CHICAGO — Ulta recently opened what it considers its first urban store and salon in the country, a multilevel mecca in downtown Chicago.
Now based in Bolingbrook, Ill., Ulta started out more than 15 years ago as a discount beauty store. More recently, the expanding chain of 300-plus stores nationwide has dared to add prestige brands (Benefit, Urban Decay, Frederic Fekkai) under the same roof as mass brands (Revlon, Maybelline, Max Factor). Tucson has two locations — in Park Place mall and at 4368 N. Oracle Road .
That claim to firebrand fame calls to mind another beauty store pioneer, Sephora, which recently opened in a South Side J.C. Penney, 5265 S. Calle Santa Cruz, near West Irvington Road and in the Tucson Mall. With each one's milestones in mind, we compare and contrast Ulta with Sephora.
ULTA
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What it's got that Sephora has not: Typical Ulta stores boast full-service salons offering haircuts, coloring, keratin treatments, facials and waxing.
If Ulta were a magazine, it would be: InStyle, with its democratic, high-low, wide-ranging approach.
Can I get a price check: Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara, $5.49; 5-ounce Frederic Fekkai Shea Butter Hair Mask, $22.50; Benefit Bathina shower cap, $16.
Room for improvement: It's still building its stable of prestige color cosmetics.
Wins on: Wallet-friendliness, range of products.
SEPHORA
What it's got that Ulta has not: A broader range of prestige fragrances and prestige cosmetics. Offers more product exclusives (Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation, $40) and cult favorites such as Shu Uemura eyelash curlers.
If Sephora were a magazine, it would be: Vogue, with its sharply edited content.
Can I get a price check: 5-ounce Frederic Fekkai Shea Butter Hair Mask, $22.50; Benefit Bathina shower cap, $16, same as at Ulta.
Room for improvement: Department stores still have the corner on some color cosmetic lines such as Chanel.
Wins on: Selection of prestige color cosmetics.
