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10 Editor-Tested Ulta Deals to Snag ASAP
Black Friday Week has started off strong, which means we’re currently privy to no shortage of deals on luxury beauty buys across retailers and brands like Sephora, Nordstrom, Kiehl’s, and Bluemercury. But by far one of the most generous Cyber Week promotions is currently being held over at Ulta, which is blessing beauty superfans with sales of up to 50 percent off (and sometimes even more) on the makeup, skin care, and hair care favorites you’re either dying to shop again or have long had on your wishlist.
As with any sale, it can be a bit tough to hone in on the best of the best amidst Ulta’s sweeping sale section. That’s why we’re coming to the rescue, by rounding up the 10 most worth-it Ulta deals that have all been tested and approved by our team of editors, past and present. Whether it’s an irritation-soothing cream from K-beauty powerhouse Cosrx or the sensational Clinique Almost Lipstick in its Black Honey shade — something that’s made appearances on “The Breakfast Club” and Drew Barrymore circa the ’90s, while still having a chokehold on present-day beauty gurus — everything on this list will either upgrade your own makeup bag or treat the loved ones on your list to only the most coveted of social media obsessions that live up to all their marketing-copy promises.
And while you don’t have to be an Ulta Beauty Rewards member to mine the below savings, joining the club does have its perks. Signing up is free and gets you access to complimentary birthday gifts, points on every dollar spent, early access shopping events, and beyond.
Ready to stuff their stocking and become “gift giver of the year” in no time? Shop these editor recommendations before it’s too late.
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Lancôme Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting Volumizing Mascara
Editor testing and review notes: “I’m quite picky when it comes to mascaras, since I turn away from anything that clumps, smudges, flakes throughout the day, or looks unnatural on my lashes. It’s no small honor, then, that I have stayed loyal to this Lancôme hit for many years now. Not only does it fan out my eyelashes while making my eyes look bigger (maybe it’s placebo effect, but I’ll take it!), but the product also more than lives up to its claim of leaving lashes ‘feathery soft,’ something I feel most intimately as I easily erase it with the help of a makeup wipe at the end of a long day. The curved nature of the wand helps it grab every last one of my lashes and lift it to the sky. What more could a girl want from her trusty mascara?” — WWD Senior Commerce Writer Stacia Datskovska
Price upon publish date of this article: $14
Gucci Bloom Eau de Toilette
Editor testing and review notes: “This full-on floral perfume could easily be written off as old-fashioned and outdated, but the notes of jasmine and tangoon creeper — a fun, South Indian plant that smells sweet and fruity — keep it feminine, flirty, and youthful, making the Gucci offering an especially popular perfume for young women. I had no idea I loved the smell of tuberose so much until I tried this!” — Former WWD Commerce Editor Nikki Chwatt
Price upon publish date of this article: $84.60
Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream
Editor testing and review notes: “Simply put, this is an excellent basic face cream. It provides enough moisture to keep my skin feeling soft all day but never greasy. A little goes a long way, so I rate the value five stars, too. My favorite way to wear it is over a few pumps of the Cosrx snail mucin serum — these two give my skin a dewy finish when applied together.” — Former WWD Commerce Editor Claire Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $15.60
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear 24H Full Coverage Foundation
Editor testing and review notes: “As someone with sensitive skin, it’s not easy finding a foundation that provides full coverage without breaking me out or triggering any flare-ups. But the second I tried this Lancôme formula, I knew it was going to become my new go-to foundation, and luckily, my skin agreed. I love how incredibly lightweight it feels while providing buildable matte coverage that lasts all day long. And when I have breakouts or blemishes that I want to conceal with more layers, it doesn’t get cakey, which is sometimes a problem on my dry/combination skin.” — Former WWD Commerce Editor Lauren Fisher
Price upon publish date of this article: $37.10
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Editor testing and review notes: “I was skeptical of Dyson’s claims that this hair dryer was engineered for every hair type and style because no hair tool is truly universal, but add on one of its five attachments and it actually becomes hair dryer that anyone can use. Literally one of the easiest things I’ve ever done was blow-dry my hair using its diffuser attachment, and for the times you want stick-straight hair, the styling concentrator will be your go-to. As for that wide-tooth comb, it was able to shape and lengthen my curls as they dried. Unlike a hair-dryer brush, it didn’t flatten my hair — I still had bounce and volume.” — Former WWD Commerce Contributor Kaitlin Clark
Price upon publish date of this article: $379.99
Clinique Almost Lipstick
Editor testing and review notes: “Clinique Black Honey is one of the best lip color shades I keep on hand. One coat adds oomph to my natural lip color for daytime wear, and it’s easy to build up with a few layers for a deeper, richer berry lip. I love that this celebrity-approved product (seen on the likes of Drew Barrymore, Emilia Clarke, and Molly Ringwald!) gives me the look of a lip stain with the feel of an ultra-emollient lip balm. The shade feels has a cool undertone to it that makes my teeth look whiter and brighter, too. It’s everything an everyday lip color should be: comfortable, hydrating, and boasting mirror-free ease of application.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $17.50
Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator
Editor testing and review notes: “As someone with dry skin, moisturizers with a gel texture usually don’t cut it. However, Clinique’s Moisture Surge Hydrator quickly became my go-to face cream this season because it’s lightweight and intensely hydrating — like an I.V. drip for your skin that doesn’t leave you with a greasy or slimy feeling. In fact, the bestseller is cooling on contact and has a way of making any foundation I apply on top look more natural and radiant.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $21
Wet Brush Go Green Thick Hair Paddle Detangler
Editor testing and review notes: “My tresses are thick, curly, and especially unmanageable right when I step out of the shower or wake up in the morning with a major case of bedhead. Previous hair brushes I’ve used succeeded only at ripping out certain strands of my hair, tugging at others, and in general contributing to a less-than-pleasant brushing experience. Then the Wet Brush Go Green Thick Hair Paddle Detangler came in to completely change all this for the better. With its unique bristle pattern that easily glides through thick ‘dos, as well as flexibility in the bristles themselves, detangling is possible in less than a minute. It’s safe to say I’m never buying another brush!” — Datskovska
Price upon publish date of this article: $13.99
Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizers, Set of 5
Editor testing and review notes: “All TikTok-viral Touchland sprays come in aesthetically pleasing, compact containers capable of evenly distributing the product, while having delightful and never-overpowering scents that, much like we’ve seen in men’s and women’s fragrance trends over the past few years, can be paired with other aromas in a modern way — nothing like your grandmother’s old perfume. As for the formula, it’s almost shocking to see that it has a 70-percent alcohol content, because it doesn’t dry out my skin at all (and as someone with dry skin problems, that’s a major bonus). It feels refreshing, like a favorite face mist. Best of all, each hand sanitizer lasts for months, making this fruit-powered set a major steal when calculating cost-per-use.” — Former WWD Commerce Director Adam Mansuroglu
Price upon publish date of this article: $31.50
Nodpod The Weighted Blanket for Your Eyes
Editor testing and review notes: “I’m a sensitive sleeper, so using a mask is a must at night. I was amazed at how well this pressure point–targeting Nodpod top seller stays in place (without needing straps), and the weighted aspect of it all does actually help me fall asleep — akin to the effects of a weighted, full-body blanket. I’ve been using it every night since I received it and highly recommend this to anyone who has trouble getting restorative shut-eye.” — Former WWD Commerce Contributor Jamie Allison Sanders
Price upon publish date of this article: $26.60
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Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, Cosmopolitan, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on must-shop beauty retailers and their not-to-miss Black Friday sales.
