Sephora and Ulta Beauty, two of the largest beauty retailers in the United States, offer annual birthday gift programs to members of their respective loyalty clubs. These programs provide complimentary product sets during a member's birthday month, serving as a key incentive for customer retention and engagement. For 2024, both retailers have released specific details regarding their gift offerings, redemption processes, and membership requirements. This guide consolidates the verified information available from provided source materials to outline what consumers can expect from these popular beauty freebies.
The Sephora Birthday Gift program is exclusive to members of the Beauty Insider loyalty program, which is free to join. Members are eligible to receive one birthday gift per year during their birth month. The gifts are available for redemption at physical Sephora locations, Sephora at Kohl's stores, and online. For in-store purchases, no minimum spend is required to receive the gift. However, when redeeming online through sephora.com or sephora.ca, a minimum purchase of $25 or more is necessary. This purchase threshold is calculated before taxes and shipping and after any discounts have been applied. Gift selection may vary between in-store and online channels. A notable alternative available in Sephora US and Canada stores and on sephora.com and sephora.ca is the option to receive 250 Beauty Insider Points instead of a physical gift.
For 2024, Sephora offers several core birthday gift options available to all Beauty Insider tiers (Insider, VIB, and Rouge). These include sets from Kosas, Youth to the People, and Moroccanoil. The Kosas set contains the Wet Lip Oil Plumping Treatment Gloss in Unbuttoned (0.06 oz / 2 mL) and the Air Brow Clear + Clean Lifting Treatment Eyebrow Gel (0.06 oz / 1.77 g). The Youth to the People set includes the Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Refillable Cleanser (1.0 oz / 30 mL) and the Superfood Air-Whip Lightweight Face Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid (0.5 oz / 15 mL). The Moroccanoil Ultimate Hydration Birthday Set features the Moroccanoil Treatment Hair Oil (0.5 oz / 15 mL), Hydrating Shampoo (1.35 oz / 40 mL), Hydrating Conditioner (1.35 oz / 40 mL), and a Hand Cream (0.1 oz / 3 mL).
In addition to the core gifts, Sephora provides exclusive online-only birthday gifts for VIB and Rouge members. For 2024, this exclusive is the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Look Birthday Set. This set includes the Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk (0.05 oz / 1.5 g), the Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray (0.5 oz / 15 mL), and the Magic Cream Moisturizer (0.03 oz / 1 mL). These online-exclusive gifts are not available on kohls.com. Furthermore, Sephora has indicated that additional gift options will become available later in the year, including fragrance freebies from Gucci (a Sephora exclusive) and Armani Beauty (exclusively for Sephora at Kohl’s shoppers).
To claim a Sephora birthday gift, a member must have a birth date entered in their Beauty Insider profile. Gifts can be redeemed any time during the birthday month, or up to two weeks before or after the birthday. The program terms state that Sephora may modify or cancel the offer at any time, and gifts are provided "as is," with substitutions possible. While supplies last, the gift selection can also vary by store or online.
Ulta Beauty’s free birthday gift is available to members of the Ultamate Rewards program. To be eligible, a member must have their birth date added to their member profile by the 8th of their birthday month. During their birthday month, members receive a coupon code via email or the Ulta Beauty app. This code is used to claim one free gift from a selection at checkout. The gift can be picked up in-store or ordered online. No purchase is necessary to redeem the Ulta birthday gift. The specific selection of gifts for 2024 is not detailed in the provided source materials, but the program structure is confirmed.
Beyond dedicated birthday gifts, Sephora offers other free sample opportunities. According to source materials, Sephora provides free samples both online and in-store. With every online order, customers can choose two free samples. In physical stores, customers can request samples of makeup, skincare, and perfumes without a purchase. Additionally, Sephora offers free mini-makeovers in stores, which are described as 15-minute makeup sessions focusing on a single technique. These sessions are available to any customer, regardless of membership status. For those interested in full-size perfumes, Sephora offers perfume sampler sets that come with a scent certificate, which can be redeemed for a full-size bottle at a later date.
The eligibility and redemption rules for these programs are straightforward but specific. For Sephora, the key requirement is a free Beauty Insider membership. The $25 minimum for online redemption is a critical detail for online shoppers. For Ulta, the requirement is membership in the Ultamate Rewards program and timely entry of a birth date. Both programs are designed for U.S. and Canadian consumers, though specific geographic restrictions for the gifts themselves are not detailed in the provided sources. All offers are subject to availability while supplies last.
In summary, the 2024 birthday gift programs from Sephora and Ulta provide beauty enthusiasts with an opportunity to receive complimentary product sets from well-known brands. Sephora’s program is more structured, with specific sets from Kosas, Youth to the People, and Moroccanoil, plus exclusive options for higher-tier members from Charlotte Tilbury, and future offerings from Gucci and Armani Beauty. Ulta’s program offers a free gift during the birthday month with no purchase required. Both programs require membership and have specific rules for redemption, which consumers should review to maximize their benefits. Additional free sample opportunities, such as in-store samples and mini-makeovers, further enhance the value proposition for customers of these beauty retailers.