Ulta gives you 30 days for a full refund and accepts gently used makeup, but returning a product also reverses the Ultamate Rewards points you earned on that purchase — which can even push your point balance negative.
Returns Can Claw Back Your Rewards Points
If you earned Ultamate Rewards points on a purchase and then return it, Ulta reverses those earned points from your account — and if you'd already redeemed them, your balance can go negative, meaning you have to earn more points just to break even. The reverse isn't true, though: if you used points to pay for something you later return, those points are credited back to your account.
| Return window for a full refund |
30 days from purchase, to the original payment method |
| Days 31-60 |
Merchandise credit only, not a full refund |
| Opened/gently used makeup |
Accepted for return, generally as long as the product isn't more than about 20% empty |
| Ultamate Rewards points |
Points earned on a returned purchase are deducted from your account balance, potentially pushing it negative; points spent on a returned item are credited back |
| Without a receipt |
Ulta can often look up the purchase via your loyalty account or the card used; unverifiable returns are refunded at the lowest selling price in the past 90 days as store credit |
Rules can be updated by Ulta at any time, so confirm current details before returning heavily used items or relying on a specific points outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you have to return something to Ulta?
30 days for a full refund; between 31 and 60 days you'll get merchandise credit instead.
Can I return opened makeup to Ulta?
Yes, gently used products are generally accepted, as long as the item isn't excessively used.
Do I lose reward points if I return something to Ulta?
Yes. Points earned from the original purchase are deducted from your Ultamate Rewards balance, which can even go negative if you already redeemed them.
Can Ulta look up my purchase without a receipt?
Yes, often through your Ultamate Rewards account or the card used for the purchase.
