We tested out the rewards programs at Sephora and Ulta - and the winner was clear for one key reason
I signed up for both rewards programs online.
After signing up, I was taken to my new Beauty Insider profile.
I was prompted to create a nickname, upload a profile photo, and explore the online community.
The community allows rewards members to join groups, browse makeup looks, and view a Beauty Insider event calendar.
You can also chat with other Beauty Insiders as you shop.
On the Beauty Insider homepage, I was able to see all of my recent activity, edit my beauty traits to get custom recommendations, and see what benefits and rewards I was eligible for. Rewards can be redeemed with points, which are earned for every dollar spent.
I liked how accessible everything about the Beauty Insider program was online.
To put the rewards program to the test, I went shopping at Sephora. You need at least 100 points for the smallest reward, so I had to spend at least $100.
I bought four products, each from a prestige brand, and spent a total of $119.77.
I had earned 110 points, so I was eligible for a small reward. I had the choice of an eye shadow stick, lip gloss, or eye cream, all small enough to fit in the palm of my hand. There were no choices as far as brand or color.
Considering that I had to spend a minimum of $100 to get the reward, I hardly think it was worth it — having no choice in the brand or product was frustrating, and I would have had to spend another $150 to be eligible for the next set of rewards.
That being said, the rewards get better as you accumulate more points. For 2,000 points, you can get a sampler kit from a prestige makeup brand. However, rewards can sell out, and the products are still mini-sized.
Though I only tested the program with a small purchase, I found that the rewards were disappointing compared to how much you need to spend to earn them.
Next, I signed up for Ulta's program.
It asked for more information than the Sephora registration, including my home address and phone number.
After signing up for the Ultamate Rewards program, I was taken to a welcome page. The welcome page gives an overview of how the rewards program works. You earn one point for every dollar spent, and use those points for discounts on any product.
There didn't seem to be an equivalent to the Beauty Insider community.
On the Ultamate Rewards homepage, you can see how many points you've earned, how many points you can redeem, and how much you can save using those points.
100 points equates to $3 off any purchase, 750 points equates to $30 off, 2,000 points equates to $125 off, and so on.
After signing up online, I went shopping at Ulta. The stores didn't have identical products in stock, but I bought similar products from the same brands as at Sephora.
I received two free gifts with my purchase thanks to an in-store promotion Ulta was running. I also grabbed a small cleanser at the register because I thought I would be able to redeem my $3-off reward. My total was $128.47.
Unfortunately, even though I earned 100 points, I was told I'd have to come back in 24 hours to use my $3 off because it couldn't be applied right away. I was able to earn and redeem my points in one transaction at Sephora, but I liked that Ulta lets you use rewards points for discounts on any items in the store.
With enough points, you can often get $40+ prestige products for $5 or less.
Though the rewards are better at both stores when you accumulate points over the course of a year, I preferred Ulta's rewards system. While it was nice that Sephora's points were redeemable right away, the rewards were small, and there was little choice in what products you could get. At Ulta, I could have chosen anything in the store and gotten $3 off, including sale items and drugstore brands that are already inexpensive.
There was more freedom to spend the rewards on products I actually want, plus I received additional free gifts thanks to in-store promotions.
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