March 2, 2016

Ulta and Sephora Exclusives A New Makeup Trend?

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ulta and sephora

Are Ulta and Sephora Exclusives a new makeup trend we’ll start to see happen in the future?

Recently, Tarte intentionally or unintentionally started a new trend by introducing their Rainforest of the Sea Summer 2016 Collection exclusively at Sephora. This was an extensive collection that includes a range of lip, face, eye, and skincare products. But wait there’s more…! Tarte also introduced their new Double Duty Beauty Collection exclusively to Ulta which also included a completely range of makeup. Both collections are quite large!

Now we’ve seen exclusive products here and there in the past both two complete collections? Unheard of until now.

Fast forward to this past Sunday when Too Faced launched their Peanut Butter and Jelly Palette as well as their new La Matte Color Drenched Matte Lipstick on their website and Ulta. Both the palette and the lipsticks are only available at Ulta and on Too Faced’s own website. So no, Sephora won’t be getting either product. We have yet to hear if Sephora will get an exclusive selection of products from Too Faced as well but I think it might be safe to say that they’ll be something cool in the works for Sephora and Too Faced fans.

I do wonder if they’ll be more brands that will start introducing two separate collections one of which can be purchased at Ulta and the other at Sephora.

I like this idea on some level because hey, more makeup is always a good thing. But I also feel like, “Oh no! I am going to be so broke!” There’s such a thing as too much. For example, the past two Tarte Collections are very extensive so you can splurge a good $300 or more dollars to get everything you want from both collections. Don’t get me wrong there’s such a thing as great coupons however, sometimes your makeup addiction needs to be fed right away and you can’t wait on a coupon to get the goods.

Do you like the idea of getting two complete and different makeup collections from your favorite brands that will launch and be available at two completely different stores?

What if Nordstrom starts doing this too!?

Oh my!

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About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Kate

    I’ve heard Sephora is getting exclusive melted matte lipsticks.

    • Isabella Muse

      Yeah, I heard that too! I didn’t like the lipsticks so hopefully the lipsticks are better!

  • yelena

    hmm not sure how I feel about this. I think it’s great to have more makeup options of course, but I always liked the freedom of choosing where to buy…whether I want point perks or points I can cash it to spend on more makeup lol.
    with the point perks from you-know-where, being incredibly disappointing over the past couple years, and being unable to even cash in my 2000 pts (I know I know, let’s not go there), I’m beginning to be more drawn to Ulta where I can accumulate points and use them as cash back to buy whatever I want 🙂
    so if given the option between one collection or the other, I would be more inclined to shop from ulta unless my VIB sale coupon is available from Sephora. just my humble opinion tho.

    • Ruth

      I’m with you, Yelena! I’ve almost 3000 points with sephora and haven’t cashed them in for anything in a good 2yrs+. The products for the points just haven’t been anything that I wanted to try. The money off program at Ulta is awesome & it’s even better when they offer bonus points so I can get even more money off. But I really like a lot of the brands that I can get at Sephora (bite, nars blushes) that aren’t available at Ulta. So they’ve both got me.

      • kellly

        Me, too! I almost never use those Sephora points. I might be inclined to use them if I got a regular size of something but for those itty-bitty sample things, it’s not even worth it. Or maybe if the samples were of some new, not yet released product, that might make the gifts more interesting, too. (are you reading this, Sephora?)

      • yelena

        right? like even department store gift with purchases are better than Sephora perks now and that’s a shame because I have so many unused points and nothing worth cashing in, and when they do have great perks you can’t get them. what the hell Sephora? I used to be exclusive to Sephora but until they get the hint, my money is going else where.

  • Christina

    I for one do not like this trend, if it should become one. While I don’t love Sephora, I love the selection that they have and that I can easily go online and get everything I need in 2 days (if I’m too lazy to go to the store). My Ultas NEVER have anything in stock, and I hate purchasing from them online. I prefer to have the freedom to choose where I’ll spend my money, whether it’s Ulta, Nordstrom, Macy’s (varely rarely), or Sephora based on the convenience factor. I don’t mine limited edition pieces here and there, but not when it’s whole collections.

  • Tracy

    I hate exclusive collections. I know they think making it restricted will push makeup maniacs to rush in and buy like Mac’s collections, but for me, it makes me give up more often than usual. The worst is when it’s exclusive to Ulta because they don’t have stores and they don’t ship to Canada. When I see Too Faced Ulta exclusives, I don’t even look or check out reviews, I know I can’t get it coz Too Faced doesn’t ship to Canada either. It really irritates me !

    • Ada

      now consider for a second that you live in a country with no Sepfora either. (Israel). and are stuck with overpriced french cosmetics only. on;ine shopping takes over a month to arrive and many firms do not ship to I srael either. Oh what a beauty nightmare.

  • Nicki

    As a Canadian beauty junkie, I’m not a big fan of this idea. The TF website charges way too much in regards to duties (I’ve had a basket that doubled in price because of extra charges) and Ulta doesn’t ship to Canada. There’s going to be a lot online that other people in my boat aren’t able to get their hands on.

  • Sharon

    I adore your website Isabella! While I understand and respect all the views expressed here I guess you guys are lucky to have more make up options and choices to buy them….so wish we could have Sephora and Ulta in the UK 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      Thank you Sharon! You are very right! I know what it is like to want something I can’t have from abroad!!! I didn’t mean to be insensitive, sorry about that <3!

  • Zovesta

    Not a fan, since I don’t go to Sephora, and I just plain hate limited edition releases, period. =/ I want everything to be permanent, all the time!

  • Sharon

    Not at all Isabella and thank you for replying, I will keep a ‘worthy list’ based on your reviews…

  • Dee

    Don’t like. I’d rather be able to get what I need in one spot.

  • devon

    I’m with Ruth on this one. Ulta has more coupons and you can get $$ off with points, so I generally try to save certain products for there but then Seph has other brands and sometimes awesome perks. But good grief w these collections. I have learned to check QVC first!!

  • Anita

    I’m from Canada so I hate this trend too – Ulta exclusives means excluding Canada.
    Urban decay did it with the Ulta exclusive Xx vice reloaded palette.
    But then last week they released it on their own website, and I also saw on their Facebook page that it is soon coming to Sephora. I don’t understand why they said it was Ulta exclusive in the beginning. Maybe the Tarte products will eventually be everywhere too? Weird!

  • Rachel R.

    I hate exclusives so much! Especially the Ulta exclusives. I’m one of the people who have not been able to check out of Ulta.com for months, and Ulta knows people are having the issue. They just say they don’t know why, tough luck, sorry. Even though I’m Platinum, I can’t take advantage of the pre-releases, because they are online only. It’s so frustrating.

    I realize it’s all about the money from the deal, but I think it’s cruddy for a brand to force its customers to buy from a certain store.

  • amy

    Sometimes a product will be released in one store, as an “exclusive”, then show up at the other (does anyone else remember the “Sephora Exclusive” UD Vice LTD palette…? Apparently, more palettes must have been found in a warehouse somewhere, because according to UD, there were no plans to make more, yet they showed up at ULTA, then ended up 1/2 price…).

    Unless it’s Kat von D or NARS (which hasn’t excited me in a couple of seasons), I will most likely go to ULTA. I can buy my HE products, then use my points for DS stuff, along with frequent BOGOs/sales & coupons, LOL!

  • brooke

    hate this 🙁

    Us Canadians have zero access to ulta.. especially when they have great brands like Lorac and their rewards program/coupons seem SO much better than what sephora offers.

  • Iris

    The Sephora one isn’t too bad as we have Sephora in Canada. Ulta only = bad. We don’t have them in Canada and shipping prices from US to here are sky high.