New Ulta And Sephora Birthday Gifts For 2026 Shoppers Need To Know About

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Birthday depression is real, which is why it's a good idea to plan ahead and throw yourself the sort of birthday you wish someone would throw for you. Think about it: Birthdays are a time to celebrate people, and who's better to celebrate than the one person you've been with through thick and thin: yourself? 

Now, to be clear, we're not suggesting that retail therapy is the only way to make your special day grand, but birthday freebies from Ulta and Sephora are certainly day-brighteners. Ulta, for example, offers a three-in-one birthday bundle that's sure to make you feel cheery about another trip around the sun. If you register ahead, you'll get $10 off a purchase, double the points on select products, and, more importantly, a completely free birthday gift, which you get to pick from the offered catalogue of skincare, haircare, and makeup products. Sephora, too, has myriad birthday options, and in 2026, you're not going to want to miss out on your freebie from either of them. 

Some of Ulta's available birthday products in 2026 include the travel size Olaplex No.7 Bonding Hair Oil, travel size Peach & Lily Ginger Melt Oil Cleanser, and deluxe sample of the Curl Goddess Mascara from French luxury brand Lancôme. Peach & Lily's Oil Cleanser might not be as popular as its glass skin products, but it's still a fan favorite because it's thorough enough to get off makeup while being hydrating enough to leave your skin smooth and soft. Plus, it's fragrance-free, and if you learn how to properly incorporate a cleansing oil into your face washing routine, you'll get all the benefits and none of the drawbacks. Meanwhile, if you're eyeing Lancôme's Curl Goddess Mascara, you'll be pleased to know it's volumizing and has a 30-hour wear, as well as those twisted 40-degree mascara brushes.

Other available products include the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser deluxe sample, travel size Kopari Pink Guava Hair & Body Mist, Eva Nyc Therapy Session Deep Conditioning Hair Mask deluxe sample, and Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Blush Stick and Lip Color deluxe sample in the shade WERK. The only important term and condition is that your total purchase has to be at least $1, and you have to include one product that isn't from UB Marketplace.

If Sephora is your go-to, one of the ways to ensure you're getting every last freebie on your birthday is to time your regular purchases for some time during your birthday month. Once you hit the $25 threshold, you can choose a free gift from five beauty sets. The current selection includes the TikTok-viral Tower 28 Beauty Everyday Must Duo, Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Skin Spa Trio, and Glossier Celebrate You Set with four different products. The Tower 28 set includes 60 ml. of the SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray and 1.18 ml. of the ShineOn Lip Jelly in Pistachio, while the Dr. Dennis set includes 7 ml. of the DermInfusions Blur + Repair Cream, 1.5 ml. of the DermInfusions Fill + Repair Serum, and the AHA/BHA daily peel, which is quite popular on TikTok. Finally, the Glossier set includes three 1.5-ml. bottles of some popular fragrances, including Glossier You, Glossier You Doux, and Glossier You Fleur, as well as the ever-trendy Cloud Paint Blush in the shade Puff.

Sephora is also offering the Jo Malone London Scent-Layering Starter Set, which includes 9 ml. of the Wood Sage & Sea Salt and 1.5 ml. of English Pear & Sweet Pea. The Wood Sage & Sea Salt, in particular, is one of the most-beloved fragrances from the brand. For haircare lovers, the Dae Hair Styling Heroes set might pique your interest. It has 30 ml. each of Dae Hair's Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream 30ml and Sunsetter Hairspray. The styling cream is great for slick-backs and defining curls, and though it has little hold, you can compensate for this with the hairspray, which has a decently strong hold and smells amazing.