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Published Feb 12, 2026
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Does Ulta Do Birthday Gifts? Free Gift & Birthday Perks Explained
You’ve blown out the candles, accepted the well-wishes, and now you’re waiting for the real magic to happen: the birthday freebies. If you’re a beauty lover, one of the most anticipated emails of the year is the one from Ulta Beauty, promising a special gift just for you. But how does Ulta birthday gift work, and are these coupons worth the hype?
As a beauty enthusiast who's claimed these Ulta birthday gifts for years, I can confirm Ulta makes you feel genuinely celebrated. Let me walk you through how to get Ulta birthday gift rewards and make the most of your birthday treats.
What are Ulta birthday gifts?
Overview of Ulta's birthday program
Ulta's birthday reward program is a part of their Ultamate Rewards loyalty system, and it's surprisingly generous. Unlike some stores that give you a predetermined sample, Ulta typically lets you choose from several options across different beauty categories. This means you can pick something you'll actually use and love.
The gifts range from travel-sized favorites to sometimes even full-sized products from premium brands. These Ultamate Rewards birthday perks are Ulta's way of saying "thanks for being a customer" while introducing you to new products you might fall in love with.
Why Ulta offers birthday rewards to members
Ulta's birthday bonus points program is a strategic customer retention tool designed to strengthen emotional connections with its beauty enthusiasts. This strategy is core to their business, as explained by interim CMO Kelly Mahoney: “Our vision is you come into the program and realize value quickly, and then you’re hooked because you love the perks and the benefits.” Birthdays are personal milestones, and recognizing them creates positive associations that translate into long-term loyalty.
From an industry perspective, Ulta's birthday gift program sets a high standard for what beauty retailers can offer their most loyal customers. The program serves as an effective marketing channel for beauty brands featured as gift options, providing them with targeted exposure to an engaged audience.
How to qualify for Ulta birthday gifts
Joining the Ultamate rewards program
The pathway to understanding how to get a birthday gift from Ulta begins with enrolling in the free Ultamate Rewards program. The enrollment process is straightforward through Ulta's website, mobile app, or in-store.
The most critical step for birthday gift eligibility is providing your birthdate in your member profile. Ulta specifies that your birthday must be in their system by the 8th of your birthday month to receive that year's birthday offer. I recommend opting in to email communications, as this is when does Ulta send birthday coupon notifications.
Member tiers and birthday perks (member, platinum, diamond)
Ulta's Ulta Rewards program, explained through a tier system, offers increasingly valuable benefits:
| Member tier | Spending requirement | Birthday perks |
| Member | $0-$499 annually | Standard birthday gift choice + 2X points on all purchases during birthday month |
| Platinum | $500-$1,199 annually | All Member benefits + $10 off coupon + points never expire while maintaining status |
| Diamond | $1,200+ annually | All Platinum benefits + enhanced $10 off coupon + exclusive gift options |
These Platinum and Diamond birthday rewards make higher tiers particularly valuable for frequent shoppers.
What birthday gifts does Ulta offer?
Free birthday gift products by month
Ulta refreshes its Ulta birthday gift options quarterly. The 2025 lineup features impressive products across categories: 2025 lineup features an impressive array of products across skincare, haircare, and makeup categories from both established and emerging brands.
| Product category | Brand examples | Specific products |
| Skincare | TATCHA, Drunk Elephant, Peach & Lily | Dewy Skin Cream, Lala Retro Whipped Cream, Glass Skin Refining Serum |
| Haircare | Living Proof, LolaVie, Alterna | Clarifying Detox Shampoo, Glossing Detangler, Caviar Anti-Aging Hair Cream |
| Makeup | Laura Mercier, Benefit Cosmetics | Translucent Loose Setting Powder, Fan Fest Mascara |
| Body care | Sol de Janeiro | Brazilian Bum Bum Visibly Firming Cream |
Birthday bonus points and special offers
Beyond physical free birthday makeup from Ulta, all members receive Ulta freebies birthday bonus points - specifically 2X points on all purchases during your birthday month. Activation is simple through your birthday email or the Ulta app.
For Platinum and Diamond members, points never expire, and they earn at accelerated rates year-round, making these Ulta birthday promotion tips especially valuable.
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How to claim your Ulta birthday gift
Step-by-step guide to redeeming rewards
Understanding how to redeem Ulta birthday gift is straightforward:
- Profile preparation: Ensure your birthdate is correct before the 8th of your birthday month
- Notification watch: Watch for Ulta's birthday email with your Ulta birthday gift code
- Gift selection: Choose your preferred product from the available options
- Redemption: Add gift to cart and enter your code at checkout
- Completion: Finalize order, noting free shipping minimums
Online vs. in-store redemption options
Realizing how to get Ulta birthday gift online offers convenience and full product availability, though you may need to meet free shipping thresholds. In-store redemption provides immediate gratification but may have limited stock of popular items.
Many wonder, “How do I get my Ulta birthday gift if I miss my month?”. Unfortunately, Ulta typically doesn't allow late redemptions.
Tips to maximize your birthday rewards
Combine birthday offers with other promotions
Your birthday freebies Ulta coupon can typically be combined with other promotions. Use your birthday gift code alongside Platinum/Diamond $10 coupons and point multiplier offers for maximum savings.
Use bonus points strategically
- Stack multipliers: Ulta frequently offers brand-specific or category-specific point multipliers that are stackable with the birthday 2X points offer. For example, if you have a 5X multiplier on skincare and activate your 2X birthday points, you would effectively earn 7X points on skincare purchases during your birthday month.
- Time redemptions wisely: Points are redeemed in increments, with the highest value achieved at the 2,000-point level ($125 value).
- Track expiration dates: While Platinum and Diamond members enjoy non-expiring points, standard members should note that points expire at the end of the quarter one year after they were earned.
Common questions about Ulta birthday gifts
Do Ulta birthday gifts expire?
Yes, the Ulta birthday gift expiration date is strictly your birthday month. The coupon typically expires on the last day of your birth month.
Does Ulta still do birthday gifts if I missed my birthday month?
Unfortunately, Ulta doesn't usually allow late redemptions. The system automatically sends offers only during your birth month. If you didn't get your email despite having your birthday correctly listed, customer service might help – but no promises.
Final thoughts on Ulta birthday perks
So there you have it - the complete scoop on how the Ulta birthday gift works and why it's become such a beloved tradition among beauty lovers. As we've explored, the ways of how to get the Ulta birthday gift are surprisingly straightforward once you know the steps.
Now that you're armed with all the knowledge about how to claim Ulta birthday gift rewards, there's only one thing left to do: get out there and claim your beauty bounty. Happy birthday, and even happier shopping!
