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It’s true — Ultamate Rewards is the not-so-secret weapon to getting free makeup, haircare, and other beauty items at Ulta. It’s basically Ulta’s way of giving back to loyal shoppers. And if you’re an Ulta regular like me, the payoff for Ulta Rewards is epic.
First of all, the Ultamate Rewards Program is free to join. Second of all, it’s a waste to shop at Ulta without it. This past year, I earned myself $125 in free products just by shopping as a rewards member. And I’m gonna break down exactly how I got there.
By meshing these Ultamate Rewards tips with simple Ulta savings hacks, you’ll be swimming in beauty freebies before you know it. Don’t forget to check out all the best Ulta deals happening now and download The Krazy Coupon Lady app to track all the best savings at Ulta.
1. Always shop when there’s an Ulta Rewards bonus offer to earn 2x – 5x points.
If you’re an Ultamate Rewards member, shopping without a bonus offer is like throwing real cash in the trash. Seriously! It pays to earn as many Ulta points as you can. And it’s as easy as waiting for a bonus offer to drop.
During bonus offers, Ulta gives you the chance to earn 2x, 3x, 4x, and 5x points on your purchases for a limited time. These offers are usually geared toward certain products or brands, but the best ones offer multipliers for your entire purchase. Those are usually for 2x points on your total.
Overall, you’ll earn Ulta points much faster if you shop with these bonuses, and the faster you earn points, the more you save. To make sure you never miss a bonus offer, keep checking the Ulta app (iOS / Android) and make sure you’re subscribed to Ulta emails.
2. Get 2x points and a free Ulta birthday gift during your birth month.
Whichever birthday month you have on your Ultamate Rewards account is when you get the good stuff. Ulta will email you a free Ulta birthday gift, which is usually a travel-size product like Bare Minerals finishing powder. Happy Birthday to you, beautiful.
You’ll also get to earn 2x points on your Ulta purchases for that whole month. Just remember to activate your extra Ulta points in the birthday email they send you.
3. Spend at least $500 a year at Ulta to earn 25% more points on your purchases.
Yes, it’s free to be an Ultamate Rewards member. But if you spend a certain amount of money at Ulta each year, you’ll upgrade your rewards status and unlock more perks.
If you spend at least $500 a year at Ulta, you’ll become a Platinum rewards member. What’s that mean? Platinum members get to earn 1.25 points per $1 spent at Ulta (versus the normal 1 point per $1 that free members earn). That’s 25% more points on your purchases. Also, Platinum members don’t have to worry about their points expiring because they never do. And when you reach Platinum status, you get an extra treat for your birthday month — a $10 Ulta coupon.
Ulta also has a Diamond rewards status for their most loyal shoppers, who spend at least $1,200 a year. Diamond members get 1.5 points per $1 spent, free shipping on $25+ purchases, and more special perks.
4. Get your hair done at Ulta during 2x bonus days.
Ulta offers a bunch of in-store beauty and salon services, which pay off the most when there’s a 2x or more bonus offer. You can even book your beauty appointment online, so it’s easy to make the most of these services (and earn major points while you’re at it)!
Here’s a glimpse of the salon services you can get at Ulta:
- Highlights or Balayage — starts at $77 for partial highlights
- All Over Color — starts at $77
- Styling — starts at $12 for an accent braid
- Blowouts — starts at $42
- Haircuts & Trims — starts at $47
- Hair Extensions — free consultation
- Color Correction
You can also visit Ulta for brow waxing, makeup, skin services, and ear piercing. Plus, you get 25% off your first Ulta salon visit!
5. Stack bonus points, free gifts with purchase, AND coupon codes to save the most money (and earn more Ulta Rewards)!
Stacking multiple offers on a single purchase is the holy grail of saving at Ulta. Here’s how it works.
I bought a $62 Olaplex Hair Repair Treatment Kit, plus a $34 Tula Purifying Face Cleanser. My total was $96.
- Coupon: I applied one 20% off coupon for Ultamate Rewards members, available in the Ulta app, which brought my purchase total down to $76.80.
- Bonus Offer: With 3x bonus points activated on my entire purchase, I earned a total of 228 points.
- Free Gift: There was also a free gift offer with any $60 Olaplex purchase at this time, so I got a free deluxe sample of Olaplex Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo, too!
100 points = $3 off. So, on a single purchase, I earned enough points to take $6 off my next beauty buy (and almost enough points for $8 off)!
6. Make November your birthday month to get 2x points during Ulta Black Friday.
November is home to some of the best Ulta deals all year. Like freebies, coupon codes, and deep discounts all month.
Ulta’s Black Friday Sale is a can’t-miss event, especially since deals pop up as early as Nov 1. You’ll save up to 50% on a wide selection of beauty items, fragrances, skincare, and hair care from brands like Olaplex, IT Cosmetics, Tarte, Urban Decay, and Yves Saint Laurent. And since you earn 2x points during your birthday month, getting those points in November pays off big time if you set your birth month as November.
Related: Want more birthday freebies? We found all the best birthday offers and discounts.
7. Hoard your Ulta points until you hit 2,000.
Ok, that sounds like a lot, but channel some patience and hear me out:
When you hit 2,000 Ulta points, you’ll get a $125 shopping credit. But if you split up your Ulta Rewards points and redeem only 1,000 at a time, you’ll only get two $50 shopping credits, thereby leaving an extra $25 on the table.
Any redemption that isn’t divisible by 2,000 will not get you the maximum Ulta rewards points value, and any money spent with your shopping credit does not count towards your $500 spent a year to achieve Platinum Status.
TIP: If you don’t get Platinum status, it’s okay! Aim to spend your points at the 750 mark. You’ll get $30 of free makeup, not $125, but if you can’t swing $500 in a year, this is the way to go.
8. Cash in your 2,000+ points for $125 in Ulta store credit.
It’s time to get your shop on.
Once you get enough points, you can cash them in for store credit. And credit can be spent on anything in the store, including expensive brand-name makeup.
Related: Here’s what you’ll get when you sign up for Bath & Body Works’ rewards program.
