The short version
- Sephora gives every Beauty Insider a free birthday gift in the US and Canada: free in store, or with a $25 online order.
- Ulta sends members a birthday gift coupon plus 2X points in their birthday month. Platinum and Diamond get an extra $10 coupon.
- Some programs only give gifts at higher tiers (M·A·C from Silver, Sally Beauty at Elite), or with a purchase (Clinique, $55 order).
- Join early and add your birthday to every profile. Most gifts can't be claimed late.
Your birthday is the best day of the year to shop for beauty, because so many loyalty programs give you something free. Here are the free birthday beauty gifts worth claiming in 2026, what each one asks of you, and how to make sure you don't miss them.
The big two: Sephora and Ulta
Every Beauty Insider member, at every tier, picks a birthday gift from a rotating lineup of brands. Ask at the register in a Sephora store, or add it to an online order of $25 or more at sephora.com or sephora.ca. Prefer points? You can take 250 points instead, in store only. Our Sephora birthday gift guide covers the details.
Ulta Beauty Rewards members get a birthday gift coupon (while supplies last) and 2X points on qualifying purchases in their birthday month, once they activate the offer. To get the coupon, your birthday needs to be in your profile and you need Ulta emails or the app. Platinum and Diamond members also get an extra $10 birthday coupon.
Brand programs with birthday perks
M·A·C's birthday gift bag and double points are for Silver ($150 or more a year) and Gold ($500 or more) members. The entry Bronze tier doesn't get them.
Every Clinique Smart Rewards tier gets a birthday gift with an eligible $55 order on Clinique.com.
Sally Beauty's extra $5 birthday reward is for Elite members, who spend $200 or more in a calendar year.
Outside the US and Canada
In the UK, The Body Shop's free Love Your Body Club adds a £5 birthday voucher, and My Sephora lists complimentary birthday gifts for members. In Australia and New Zealand, MECCA's Beauty Loop gives a birthday surprise at every level.
Your birthday beauty checklist
- Join Sephora Beauty Insider and Ulta Beauty Rewards (both free).
- Add your birthday to every profile, and opt in to emails or the app.
- Check which brand programs you already shop with, and what tier you're on.
- Plan one shop in your birthday month to stack double points and gifts.
Want more freebies all year? See how to get free makeup samples.
Frequently asked questions
What beauty stores give you a free birthday gift?
Sephora gives every Beauty Insider a birthday gift in the US and Canada, and Ulta sends members a birthday gift coupon. M·A·C (Silver tier and up), Clinique (with a $55 order) and Sally Beauty (Elite tier) also have birthday perks.
Do you have to buy something to get a birthday beauty gift?
Not always. Sephora's birthday gift is free in store, though online it needs a $25 order. Clinique's needs an eligible $55 order, and some programs only give gifts at higher spend tiers.
When should I sign up for birthday rewards?
Join and add your birthday well before the day. Some programs email coupons at the start of your birthday month, and birthdays added at the last minute may not count.
How we research: we check every offer against the brand's or program's own website before publishing and when we update a guide. Programs change, so always confirm the details at the source before you sign up. Read our editorial standards, or tell us about a correction. Some links may be affiliate links; see our disclosure.