May 29, 2020

I Don’t Know If I’ll Make It To Ulta Diamond for 2021

I don’t know if I’ll make it to Ulta Diamond for 2021 and it feels kind of odd. I mean, I still have plenty of time but I’m not even half way there yet….! My current Ulta statement is $294 that means I need $906 more dollars. Without a 20% Off in a few months and 21 Days of Beauty being sort of a bust I’m feeling like my Diamond Status is in jeopardy. We still have the Holidays to get through but with a lack of new beauty releases I’m sort of feeling like I won’t make Diamond Status this year. The Sephora Rouge Event did secure my status of Rouge but Ulta I’m a little skeptical I’ll make it there this year.

It’s funny because when the originally introduced the Diamond Rewards Tier I felt $1200 was way too much and that I’d never spend that much at Ulta because I do tend to shop Sephora or department stores more. But I did it and quickly which shocked me a bit. You see, I don’t really shop the drugstore options at Ulta as they tend to be more expensive unless a sale is going on. Most drugstore brands are way cheaper at Target or even drugstores compared to Ulta prices. As for fragrance most of my collection is niche, indie, or higher-end and Ulta doesn’t carry brands like that so, that was out for me. But they are pretty good with Mid-Range and certain unique product lines from Korean brands, etc…! Ulta can be an interesting experience sometimes as they combine the best of drugstore, mid-range, and a touch of higher-end in one location. I always wondered how I’d feel if Sephora started suddenly selling drugstore brands! I mean, L’Oreal makeup is sold in France at Sephora would I be weirded out to see a L’Oreal Mascara at Sephora for $14.99!? Ulta nails it as far as variety plus they have started adding more and more brands into their catalog like NARS, MAC, Chanel, even Tom Ford Fragrances.

So, yeah, maybe Ulta Diamond 2021 isn’t that unattainable after all 🙂 I dunno…! But when I saw my status this morning I was like, “Damn! Am I going to make Diamond Status this year?” I’ll keep you posted.

Do you think you’ll make Ulta Diamond this year?

Curious minds!

31 Comments

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

  • Michelle

    It’s much easier for me to hit $1000 at Sephora (I’m already there) than $1200 at Ulta (I’m about where you are dollar wise there as well), since Sephora has the most of the products I prefer. I get my hair done at Ulta, but not often enough to get to Diamond. So it won’t happen this year.

    • Isabella Muse

      I found it way easier to hit it at Sephora too. For some reason takes me ages at Ulta.

      • tina__em__

        I didn’t make Platinum last year and I know I won’t make it this year either. I haven’t been want a lot of makeup, just repurchasing my daily go-to’s. This year I spent more at Sephora but that’s only because I had gift cards saved. I’m always Insider level at Sephora and I’m okay with that. I’ve spent $38 at Ulta and $117 at Sephora so far this year.

  • Kimmwc03

    I highly doubt I’ll make it to Diamond this year. I barely made it last year (had to make a last minute purchase on December 31). Not even sure if I’ll make it to Rouge but I am half way there.

  • kjh

    Thanks for making me look. We’re hitting June, and almost to the half-way mark. I have 1010 left to spend for Diamond again. 744 for rouge. Doubt I’ll make either, but I’m old and fairly well stashed. Now, if I could use Ulta CARD points, it would be easily done. I love their points conversion, but I can rack up so many Ultabucks with card use, that I would be unlikely to have to PAY for products. (!!!??? “�♂️”�♂️) No product, no tier enhancement. Ulta has some of my s/c (Cosrx, thanks to you), all my hair care (no real issues, like your vast amounts), and most bath products. But if the card purchases outside the store counted for tier advancement, it’s another way they could beat the pants off Sephora.

    • kjh

      Omg, who knew a shrug emoji would turn into a guy symbol? Riotous. That’ll teach me to put in emojis. If anyone can explain that to me…..

    • Kristine Girardot

      If I have a point balance of 3464 and it still says I’m platinum how much more in points do I need to be to make it to diamond?

  • SleepyTime Tay

    **Sigh** I hit Diamond a month or so ago. I shifted a lot of my shopping from Sephora to Ulta–I just feel like the rewards, sales, GWPs, and the store proximity to me make it worth it. Plus, I get my hair cut there about every 6-8 weeks, so it adds up fairly quick.

      • Itang

        It’s crazy but I was thinking the same thing a few weeks ago when they sent me an email about my points. I already hit too status at Sephora with the spring sale but not even close at Ulta. I have been diamond every year since they have introduced it and this year I have $944 left to go. Ever since the lockdown, my urge to splurge has been very minimal. It’s hard to want to buy things u are not really wearing since ur not going anywhere!! While my bank account is happy, I’m a little stressed about my statuses at Ulta and Nordstrom’s … 1st world problems!!!

  • kimkats

    I’m a mere platinum, but they raised the $$ amount for that this year to $500 and I’ll be stunned if I make it. I have $445.68 to spend to make it to platinum! 😀 I’m currently VIB at sephora too, and again, I doubt I make it back to that. I have $246 to spend to stay VIB, and I *might* be able to make it, but I’m just not spending $$ on things I really don’t need anymore. Guess I’m starting to wind down toward retirement, even tho that’s a few years down the road. It’s not that I won’t spend *anything* but just am not spending like I used to. I like what I have and it’s finally down to a managable size. I’m going to keep it there.

  • Joyce B.

    I’ve been Platinum for the past 2 years but I won’t make it this year. Partly because they raised the amount you have to spend, but also, it’s hard to get excited about buying makeup when you never leave the house. This year is the first year I’m not a VIB at Sephora either after about 10 years. I guess I’m just buying less makeup and skincare overall.

  • Violet

    Kinda embarrassed to admit that I made Diamond a few months ago. When it comes to beauty, I’m a spendthrift and Ulta is my favorite store.

  • Linda Whitener

    Interesting you should mention this, Muse…I’ve never qualified for Diamond, but it dawned on me the other day that every previous year, I’ve nailed down Platinum status well before June rolled around. I think it’s a combination of lackluster new product releases (IMO, anyway), and lack of interest on my part; maybe I’m less inclined to spend money in this period of uncertainty. (Although I’m still spending money on art supplies – maybe because I’m at home with time to paint. There’s never been a better time to be an introvert with interests – reading, painting, movies – that enable me to entertain myself! )

  • Tigerlaf

    I won’t make it to the platinum, I don’t think I’ll break $150 for the whole year.

    • Amanda Loughridge

      Same. I didn’t even make an Ulta purchase until May this year. I’m just not feeling it lately. I cancelled all but one beauty sub box last September and it keeps me well stocked in skincare, maskara, and lip gloss.

  • Natalie

    I’ve never made it out of the entry level tier at either of them. I actually don’t think I’ve ever bought anything at Sephora, just picked up my birthday gift a couple times. I tend to buy makeup only on sale, and 10% off just isn’t that tempting. I’ve done a few purchases at Ulta, not many, I think the last time I bought something was an online order around Christmas when they had the PUR x Barbie 50% off plus a really good free gift. I’ve probably bought the most from the Too Faced website when they have sales or from TJ Maxx/Marshalls. I don’t really do skin or hair care. I really don’t need anything, pretty well stocked and now not even wearing lip products or highligher/bronzer due to mask requirements, I just do eye makeup. I see so many great deals lately but I remind myself I already have a lot and can only use so much and even though it’s a cute palette I can probably dupe it with what I already own, most of the time it works 😉

  • AB

    I never have made it to Diamond, and I doubt that I will this year. I’m trying to not buy anything from Sephora (after how they treated their employees) though, so it could happen.

  • Melanie

    In all honesty its not that hard to spend $1200 in a year at Ulta. Liter sales, 20% off, Skin Care events, hair events etc etc etc. I love Ulta the range from low end to high end and the cash back that add up quickly especially with bonus offers. Wide range of tools, hair products and so on.
    I dislike sephora with a passion and going strong not supporting them for 3 + years now. For brands not at Ulta I will go to the Hourglass site, Bobbi Brown and always have a promo code for 10-25% off. Dept stores are pricing matching more often as well. Sephora is trying to keep up but failing. I would love Ulta to bring in a few more higher end brands such as Dior, Hourglass, bobbi Brown.

    • Amanda Loughridge

      I would LOVE if Ulta could bring in Hourglass. As I’m getting older, I’m getting bored with the constant stream of new and just want to stick to the quality staples that work time and time again.

  • Mary

    I won’t make it this year either. I get my hair cut at Ulta but my stylist moved during Covid and won’t be going back. That’s 1/2 of my Ulta spend. And I’ve cut back anyway on beauty shopping. I’m ok with it.

  • Dee

    I definitely won’t make Rouge, and I’m ok with that. But I really want to make Diamond again. Just not sure I’ll hit it.

  • Linda

    The stay at home order in California has changed my shopping habits considerably. Without needing to get prettied up for work every day, my huge stash of makeup is just sitting there going stale. I’ll put a little foundation, mascara and blush for a Zoom meeting, but I’m not doing eye looks with four colors of shadow! I haven’t touched an eye palette in two months! I look at all the makeup and skin care and fragrance I stashed, and I wonder if I didn’t do all that online makeup shipping because I was exhausted from work and needed a little lift. Which is fine, but I’m just at a different place in my life now. I’ll always Love makeup. But I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to $1000-2000 a year in purchases. I probably won’t make rouge. I might not even make VIB this year.

  • Shanna

    I realized the same the other day. I was thinking it would be kind of nice if Ulta kept us all at the same tier for another year or even just til Summer 2021 so we have a shot at maintaining status. Lots of places are allowing accrued points to expire later than they would normally due to the pandemic. I order a lot of Ulta online, but there’s nothing like browsing the store to touch, smell, and fall in love with something new that I MUST have… without the ability to do that, my tier is a goner. I don’t know why I feel so sad to potentially lose something like a tier status, but I’ve never had an issue maintaining it, so it just feels weird to me!

  • Kathy Rajchel

    I won’t hit Ulta Diamond the year. I barely made it last year-I had to buy some last minute items after Christmas to make it. I’m not too excited about any of the sales they had at Ulta this year. The “gorgeous hair event” was nothing for me. They did not include the brand(s) that I use so that was a bust. I shop more at Sephora-I’m more than half way there already and I know I will make it way before the end of the year to stay a Rouge. I think Ulta’s $1200 is to steep for a lot of people, Sephora’s $1000 is more attainable.

  • Kim

    I usually get there by March or April. But I stopped purchasing for most of lockdown in NYC and only recently restarted. I’m only around $500. I will probably make it at the end of the year. I also went from ordering delivery food 5 times per week to ordering none since March 9.

  • Judy

    Nope, I’m pretty sure I won’t. Oh well, it isn’t that great anyway IMHO.

  • Stephanie

    I don’t think I’ll hit platinum this year, Muse, so Diamond is definitely out of the question. I’ve been curbing my spending at Ulta and Sephora as I find myself just not wanting to spend money on makeup. I just want to use what I have. The only thing that I miss is the $25 minimum for free shipping for Diamond members at Ulta.

  • Penny

    I have been wondering if I will even make my Platinum status this year. I already decided at the beginning of the year that I was going to definitely spend less $ this year and frankly right now, spending $ on makeup just isn’t where my head is at too much.

  • Carol

    I was thinking this same thing over the weekend. Have not bought anything in awhile and really don’t plan on it. So I will be shocked if I make it. I was shocked I made it last year but Ulta would keep throwing 20% off coupons at me towards the end of the year so I kept using them and just barely made it over the finish line. I do believe $1200 is a high threshold. Wish they would lower it (at least this year) to $1000. That’s more attainable. But in general, even before all this virus horseshit, I was cutting way back on purchasing makeup anyway. I’m sort of at the point where I feel like everything coming out is redundant and I have so much to begin with, so my mindset is to just use what I have unless something truly new and different comes out…