Beauty Sales Calendar: When Sephora and Ulta Sales Happen

The biggest US beauty sale events are the Sephora Savings Event, typically in spring and fall, and Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty, typically in March and from late August into September. Ulta also typically runs shorter seasonal events and a Black Friday sale. Timing shifts each year, so use this as a planning guide and confirm dates with the retailer.

The typical US beauty sale calendar

This table shows the pattern from recent years. It's a rough map, not a schedule. Names, dates and terms can change, and retailers usually confirm the details close to each event.

Time of year	Event	Retailer	Typical format
March	21 Days of Beauty (spring)	Ulta	Daily deals on selected products, plus weekly deals
Late March to early April	Spring Haul	Ulta	Shorter event with selected brands discounted
Around April	Sephora Savings Event (spring)	Sephora	Sitewide percentage off, based on loyalty tier
Late June to mid-July	Big Summer Beauty Sale	Ulta	Selected deals over several weeks
Late August into September	21 Days of Beauty (fall)	Ulta	Daily deals on selected products, plus weekly deals
September to early October	Fall Haul	Ulta	Shorter event with selected brands discounted
Late October into November	Sephora Savings Event (fall)	Sephora	Sitewide percentage off, based on loyalty tier
Around Black Friday	Black Friday promotions	Both	Varies by year, often with selected deals
Late December into January	Jumbo Love and Love Your Skin	Ulta	Focus on large hair care sizes and on skin care

How the Sephora Savings Event typically works

The discount usually depends on your tier in Beauty Insider, Sephora's free loyalty program. The tiers are Insider, VIB and Rouge, with VIB and Rouge based on annual spending. Higher tiers typically get a bigger percentage off, and Rouge members typically get in first.

As one past example, NBC Select reported that the spring 2026 event gave 10% off to Insider members, 15% to VIB and 20% to Rouge, with Rouge access opening several days earlier. Terms can change from one event to the next, so don't assume those numbers will repeat.

A few practical notes:

• Join the free program before the event. Tier-based offers need an account.
• Check your tier and access window in the app or your account.
• Read the terms. Coverage of the spring 2026 event mentioned limits on some brands and said other offers couldn't be combined with the sale.

How Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty typically works

This event is built around rotating daily deals, so a specific item might be discounted for just one day. Coverage of the event also describes weekly deals alongside the daily ones. It runs for about three weeks, with Ulta typically publishing the deals close to or during the event.

That makes it different from a Sephora-style event. A sitewide percentage lets you choose nearly anything during the window, while a daily deal only helps if your exact product comes up. If you have one item in mind, watch the published deals and don't assume it will be included.

How to plan a purchase

Use these steps before any event, and you'll spend less on things you didn't need.

1. List what you'll run out of. Check what's close to empty, and include anything nearing its review date. The period-after-opening guide explains how to track that.
2. Separate needs from wants. Put must-haves at the top so a limited budget goes to them first.
3. Compare the original against the dupe. A cheaper alternative at full price may still undercut the original on sale. Check unit prices, not sticker prices. Find alternatives in the dupe database.
4. Record current prices. Note what each item costs a week or two before the event, so you can judge whether a sale price is really lower.
5. Check whether you can wait. If you're close to running out and the next event is months off, buying now might be the sensible call.
6. Check membership status. Confirm your Beauty Insider or Ulta Beauty Rewards account is active and that your access window hasn't been missed.
7. Read the fine print. Look for excluded brands, purchase limits, and whether a discount requires a code.
8. Check the return policy. This matters most for shades you haven't tried.

Which sale suits which purchase?

If you're buying	Consider
A prestige brand sold at Sephora	The Sephora Savings Event, since it's typically sitewide
One specific Ulta item	Watch 21 Days of Beauty deals, but have a fallback
Several items from one retailer	An event with a percentage off the whole order
A fragrance	Check event terms carefully, then compare the fragrance category for alternatives
A shade you've never worn	Test first, then wait for the sale

Common traps

• Buying because it's on sale. A discount on something you won't use costs more than no purchase at all.
• Stockpiling short-lived products. Mascara and other eye-area items are poor candidates for bulk buying.
• Comparing against the wrong number. A "was" price tells you less than the price you recorded yourself.
• Forgetting shipping thresholds. Adding items to reach free shipping can erase your saving.

Set it up once

The simplest approach is to pick the handful of products you buy regularly and watch those. Add them to your shelf for price alerts, so you don't have to track each sale yourself.