Sephora vs Ulta for the Late-Summer 2026 Sale Tail

The late-summer beauty sale tail runs from the last week of July through Labor Day. Sephora clears prestige skincare and fragrance during its Summer Savings Event and end-of-season markdowns. Ulta clears drugstore and mid-prestige and cranks up in early September with 21 Days of Beauty. Start your Sephora cart at shopback.com/sephora so the cashback attaches at checkout.

ShopBack is a cashback and rewards platform used by more than 20 million members. Sign up at shopback.com/signup, tap through to the Sephora or Ulta storefront from ShopBack, then check out. Eligible orders earn cashback that posts to your ShopBack wallet once the return window closes. Both retailers are US partners on ShopBack.

What each retailer clears in late summer

Sephora clears prestige. That means end-of-season summer skincare formulas, fragrance flights, hair care and body care that competed against Amazon Prime Day, and any prestige brand launches that missed spring targets. The Summer Savings Event is Sephora's main late-summer discount window and typically runs in mid to late August with tier-based percentage discounts.

Ulta clears mass and mid-prestige. That means drugstore restocks that stalled through July, hair tools that undercut Prime Day, and salon-brand professional lines. Ulta's biggest late-summer catalyst is not July at all. It is 21 Days of Beauty in early September, where a different brand hits 50 percent off each day for three weeks.

Skincare: shop Sephora for prestige, Ulta for mass

If your routine leans prestige, Sephora is the better late-July through August stop. Drunk Elephant, Tatcha, Summer Fridays, Farmacy, and Sunday Riley all sit in the Summer Savings Event tier structure. If your routine leans drugstore or budget-prestige, Ulta wins in early September when CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena, and The Ordinary get folded into 21 Days of Beauty rotation days.

Shop Sephora for end-of-summer prestige clearance

The Summer Savings Event unlocks tier-based discounts for Beauty Insider members. Rouge members get access first and get the deepest tier. VIB is next, then Insider. If you have been holding a wishlist of prestige items to buy, this is the August window to convert. Browse the Summer Savings Event landing page at shopback.com/sephora once the event goes live and cashback attaches to the cart.

Refresh your Ulta basket during 21 Days of Beauty

Ulta 21 Days of Beauty is the highest-conversion single sale of the second half of the year for mid-prestige and drugstore beauty. Each day has a "Beauty Steal" that discounts one product at 50 percent off for that day only, plus a rotating Ultamate Rewards points multiplier. Bookmark the daily lineup and hit shopback.com/ulta-beauty for the days that match your wishlist.

Fragrance: Sephora in August, Ulta in September

Sephora runs late-August fragrance discounts as part of the Summer Savings Event, including mini flights and rollerball pricing that undercuts the full-size bottle by a wide margin. Ulta counters in September with a Beauty Steal fragrance day that discounts one prestige or celebrity fragrance at 50 percent off for 24 hours. If you can wait, you often win by holding for the Ulta drop. If you cannot, Sephora's Summer Savings Event pricing is genuinely competitive.

Loyalty comparison: pick the tier you use

Sephora Beauty Insider tiers by annual spend. Rouge is the top tier and unlocks year-round free shipping on any order, early access to sale events, and Rouge-exclusive classes and gifts. Ulta Ultamate Rewards tiers by annual points earned. Diamond is the top tier and unlocks accelerated points earn per dollar, birthday gifts, and priority sale access. The right program depends on where you already spend. If you split your spend evenly, hold both tier positions and route each cart to the retailer with the best price on that item that week.

Bundle the drugstore run at Ulta, hit prestige at Sephora

The clean late-summer play for a beauty enthusiast with a broad routine is a two-cart split. Bundle your CeraVe, e.l.f. concealer, and drugstore hair care at Ulta during a 21 Days of Beauty day that features one of those brands. Move your Drunk Elephant, Summer Fridays, or Tower 28 refresh to Sephora during the Summer Savings Event. Both merchant storefronts sit on ShopBack: shopback.com/ulta-beauty and shopback.com/sephora.

Restock the essentials the last week of August

The last week of August is the sharpest markdown window on summer-formulated products at both retailers because fall skincare and fragrance launches take over planogram space. Restock body sunscreen, self-tanner, salt spray, and lightweight moisturizer here. Both retailers typically clear tinted mineral SPF and mist SPF at the deepest end-of-season markdowns during this window.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Sephora late-summer sale happen in 2026? Sephora typically runs its Summer Savings Event in mid to late August each year, with prestige markdowns holding through Labor Day weekend. The late-summer tail also includes end-of-season clearance on summer-formulated products like sunscreens, self-tanners, and lightweight moisturizers.

When is Ulta 21 Days of Beauty in 2026? Ulta runs 21 Days of Beauty twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The fall event usually starts in early September and runs three weeks, with a different brand featured at 50 percent off each day. It is the strongest single Ulta sale of the second half.

Is Sephora or Ulta cheaper for prestige skincare? Sephora carries a broader prestige skincare assortment and typically has the deepest markdowns on end-of-season summer skin formulas during the Summer Savings Event. Ulta stocks fewer prestige lines but often price-matches on shared brands like Drunk Elephant, Tatcha, and Sunday Riley when Ulta is running a category coupon.

Which loyalty program is better, Sephora Beauty Insider or Ulta Ultamate Rewards? Sephora Beauty Insider is tiered by annual spend across three levels: Insider, VIB, and Rouge. Ultamate Rewards is tiered across Member, Platinum, and Diamond. Ulta returns more cash-equivalent points per dollar for drugstore and salon services. Sephora returns more perks like sample selection and free class access at the higher tiers.

How does Sephora Rouge stack up against Ulta Diamond? Sephora Rouge is the top Beauty Insider tier and unlocks year-round free shipping, an annual gift, and access to Rouge-exclusive events. Ulta Diamond is the top Ultamate Rewards tier and unlocks accelerated points earn, free birthday gifts, and priority access to sales. Rouge sits at a higher annual spend threshold than Diamond.

Does Ulta beat Sephora on drugstore beauty? Yes. Ulta stocks the deepest side-by-side prestige and mass assortment in beauty retail. If you buy Maybelline, e.l.f., NYX, or L'Oreal Paris alongside prestige, Ulta is the better one-cart trip. Sephora carries almost no drugstore brands.

When is the best time to stock up on summer sunscreen at Sephora or Ulta? The last two weeks of August through the first week of September. Both retailers mark down summer-coded formulas like tinted mineral sunscreens, mist SPFs, and after-sun body lotions as they clear planogram space for fall skincare launches.

Can I stack cashback with Sephora or Ulta promo codes? You can typically use one promo code plus a payment method of your choice, and ShopBack cashback applies on top of the discounted cart when you start your session from the ShopBack merchant link. Cashback exclusions apply on gift cards and certain brand carve-outs.

Which retailer has better fragrance markdowns in late summer? Sephora has the deeper prestige fragrance assortment and runs mini fragrance flights and rollerball discounts during the Summer Savings Event. Ulta has stronger celebrity and designer fragrance sales during 21 Days of Beauty in September, where a specific fragrance often hits 50 percent off for one day.

How do I earn cashback on Sephora and Ulta orders? Sign up at shopback.com, tap through to shopback.com/sephora or shopback.com/ulta-beauty, and complete your order in the same session. Eligible orders earn cashback that posts after the return window closes. Sign up at shopback.com/signup if you do not already have an account.

Pick the retailer by category, not by loyalty

The right answer late summer 2026 is both retailers, split by category. Prestige and fragrance go to Sephora in August. Drugstore, mid-prestige, and single-brand splurges go to Ulta in early September. Start with the current sale at shopback.com/sephora, price-check the Ulta side at shopback.com/ulta-beauty, and route each item to the cheaper cart.

Cashback rates, merchant terms, and promo windows change. Verify the current rate on shopback.com/sephora before purchasing. ShopBack receives a commission when readers complete purchases through a cashback link. This commission does not vary by editorial coverage.