Ranking the Ulta Beauty Birthday Gifts from Worst to Best

I love free beauty gifts, samples, and gifts with purchase.  It’s the best way for me to try new products and it keeps my travel beauty bags full at all times.

So, I purchased most of the Ulta Beauty Birthday gift options to tell you which one(s) I think are worth choosing.

But, I fumbled the bag from the very start!

I made the mistake of purchasing each product from the Ultamate Rewards birthday gift product pages.

BIG MISTAKE!

I overpaid for smaller samples sizes, when I could have purchased the brands “travel size” version for more product at the same price (on Ulta or the brands’ website).

Oh well, it’s worth it…this is beauty science…kinda.

Worst Choice – Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

This primer is so small.

It’s feels like a one of the samples from a “27 piece gift with purchase” promotions Ulta does monthly (I LOVE those btw).

This tiny primer is mighty though!

The Smashbox Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Oil-Free Primer is one of the OG makeup primers, and its still so good.  It smooths the skin, blurs the skin, and gives the perfect base for makeup.  Its been duped more times than we can count!

I just think the size is so small that you’re not getting nearly as much from this product as you could from ANY of the other options.

I would pass on this dinky sample of the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer unless you wanted a tiny version to put in your makeup bag or your travel bag.

 

Boring Choice – Olaplex Haircare Trio

Beauty lovers see Olaplex samples everywhere!

Olaplex has been featured as free gifts from Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Macys, and included in subscription boxes within the last year.

Beauty lovers have likely tried one if not all of these samples already.

But, this boring option (for me) may be a great choice for Olaplex fans. 

I’ve used these sample sizes before, and they lasted 2 washes for me (with thick 4B/4C hair).

That’s enough to get an idea of how you like the product.

The Olaplex Deluxe Size No.3, No.4, and No.5 Trio is a good re-gift option if you are putting together a gift for someone else who is new to Olaplex or loves the brand. 

Note: I didn’t buy this gift option because I’ve tried all the products before and wasn’t impressed.  I do still have a sample of the No.8 Conditioner.  Its ok, but not worth the hype either.  Olaplex does seem to work better for beauties with Type 2 and 3 hair – I have 4B/4C hair.

 

Ok Choice – Kopari Beauty Body Butter

I was disappointed by the Kopari Ultra Restore Body Butter gift.

The body butter is described as “ultra restoring” and “ultra moisturizing”.

I didn’t get those results though.

The light cream textured “butter” absorbs into the skin well, but I don’t see or feel ultra moisture.

My skin feels dull after an hour or so.

So I switched to using it as a hand cream, and I’ve been using it as a hand cream ever since.

As a hand cream its ok.

The butter is easy to blend in, with a pleasant but light coconut scent.

The actual sample size you get is generous (1 fl oz./30 ml), but the product itself isn’t “ultra” anything.

I really need creams and balms to seep into the skin and visibly show on the skin, otherwise my skin ends up looking dull.

Kopari Beauty is a great brand, but this gift is just OK.

 

Good Choice – First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser

The First Aid Beauty gift is a good option for a wide variety of Ulta customers.

It’s the type of cleanser that leaves your skin feeling clean but not dry.

It’s fragrance free and gentle for those with sensitive or acne prone skin.

You would get about a week’s worth of use out of this travel size gift.

In fact, I’ve been using it off and on for weeks now because a little goes a long way.

The First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser is a good, safe option if you aren’t interested in the other gifts.

This is also a good option for all skin types, age ranges, and it’s the least “girly” option on the list.

 

Good Choice – Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment

This is a great product.

It’s been around for a long time, so a lot of beauties have it before, but it works!

This sample size is pretty tiny, but you get quite a few treatments from it (around 5 uses for me).

As an overnight treatment, I wake up with the skin that is smooth and visibly less textured.

My only issue with this birthday gift option is the full size price. 

The Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment is very expensive.

Back in the day when this product was going “viral”, it’s cost seemed justified because it’s was effective AND unique.

Now you can buy a lactic acid treatment product that is just as effective and less expensive.

The Sunday Riley Good Genes is still a great product, but its not as exciting as it once was.

A small sample is great to have in your arsenal of skin care products, so I say this is a good option.

 

Best Choice – Peach & Lily Matcha Moisturizer

This is by far the best Ulta beauty birthday option for 2024.

It’s got a $23 value (the highest value of all of the options) and the cream itself is so good!

I think all beauties will really enjoy this moisturizer.

It is lightweight and the fun green matcha color does not show on skin at all.

It just blends in seamlessly.

It gives you visible hydration but doesn’t look oily at the end of the day!

I have combination skin.

Some moisturizers look and feels greasy on my skin, especially by the end day.

The Peach & Lily Matcha Pudding Cream makes my skin feel hydrated, but not oily even after 10-12 hours of wear.

It looks great under makeup, it pairs well with all of my other skin care products, and no pilling!

Its’ really the best choice for this years’ Ulta Beauty Birthday Gift.

Note: The Peach & Lily gift has gone out of stock quite often, so keep an eye out for it when it comes back in stock.  Typically you have a month to claim your birthday gift, so you could wait a bit if its unavailable on your birthday.

 

Ulta Beauty Birthday Gifts for all Ultamate Rewards Members:

• Peach & Lily – Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream (Travel Size) – $23 value 
• First Aid Beauty – Pure Skin Face Cleanser (Travel Size) – $12 value
• Smashbox – The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Oil-Free Primer (Deluxe Size) – $7 value 
• Kopari Beauty – Ultra Restore Body Butter (Mini Size) – $12 value
• Sunday Riley – Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment (Deluxe Size) – $15 value
• Olaplex – Deluxe Size No.3, No.4, and No.5 Trio (Deluxe Size) – $12 value 

Read: Restocked: Ulta Beauty Birthday Gifts 2024!

This post was my ranking of Ulta Beauty Birthday Gifts from Worst to Best. 

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