⚠️ Eligibility Check: FREE RETURN + INSTANT REFUND.
Standard Ulta Beauty returns via mail cost ~$10.00+ (you pay shipping) and take 14–21 Days to process. However, select zip codes are now eligible for Fee-Free Drop-offs and Immediate Refunds via Closo. Check your status before you print a label.
There is a specific kind of optimism that hits you when you walk into Ulta. You swatch a foundation on your hand, and under the store lights, it looks like a perfect match. You convince yourself that this $45 bottle is the one that will change your life. You grab a new perfume on the way out because, hey, you have a coupon.
But the next morning, in the harsh light of your bathroom mirror, the foundation is orange. And that perfume? It gives you a headache after twenty minutes. You need to return them.
That was me last month. I had nearly $200 tied up in products that just didn't work for me. Since I ordered some of them online, I figured I’d just mail them back.
I didn't realize I had just signed up for the "Double Pain." Unlike some competitors that offer free return labels, I discovered that Ulta requires you to pay for return shipping. I was going to lose $12 just to send back products I didn't want. On top of that, the refund would take weeks to hit my account. I was effectively paying a "try-on fee" for makeup that didn't match.
If you are currently staring at a bottle of shampoo that smells weird or a palette that arrived broken, and you are trying to navigate the ulta beauty return policy, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve analyzed the fine print, the "gently used" rules, and the loyalty point clawbacks to help you get your money back without the headache.
How to return Ulta Beauty items (The Slow & Costly Way)
Ulta’s in-store return process is great, but their mail-in process is decidedly old-school. If you don't live near a store, or if you just prefer to handle things from home, you are at a disadvantage.
The Standard Mail-In Flow
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Find Your Order: Log into your account or check your email for the order confirmation.
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The "Shipping" Reality: Ulta does not typically provide a prepaid free return label for "preference" returns (e.g., wrong shade, didn't like it). You are responsible for the postage.
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Pack the Box: You need to pack the items securely. If you are returning liquids (shampoo, perfume) or aerosols (hairspray), you must comply with shipping regulations. Ground shipping is often required for these hazardous materials, which is slower.
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Pay at the Counter: You take the box to UPS, USPS, or FedEx. Depending on the weight of those shampoo bottles, this can easily cost $8.00–$15.00.
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The Long Wait: The package ground-ships to their distribution center. Once it arrives, it enters a queue. Because they have to inspect "used" makeup to ensure it hasn't been tampered with or emptied, inspection takes time.
The Financial Reality: You are paying a "Beauty Tax." If you return a $30 lipstick but pay $8 to ship it back, you are losing nearly 30% of your money. Plus, you are floating that deficit in your bank account for weeks while the package travels across the country.
This is the old way: You pay for the label, and you wait for the bank. But if you live in a "Fast Zone," you can skip both. Use the tool below to see if your zip code qualifies for a Free Return with Instant Refund.
Common issues shoppers face with Ulta returns
I’ve analyzed hundreds of consumer reports regarding the return policy ulta beauty uses, and the frustration usually stems from a few specific pain points.
1. The "Used" Product Grey Area
Shoppers constantly ask: what is ulta beauty return policy regarding used items?
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The Rule: You can return opened and used makeup, but it must be "gently used."
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The Trap: If you use 80% of a moisturizer and try to return the empty jar, they will reject it. The general rule of thumb is at least 75–80% of the product must remain. If you abuse this policy, your account can be flagged, blocking you from future returns.
2. The Points Deduction (The "Clawback")
Ulta’s loyalty program (Ultamate Rewards) is amazing, but it complicates returns.
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The Math: If you earned points on a purchase (e.g., 50 points), and then return that item, those points are deducted from your balance.
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The Danger: If you already spent those points on a different purchase, your point balance can go negative, or they might adjust the refund amount. It gets messy fast.
3. The Receipt Struggle
If you try an ulta return without receipt, you are at the mercy of the system.
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The Backup: Luckily, if you used your loyalty number (phone number) at checkout, they can look it up.
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The Risk: If you didn't use a loyalty account, you will likely be denied or offered the "lowest selling price" as store credit. Since Ulta runs BOGO sales constantly, that $50 item might scan as $25.
4. Same Day Delivery Returns
If you used same day delivery stores (via DoorDash or similar services) to get your makeup instantly, you cannot return it through the delivery app. You must take the item to a physical Ulta store. You cannot mail it back to the warehouse.
Here’s where it gets interesting... some neighborhoods have unlocked a way to bypass these shipping costs and delays.
The New Standard: Free Returns & Instant Refunds
While the standard logistics model relies on you paying for postage and waiting for inspection, third-party innovations are changing the game.
This is where services like Closo come in.
Closo acts as a bridge between you and the retailer, removing the friction points of the "Double Negative" (Shipping Costs + Waiting).
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No Postage Fees: You don't need to pay UPS $12 to ship a box.
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No Hazardous Material Stress: You don't need to worry about ground shipping rules for perfume.
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$0 Fees: In eligible zones, the return process is free.
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Instant Money: The moment you drop the item off at a local kiosk or partner location, the refund is triggered instantly.
Why many shoppers prefer using Closo
It comes down to simple math. Why pay $10 to ship a return and wait 2 weeks, when you could pay $0 and wait 2 minutes?
When you use the standard mail method, you are effectively paying a penalty for picking the wrong shade. With the Closo model (the "Double Positive"), you retain the full value of your purchase. You hand over the items, scan a QR code, and by the time you walk back to your car, the notification is on your phone: Refund Processed.
Are you eligible for Free & Instant Returns?
Because this involves physical logistics—especially for "hazmat" items like hairspray and perfume—this premium service isn't active in every zip code for Ulta Beauty yet. You need to verify your location.
This premium service isn't active in every zip code for Ulta Beauty yet. You need to verify your location.
If the tool says "Not Active," don't worry. Enter your email to Vote for your Zip Code. We prioritize launching in neighborhoods with the most requests. Plus, voters are entered into our monthly sweepstakes to have their standard return fees reimbursed while they wait.
3 "Secret" Hacks for the Ulta Beauty Exchange Policy
If you aren't in a Closo zone yet, or if you are dealing with a "lost receipt" panic, you need to know how to maneuver through the system. Here are three methods to hack the policy.
Hack #1: The "Loyalty Lookup" (Never Keep a Receipt Again)
The single best thing about Ulta is the loyalty program.
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The Hack: Always, always give your phone number at checkout. Even for a $5 item.
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The Benefit: If you lose the paper receipt, the store associate can look up the transaction in your history for up to 365 days. This guarantees you get the full price back to your original payment method, rather than the dreaded "lowest selling price" credit.
Hack #2: The "Gift Receipt" Pivot
Did you receive a gift set where you hate the perfume but love the lotion?
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The Rule: Can i return perfume to ulta? Yes, even if opened.
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The Hack: If you return a gift with a gift receipt, you get store credit. Use that credit immediately to buy the specific item you actually wanted. If you don't have a gift receipt, ask them to look up the giver's phone number. If they find the transaction, they can usually process the return as a "blind return" to store credit without alerting the giver.
Hack #3: The "Split Payment" Refund Trick
If you paid with a combination of a Gift Card and a Credit Card, returns can get weird.
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The Issue: Ulta's system usually refunds the Gift Card first, then the Credit Card.
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The Hack: If you want the cash back to your card, return only the portion paid by card first (if separate items). Or, ensure you keep your physical gift card or e-gift card email, as the refunded balance will often go back to that specific card number.
FAQ: People always ask me...
"Can I return used makeup to Ulta?"
Answer: Yes. The ulta beauty return policy used products section allows for returns if you are not satisfied. The unwritten rule is that at least 75% of the product must be remaining. Do not return an empty bottle. If you abuse this (e.g., returning 10 used items a month), they may flag your account.
"How do I manage my Ulta credit card?"
Answer: For billing questions or to check if a refund has posted to your store card, you need the ulta beauty credit card login. This is hosted by Comenity Bank, not the main Ulta shopping site. You can also make an ulta beauty payment online through the Comenity portal. Returns to the credit card usually take 3–5 business days to appear after Ulta processes the refund.
"What is the policy for returns without a receipt?"
Answer: If you have no receipt and no loyalty account attached to the purchase, Ulta treats it as a non-receipted return. You will receive a merchandise credit for the item's lowest selling price in the last 90 days. You will also be asked to show a valid ID, and Ulta tracks these returns to prevent fraud.
Conclusion
Navigating the ulta beauty return policy is a balance of leveraging their "gently used" generosity while avoiding the costly mail-in shipping fees. The brand is incredible for testing new products, but the "Double Negative" of paying postage and waiting for refunds is a major friction point for online shoppers.
You have a choice. You can follow the old rules: pay the shipping fee, pack the box, and wait. Or, you can check your eligibility for the modern solution.
Check if you can save that shipping fee and get your money back today.
Related Articles:
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Sephora vs. Ulta: Which Return Policy is More Forgiving?
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How to Maximize Your Ultamate Rewards Points (and Not Lose Them on Returns)
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The Truth About "GWP" (Gift With Purchase) Returns
