIs Ultamate Rewards still worth it compared to other beauty loyalty programs?
Ultamate still earns fast and stacks well, but recent program reshuffles have eroded point value for some shoppers. Sephora's Beauty Insider and Nordstrom's Nordy Club are strong alternatives, and Target Circle pairs beauty rewards with everyday savings.
Our Verdict
The Best Ulta Alternative For You
Go to Sephora if your basket skews prestige and you want the closest brand wall plus a rewards program that holds value. Choose Target Beauty or Walmart Beauty if you mostly buy drugstore staples and want to save on every trip. Pick Bluemercury or Nordstrom Beauty when you want skincare expertise and service over self-serve aisles. If clean beauty is the whole point, Credo Beauty and The Detox Market apply a far stricter standard than Ulta's Conscious Beauty seal. And if you specifically miss the store-plus-salon combo, Beauty Brands is the most literal replacement — assuming there's one near you.