Ulta Beauty Gift Cards: Everything You Need to Know

Welcome to an in-depth review of Ulta Beauty's gift card experience! My goal is to evaluate gift cards to ensure they are easy to use, fraud-resistant, and supported--meaning you have someone to turn to if there's a problem with your card. This review is not a sponsored post; the insights shared reflect my real-life experience.

Ulta Beauty is a premier destination for makeup, hair care, skincare, fragrances, and more. So, whether you're a beauty enthusiast or looking for the perfect gift, dive into our review to discover why Ulta Beauty gift cards are a fantastic choice for any occasion.

Using the Table of Contents below, you can skip to the sections you care about most or walk through the review with me. I hope you enjoy the Ulta Beauty gift card experience as much as I did!

Ulta Beauty Gift Card Review

The Ulta Beauty gift card experience is overwhelmingly positive. The cards are easy to purchase and use, offering a variety of fun gift card designs and free (yay!) gift card holders. They are usable online and in-store (on products AND services), making this gift card versatile and convenient. Security measures, such as PIN protection and monitored placements, add peace of mind. Customer support is robust, with multiple contact options available. Although there are areas for improvement, like better integration with the rewards program and a consistent cash-out policy, Ulta gift cards are a fantastic choice for any beauty lover—or someone like me who wants an expert to help establish a simple routine.

Check out the details below to see why Ulta Beauty gift cards are gift cards you can trust.

Ease of Use (From Purchase to Redemption)

The Ulta Beauty gift card experience is fantastic, from purchase to final redemption. I love the variety of designs available when you purchase gift cards directly from a store, and Ulta comes up roses on this one. You can pick a gift card design that resonates with the recipient (e.g., self-care fund) or matches the occasion (e.g., feliz cumple). Plus, their standard logo gift card designs are festive, too.

One of the best things about buying a gift card directly from Ulta is the value for money. With every purchase, you get a free gift card holder. This means that all the money you plan to spend on a gift card goes directly to the gift itself, not on disposable tissue paper, cards, etc. that only serve the purpose of making the gift card look more like a gift. It's a small detail, but it's one that can make a big difference.

Now, here's where the fun begins. I'm a big fan of pairing a gift card with something extra that gives the recipient something to "open" and enjoy instantly, saving the gift card for a planned visit or online shopping spree. Ulta has an extensive range of items at various price points. Something as simple as a face mask (for under $2) can easily dress up a "self-care fund" gift card. But, if you prefer, stick with the free gift card holder and go to the party!

With over 1,300 locations nationwide, finding a convenient place to use the card is simple. I especially love that gift cards are usable on Ulta services, too. When I redeemed my Ulta gift card, I opted for a makeup tutorial knowing I would likely buy the suggested products--which for me, is much better than trying to figure it out on my own. Of course, Ulta Beauty gift cards are redeemable online, too.

One Caution: Ulta Beauty gift cards are not redeemable in Ulta locations within Target stores. This makes sense, but it could be confusing for gift card recipients. So make sure anyone you give an Ulta gift card to knows of this restriction.

Overall, the end-to-end Ulta Beauty gift card experience is lovely.

Security Features

Ulta Beauty gift cards have pretty solid security features. Most are displayed at the cash register, where they can be monitored. The gift card numbers are exposed (but nonsequential), and the PINs are covered. Ideally, all gift cards should be at the counter with covered gift card numbers for better security. While it's fun for honest customers to pick up the various gift cards to choose a design, retailers could easily adopt a USPS Stamp-buying experience, showing you the gift card design options and pulling the selected one from a secure location. This approach would significantly reduce the risk of tampering. 

Customer Support for Gift Cards

Ulta Beauty excels in customer support, offering various ways to get help with your gift card. You can access support online, in stores, via chat, text, or email. Though the company provides robust customer service, if you have a problem with a gift card, you must provide a receipt for proof of purchase. This requirement leaves gift-givers deciding whether to hold onto the receipt or give it to the recipient. Ulta could solve this problem by adding gift cards (and other transactions) to the Ulta Beauty Rewards purchase history. This way, the information is available if needed, and nobody has to keep a piece of paper or store an email indefinitely, especially since the recipient might encounter an issue much later. Linking the purchase to an account would eliminate these worries.

Beyond that, checking your Ulta gift card balance is simple, with options available online and over the phone.

Finally, after asking the cashiers at the store a few gift card questions and sending a few more inquiries through the online chat feature once I got home, I learned that Ulta has a system to address gift card issues. The availability of live customer support after regular business hours is especially impressive—and quite unusual these days. Knowing that assistance is readily available through multiple convenient channels is comforting.

Now let's get to the scoreCARD.

ScoreCARD Summary

Below is the ScoreCARD that summarizes my evaluation of Ulta Beauty's gift cards, focusing on their ease of use, security features, and customer support. While I keep the specific details of my evaluation criteria proprietary, the key strengths in each category are listed below. The overall rating is a percentage to show how well Ulta Beauty meets the standards I'd like to see in a robust gift card experience.

This summary shows why Ulta Beauty gift cards are a gift card you can trust.