Ulta Beauty Price Tracker

Ulta Beauty was founded in 1990 by former Osco Drug president Richard George and Terry Hanson; its first store opened that October in Lombard, Illinois, and the company is still based nearby in Bolingbrook. The original name, Ulta3, signalled a third way to buy beauty besides drugstores and department stores, and Ulta still mixes drugstore and prestige brands with its own Ulta Beauty Collection. It runs around 1,500 US stores, nearly all with a full-service salon, and owns the UK and Irish beauty retailer Space NK.

Prices revolve around Ulta Beauty Rewards, a free programme in which members earn points on every dollar, turn them into money off later purchases and get birthday perks; bonus-point offers are activated in the app, and higher member levels add benefits. A store credit card earns extra points. Alongside 21 Days of Beauty, the sale section and brand promotions change constantly. ulta.com doesn't ship to international addresses, so UK shoppers can't order there; Space NK runs separately under its own name.

Because Ulta stocks budget and prestige lines side by side, individual products are often discounted for short periods, and shades or sizes of the same item don't always move together. Track the exact shade or size you use – a foundation, a hair tool, a fragrance – and SaleAlarm emails you when the price drops. If you need it quickly, Ulta also offers buy online, pick up in store, promising pickup in two hours or less.