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Space NK vs Ulta Beauty

Head-to-head across 6 dimensions — speed, privacy, value, and more. Scores are independent and not influenced by affiliate relationships.

Reviewed by the Clientele Research Team · Last checked 9 days ago (2026-07-15)
Space NK
Curated European and indie prestige brands, US retail
6.3/10
vs
Ulta Beauty
Prestige and drugstore brands plus in-store salon services
8.0/10WINNER
SCORE BREAKDOWN
DIMENSION
Space NK
Ulta Beauty
EDGE
brand selection
How many brands are carried, whether they include exclusives unavailab…
7.0
8.0
Ulta ↑
pricing
What the rewards program pays back in real dollars, whether there are …
8.0
9.0
Ulta ↑
return policy
How easy it is to return something that didn't work — time limits, whe…
6.0
8.0
Ulta ↑
in-store expertise
Whether trained staff or estheticians can help you figure out what you…
7.0
7.0
Tie
shipping speed
Free shipping thresholds, delivery speed, physical store count, and wh…
4.0
9.0
Ulta ↑
clean beauty curation
Whether the retailer runs an active clean/curated-ingredient program, …
6.0
7.0
Ulta ↑
Overall Score
6.3
8.0
Ulta wins
OUR VERDICT
Space NK

Best for: Shoppers hunting for European or indie prestige brands — like Biologique Recherche or Aesop — that aren't stocked at Sephora or Ulta.

Shop Space NK
Ulta Beauty

Best for: Shoppers who want to buy a $10 NYX eyeliner and a $60 Urban Decay palette in the same trip, or who want to combine beauty shopping with a haircut at the in-store salon.

Shop Ulta Beauty
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