How to Maximize Your Ulta Beauty Rewards and Earn Cash Back With Rakuten

There is nothing quite like the thrill of a fresh beauty haul. Whether you are restocking your holy grail moisturizer, picking up a new fragrance or trying a trending blush, adding those little luxuries to your cart feels amazing. But you know what feels even better? Knowing you scored the absolute best deal possible on every single item.

If you love both beauty and keeping your hard-earned money in your wallet, you are in the right place. Shopping smart is an art form, and we are here to help you master it. When you combine the built-in perks of the Ulta Beauty loyalty program with the power of Rakuten Cash Back, you unlock a completely new level of value.

Let’s dive into exactly how Ulta’s rewards system works, how to get the highest dollar value for your points and how to seamlessly stack your savings with Rakuten on every single online order.

Understanding the Ulta Beauty Rewards program

Before we get into advanced stacking strategies, we need to cover the basics of the Ulta Beauty Rewards program. Formerly known as Ultamate Rewards, the tiered loyalty program is widely considered one of the most generous in the retail beauty industry. It is completely free to join, and it allows you to accrue points on every dollar you spend in-store or online. You can then use those points like cash on future purchases.

The program features three distinct tiers based on your annual spend.

Member: This is the entry level that everyone gets when they sign up for free. As a member, you’ll earn one point for every $1 you spend. You’ll also get a free gift during your birthday month and access to members-only offers throughout the year. At this level, your points expire at the end of the quarter following the one in which they were earned if they are over a year old.

Platinum: Once you spend $500 in a calendar year, you’ll be upgraded to Platinum status. Platinum members earn 1.25 points for every $1 spent (a 25% increase). You still get your birthday gift, plus a $10 birthday coupon. More importantly, your points never expire as long as you maintain Platinum status. You’ll also get early access to sales and exclusive beauty steals.

Diamond: The top tier is reserved for shoppers who spend $1,200 or more in a calendar year. Diamond members earn 1.5 points per $1 spent. You’ll receive all the Platinum perks, plus a special Diamond welcome gift, free shipping on orders over $25 and exclusive VIP customer service. Like Platinum, your points balance will not expire as long as you hold the tier status.

The beauty of this program is its flexibility. You earn points on everything from drugstore mascara to high-end heat styling tools and salon services.

What is the best increment to redeem Ulta points?

One of the most common questions shoppers have is when they should actually cash in their points. It can be incredibly tempting to shave $3 off your order the moment you hit 100 points, but patience is the ultimate virtue when it comes to maximizing Ulta rewards.

The redemption value of your points scales up dramatically as you save them. Let’s look at the math:

• 100 points = $3 off
• 250 points = $8 off
• 500 points = $17.50 off
• 750 points = $30 off
• 1,000 points = $50 off
• 2,000 points = $125 off

If you redeem at the 100-point mark, your points are worth 3 cents each. But if you hold out until you reach 2,000 points, their value jumps to 6.25 cents each. That means 2,000 points are worth a staggering $125 toward anything in the store. This is the absolute best increment to redeem your points.

If you want to treat yourself to a luxury fragrance, an expensive facial serum or a massive holiday haul, waiting for that 2,000-point mark is the smartest move you can make.

What is the easiest way to ensure that I receive Cash Back for every Ulta Beauty online order I make?

You are already earning points through the loyalty program, but you are leaving money on the table if you are not using Rakuten. If you are wondering which Cash Back programs integrate best with Ulta Beauty’s existing rewards system, Rakuten is the ultimate answer. Rakuten exists to give value back to its members, making your everyday purchases more rewarding without any complicated loopholes.

The easiest way to ensure that you never miss out on Cash Back is to download the Rakuten browser extension for your computer. Once installed, the extension will automatically pop up whenever you visit the Ulta Beauty website. All you have to do is click the Activate Cash Back button. From there, you shop exactly like you normally would. The extension tracks your eligible purchase and automatically adds the Cash Back to your Rakuten account.

If you prefer shopping on your phone, simply download the free Rakuten app. Open the app, search for Ulta, tap the store link and you will be securely redirected to the store’s mobile site or app to complete your transaction. It takes two extra seconds and guarantees you are stacking savings on top of your loyalty points.

What are some advanced tips for maximizing Ulta Beauty rewards?

To truly shop like a savvy insider, you have to look at the big picture. Getting points and earning Cash Back are great, but combining them with advanced savings strategies is where the real magic happens. Here are the most effective tactics for stacking your perks.

Capitalize on point-multiplier events: Throughout the year, you will see special promotions offering 2x, 3x, 5x or even 10x bonus points on specific brands, fragrance purchases or entire categories. You must activate the offers in your account before you check out. If you buy a $100 perfume on a 5x point day, you instantly earn 500 points (worth $17.50 in future value).

Layer store coupons: Can you combine Ulta points and coupons? Yes! You can always apply a valid store coupon to your order, even if you are redeeming or earning points. Apply your coupon to lower your out-of-pocket cost, and then earn loyalty points on the remaining subtotal. Rakuten will calculate your Cash Back based on that final paid amount.

Leverage the Ulta Beauty Rewards credit card: If you are a frequent shopper, you may wonder which credit card has a Cash Back bonus for Ulta Beauty. The store offers its own branded Mastercard that gives you an extra one point for every $1 you spend. If you are a Platinum member using the credit card, you are earning 2.25 points per dollar. Pay off your balance immediately to avoid interest, and watch your points balance skyrocket toward that $125 redemption tier.

Shop during Rakuten’s Big Give Week and Triple Cash Back events: Rakuten frequently runs special promotional events during which Cash Back rates are dramatically increased. If you time your beauty restock around these events, you could easily see Cash Back rates jump dramatically. Signing up for Rakuten emails ensures that you’ll get notified the second these massive events go live.

Putting it all together: Your fail-proof savings routine

Let’s walk through a real-life scenario to show you exactly how powerful this stacking strategy can be when you execute it correctly.

Imagine you have been saving your points and finally hit 2,000. You have $125 in free money to spend. You also received a 20% off prestige coupon in your email, and Rakuten is offering 10% Cash Back for the day.

You want to buy a luxury skin-care bundle that retails for $160. First, you activate Rakuten Cash Back on the website or in the browser extension. Next, you add the $160 bundle to your cart. At checkout, you apply your 20% off coupon, bringing the price down to $128. Then you apply 2,000 loyalty points, taking $125 off the total. Your final out-of-pocket cost is just $3 (plus any applicable taxes). Because you paid $3 out of pocket, Rakuten gives you 10% Cash Back on that remaining subtotal, putting $0.30 back in your Rakuten account.

The Cash Back on a $3 spend is small, but imagine the reverse scenario. What if you are buying a $200 hair dryer to earn points? You activate Rakuten for 10% Cash Back and apply a 20% off coupon to bring the price to $160. You earn points on the $160 spend (up to 240 points if you are a Diamond member). Rakuten gives you $16 in Cash Back. You just saved $40 up front, earned $16 in actual cash and padded your loyalty account with points for your next trip.

Shopping for beauty supplies should never feel stressful or overly expensive. By understanding the math behind the loyalty tiers, being patient with your redemptions and letting Rakuten do the heavy lifting in the background, you guarantee that you are getting the absolute best deal available.

We believe everyday purchases can create positive outcomes, and giving you Cash Back on the things you already love buying is exactly why we are here. Now go activate those point multipliers, turn on your Rakuten extension and treat yourself to that beautiful new palette you’ve been eyeing.