Best Beauty Stores
6 options
Clientele Rated
Best overall
Sephora
8.4Largest prestige beauty retailer with 500+ brands
brand selection10.0
pricing7.0
return policy9.0
in-store expertise8.0
shipping speed8.0
✓Exclusive home to Fenty Beauty, Rare Beauty, and Glossier — you genuinely cannot buy these at Ulta or Target
✓500+ brands span skincare, makeup, hair, and fragrance, covering drugstore-adjacent to ultra-luxury price points
✓Rouge members (those spending $1,000+/year) get first access to new product launches and free custom shipping
✓Returns accepted on used or opened products within 30 days for a full refund — no 'it must be unused' fine print
✓Free same-day delivery through Instacart in select metros — useful when you run out of foundation before an event
✓In-store staff are trained to do foundation shade matching and skincare consultations at no charge — no appointment needed at most locations
✓Shop-in-shop presence inside 1,100+ Kohl's locations means you can access Sephora even without a standalone store nearby
Best for shipping speed
Target Beauty
6.4Mass-market beauty with prestige shop-in-shop access
brand selection6.0
pricing4.0
return policy9.0
in-store expertise3.0
shipping speed10.0
✓1,900+ stores means there is almost certainly a Target within a short drive wherever you live in the US — more locations than any competitor here
✓Same-day Drive Up and in-store pickup available at most locations — you can order online and pick up a foundation in under two hours
✓90-day return window on opened beauty products is the longest of any retailer in this comparison
✓Ulta Beauty shop-in-shop in 800+ Target locations brings prestige brands like MAC, Clinique, and NYX without needing a standalone Ulta store
✓Weekly deals and Target Circle coupons regularly discount beauty items that sell at full price at Sephora and Ulta
✓Target Beauty Box subscription sends curated sample-sized and full-sized products for a flat fee — a low-cost way to discover new brands
✓Combining beauty with a grocery and household run means no separate trip — saves time for shoppers who already shop Target regularly
Best for pricing
Ulta Beauty
8.2Prestige and drugstore brands plus salon services
brand selection8.0
pricing9.0
return policy8.0
in-store expertise7.0
shipping speed9.0
✓1 point per $1 spent translates to roughly 7.5% back in rewards — higher cash return than any other major beauty loyalty program covered here
✓600+ brands span every price point from $3 e.l.f. lip balm to $300 La Mer cream — no second stop required
✓1,350+ US stores make it the most physically accessible prestige-adjacent beauty retailer in the country
✓Licensed salon inside most locations means you can get a haircut, color service, or blowout while shopping — saving a separate trip
✓Ulta Beauty shop-in-shop inside 800+ Target locations means even rural shoppers have a nearby option
✓60-day return window on opened products is longer than Sephora's 30-day full-refund cutoff
✓Platinum and Diamond loyalty tiers unlock free shipping on all orders regardless of cart size
All best beauty stores · 6 options
Sephora
Largest prestige beauty retailer with 500+ brands
brand selection10.0
pricing7.0
return policy9.0
in-store expertise8.0
shipping speed8.0
8.4Open →
Ulta Beauty
Prestige and drugstore brands plus salon services
brand selection8.0
pricing9.0
return policy8.0
in-store expertise7.0
shipping speed9.0
8.2Open →
Bluemercury
Spa-focused skincare boutique with personalized service
brand selection5.0
pricing5.0
return policy6.0
in-store expertise10.0
shipping speed4.0
6.0Open →
Space NK
Curated European and indie prestige brands, US retail
brand selection7.0
pricing8.0
return policy6.0
in-store expertise7.0
shipping speed4.0
6.4Open →
Dermstore
Online-only retailer for dermatologist-recommended skincare
brand selection7.0
pricing6.0
return policy5.0
in-store expertise3.0
shipping speed5.0
5.2Open →
Target Beauty
Mass-market beauty with prestige shop-in-shop access
brand selection6.0
pricing4.0
return policy9.0
in-store expertise3.0
shipping speed10.0
6.4Open →
Leaderboard · Overall score
| # | Name | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sephora | Shoppers who want exclusive access to brands like Fenty Beauty and Rare Beauty under one roof and spend enough annually to unlock Rouge-tier perks ($1,000+/year). | 8.4 |
| 2 | Ulta Beauty | Shoppers who want to buy a $10 NYX eyeliner and a $60 Urban Decay palette in the same trip, or who want to combine beauty shopping with a haircut at the in-store salon. | 8.2 |
| 3 | Space NK | Shoppers specifically hunting for hard-to-find European or indie prestige brands — like Augustinus Bader, Biologique Recherche, or Aesop — that aren't stocked at Sephora or Ulta. | 6.4 |
| 4 | Target Beauty | Shoppers who want to grab drugstore staples and a few prestige picks in the same errand — especially families already shopping at Target weekly who want to add Ulta Beauty's prestige brands to their cart without a separate trip. | 6.4 |
| 5 | Bluemercury | Shoppers who want a trained esthetician to walk them through a skincare routine in person — and are willing to pay premium prices for that one-on-one attention without a pushy sales environment. | 6.0 |
| 6 | Dermstore | Shoppers who already know which medical-grade skincare brands they need — like SkinCeuticals, Obagi, or iS Clinical — and want a one-stop online source with professional credibility, since these brands aren't sold at Sephora or Ulta. | 5.2 |
What moved
↑
Sephora — Brand Selection & Exclusivity
9.5→10.0
today↑
Ulta Beauty — Pricing & Loyalty Rewards
8.5→9.0
12 days ago↑
Space NK — Pricing & Loyalty Rewards
7.5→8.0
25 days agoMost recent change
Sephora — Brand Selection & Exclusivity
9.5→10.0
Carries 500+ brands with true exclusives including Fenty Beauty, Rare Beauty, and Glossier that are not sold at Ulta or Target Beauty.
How we score best beauty stores
Brand Selection & Exclusivity
How many brands are carried, whether they include exclusives you can't find elsewhere, and whether they cover both mass and prestige price points.
Pricing & Loyalty Rewards
What the rewards program actually pays back in real dollars, whether there are tiers or perks for repeat shoppers, and how prices compare across the market.
Return Policy & Satisfaction Guarantee
How easy it is to return something that didn't work for your skin — time limits, whether you need a receipt, and whether used products are accepted.
In-Store Expertise & Consultations
Whether trained staff or estheticians can help you figure out what you actually need, and whether that service costs extra.
Shipping Speed & Convenience
Free shipping thresholds, delivery speed, physical store count, and whether you have flexible pickup or same-day options.
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