Blog|February 7, 2025

Sephora vs. Ulta Beauty: Which Beauty Retailer Reigns Supreme?

split-screen illustration featuring two beauty retail stores. On the left, Ulta Beauty is shown with its signature orange awning and glass entrance, while on the right, Sephora displays its black-and-white storefront interior with customers browsing colorful makeup displays. The scene is bathed in warm lighting with a whimsical, hand-drawn anime aesthetic.

Choosing between Sephora and Ulta Beauty can be a delightful dilemma for beauty enthusiasts. Both are major beauty retailers offering a vast array of makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance products. But with distinct differences in their brand offerings, pricing, and rewards programs, knowing which store is the best fit for you requires a closer look. This guide provides a comprehensive comparison for 2024, specifically tailored for international shoppers using Forwardme.

animated illustration showing Sephora-branded shopping bags and cardboard boxes arranged neatly in front of a muted gray wooden wall, evoking a calm and elegant atmosphere.

About Sephora: The Luxury Beauty Destination

Sephora, a French-based multinational chain, is renowned for its curated selection of high-end and luxury beauty brands. With over 2,600 stores worldwide, it's a global leader in prestige beauty retail. Sephora also features its own highly-regarded private label, Sephora Collection, known for offering quality products at a more accessible price point.

Key Features of Sephora:

Brand Focus: High-end, luxury, and prestige brands, alongside the Sephora Collection.
Popular Brands: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, Huda Beauty, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Drunk Elephant, Too Faced, Rare Beauty, Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and many more.
Price Range: Moderately priced to very expensive, reflecting the premium brands carried.
Shopping Experience: Sleek, modern store environment with a focus on personalized service.
Sephora Beauty Insider Program: Offers points per dollar spent that can be redeemed for deluxe samples and exclusive experiences.

Pros:

Extensive selection of luxury and prestige brands.
High-quality Sephora Collection products.
Focus on customer experience and expert advice.

Cons:

Higher price point compared to Ulta Beauty.
Fewer drugstore or mass-market brand options.

illustration of six ULTA Beauty cardboard boxes stacked in two neat columns against a soft beige background, capturing a cozy and animated warehouse

About Ulta Beauty: The All-in-One Beauty Haven

Ulta Beauty is a US-based chain with over 1,200 stores across the country. What sets Ulta Beauty apart is its unique blend of both prestige and drugstore brands, offering a one-stop shop for a wide range of beauty needs and budgets. Importantly, Ulta Beauty also provides in-store salon services, a significant differentiator from Sephora.

Key Features of Ulta Beauty:

Brand Focus: A mix of prestige and drugstore brands, plus its own private label, Ulta Beauty Collection.
Popular Brands: MAC, Urban Decay, Tarte, Anastasia Beverly Hills, NYX, L'Oreal, Maybelline, Morphe, ColourPop, and many more.
Price Range: Wide range, from affordable drugstore finds to high-end luxury items.
Shopping Experience: Offers a more diverse and accessible shopping environment, with a wider range of price points.
Salon Services: Full-service salons offering hair, skin, and brow services.
Ultamate Rewards Program: Members earn points for every dollar, enjoy birthday gifts, and receive exclusive offers. Higher tiers unlock more points per dollar and additional perks.

Pros:

Offers both prestige and drugstore brands, catering to diverse budgets.
In-store salon services provide added convenience.
Frequent sales and promotions, including the "21 Days of Beauty" event.
More rewarding loyalty program for frequent shoppers.

Cons:

May not carry the same breadth of ultra-luxury brands as Sephora.
The sheer variety of products can be overwhelming for some shoppers.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Sephora vs. Ulta Beauty

Here's a concise comparison to highlight the key differences:

Brand Focus: Sephora primarily focuses on high-end, luxury, and prestige beauty brands, while Ulta Beauty offers a mix of both prestige and drugstore brands.

Price Range: Sephora generally has a higher price range, reflecting its focus on premium products. Ulta Beauty provides a wider range of price points, with more affordable options available.

Salon Services: A key difference is that Ulta Beauty offers in-store salon services, while Sephora does not.

Rewards Program: Sephora's Beauty Insider program offers points redeemable for deluxe samples. Ulta Beauty's Ultamate Rewards program provides points, birthday gifts, and exclusive deals.

Shopping Experience: Sephora is known for a more luxurious and curated shopping environment. Ulta provides more variety in a One-stop shop experience.

Which Store is Right for You?

Choose Sephora if: You prioritize luxury and prestige brands, enjoy a curated shopping experience, and prefer redeeming points for deluxe samples.
Choose Ulta Beauty if: You want a mix of prestige and drugstore brands, value affordability, need salon services, and prefer a rewards program with more direct discounts and perks.

an open cardboard box overflowing with colorful makeup products, including lipsticks, brushes, bottles, and an eyeshadow palette, set on a warm wooden floor with soft natural light and a white paneled door in the background.

How to Shop Sephora and Ulta Beauty Internationally with Forwardme

For international shoppers, accessing the vast beauty selections of Sephora and Ulta Beauty is easy with Forwardme, a package forwarding service. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Sign Up for Forwardme: Create a free account at Forwardme to receive a personalized US shipping address.
Shop Online: Visit the Sephora or Ulta Beauty website and shop as usual. Use your Forwardme address as the shipping address during checkout.
Package Consolidation (Optional): If you're ordering from multiple US retailers, Forwardme can consolidate your packages into a single shipment to save on international shipping costs.
International Shipping: Forwardme will receive your packages at their US warehouse and forward them to your international address. You'll have options for choosing the best shipping method and can track your packages.
Customs and Duties: Be prepared to pay any required taxes, and customs by your country.

Benefits of Using Forwardme:

Access to US-Exclusive Products: Shop products that may not be available in your country.
Consolidated Shipping: Save money by combining multiple orders.
Flexible Shipping Options: Choose the shipping method that best suits your needs and budget.
Real-Time Tracking: Monitor your packages throughout the shipping process.
Personal Shopper service: Help with your payment.

By using Forwardme, you can unlock the world of beauty offered by both Sephora and Ulta Beauty, regardless of your location. Start exploring and enjoy the convenience of international shopping!