The process of going cruelty-free has to start somewhere. For some that haven’t been interested in beauty products in the past, it might mean starting a brand new collection of products. For most, however, it means finding cruelty-free alternatives to products they’ve already been using. This should be a gradual transition as products that are not cruelty-free are used up. Your money was already spent on those products, so you should definitely enjoy every last drop!

If you’ve never shopped for cruelty-free products specifically before, you might be concerned about being limited to fewer brands. Luckily, there are plenty of wonderful cruelty-free brands available that provide every type of beauty product you could want or need.

First stop when shopping cruelty-free

Whether you’re new to the beauty world or simply making the switch to cruelty-free products, there is only one store I can recommend to get the ball rolling…Ulta Beauty!!! Ulta has an impressive variety of cruelty-free brands, products at many price-points, a great rewards program, and more! There are over 1,200 locations in the United States, so it is likely that there is a store near you. You can use the Ulta store locator feature on Ulta.com or the Ulta Beauty app to find the stores closest to you.

Ulta Beauty is THE place for variety

One of my favorite things about Ulta is the variety. Ulta has its own extensive line of cruelty-free products, plus hundreds of other brands (many of which are cruelty-free). They are frequently adding new brands to their inventory and many of them are cruelty-free! Only so much can fit inside their stores, so if you have trouble finding anything in-store, make sure you check Ulta.com for an even larger selection of cruelty-free products.

The variety of the types of products Ulta carries is outstanding! In this one store, you can shop for skincare, makeup, body care, hair care, hair styling tools, nail products, and fragrances. It’s a really fun experience going through the aisles and finding new products to try, even things you might not have been looking for.

Unlike the drugstore which carries only affordable brands, or Sephora which only sells high-end, Ulta offers products from brands at both price-points and everywhere in between. I think that was a brilliant choice for Ulta’s stores because they are inclusive to consumers that are on a budget and also consumers that are looking to invest in luxury products.

What else does Ulta Beauty have to offer?

In addition to providing a comprehensive shopping experience for all things beauty, Ulta also touts a great rewards program, online beauty quizzes and buying guides, and even salon services!

Ulta’s rewards program is called Ultamate Rewards. I feel that this rewards program is superior to those of most other retailers. When you are signed up for Ultamate Rewards, you will earn points for every dollar you spend in-store or online. These points can be redeemed toward future purchases. As you accumulate more points, they increase in value. For example, 100 points earned will get you only $3.00 off, but 500 points will get you $17.50 off. I like to let my points accumulate for a long time because it’s so much more exciting getting $30.00 off than $3.00 off! More details on the Ultamate Rewards program can be found here.

The beauty quizzes on Ulta.com can assist in finding the perfect foundation, skincare appropriate for your unique skin type, and there is also one for hair care to help you find the right products to achieve the hair of your dreams. The buying guides for makeup, hair care, and fragrances provide even more information to help you make buying decisions. I wish I had known about these tools a couple of years ago so I would’ve had a better idea of which types of products are right for my needs.

Ulta offers the following in their salons: haircuts, hair color and hair texture services, hair extensions, hair styling, hair treatments, express facials, full service facials, lash applications and extensions, makeup lessons and applications, and brow waxing. Some of these services are temporarily unavailable due to the pandemic. Ulta has done a wonderful job of addressing safety concerns related to COVID-19 for anyone wishing to purchase salon services at this time. Please note that salon services are currently available by appointment only.

You may have already guessed this, but Ulta Beauty is my absolute favorite place to shop. I’ve found so many products there that I never would’ve discovered otherwise. I have tested my sweet husband’s patience many times when I’ve gone into Ulta looking for only one or two items, and have ended up spending a couple hours perusing the shelves. There is just so much to see! One tip I would like to share for shopping in-store at Ulta, is to utilize the Ulta Beauty app for reviews. You can scan the barcode on any product to see product description, directions, ingredients, and reviews. Reading product reviews has helped me many times; sometimes making me very excited to try a new product, and alternatively, other times making me want to say good riddance to a product and put it right back on the shelf.

There are many excellent retailers that carry a lot of cruelty-free products, but I sincerely think Ulta Beauty is the best place to start. You won’t regret paying your local Ulta store a visit to see what all the fuss is about. 🙂

Thank you for reading, and happy shopping!

Lauren