Best for shipping speed
Target Beauty
6.4Mass-market beauty with prestige shop-in-shop access
Best forShoppers 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.
Scores — click any row to see our rationale
Brand Selection & Exclusivity▼6/10
Pricing & Loyalty Rewards▼4/10
Return Policy & Satisfaction Guarantee▼9/10
In-Store Expertise & Consultations▼3/10
Shipping Speed & Convenience▼10/10
Pros
✓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
Cons
✕Target Circle pays back only 1% on purchases — if you spend $500/year on beauty, that's $5 in rewards versus Ulta's equivalent ~$37.50
✕No Fenty Beauty, Rare Beauty, Glossier, or other Sephora-exclusive brands — you'll still need a second retailer for those
✕In-store beauty staff are general Target employees, not beauty specialists — expect limited guidance on skincare ingredients or foundation matching
✕Prestige options are limited to the Ulta shop-in-shop footprint, which occupies a small section of the store and carries fewer SKUs than a standalone Ulta
✕No spa or salon services — Target is purely a retail environment with no professional beauty treatments
✕Medical-grade skincare brands (SkinCeuticals, Obagi) and high-end European indie brands (Augustinus Bader, Aesop) are not carried here