If computers could talk, ours would complain about how much time we spend on Ulta’s website. But that will never change, because blink and you miss the retailer’s fast and furious sales. From September 23 through 29, it’s Ulta Beauty’s Fall Haul event, an annual offering that takes up to 50 percent off a ton of makeup, hair, and skin products. From mascara that builds up the sparsest set of lashes, to a go-to conditioner, and a vampy liquid lipstick made for cooler days, the only way the sale could get better is if the store subbed in crunchy leaves for packing peanuts. From our checkout basket to yours, here’s everything worth shopping from the Fall Haul sale.
Our back-to-school days may be long gone, but there’s something about September that just makes us want to stock up. Call it a holdover from the days of picking out color-coded folders, but this time of year means fresh makeup brushes, juicy new mascaras, and a skin care regimen revamp. Luckily Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty sale starts Sunday, September 2 and runs through Saturday, September 22. That’s three full weeks of 50 percent off (yes, half price!) their best-selling products and the items we’ve had our eyes on all summer long. This year, each day on the calendar offers up to four different beauty deals. With such steep discounts, there are no wrong answers here—but we’ll still try to help you narrow things down instead of rampantly clicking ‘add to cart.’ Keep scrolling for the best deals for each of the 21 Days of Beauty.
The only thing better than an early Labor Day sale is an early Sephora Labor Day sale. And somehow this year, the perks are even greater because the beauty retailer just updated its Beauty Insider loyalty program, making it easier to score extra reward points and deals. Called the Sephora Beauty Insider Appreciation Event, the discounts are running now through September 3 and will be rolling out in tiers based on what level insider you are.
Like usual, VIB Rouge members (shoppers who spend $1,000 each year) get first access to the deals this weekend. They also get the biggest discount: 20 percent off with the code YESROUGE. Everyone else, meanwhile, can join the sale starting Thursday, August 30. VIB members (people who spend at least $350 per year) can get 15 percent off with the code YESVIB, while anyone who’s a Beauty Insider (it’s free; you just have to sign up) can nab 10 percent off with the code YESINSIDER.
The best part? The options are endless, which we mean quite literally. Nearly everything on the site is included in the sale. To give you a good place to start, we asked Glamour editors to share what’s at the top of their shopping list. Scroll on to see what’s worth adding to cart.
We all know how hard it is to leave Sephora with just one item. You know the feeling when you go in there for just an eyeliner and you walk out with a bag full of products? Yeah, us too. And after a couple trips to the register, it feels good to be rewarded for our irresponsible purchases. Sephora has felt our pain over the years and decided to completely revamp its Beauty Insider Program, which means we’re able to save even more. And in even better news, these changes are happening as soon as this month—August 14 to be exact.
As a little FYI, Sephora’s Beauty Loyalty program is broken down into three forms of membership, which is determined based on how much you spend per year. There’s Insider, which you can become by walking in and making a purchase once; VIB, if you spend $350 or more in a calendar year; and Rogue, if you rack up $1,000 in a year. And if you’re one of the customers who always takes the time to fill out those email surveys about changes you want to see, feel free to thank yourself. These changes were made because of membership feedback. Hello, customer appreciation!
VIB and Rogue members will especially benefit from this makeover. Here are some insights into the changes and how you can get more bang for your buck:
Points Per $1: Now when you check out at the register, your points will have even more value. According to Allure, VIB members will now earn 1.25 points for every dollar spent, while Rouge members will now earn 1.5. (The ratio for Insiders will stay at one to one.)
Profile Access: Keeping track of all these points and rewards will be easier than ever, thanks to streamlined and simplified profiles that make it easy to figure out your status, point totals, and potential rewards.
Birthday Gifts: We all look forward to choosing our birthday gifts and while members across all three levels receive a birthday gift, VIB and Rouge members will be able to choose either a gift or 250 extra points.
Rewards: The Rewards Bazaar (where you can trade in those points for rewards) will now have five times as many rewards at the 750+ point level, including two to three full-size products for VIB and Rouge members. Expect more reward options in general, with choices in color, hair care, skin care, fragrance, and even wellness. Rouge members will now also have the option to redeem 2,500 points for a $100 Rouge Reward to use on their favorite Sephora products.
Courtesy of Sephora
Of course, nothing feels better than getting a deal on top of a deal—which is why we polled our editors for the tricks they use to make the best of their time (and money) at Sephora. Feel free to steal any and all while you put the new perks to use.
Sign up for the Insider Newsletter. “I know—you need another email in your inbox like a hole in your head, but this one is surprisingly worth it. The newsletter often tips you off first when big sales are coming up, and every week, I always look forward to seeing which stuff will be 50 percent off for the Weekly Wow.” —Maureen Choi, beauty contributor
Download the Sephora app. “The last thing any of us need is another app with push notifications, but Sephora’s app is legit. It’ll ping you when good deals are on the horizon and a lot of time they have app-exclusive sales that you wouldn’t otherwise know about.” —Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor
Cash in your VIB points in-store. “A little-known fact worth repeating: If you’re a Beauty Insider of any level, you have to make a purchase online in order to cash in points for products. However, this isn’t the case in-store. You can just pop up at the counter, ask to trade them in, and walk out with a free mini haul.” —Sarah Michelson, beauty assistant
Ask for free samples. “Most people think the only place you can get fragrance samples is at department store counters. But if you ask, most of the time they’ll give you those mini tubes at Sephora. Fragrance is so particular, I always want to give it a full test drive before I buy it.” —Tess Kornfeld, editorial assistant
Sign up for a free beauty class or treatment. “Sephora is constantly holding free and free-with-purchase beauty classes where you can master new tricks and get treatments. I recently tried its pore vacuum facial, and let me tell you, the results were insane. You do have to spend $75 in the store to get it, but let’s be real, it’s about what you’d spend on two products anyway. That money goes fast.” —Rachel Nussbaum, beauty writer
All good things must come to the end—and such is the case with the 2018 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. After weeks of scouring for everything from jeans to beauty products, the slashes and discounts will disappear from product pages on August 6—which means all those items you’ve been eyeing for weeks will return to full price. And with the clock ticking, we’re getting a second wind for Nordstrom’s annual blowout. There’s still so much ground to cover: statement sweaters, polished blazers, dainty jewelry, staple footwear… Make some room in your closet, and hit up the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale one last time—these deals are certainly worth it. We picked 28 of our favorite fashion pieces still on offer, ahead.
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The dog days of summer are here, which means outside of blasting the AC, there’s not much more to look forward to from now until Labor Day—except shopping. Following in the tradition of July being a sleeper month to score big deals (see: Prime Day and Nordstrom’s still-going anniversary sale), Tarte is making up for any signs of summer slump with a beauty blowout. From now until August 3, every single item (with the exception of its cult favorite Shape Tape Concealer) is 25 percent off on Tarte’s website. (Tarte Rewards members even save an additional 10 percent.) It’s the perfect excuse to restock on faves like Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush or pick up a new treat like the Rainforest of the Sea Highlighting Eyeshadow Palette.
All you need before diving in is the promo code “BESTIES” to enter at checkout. We also thought you might also want a little guidance navigating the massive, glittering, unicorn-themed warehouse that is Tarte’s website. Ahead, a few Glamour-approved picks to add to cart.
