Everything You Need to Know About Ulta Beauty Coupons 2021

By Kimberly

Let’s cover everything you need to know about Ulta Beauty Coupons 2021. Ulta always has a coupon. That is the link to the general coupon that everyone can use. There is a coupon available at that link everyday of the year, but Ulta takes a lot of other coupons. I go over every type of Ulta Beauty Coupon below. I track many Ulta Beauty coupons 2021 separately, including Ulta Beauty 20% Off Prestige Coupons 2021, Ulta Beauty Targeted Special Coupons 2020, and Ulta Beauty Birthday Gift 2020 Coupons. General Ulta Beauty Coupons (while I discuss the different types below) do not get tracked. You can find them on the Ulta Beauty website, my Ulta Deals page, or in your catalog. The online catalog rarely has Ulta Beauty coupons 2021 inside, so I am referring to the physical copy you receive in the mail. See Tips For Getting The Best Deal At Ulta for a deeper dive into UltaMate Rewards and how to maximize your deals.

2020 Ulta Beauty Sales Calendar

I have one timeline where I list all major: deals, coupons, GWP, Sales, promotions, and Events. Those who want to see an overall idea of what to expect this year should stop by. See where these Ulta Beauty coupons 2020 line up with others on the schedule. You can also visit my Ulta retailer page to see active and upcoming offers of all types.

Shopping Without a Coupon?

There is always an Ulta 2021 coupon at this link. This is usually $3.50 off a $15 drugstore purchase. You can use it online, get a printable coupon here, or have the cashier scan the Ulta in store coupon. Ulta also takes a lot of other coupons outside of the one found at this link. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Ulta Coupons

Does Ulta have coupons When the 20% Off Prestige Coupon Is Not Available?

Yes, Ulta always has a coupon. You can see the general coupon here. Many of these coupons equal an amount greater than 20% off if you stick closer to the purchase minimum on a drugstore purchase (and purchase in person to avoid a shipping charge).

When is the Next 20% off Prestige Coupon Coming Out?

The Ulta 20% off Prestige Coupons come out in early December. They used to come five or more times a year before COVID, but Ulta tightened the reins. Other prestige coupons will come at unknown times during the year. See the 2021 20% off Prestige Coupon article to see when they’ve come out.

How Often Does Ulta have 20% off?

Ulta does 20% off prestige coupons at least once a year, but it does 20% off one item, a drugstore purchase, or a hair tool periodically throughout the year. Most account holders will receive two offers a year.

How Does Ulta Send 20% off Prestige Coupons?

Ulta 20% off Prestige Coupons are most often sent by email. When they are sent postcard, they have a different code. This means those who receive an email and a mailed code during the same cycle have two codes.

What Products are Excluded From the Ulta 20% Off Prestige Coupon?

Refer to your 20% off prestige Ulta coupon for exclusions. Select Ulta coupons have more exclusions than others. Regular exclusions for this coupon are: Chanel Fragrance, Beauty Steals®, Beauty Deals™, 5 for $5, 5 for $10, Hot Buys, Dyson, and clearance. Starting in 2018, some coupons included Salon Services (for new guests only), Dermalogica Skincare Services (with individual experience exclusions), Benefit Brow Bar Services. Fragrance used to get excluded from select coupons, but it has not been excluded from any offer since before 2017. Lancôme, Clinique, and Dermalogica were past exclusions, but have not been excluded from any recent offers. Hot new releases get excluded at times. Of all the coupons regularly offered, only the Platinum $10 Ulta Birthday Gift Coupon has less exclusions.

How Many Times Can I Use an Ulta 20% Off Prestige Coupon?

Each 20% off prestige coupon at Ulta will only work once, in-store or online. The bar code for the in-store discount is different from the online code, but using it one way will negate the coupon the other way. You fill the coupon code into the promo code field online. Only one Ulta coupon code works online, so this does not combine with any other offer that requires a promo code. This will work with select product Ulta coupons in-store, but it cannot be combined with another Ulta percentage or dollar off coupon. It works with manufacturers coupons from the direct brands, which can only get redeemed in-store. This Ulta coupon used to work in-store and online, but that stopped in 2017.

What is the difference between a general and unique Ulta Coupon?

There is an easy way to tell the difference between the two. Unique Ulta coupon codes will only work once either in-store or online. General Ulta coupon codes work as many times as you want to redeem them within the redemption period. A general Ulta coupon is open to anyone. Unique Ulta coupons are targeted. While anyone can redeem them (meaning you can pass them along to a friend), they can only be redeemed once. I post my unique Ulta coupons when I am not using them, so one of my readers can. 20% off Prestige Ulta Coupons are always unique meaning they can only be used once.

What Does a Unique Ulta Beauty Coupon Code Look Like?

Unique Ulta coupons typically have ten characters for online orders and 20 characters on the bar code for in-store orders. They look unique, so you can spot them even if they have more or less characters than I’ve mentioned. These are more likely to include your member number or email somewhere on the coupon. It may call you out and say it is especially for you or just for you. These are targeted coupons, but you can generally give away any you are not using even if it claims it is only for you. Only when your member number is on the coupon will it pull the offer from your account. Otherwise, it is not really tied to you and will only go on the account of the person who ultimately redeems it. Once you redeem it either in-store or online, the coupon stops working. I’ve seen unique codes work after redeeming them a few times, so it never hurts to try them again. Those are outliers and likely the result of a glitch in Ulta’s system. Never count on using a unique code more than once. While it is a bonus when it happens, it is extremely rare.

What Does A General Ulta Beauty Coupon Code Look Like?

General Ulta coupons have six numbers for online orders and ten numbers on the bar code for in-store orders. They look generic, so you can spot them even if they have more or less characters than I’ve mentioned. If it is a physical coupon that has an online code, make sure you write down the online code before giving it to the cashier. Until it expires, you can use it as many times as you want online.

Is My Ulta Coupon Code Unique or General?

If you cannot easily tell the difference, it is possible it is a the Ulta coupon is a hybrid. Some offers are unique online but general in-store or vice versa. Look carefully at the Ulta coupon to determine which one you are dealing with. Thankfully, hybrids are increasingly rare.

Does Ulta Take Expired Coupons?

Ulta.com is pretty good at cutting coupons off the moment they expire. The only real exceptions I’ve seen to this are the $10 Platinum birthday gift coupon and the old referral coupons (which are no longer given out). This does not mean you should let your birthday gift coupon expire. Just because I had success redeeming one after it expired does not mean you will. Ulta changes things all the time, and this might be a 2019 update. You can try other expired Ulta coupons online, because it never hurts. When it comes to in-store Ulta coupons, it is always up to the cashier.

If the coupon is Ulta (not a manufacturer’s coupon) issued for a product they still have in stock, employees have been known to somewhat honor the coupon. The coupon before it expires would take off the $0.01 charge Ulta adds to the product. Once it expires, it does not remove the $0.01 charge. Some employees will let you have the product with the expired coupon if you pay the penny. Other employees are strict and will not let you use an expired coupon at all. Those are usually the same employees who refuse to substitute products that are out of stock on an active coupon. In fairness, MOST employees will tell you items are not in stock and not offer to substitute the freebie. Rarely have I encountered ones who do. Because they have to override the system to do so, I would never ask them to either.

How many coupons can you use at Ulta?

It depends on the type of coupon. The cashier can key in as many coupons as you qualify for. You cannot use multiple discount coupons on a single transaction with the exception of manufacturers coupons. In other words, you can combine a 20% off prestige coupon with a $2 off coupon from Maybelline. You can also combine a $3.50 off $15 Ulta coupon with the $2 Maybelline coupon, but you cannot combine the 20% off prestige coupon with the $3.50 off the $15 Ulta coupon. However, you can separate your purchases into two transactions in you wish to use both coupons. You can also use as many product coupons that you qualify for in a single transaction, like the birthday gift coupon and other special product coupons randomly sent out. Scroll down to see the answer for Ulta online orders.

How Many Coupons Does Ulta Take?

Scroll up to see the answer for Ulta in-store orders. How many coupons can you apply online? Sadly, the answer is only one. There is only a single promotion code box, so stacking does not work. Of course, you can always split orders if each order qualifies for the coupon you’re using.

How Do Ulta Coupons Affect the GWP and Shipping Minimums?

Ulta Coupons do not affect the GWP minimum. If you qualified for the gift before applying a coupon, you will still qualify afterward. It does affect the shipping minimum. You must meet the free shipping minimum after Ulta coupons get applied. This means if you are an UltaMate Rewards or Platinum member who has $50 in your cart (Diamond members get free shipping at $25) and you apply a $5 coupon, you can get a GWP that has a $50 minimum. You will pay the $5.95 shipping charge for falling below the normal $50 minimum. In this scenario, add something that costs $5 and save yourself the $0.95.

My Drugstore Order is Over $15, Is there an Ulta Coupon For Me?

Unless you’re only buying prestige items outside the typical Ulta prestige coupon dates, there is a chance your order qualifies for an Ulta coupon. Ulta always has a drugstore coupon. If you cannot use a coupon (or even if you can), there are usually other deal opportunities, including: flash sales, point multipliers, Beauty Breaks, GWP, pop-up gifts, sales, specials, hot buys, Platinum Perks, Diamond Perks, beauty steals, and more. You should almost never pay full-price without getting something extra in return for an Ulta order.

The Different Types of Ulta Beauty Coupons 2020

Get Something off an Ulta Drugstore Purchase ($3.50 off $15 is the most common)

The most common 2020 Ulta coupon is $3.50 off $15, which uses a general 6-digit online code or a general 10-digit in-store bar code. Whenever you pull it from that link, you do not even need to print it. Have the cashier scan it or enter the 6-digit code in the promo code box at checkout. That coupon is usually valid on any drugstore items or anything Ulta branded. As long as you’re not purchasing anything prestige (items sold at Sephora or department stores are usually prestige), it should work. This type of offer also comes in: a $5 off $15 coupon, 20% off a single item, or 20% off your whole order. Should the fine print make your head spin, just test the coupon with the items in your cart. If it works online, it will work in-store. It is important to note that while you can combine coupons in-store, you cannot combine discounts. Select the one that works best for you. One of these general offers is almost always available.

Get Something off an Ulta Beauty Collection Purchase ($5 off $15 is the most common)

A less common offer is a unique coupon code for Ulta branded items. It is for $5 off $15 on Ulta Beauty Collection items. This usually comes with online orders. Like all unique coupons, it only works once either online or in-store. There are times when Ulta includes these with every order. Other times, they are only included in gift with purchase bags. Since the buy two, get two free items I went to purchase today were Ulta branded, this is the coupon I used today. (Just as the $3.50 off $15 was once $3.50 off $10, this was once $5 off $10.)

These Ulta Beauty coupons are more common in general form. For the first time in 2018, I saw a general coupon for this $5 off a $15 Ulta Beauty Collection Purchase. (Prior to 2018, it was $5 off a $10 purchase). It came with an Ulta Beauty GWP. You can only use it once in store, because the cashier will collect the physical copy, but you can use the general online code as many times as you want until it expires.

Manufacturers Coupons

If you buy drugstore items from Ulta, it is important to remember that Ulta accepts most manufacturers coupons in-store. Never purchase online if your coupon is more valuable than the time and gas it will take to get to the store, because these coupons cannot be redeemed online. Ulta’s online promotion field only accepts Ulta created coupons, which uses 6-11 digit codes that are not compatible with bar codes. Prestige brands do not release manufacturers coupons (short of sales on their own personal sites).

Ulta Beauty Targeted Dollar Off Coupons

As I mention in the opening paragraph, I track these targeted dollar off Ulta coupons. The main reason I track them is I rarely use them, and I do not want them to go to waste. By sharing them in that article, I hope someone will use them. Most of these targeted offers are unique, so they will only work once either online or in-store. I do list some general ones (when they have a higher value than the typical coupon) in the article as well. Some of these coupons are specific to a certain brand. This one offers $10 off a Smashbox purchase. When these offers are brand specific, they are usually for prestige brands, but NYX is a drugstore brand that at times gets this coupon. These are the “this brand needs love coupons.”

Ulta Beauty Targeted Percentage Off Coupons

As I mention in the opening paragraph, I track these targeted percentage off Ulta coupons. The main reason I track them is I rarely use them, and I do not want them to go to waste. By sharing them in that article, I hope someone will use them. Though brand specific coupons are usually for a specific dollar off amount, there are coupons that give a percentage off. These are unique offers that typically work online and in-store. These are the “this brand needs love coupons.”

Ulta Beauty Birthday Gift Coupon

Every UltaMate member with purchase history gets a birthday offer. Coupons get emailed on the first day of the birth month. Birthday gifts must be picked up in-store before the end of your birth month. Associates must scan your membership number first, which I removed in the photo above. After scanning the membership number, the associates scan the unique code assigned to your coupon. It is a unique coupon so it will only work once. If you make your first purchase shortly after your birthday, customer service will usually email you a coupon (if you call and ask for it). Ulta did this for my son in 2018. Customer service can also look into the reason for why you did not trigger an offer if the first day of your birth month passed and there is no offer anywhere in your inbox, spam, or junk folders. The 2020 Ulta Birthday Gifts changes  by month, and this is the Ulta birthday gift coupon for January 2020.

Ulta Beauty Platinum and Diamond Bonus Birthday Gift Coupon

Platinum and Diamond members also get a $10 coupon for their birthday that is good toward everything but gift cards and services with no minimum. It is emailed on the first day of your birth month. Though it claims to expire on the last day of your birth month, I used it online after it expired in 2017. That does not mean it will work in 2019, but let me know below if your coupon worked after it expired. No way am I going to try to find out on purpose, but things happen. It claims to have a 30-day expiration date, but it works past the deadline. If you spend $10 or less, you get the item for free. This works in-store or online, but there is almost always a shipping minimum online. Like other unique coupons, it is only valid once in-store OR online. I used this for Mario Badescu in 2014, Butter London in 2015, Stila in 2016, and Too Faced (no article) in 2017.

UltaMate Rewards Welcome Coupon

Whenever someone signs up for an UltaMate Rewards account, they typically receive an offer via coupon after they make their first purchase.

Ulta Beauty $10 off Anything Coupon

This magical Ulta coupon made its first appearance in 2018. It is a unique coupon, so it will only work once in-store or online. Like the birthday gift coupon, they seem to work on everything but gift cards and services. Though it claims it has a $50 minimum purchase, I was able to redeem it on a $20 purchase.

My son received this in the mail shortly after he made his first purchase.

Ulta Free Product Coupon

Most welcome gifts are Ulta coupons for free products, like this one for a free Clinique mascara.

Ulta Beauty Referral Coupons

After my first visit to the Ulta salon in 2019, I received an email. It says I can email it to a friend. The friend must bring my email to his/her first appointment to get $15 off a $30 purchase. The email lists my UltaMate Rewards ID number on it, my Ulta salon, and an expiration date, which was 30 days after my visit. This makes it look like anyone redeeming my referral would need to go to my Ulta within 30 days of my appointment and present my member ID# for the referral, so we both get credit. I am not comfortable providing people with my member ID# or my local Ulta, so I just took a screenshot of the offer minus those details. If you can get the $15 off your first visit with the picture below, I do not even care about getting a $15 coupon for myself. Before you refer a friend or someone else, make sure you are okay with them knowing your member ID#. My fear is someone can drain the points on your account or worse if they know your member ID#, so I do NOT like the new referral system.

Ulta Beauty Product Specific Coupon

A rare Ulta coupon is one that only includes one type of item. This one offers 20% off one hair tool. There are limitations, so I’d play with the options online (if I was planning to purchase in-store) before going to see which tool removes the 20%. It uses a general coupon code but has a limit of one per customer. General Ulta coupons can get used as many times as you want, so you could use this again with a separate order. An associate in store may not allow you to use them on back-to-back purchases (especially if your version of this is a physical copy), but it will work online in back-to-back orders.

Ulta Beauty 20% Off Prestige Coupons

My favorite is the 20% off prestige coupon, because it is the most universal. As I mention in the opening paragraph, I track these. While I do use the article to give away the ones I am not going to use myself, I know a lot of people plan their purchases around these coupons. Knowing when they might arrive is extremely helpful. That is my main goal with tracking these offers. It comes out at least once a year for UltaMate members and usually more often for Platinum and Diamond members. At times, there is only a code for online redemption, but that is rare. When there is a bar code for an in-store redemption, this coupon will work either in store or online. This is always a unique coupon. Those with general coupons are not in possession of a 20% off prestige coupon. If you receive a code by email and a second code by mail, they are always different. You have two codes to shop with.

See my 20% off Prestige Ulta Coupons 2020 article for more details. Expect this coupon to release: in early December. It can release at other times during the year, but since COVID there is no set schedule.

This coupon does have some exclusions. It always excludes: Dyson, Kiehls, CHANEL, Beauty Steals®, and Beauty Deals™. When 5 for $5, 5 for $10, Hot Buys, and super hot new releases come out, they might get excluded.

Ulta Beauty We’ve Missed You Coupons

If you go a long time without shopping at Ulta, you may get an email with a unique code inviting you to come back and shop. I actually started receiving these in 2017, because I had to change my email address when I moved to a new city that did not have my Cable company. My Cable company did not immediately cut off my access to my emails, so I got these we’ve missed you coupon offers at my old email address. Every 2017 offer I received is in my 2018 tracking article for dollar off coupons. One day, Ulta decided it wanted to start sending my current emails back to my old email address again. After doing everything I could to get them back on my new email address, I accepted that Ulta was going to keep emailing them to my old Cable company. Because I need my Ulta offers (for me and my readers), I contacted the Cable company to see how I could permanent keep my email address.

These offers stopped coming on my old email address in 2018, because I was once again getting offers there. Fast forward to 2019, and I just received an offer on January 13th on my new email! I never stopped shopping at Ulta, but Ulta stopped sending emails to the email address I asked them to and made me jump through hoops to keep my old email address with a Cable company in a different city! I guess $15 off is the least it could do for my troubles.

The most common offer is $15 off a $50 purchase, but I have seen $10 off a $50 purchase before. These are always unique coupons. Mostly, this offer goes to people who legitimately have not shopped at Ulta in a while.

Not that I mind that I changed my email address, and get offers because my old email address stopped shopping at Ulta.

Ulta Beauty Skin Service Coupons

Some catalogs include coupons for services at the salon or the Dermalogica Skin Bar. The services will always vary. These are not general or unique, but they are dollar off, percentage off, or even flat price coupons. I am guessing ringing these up is different.

Ulta Beauty Hair Service Coupons

Some catalogs include coupons for services at the salon or the Salon. The services will always vary. Most often, these are only open for new guests, but I have seen offers for existing clients. These are not general or unique, but they are dollar off, percentage off, or even flat price coupons. I am guessing ringing these up is different.

You can occasionally find these offers on the main Ulta page.

Ulta Beauty Online Catalog Coupons

As I mentioned in my opening paragraph, most online catalogs from the static left column called current ad exclude general product coupons that are available in the physical catalog. While the online catalog excludes many coupons, it usually includes the salon coupons if they’re in there.

Ulta Beauty Targeted GWP, Just For You Coupons

When it comes to coupons or online offers to redeem freebies, there are three types. These are targeted coupons that are only emailed to select members. I list all of my targeted coupons. One needs a coupon code. The second is an add to cart option utilizing a link. My favorite is the one that automatically loads once you qualify. Coupons cannot be combined online. There is only one promo code field, and trying to enter a second promo code will not work. I only redeem freebie offers that need promo codes if I do not have a discount coupon that applies (which is normal on prestige orders) or if the freebie is more valuable to me than a coupon that gives a discount.

There is No Limit On Online Freebies that Do Not Need an Ulta Coupon Code

Ulta does not limit how many freebies you can add through links or ones that apply automatically. Before placing an online order, you should check all Ulta offers, because deal stacking is easy and encouraged. You are only limited by how many you know about. Sometimes, there are none. Other times, there are a lot. No one gets all the offers and some people get none. Certain freebies have no purchase minimum, so you can pick them up in person with a cheap item to avoid the online shipping minimum. Some GWP options that do not require coupons are also available in store, but you have to remember to ask for them.

There is No Limit on How Many In-Store Ulta Freebies You can Get at Once

I used three Ulta coupons to place this order in person. As I mentioned at the top of the article, the first (which needs a promo code to redeem online) was the $5 off $10 Ulta branded coupon. The second also needs a promo code online. My last one is an online add to cart option. That means I could not have redeemed these items in a single order and would have paid shipping since the total was under $50.

How Do Ulta Coupons Affect Your Points?

Trying to track points on an order that redeems freebies and Ulta coupons is usually confusing. Ignore all the wonky math on your account. Everything here is at 1.25 points, because I was Platinum at the time. Multiplying $6.99 by 1.25 comes to 8.7375, so it should get 9 points. Ulta always rounds down though. It would only award 9 points if the subtotal was $7, instead of $6.99. This rounding method never rounds down to more than a point though, so this is on track. To keep the math simple, I always calculate the final number, but Ulta calculates each item individually. That helps Ulta round down a bit more. I go over Earning and Redeeming Points in more detail in that article.

Unique, Targeted Just For You Ulta Coupon

Reminder: These targeted coupons are expired, but they were not when I used them this order. I am posting them here as an example, but you can check my list to see if I have any active ones. The first freebie is the one that requires a coupon code online. This also has a unique 20 character in-store code along the bar code, which means it is unique online and in-store. It is for a 1oz dpHue Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse. Because I redeemed this in-store, it will no longer work in-store or online.

General, Targeted Just For You Ulta Coupon

The second freebie is the add to cart option, so I was able to redeem it online earlier today as well. It is for a 1.5oz Devacurl Low-Poo Delight Weightless Waves Cleanser. Notice the difference on the bar code from the one above it. This coupon uses a general bar code, so multiple people can use it. It does not need a unique online coupon (or any coupon), so it can also be added to an online cart by multiple people. I usually do not redeem freebies more than once but only redeemed this in-store after my online order to prove it is possible. To rectify getting two, I gifted these to my son’s preschool teachers. There is probably fine print that limits each person to one freebie, but redeeming multiples is still possible. Freebies that look like this are targeted, but not limited.

Hybrid, Targeted Just For You Ulta Coupon

I came across another Ulta coupon that I used for a purchase after this that is unique in-store but general online. This article goes over all coupons, so I wanted to show what it looks like. It has 20 unique characters along the bar code, but there is no online code to redeem. That means anyone with the link who purchases anything can use this online. I’ve already redeemed the in-store coupon, so it will not work again in-store. This offer is for a free 1oz Matrix Total Results Miracle Creator Multi-Tasking Treatment with any purchase. It will work online for anyone until it expires or runs out-of-stock.

What are your thoughts on everything you need to know about Ulta Beauty Coupons 2020? Let me know below.

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Targeted Offers are exclusive to UltaMate Rewards Members, so I do recommend joining. Whenever there is an exclusive or unique Ulta Beauty offer, I will note that above. An advanced breakdown on Earning and Redeeming Points can help you maximize the UltaMate Rewards Program. Coupons are almost always available. I go over all types of Ulta coupons and track 20% off prestige coupons. Remember to check my Ulta Deals page before placing an online order for possible exclusives and advice. There are always general and brand specific offers I do not list, so check the GWP section of the Ulta site as well. Ulta encourages deal stacking. Most major events run on a schedule, and I track each one. Read Tips For Getting the Best Deal at Ulta. See all Ulta articles. View my main page for the guide map to the site and deeper deal exploration.

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