Ulta vs Every Rival: Comparisons & Stats 2026

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Ulta

4.2(54 reviews)

· 5 comparisons

Ulta vs Every Rival

Compare Ulta versus every rival — head-to-head records, stats, and matchup breakdowns side by side, updated for 2026.

About Ulta

Ulta Beauty is the largest US-based specialty beauty retailer with 1,400+ stores across all 50 states. Founded in 1990 in Bolingbrook, Illinois, Ulta is publicly traded (NASDAQ: ULTA) with $11.2 billion in 2023 revenue and a $20-25 billion market cap. Ulta's competitive positioning combines drugstore beauty (Maybelline, L'Oréal, NYX, e.l.f., Wet n Wild — accessibly priced) with prestige beauty (Estée Lauder, Clinique, Lancôme, MAC, Charlotte Tilbury), making it a one-stop shop unlike Sephora's prestige-only focus. Ulta also offers full-service salon services in most stores (haircuts, color, brow services). The Ultamate Rewards loyalty program has 41 million+ members with 4 tiers (Member, Platinum $500+, Diamond $1,200+, Diamond DDX $5,000+). Ulta partners with Target through 'Ulta Beauty at Target' shop-in-shops (200+ as of 2024), the rival to Sephora's Kohl's partnership.

1,400+ US stores; $11.2B revenue (2023)Drugstore + prestige under one roof — unique vs SephoraFull-service salon services41M+ Ultamate Rewards members

Frequently Asked Questions

Ulta vs Sephora: which has better deals?

Ulta tends to have more frequent and aggressive deals: 21 Days of Beauty (rotating 50% off prestige items twice yearly), Gorgeous Hair Event, Love Your Skin event, and weekly Ultamate Rewards bonus events. Sephora's deals are less frequent but include Beauty Insider Sale (15-20% off site-wide twice yearly). For sample-heavy promotions: Sephora's Beauty Insider point redemption is more diverse. For percentage-off discounts: Ulta has more events. For overall savings on prestige beauty: Ulta typically offers more discount opportunities.

Does Ulta offer good salon services?

Yes — most Ulta stores have full-service salons offering haircuts ($30-100), color ($65-200+), highlights, blowouts, brow services (waxing, tinting, threading), and skin services in select markets. Stylists are licensed cosmetologists. Quality varies by location and stylist; reviews on individual stylists are available in the Ulta app. Pricing is competitive with mid-tier salons. Booking 5-7 days in advance is recommended for popular stylists. The Ultamate Rewards program earns points on services too.