ULTA is cute. My bank account is not. I went in “for just one mascara” and somehow spent $87. I kept seeing girls say they were getting legit free ULTA gift cards and I thought it was fake coupon blog energy. Like those sites that make you click 30 popups and then still say “access denied.”

But I tried this method because hair care and skincare are getting stupid expensive. Here's exactly how it actually worked, step by step:

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1. Tap ULTA in the rewards list

I picked ULTA because I’m in my body care era — oils, shimmer, scalp care, fragrance mists. The promo said “confirm access,” then you could unlock credit toward beauty stuff. No “buy first.” No “do your taxes for us.” Just basic confirmation you're real, not a bot farming codes.

2. Confirm access (takes ~2 minutes)

When you tap Unlock you’ll get a short access check. This is normal. Real brands and promo partners do this so bots don’t kill the budget in 5 seconds. If the page is asking for SSN or bank login or anything insane → leave. That’s not it. Real promo credit only needs lightweight verification, not your firstborn child.

How to spot the scams (so you don’t waste 40 mins)

• If they make you buy first, leave. Ours never does that.
• If they ask for SSN / bank info, nope. Close it.
• If it’s “fill 10 surveys,” that model is dead. Don’t waste time.

Real promo = quick access check, then credit unlocks. Fake promo = stalling you forever so you quit.

Why girls love this: why beauty is getting so expensive

Beauty is expensive. Hair masks $30. Body oil $25. Lip treatment $22. Getting $25–$50 back covers boring essentials (cleanser, scalp mask, lip treatment) so you can spend real money on the fun stuff: fragrance, shimmer oil, “I smell like a rich auntie” perfume, etc.

Bottom line: You’re not crazy. Self-care costs way more in 2025. The point of these promos is to make it not hurt so bad.