Sephora and Ulta are two of the most popular beauty retailers in the United States, but they have very different business models and target audiences. Sephora is known for their beauty products, while Ulta offers a wider selection of cosmetics and fragrances as well as skin care products and hair care items. Both stores offer rewards programs to help customers save money on future purchases, and both offer online shopping experiences that make it easy for shoppers to find exactly what they want.
Sephora is a French cosmetics retailer that specializes in makeup, fragrance and skin care products. It was founded in France in 1970 by Dominque Mandonnaud and his wife, who wanted to create a store for women to buy beauty products. The name Sephora comes from the Greek word for “crowned woman” or “beautiful woman."
The company has since expanded greatly both internationally and online. Today there are over 2,300 stores worldwide including locations such as Canada, Brazil and Mexico where it has partnered with other companies such as O Boticário (Brazil) or Pronovias (Spain). There are also many franchises located throughout Asia including China where they're called F2-5 Factory Outlets; India where they're called Sephora Beauty Bazaar; Indonesia where they're called SOGO Department Stores Group Ltd.; Malaysia where they're called Watsons Malaysia; Pakistan where they're called Reebonz Co.; Philippines where they're called Rustan's Supermarket Incorporated; Singapore which is owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SEU (MC X); South Korea which is owned by Jardin De Beauté Co., Ltd.; Taiwan which includes branches at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store Co..
The Beauty Insider program is a rewards system that Sephora uses to reward its loyal customers. You can earn points for every dollar you spend at Sephora, which are then redeemed for rewards.
There are several ways to qualify for the Beauty Insider program:
Sephora is also known for its in-store beauty classes. These classes are taught by experts, so you can learn about a variety of topics, including foundation application, contouring and highlighting, eyebrow shaping and more. The best part is that these classes are free!
These classes aren’t just for beginners though; they’re great opportunities to learn new skills as well. I once took a class on how to apply false lashes with ease—it was eye opening (no pun intended!).
While Sephora does have a rewards program, Ulta's is much more robust and includes exclusive deals for members. Ulta also offers its Platinum Perks program, which gives members even more perks for spending money at the store.
Both chains allow you to return products within 90 days of purchase if you're not satisfied with them; however, Sephora has adopted an even more generous return policy that allows you to return products up to 365 days after purchase.
Both Sephora and Ulta provide customers with an online experience that is similar to the in-store experience. You can order products from both retailers, get free samples and 2-day shipping, use virtual makeup artists and hair stylists, and even book appointments with a virtual brow expert or skincare expert.
Both retailers are great, but they have different strengths. At Sephora, you’ll find more of a focus on beauty products and makeup advice from experts. If you want to try out new trends and experiment with your look, this is the place to go for that kind of experience.
On the other hand, Ulta has more options when it comes to skincare products and tools—if you need a new cleanser or moisturizer or even something like an electric shaver or facial toner, they can help you find what works best for your skin type.
Both stores have good customer service and rewards programs (both at Ulta as well as at Sephora). And while they both offer decent deals on certain days during their sales events every week (or month), I have found that Ulta tends to offer better deals than Sephora because there are fewer restrictions on them—you don't need a coupon code or promotional code in order for them not only be valid but also successful!
We hope this article has helped you understand the differences between Sephora and Ulta. Both retailers have their strengths, but as we pointed out earlier, it’s important for shoppers to know what they’re looking for before going into either store. If you want a store with a wide selection of products from well-known brands, then Sephora may be your best bet. On the other hand if you’re looking for more in-depth beauty services such as haircuts or waxing appointments then Ulta might be better suited for those needs too!
