One thing I love more than Ulta is a good Ulta deal. And Ulta Advent calendars can make for a great return on investment if you shop smart. For example, in 2023 we saw their Ulta Beauty Collection 6 Days of Bath Fizzers calendar, regularly priced at $20, get marked down to $10 in December. Breaking that down, each bath fizzer cost about $1.67 at the sale price. Individual bath fizzers at Ulta typically cost $8 each. So that’s a 79% discount when you look at the per item cost.
Of course name brand calendars can cost big bucks, like the Bobbi Brown 12 Days of Glow Bestsellers Advent Calendar we saw in 2023, priced at $180. While that broke down to $15 per item, three of the products included were full-size items, including a mascara that retails for $34. So you aren’t always comparing apples to apples when identifying a good Ulta advent calendar deal.
Below I’m breaking down some of the standout advents from 2023, and opportunities I expect you’ll have to save on the 2024 editions.
If you’re shopping with your Ultamate Rewards Credit Card for the first time, you’ll save 20% instantly on that initial purchase with it. But don’t go signing up for store cards just for a one-time 20% off savings. There are other ways to get what you love for less. It’s all outlined in our Ulta store hacks. Plus, you’ll find everything you need to know about Ulta’s Black Friday before it happens.
Wherever you shop for your beauty needs, download The Krazy Coupon Lady app to get the best money-saving sales delivered right to your phone.
Look to Ulta-branded advent calendars for the best deals.
Like I mention above, that Ulta 6 Days of Bath Fizzers was quite a steal at the sale price of $10. And since it was a six-day Ulta advent calendar, not 24 or even 12, you could scoop it up on, say. Dec. 19, and still be right on time as you opened each item. Similarly, there was an Ulta Beauty Collection 12 Days of Bath calendar originally priced at $22 that got marked down to $12 in Dec. 2023, which meant you were paying just $1 per item (or per day if you’d prefer to look at it that way) if you scored the sale price.
Additionally, Ulta brand items are eligible to be used with Ulta coupons, like a $3.50 off $15 purchase or $10 off $40. Often times brand names, like Bobbi Brown, for example, are excluded from those coupons, making it harder to bring the cost down.
RELATED: The Very Best Ulta Free Gifts Offer Savings Up to 65% — Here’s How
Percentage-off Ulta coupons and dollar-off coupons are abundant during the month of November at Ulta.
Ulta starts their holiday sales early, long before BlacK Friday. And they love to offer up various coupons along the way. You’re likely to see the most common Ulta coupon — $3.50 off of $15 throughout the season. But unless you’re buying a calendar that’s $18 or less, hold out for a 20% off coupon. That will yield you the most savings. However, like I mentioned earlier, the most popular advent calendars sell out fast and are rarely restocked. In that case, use whatever you can, or stack your Ultamate Rewards points with that $3.50 off $15 coupon to bring the cost of an item you really want down as much as possible.
If you love The Body Shop advent calendars, compare Ulta sales to The Body Shop sales before purchasing.
In 2023 there were three version of The Body Shop’s advent calender: The Advent of Change (smallest), The Big Advent of Change (medium), and The Ultimate Advent of Change (largest). These ranged in price from $89 to $195. Don’t pay those prices. Not only did we see these get marked down in Dec. 2023 at Ulta, but we also saw them discounted on The Body Shop’s website as well. Generally speaking when one marked the calendars down, the other did exactly the same. But it’s a good idea to check the competing retailer before buying to make sure you’re getting the best price. And, of course, stacking any available Ulta coupons on a sale price.
Use your Ultamate Rewards points on Ulta Advent Calendars in order to save.
In the early days of the advent calendar buying season, before they’re anywhere near a sale price, look to your Ultamate Rewards account. If you aren’t already a member, you should be. It’s totally free to join and you earn points on every single purchase you make in store or at Ulta.com, assuming you share your rewards number at checkout. For the most basic Ultamate Rewards tier, shoppers earn 1 point for every $1 spent. Once you hit 100 points (or $100 spent), you can redeem them for a $3 reward. But if you’re a saver, you can hoard those points to hit larger redeemable rewards. For example, at 250 points you’re eligible for an $8 reward.
Use these redeemable rewards to lower the cost of your Ulta Advent Calendars.
Stack rewards with Ulta coupons.
The super sweet thing about shopping at Ulta is they have coupons (dude, sometimes they’re IRL coupons found in magazines). You are welcome to stack a reward with a coupon. In fact, here’s what Ulta says in their FAQ.
Yes, your points can be combined with other discounts and special offers, as well as any form of payment accepted at Ulta Beauty. For example, you can redeem your points and use the magazine coupons (e.g., $3.50 off $10) in the same transaction.
So let’s say you’re eligible for a $3 reward and one of those $3.50 off $10 coupons. That’s a total of $6.50 off an Ulta Advent Calendar. It might not seem like huge savings, but it sure beats paying full price.
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