Ulta Beauty Reviews: Does It Live Up to the Hype or Disappointment?

Introduction

Struggling to decide if Ulta Beauty is the holy grail for your next salon visit or online beauty splurge? With thousands of opinions out there, it can feel overwhelming. In this review, discover real Ulta Beauty experiences from glowing transformations to hair-raising horror stories and see if it truly delivers. Wondering whether Ulta is worth your time and money? Keep reading for all the details, plus a quick verdict up front.​

Overview & Key Specs

Ulta Beauty is a well-known American beauty retailer offering a mix of prestige and drugstore brands, alongside an in-store salon.​
Key specs & features:

• Cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, haircare, bath & body
• In-store and online shopping
• Full-service salon (haircuts, coloring, treatments)
• Loyalty program and frequent promotions

Price Range:

• Drugstore basics: from $2
• Prestige brands: up to $120+ (hair and makeup services often $25–$250+ depending on service/region)

Where to Buy:

• Official site: ulta.com
• 1,300+ physical stores across the US

Why I Chose / What I Expected

Ulta promises a one-stop beauty shop: everything from budget buys to luxury picks, plus convenient salon services in-store. The main question is, can Ulta deliver convenience, selection, and service all under one roof? Is the salon consistent in quality? For this review, the main criteria:

• Ease of order/salon booking
• Product selection and pricing
• Service (in-store, online, and salon)
• Satisfaction with results (haircuts, colors, store staff)

Performance & Testing Results

Salon Experience: The Highs & Lows

Positive: Shoppers sometimes find amazing staff who listen and do a great job making clients feel comfortable, offering solid recommendations, and delivering impressive transformations. Customers who connect with standout stylists praise personalized service and satisfying results, often becoming repeat visitors when staff exceed expectations.​

Negative: Others leave unhappy, noting rushed or indifferent service, mistakes (like uneven haircuts or poor color jobs), and unfriendly policies. Some felt their complaints weren’t taken seriously by salon managers. Reviews often describe hurried appointments, missed requests, or trouble getting management to resolve issues.​

Online Orders, Website, and App

Positive: Ulta’s wide brand range and deals are a favorite for beauty fans, and staff sometimes help fix product issues quickly. Some shoppers note quick problem-solving and friendly associates, especially during in-store events or launches.​

Negative: Many buyers struggle with online order problems. Reviewers describe technical website flaws, confusing order processes, delayed shipments, missing items, or even unhelpful responses to lost or returned packages. Gift card and points issues are common, with customers left frustrated by robotic, slow support that rarely resolves issues fully. Missed loyalty points, confusing policies, and missed promotions add to the irritation.​

Pros & Cons Summary

Pros

• Broad selection of brands (drugstore and high-end)​
• Occasional standout staff in the store and salon​
• Generous rewards program
• Fun in-store events and brand launches that excite beauty fans​

Cons

• Inconsistent salon results and stylist expertise​
• Customer service (especially post-sale support) frequently disappoints​
• The online order fulfillment and refund process is unreliable​
• The website and app have usability issues​
• Salon and store service can feel unpredictable from visit to visit​
• Promotions/loyalty issues and technical snags often go unresolved​

Best for:

Shoppers who value convenience and variety, and are willing to research staff/stylists beforehand.

Who might avoid:

Those seeking flawless salon results every time, or who require reliable online order fulfillment and customer service.

Pricing, Value & Variants

• Drugstore products: from $2
• Prestige items: up to $120+
• Haircuts/treatments: typically $25–$250+, depending on the type of service and location
• Reward programs can offset costs for frequent buyers
• Overall value: Decent for in-store shopping, much less so for online if order issues arise​

User & Expert Feedback

Feedback clusters around inconsistent service. Shoppers keep coming back for excellent staff and fun store events, but many are quick to call out problems with salon results, tech glitches, and unhelpful support. Forums highlight real frustration with missed promotions and order errors, although live events and brand launches win praise among beauty lovers.​

Common Positive Comments:

• Standout employees who are friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable make shopping or salon visits worthwhile and often turn first-timers into loyal customers.​

• Several customers highlight in-store events, variety, and the unique chance to try new brands as major draws, especially for regular beauty shoppers.​
• Fast resolution by good staff (for returns or product mishaps) occasionally impresses, showing that Ulta’s service can shine if you reach the right person.​

Common Negative Comments:

• Many users run into inconsistent or indifferent service: staff sometimes seem uninterested, and salon quality can be very unpredictable between stylists and visits.​

• Online order and app/website complaints are widespread, from delays and lost packages to glitches applying rewards or promotions.​
• Customer support is frequently called out for being slow, robotic, or unhelpful, especially with returns, lost points, or tricky policy questions.​
• Problems with gift cards, missed loyalty points, or confusing policies leave even frequent shoppers frustrated and turning to forums for help.​

Final Verdict & Recommendation

Ulta Beauty is a mixed bag: great for grabbing everyday favorites and catching sales in person, but risky for big salon changes or critical online orders. Those who do their research and find the right stylist can walk away happy. If seamless service and reliable delivery are must-haves, alternatives like Sephora or local salons may serve better.

• When to buy: Shop in-store for basics, try salon only with a recommended stylist.
  When to skip: Avoid if seamless customer service and online fulfillment are critical priorities.