Black Friday has officially arrived, and Ulta, as we predicted, has some really good deals on makeup, beauty products, skin care, and more. Plenty of products from some of our favorite brands — including Tarte, Urban Decay, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and Lime Crime, just to name a few — are offering up to half-off their most beloved favorites. If skin care is more your game, they’ve got plenty of products to stock up on (or try for the very first time), as well as some deeply discounted gadgets, like motorized facial-cleansing brushes and at-home microdermabrasion, to help you replicate your favorite facial in the comfort of your own bathroom.
And while it’s easy to get caught up in the plethora of makeup and skin-care deals, there are also a lot of extremely good hair-care discounts. We are particularly impressed by the prices on some of our favorite, generally frustratingly expensive curlers, straighteners, and hair dryers. And if you just need a new shampoo or styling product, there are plenty of those, too.
We also suggest taking a peek at some of the Ulta-exclusive, holiday edition gift sets, whether you’re looking to splurge on your loved ones or yourself. A caveat with these: holiday sets come in very limited quantities, so don’t, as we like to say, dillydally. We will be updating this page with any new deals that pop up, but you can also follow us on Twitter for more timely sales coverage.
Skin Care
A luxurious facial oil that that will hydrate and nourish dry skin.
If you struggle with dark circles or puffiness, these patches — enriched with plant extracts, green tea, and antioxidants — will add a much-needed dose of hydration and nourishment to the delicate skin under your eyes.
Now is a good time to stock up on an excellent everyday, gentle cleanser.
You can probably afford to buy a gallon’s worth of this healing body lotion to get you through the worst of dry, itchy skin season.
If all that festive indulging is leaving your skin looking a bit stressed, this clay mask should help clear out your pores.
We haven’t seen the Foreo Luna Mini 2 this cheap since Prime Day, so we recommend snapping up this easy-to-clean facial-cleansing brush immediately.
This scrub has notes of bergamot, mandarin, rose, jasmine, peach, strawberry, musk, and amber base note.
A gentle but effective cleansing brush at a more-affordable price point.
A collection of Kendell Jenner–approved Proactiv products to give you a glow just in time to run into your high-school nemesis at the grocery store.
Get a personal microdermabrasion device for at-home treatment for half the price that one visit to the dermatologist would cost you.
Makeup
Becca’s Skin Perfector uses pearls (pearls!) to add a slightly shimmery glow to your cheekbones.
This finishing powder that blurs imperfections, erases pores, and never creases.
A buildable, cream blush that’ll add a rosy hue to dull winter skin.
A bright, matte fuchsia, sure to be a bright spot during the dreary winter months ahead.
This Bare Minerals primer ensures that your makeup goes on smoothly and flawlessly. It is also infused with antioxidants and vitamins C and E to nourish skin.
Makeup artist Kornelija Slunjski told us that this is one of the best lengthening mascaras because “the brush separates the lashes really nicely and doesn’t make your lashes look clumpy.”
The perfect lipstick for creating a ’90s-inspired brown lip, at half off.
If you’re a fan of monochromatic eye looks, we love this highly pigmented palette that includes some Crayola-bright shades from tangerine to canary yellow.
We think we just found your party manicure shade.
Just because it’s wintertime doesn’t mean you can’t fake a sun-kissed glow.
“If you ask a group of beauty editors what the best eyelash serum is, chances are they’ll recommend GrandeLash, a nightly product that promises noticeable results in just four weeks,” writes Rio, who credits the serum for helping her grow out her traumatized, torn-out lashes.
Score the cult-favorite Urban Decay Naked Palette at half the usual cost.
Hair Care
This fortifying spray will add a boost of volume to thinning hair.
An inexpensive dupe for the Dyson Airwrap just got even cheaper.
Fight frizz with this Living Proof dry conditioning spray that also provides UV protection.
This handy curling iron will be just the thing to help you get through all your upcoming holiday parties with your glamorous waves intact.
If you’ve been holding off on splurging on a pricey straightener, this one is now $60 off.
Strategist junior writer Jenna Milliner-Waddell bought a sample of this sealing serum to lock in moisture for low-porosity hair and liked it so much she promptly purchased the full-size version.
Get that just-got-back-from-the-beach texture with this dry spray, now $10 off.
Gift Sets
Get two pairs of Rio’s favorite undereye patches, plus patches for your forehead and smile lines.
Clinique is offering three of its most popular products, including a supercharged vitamin C lotion, for a mere $34.
An extremely giftable set (it includes 20 eyeshadows, 4 cheek shades, a mascara, and some lip gloss).
A perfect gift for the teen or tween (or any aged Hello Kitty fanatic) in your life.
A set of long-wearing, classic Urban Decay products, including an eyeshadow primer, eyeliner, mascara, and a setting spray.
A trio of eyeshadow palettes, which we think would make the perfect stocking stuffer for quite literally anyone who wears makeup.
A smorgasbord of beauty samples from Strat-approved brands like Peter Thomas Roth, Kate Somerville, Tula, Kiehl’s, Mario Badescu, and more.
A lash and lip kit from Too Faced which features two of their cult-favorites: Better Than Sex Mascara and Lip Injection Extreme lip gloss (it contains a powerful irritant called “capsicum frutescens resin,” a species of chile pepper that’s very popular in lip plumpers).
This set of fan-favorite products from Tarte, including Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara, Sex Kitten Eyeliner, and Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush (valued at $30) is currently available for only $12.
A kit to get you through peak glitter season (the actually product used on Euphoria, which the Cut called an “under-the-radar Sephora love with over 1,000 five-star reviews”)
This set includes full sizes of Benefit’s BADgal BANG! Volumizing Mascara and 24-hour Brow Setting Gel, plus a travel size of The POREfessional Face Primer, for less than the cost of one tube of mascara.
Everything you need to get a glow, for only $15 (we’ve written about their priming filters in the past — they’re infused with “luminescent, light diffusing pearls,” and are used frequently by makeup artist Kellie Silsby).
A lip gloss and multiple in a universally flattering shade.
Two for less than the price of one.
A complete set of eyeshadow brushes for $19–which works out to be a little more than $3 per brush.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
