Ulta Beauty recently opened a store in my hometown. Being a dude, I had never heard of Ulta until I saw their sign being erected at the local shopping mall. After a bit of research, I quickly discovered that Ulta is a huge phenomenon and an incredibly popular beauty store in the United States. WAY bigger than Sephora and Sally Beauty Supply combined. Because of the Ulta craze, I figured it was time to write an article with some insider ways to save money. I came up with 12 and hope to add even more in the future.

Get Deals Sent to Your Inbox

While I’m not a huge fan on signing up for retailers email list, Ulta is a definite exception.

By signing up at the bottom of their homepage you’ll get new deals and exclusives sent to you a few times a week. The best part is they’ll send you special offers and coupons that you’ll only get by signing-up.

If you shop at Ulta regularly, it’s a great way to be kept in-the-know.

Shop Online on Wednesdays

Every Wednesday from 10am-4pm CT, Ulta offers something called a “Beauty Break” for online shoppers.

By visiting the Ulta homepage during that time period you’ll score a bunch of cool free gifts.

See Also: Save Money at Bath & Body Works with These 11 Smart Tips

Don’t Ignore the Ulta Rewards Program

Known as the Ultamate Rewards, it’s a completely free program that will definitely save you money.

Have you ever seen someone shop at Ulta with a coupon good for $3.50 off your $15 purchase? Odds are the rewards program is how they got it.

The program works by building up points via your online and in-store purchases. You can then redeem your points on ANY product that Ulta has in-stock.

One dollar spent equals one point. But you’ll be notified via email when specific products will earn you 2x, 3x or even 5x bonus points.

Oh, by the way, the Ultamate program will also send you a free gift on your birthday!

Double Dip an Ulta Coupon

3-5 times per year Ultamate members will be sent a coupon good for 20% off your entire order.

But did you know that you can use this coupon BOTH online and in-store?

The coupon has a separate code for online and in-store use. So first use the online code via the Ulta website, then take it in-store and save 20% yet again.

The Ibotta App Has Ulta Rebates

If you’re not using the Ibotta app to save at Ulta Beauty you’re leaving money on the table.

While most shoppers think of Ibotta for grocery items, they have a cool section for retail stores and Ulta is at the top of their list.

At the time of this writing Ibotta is offering 13 rebates that range from $2 to $4 back on specific items.

Get in the habit of checking Ibotta after you shop at Ulta as you stand a great chance of being able to redeem a rebate and get some money in your pocket.

Look for Free Gifts and ALWAYS Keep Them

Whether it’s an in-store promotion that lands you a free gift with purchase, or any other free Ulta offer, it’s yours to keep even if you return the item you paid for.

Takeaway: Always buy the item that lands you the free gift or samples. You can always return the item later if you have no need for it.

Check Out The Ulta Online Ad

For some reason the Ulta online weekly ad is kind of hard to find.

But when you click on this link you’ll get access to all the newest and latest deals.

So if you know you’re heading to Ulta this week check out the ad first so you know where to find all the deals once you walk into the store.

Get Cashback at Ulta Beauty

Be sure you go through a cashback site before you do any shopping on the Ulta website.

By doing so you’ll get an easy 2-4% back on your entire purchase. Think of it as free money on shopping you’d be doing anyways.

Here are a few cashback sites that I recommend:

• TopCashBack
• Rakuten
• Swagbucks
• Mr. Rebates

Any other cashback sites that you like to use?

Never Pay Full Price for Ulta Gift Cards

Another clever way to save at Ulta Beauty is to buy Ulta gift card’s for less than face value.

For example, right now at Raise.com you can save about 10% on Ulta gift cards.

Typically the larger the gift card dollar amount, the bigger the savings.

Ulta Takes Manufacturer Coupons

If you’re a loyal Ulta shopper you’re probably aware that they also accept manufacturer coupons in-store.

But many casual Ulta shoppers probably have no clue.

Before you shop at Ulta check out a site like Coupons.com and print out any manufacturer coupons.

Brands to look for include Maybelline, Olay, Clairol, L’Oreal Paris, and Neutrogena.

Download the Ulta App

Once you download the free Ulta app you’ll have access to fun features like the Glamlab, but more importantly some cool ways to save.

Namely weekly coupons like $3.50 off $15 or more as well as deals on specific brands and product lines.

By having the app on your phone you can quickly access it when standing in the checkout line and have the Ulta cashier scan your $3.50 off coupon.

Know the Awesome Ulta Return Policy

The Ulta return policy is darn impressive and worth knowing.

Basically you have 60 days from the date of purchase to return the item FOR ANY REASON.

This means you can take home the beauty product, use it for a day for a two and bring it back it you don’t like it or have an allergic reaction to it.

Just be sure to keep your receipt and all original components.

Bonus Tip: Ask for Free Samples at Checkout

The next time you’re standing at the Ulta checkout counter, politely ask the store associate if they have a free sample or two they can hand out.

According to Ulta loyalists, you stand a 80-90% chance of scoring some cool freebies just for asking. It’s a great way to try out new beauty products without having to spend a dime.

Ask the Reader: How do you save money at Ulta Beauty? Let me know your tips and tricks in the comments section below.

By Kyle James