Is Ulta Selling USED Makeup?

If you haven't heard by now, you gon learn today.

A few days ago, a former Ulta employee delivered some shocking news regarding Ulta stores and their returned or used makeup. She began a thread on Twitter that basically says that Ulta cleans up and repackages returned and used makeup and puts it back on the floor.

Okay, ew?

Um. Uh. I just. WHAT?

As a beauty enthusiast, I'm feeling so many emotions all at once. Shock. Betrayal. Disgust. Definitely disgust. I trust(ed) the Ulta brand as an authority on all things beauty and to find out about this alleged disregard for consumers and their health (because make no mistake, this is a serious health issue) is saddening and despicable. 

First of all, I'm nearly one million percent sure that I will not be shopping at Ulta anymore. (I have redeemable points, man!) There might not be any truth to these claims but it's just too disgusting to think about.

Second of all, I do want to acknowledge that while I am inclined to believe Fatima's claims 100%, there is no actual proof. She did have photos of a palette she claimed had been cleaned and put back but we have to realize that it could be a palette she bought just for the photo, a friend's palette, etc. With the internet being what it is, anything that you don't see with your own eyes could be doctored or fake.

That's good enough for me.

The thing that makes me the most upset is when you pay for high end products at makeup specialty stores, you're not only paying for the product, you pay for quality, luxury, and the reassurance that you're receiving clean, sanitary products. Excuse me, Ulta but I'm not paying $45 for a shadow palette just so I can potentially catch eye herpes.

Of course, the Tweet thread blew up like a state fair port-a-potty. Former and current Ulta employees came out of the woodwork, most confirming the allegations, with a very few defending the chain.

Ulta released a statement saying, "We do not allow the resale of used or damaged products." Of course this is exactly the reassurance that we all want but again, we have no way of knowing if this is true or if Ulta is just trying to calm the beast.

​The statement continued “We take any concern of this nature very seriously and if we find that there is any deviation from our policies, we will take appropriate actions to ensure we continue providing a consistently high quality product. The health and safety of Ulta Beauty guests is a top priority and we strive to deliver an optimal experience every time they shop with us.” 

FYI, Ulta stock has dropped about $20 a share since Friday because of their "product mix". Just sayin. (Read more on that here: seekingalpha.com/article/4139962-ulta-investors-need-patient-road)

After this, I will likely be purchasing all my high end cosmetics from Macy's. If you do continue to shop at Ulta (or at any beauty store) follow these tips:

I feel so much better having gotten that off of my chest. It's important to make your own decisions about where you shop but to make good decisions, you have to be well informed. 

Will you continue shopping at Ulta despite claims that they sell used makeup? Will you defect to Sephora, or just go to makeup counters at department stores like Macy's? Leave a comment and let me know! Share this post with anyone you know who loves beauty products or shops at Ulta!

Thanks for reading!