Beauty is never full price if you can wait.
Sephora and Ulta both run big twice-a-year sales, and their points are worth real money if you use them right. YesStyle is cheaper for K-beauty, but slower and stricter.
For prestige brands, Sephora and Ulta are close on price. The savings come from timing: Sephora’s Savings Event gives 10% to 20% off by tier, and Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty runs daily 50%-off steals in spring and fall.
Returns got tighter. Sephora now gives 30 days for a refund, and Ulta gives 30 days for a refund and store credit after that. YesStyle won’t take back opened beauty items at all.
Our picks, by what you need
01 / Picks- Prestige brandsSephoraFree shipping when you’re signed in, and the Savings Event is the best time to stock up.8.2
- Points & drugstoreUlta BeautyDrugstore and prestige in one cart, with points that are worth more the longer you save them.8.2
- K-beauty for lessYesStyleCheap Korean and Japanese skincare with stackable codes, if you can wait two weeks.7.4
Beauty brands we’ve checked
02 / Reviews
Sephora
Prestige beauty. Sign in, wait for the Savings Event, watch the 30-day returns.
Ulta Beauty
Drugstore and prestige in one cart. Save points, don’t spend them early.
YesStyle
Cheap K-beauty with stackable savings. Slow shipping, strict returns.
Side by side
03 / CompareFine print to check at any beauty store
04 / Checklist- Sign in before checkout. Loyalty members often get free shipping and points that guests don’t. Sephora ships free to signed-in Beauty Insiders.
- Know the sale calendar. If a big sale is weeks away, wait. Most other promo codes can’t be combined with the store-wide events.
- Opened-item returns. US stores usually take opened makeup back within the window. Overseas stores often don’t.
- Points expiry. Unused points expire at all three stores on different rules. Check your balance before it lapses.
- Import charges. Orders shipped from abroad can now carry US import charges. Check who pays before you order.
Beauty shopping questions
Facts checked Sep 2026. Store policies change; the checkout page is final.
Is Sephora or Ulta cheaper?
List prices on the same product are usually the same. Ulta tends to win on points value and drugstore brands, Sephora on free shipping when signed in. The sale events matter more than the store.
When is the next Sephora Savings Event?
It runs twice a year. Spring 2026 was April 10 to 20. Fall dates hadn’t been announced when we checked, but past fall events started around late October or early November.
Is YesStyle legit?
Yes. It’s run by YesAsia, a Hong Kong-listed company, and has been online since 2006. Expect slower shipping and no returns on opened beauty items.
Can I return used makeup?
At Sephora and Ulta, within their 30-day refund windows, generally yes. At YesStyle, opened beauty items can’t be returned.