Walking into the doors of Ulta can be a spiritual experience for some folks, but for others, it can cause anxiety and stress. I've been known to herd my friends around the store while resembling a tour guide when we shop there because I'm a rather frequent shopper there. Whether you're a makeup fanatic or a newbie to the world of cosmetics, you've noticed the "types" of people that shop at Ulta on any given day, and if you've yet to go, here's who you should expect to see. You might even be able to label yourself as being one of these people!
The Novice
You'll likely find a novice Ulta shopper aimlessly travelling through the store, trying to figure out what the heck they've stumbled into. They're likely silent and looking for the bare necessities in the drugstore makeup area. If they're bold and completely honest, they'll ask a beauty adviser for help with finding the best products for their skin, hair and body. If they're overwhelmed, they'll probably cling to going straight to the area where they heard about a certain product or they'll wander aimlessly until a beauty adviser asks if they need help. Not to worry, though! Novices will learn the ropes and be more comfortable with the store in no time.
The Friend
You'll be able to spot a friend right off the bat. The friend, or even spouse, is going to be the person who is tagging along with a frequent shopper, often looking ridiculously bored and upset to be there. You remember what it was like as a kid to go with your mom into a clothing store and have to be there for what seems like hours? That's basically how they feel. They might love their makeup-adoring friend, but they'd love to hit up the food court, cinemas or a department store even more.
The Bitter Competitor Fan
Ah, the bitter fans of other makeup stores or prestige brands. Bitter fans of the competition, such as Sephora and makeup counters like MAC, Clinique or Estee Lauder, probably come in with a smug look on their faces. They walk around with friends, or alone, mumbling things like "I'd never pay this much" or "____ wouldn't do this to me." While people like this in the makeup world are few and far between, they do exist and it's pretty darn awkward when you bump into them or overhear parts of their conversations.
The Clearance Queen
We all have a really cheap friend when we go out to eat, shop for clothes or buy textbooks, and we also have a cheap friend when it comes to shopping for makeup. A clearance queen can be found exactly where you'd expect to find them: hanging by the clearance section. Clearance queens will meander away from the clearance section, especially if there's a special or sale happening in the store. They're sure to use their $3.50 off coupon every month, and you'd better believe they'll be using their Ultamate Rewards card every chance they can. All they want to do is save money; who can blame them?
The Prestige Princess
Prestige princesses always a make a beeline to the "prestige" cosmetics section. Some prestige princesses feel as if they're "too good" for drugstore-esque brands while others are simply obsessed with the nice cosmetics and their fabulous formulas. Prestige princesses tend to know Ulta like the backs of their hands. They're all about quality products, and their faces are usually entirely made-up and perfect. To be honest, they're kind of intimidating because they always seem to look so dang fabulous.
The Platinum Goddess
Platinum goddesses have earned their platinum memberships (obviously) and can proudly call Ulta their second home. Sometimes, platinum goddesses know more about some of the cosmetics than the beauty advisers, and they're usually welcome to giving others advice about products.
The Loyal Curator
Loyal curators are pretty much responsible for bringing new folks into Ulta and teaching them the ways of makeup. They're usually the person in the friend group who always gets asked questions about which products are best and what the new makeup trends are. They'll typically look like a summer camp counselor, guiding their cabin members through the aisles and matching their friends' foundations for them and talking eyeshadow and how on Earth to apply it. They've been loyal to the store for years, and they want everyone else to know of the beauty of the store. Ulta is their oyster, and they want to make sure everyone who walks in feels welcome and familiar.
Makeup is becoming more and more popular and many more makeup artists are beginning to rise to fame and cosmetics are becoming more saturated into popular culture. As we shop, we'll see more of these folks stand out. I can definitely tell you I'm a clearance queen and a loyal curator. Where do you stand on the spectrum?
