Ulta Beauty is a leading beauty retailer offering a vast assortment of cosmetics, skincare, and fragrances from drugstore to luxury brands, while Breville is a premium brand specializing in high-performance kitchen appliances like espresso machines and blenders. While these brands operate in completely different markets - beauty vs. kitchen - you might be here trying to understand what makes each a leader in its respective field.
Let's break down everything you need to know about both brands to find the products that fit your lifestyle.
Ulta: The Beauty Superstore
Ulta is a one-stop shop for all things beauty, combining drugstore staples, prestige titles, and indie newcomers under one roof. With a massive online presence and physical stores across the country, it provides an accessible and engaging experience for anyone interested in cosmetics, skincare, hair products, or fragrance. The brand is known for its frequent sales, exclusive collaborations, and a highly popular rewards program.
- Product mix: A comprehensive range of makeup, skincare, haircare, bath &, body, fragrances, and professional beauty tools. They also offer in-store salon services, including hair styling and brow bars.
- Style/vibe: Highly diverse, reflecting the hundreds of brands carried. You can find everything from fun, trendy packaging from e.l.f. Cosmetics to the minimalist, clinical aesthetic of brands like The Ordinary.
- Price point: Extremely wide range. You can grab drugstore mascara for under $10 or invest in a luxury skincare device for several hundred dollars. Private label products offer great value.
- Rewards program: The Ultamate Rewards program is a major draw, allowing shoppers to earn points on every purchase, which can be redeemed for money off future hauls.
- Sales: Known for frequent promotional events, including the 21 Days of Beauty, Gorgeous Hair Event, and seasonal sales offering significant discounts.
- Return policy: Generally offers a 60-day return policy for any product, even if opened, as long as it's not mostly used.
- Shopping Experience: Offers an omnichannel experience where you can browse and test products in-store with the help of consultants or shop conveniently online with detailed user reviews.
Ulta is the ultimate destination for beauty enthusiasts who want variety, value, and the convenience of finding all their favorite brands in one place.
Shop Ulta: ulta.com
Breville: The Premium Kitchen Innovator
Breville is an Australian brand synonymous with high-end kitchen appliances that blend innovative technology with sophisticated design. Aimed at home chefs, coffee connoisseurs, and anyone passionate about culinary arts, Breville products are built for performance and durability. Their reputation rests on excellent engineering, user-friendly features, and a premium aesthetic that elevates any kitchen countertop.
- Product mix: Specializes in powerful small kitchen appliances. Their most popular categories include espresso machines, blenders, toaster ovens, coffee makers, food processors, and juicers.
- Style/vibe: A sleek and modern aesthetic characterized by brushed stainless steel, clean lines, and intuitive interfaces. The designs are functional and professional, intended to look like they belong in a high-end kitchen.
- Price point: Premium. Blenders typically start around $200, toaster ovens can range from $180 to $500, and their sought-after espresso machines often cost $600 to over $2,500.
- Quality: Known for superior construction using high-quality materials designed for longevity. Their products feature powerful motors, precision engineering, and durable parts that stand up to frequent use.
- Warranty: Most products come with a one- or two-year limited product warranty, backed by a strong customer support system for repairs and assistance.
- Return policy: Offers a 30-day return policy for products purchased directly from their site, but items must be unused and in original packaging.
- Where to Buy: You can purchase directly from their website or find them at high-end retailers like Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table, and Crate &, Barrel.
Breville is the go-to brand for those willing to invest in impeccably designed, high-performance appliances that make a real difference in their home cooking and coffee-making.
Shop Breville: breville.com
Ulta vs. Breville: Key Differences
Product Selection
The core difference is an obvious one: Ulta sells beauty products, while Breville makes kitchen appliances. The selection at Ulta is massive, featuring thousands of individual products from hundreds of different brands across makeup, skincare, and haircare. It's a retailer designed for discovery and assortment.
Breville, on the other hand, is a specialty brand. Their carefully engineered product lineup is focused exclusively on upgrading your kitchen counter with toasters, blenders, espresso machines, and other powerful tools. Their focus is on depth and performance within a narrow category, not breadth of selection.
Price Comparison
These brands exist in entirely different price ecosystems. At Ulta, you can have a full shopping haul for under $50 by sticking to drugstore brands, or you can spend over $200 on a single bottle of luxury serum. The price point is flexible and caters to nearly every budget through a mix of brands and frequent sales events.
Breville products are an investment. Their appliances are positioned in the premium market, with few products available for under $100. Customers are paying for advanced technology, durable materials like stainless steel, and superior performance that justifies a higher upfront cost for long-term use.
Quality &, Construction
Quality at Ulta varies widely depending on the brand you choose. An inexpensive eyeshadow palette will have different ingredients and longevity than a professional-grade foundation. The quality is determined by the manufacturer, not Ulta itself.
Conversely, quality and engineering excellence are Breville's primary selling points. The brand is known for using premium, robust materials and commercial-grade components in its consumer products. You can expect a certain standard of craftsmanship, power, and durability with any appliance bearing the Breville name, which is why it comes with extensive warranties.
Style &, Aesthetic
Ulta doesn't have a singular aesthetic, instead, it's a vibrant marketplace of them. From sleek, minimalist skincare packaging to bold and colorful makeup palettes, the look and feel change from one aisle to the next, reflecting the latest trends and brand identities.
Breville enforces a strong, consistent brand aesthetic across its entire product line. Their appliances feature a modern, sophisticated look centered around brushed metal finishes, clean lines, and thoughtfully designed digital displays. Their products are designed to create a cohesive, high-end look on a kitchen countertop.
Who Should You Choose?
This isn't about choosing one brand over the other, but finding the right brand for your specific need.
Shop with Ulta if:
- You're looking for makeup, skincare, perfume, or hair products.
- You enjoy exploring a mix of affordable drugstore brands and high-end prestige labels.
- You love a good sale and are motivated by points and rewards programs.
- You want to buy a gift for someone who is passionate about beauty.
Invest in Breville if:
- You need a new espresso machine, blender, toaster oven, or other small kitchen appliance.
- You are passionate about cooking or artisanal coffee and value precision performance.
- You are willing to invest in durable, long-lasting products with a premium design.
- You are shopping for a significant gift like a wedding present or major holiday splurge for a home chef.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does Ulta sell?
Ulta is a specialty beauty retailer. Its product categories include cosmetics, skincare, haircare, fragrances, bath and body products, and beauty tools like curling irons and facial devices. Many stores also have in-house salons for hair and brow services.
What is Breville known for?
Breville is famous for its high-end, brilliantly designed kitchen appliances. They are especially regarded for their line of Barista espresso machines, which bring cafe-quality coffee making into the home, as well as their powerful blenders and smart ovens.
Are Ulta and Breville related companies?
No, they are entirely separate and unrelated companies. Ulta Beauty, Inc. is a publicly traded American beauty retailer. Breville Group is an Australian manufacturer of high-end home appliances. The only thing they share is a reputation as a leader in their respective industries.
Which brand would be a better gift?
This depends entirely on the interests of the person you're gifting. For beauty lovers who enjoy trying trends and products, a gift card or curated set from Ulta is a perfect choice. For newlyweds, new homeowners, or passionate foodies and coffee lovers, a Breville appliance is a generous and incredibly useful long-term gift.
Where can I buy products from these brands?
You can buy Ulta products at their physical stores across the United States, on ulta.com, their mobile app, and in their designated sections at select Target locations. Breville appliances can be bought on breville.com and from authorized premium retailers like Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table, Best Buy, and Amazon.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
