Planet Beauty Alternatives and Competitors (2026)
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By Mohamed Zaki · Researched and updated October 28, 2026 · Coupons Scout may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Looking for Planet Beauty alternatives and competitors? Planet Beauty sells salon hair care, skin care and makeup brands, but other online beauty retailers set a lower free shipping level or publish clearer delivery terms. We compared Dermstore, Ulta Beauty and Sephora with Planet Beauty using each retailer’s own pages, read in October 2026. Free shipping levels, returns and brand range decide most beauty orders, so we focus on them.
Quick Answer
For most people, Planet Beauty is a strong pick if you want salon hair care and skin care brands with free shipping over $59 and in-store returns. Choose Dermstore for skin care with published delivery fees, Ulta Beauty for a lower free shipping level at $35, or Sephora for member shipping perks and a 30-day return window.
Best for: Planet Beauty suits shoppers who want salon hair care, skin care and makeup brands in one store.
Key Takeaways
- The main Planet Beauty alternatives in 2026 are Dermstore, Ulta Beauty and Sephora, which all sell skin care and hair care to US shoppers.
- As of October 2026, Planet Beauty’s header lists free shipping on orders over $59, while Dermstore’s delivery page lists free shipping on orders over $50.
- Dermstore charges a $7 fee on US orders under $50, and standard delivery takes 3-5 working days, according to its delivery page.
- According to excerpts of its pages, Ulta Beauty offers free standard shipping on a $35 purchase in the contiguous US.
- Planet Beauty says items can be returned at any Planet Beauty store, but its returns page lists more than one return window.
- We could not load Ulta Beauty’s and Sephora’s policy pages, so confirm their shipping and return terms before you order.
Planet Beauty Alternatives and Competitors at a Glance
| Retailer | Best for | Free shipping | Returns | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planet Beauty | Salon hair care brands, in-store returns | Orders over $59 (conditions apply) | Any Planet Beauty store; refund to original payment | 4.2/5 |
| Dermstore | Skin care with clear delivery fees | Orders over $50; $7 fee under $50 (US) | Not confirmed on the pages we read | 4.3/5 |
| Ulta Beauty | Lower free shipping level | $35 purchase (contiguous US), per page excerpts | 30 days refund; 31 to 60 days credit, per page excerpts | 4.3/5 |
| Sephora | Member perks and free returns | No minimum for Beauty Insider; $50 for guests, per page excerpts | 30 days, per page excerpts | 4.4/5 |
From each retailer’s own pages, read October 28, 2026. Ulta Beauty and Sephora figures come from excerpts of their pages, because the pages did not load for us.
Winners by Category
- Best for salon hair care brands: Planet Beauty, with Olaplex, GHD, Living Proof, Redken and Paul Mitchell in its directory.
- Best for published delivery fees: Dermstore, whose delivery page lists standard, expedited and overnight options.
- Lowest free shipping level: Ulta Beauty at $35, per page excerpts.
- Best for member perks: Sephora, where Beauty Insider members get free standard shipping with no minimum, per page excerpts.
What to Look for in a Planet Beauty Alternative
What Free Shipping Level Suits Your Order?
Free shipping levels in this group run from $35 to $59. Planet Beauty lists free shipping on orders over $59, Dermstore lists orders over $50, and Ulta Beauty lists $35 per excerpts of its pages. If you shop for a single serum, a lower level helps. If you stock up on hair care, $59 is easy to reach.
How Easy Are Returns?
Beauty returns depend on how the retailer handles opened products. Planet Beauty accepts returns at any Planet Beauty store and refunds to the original payment method, but select tools and devices are final sale. Read each return page before you buy, since the Planet Beauty page lists more than one window.
Do You Need Salon Brands or Skin Care Specialists?
Planet Beauty’s homepage lists Hair, Skin, Makeup, Body, Men and Fragrance sections, so it covers many routines. Dermstore’s delivery page does not describe its range, so check its categories to see whether it matches your routine. Whatever you buy, read the ingredient list and patch test new skin care on a small area first.
Shipping and Fees Compared
| Retailer | Free shipping | Fee below the level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planet Beauty | Orders over $59 | Not stated on the pages we read | Not stated on the pages we read |
| Dermstore | Orders over $50 | $7 (US) | Standard 3-5 working days; expedited $10.95; overnight $29.95 |
| Ulta Beauty | $35 purchase (contiguous US) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Sephora | Members: no minimum; guests: $50 | $6.95 for guests under $50 | Not confirmed |
From each retailer’s own pages, October 28, 2026. Ulta Beauty and Sephora figures come from page excerpts.
Return Policies Compared
Planet Beauty’s returns page says you can bring items to any Planet Beauty store for immediate assistance, and refunds go back to the original form of payment. Shipping charges on the original order are not refunded. Sephora and Ulta Beauty describe 30-day refund windows in the excerpts we saw.
| Retailer | Where to return | Refund | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planet Beauty | Any Planet Beauty store or by mail | Original form of payment | Select tools and devices final sale; returns page lists more than one window |
| Dermstore | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Check its returns page |
| Ulta Beauty | Not confirmed | 30 days refund; 31 to 60 days credit, per excerpts | Confirm on guest services |
| Sephora | Prepaid label or store, per excerpts | Original payment within 30 days, per excerpts | Confirm on its returns page |
From each retailer’s own pages or page excerpts, October 28, 2026.
Planet Beauty vs Each Competitor: Head-to-Head
Planet Beauty vs Dermstore: Which Is Better for Skin Care?
Dermstore has the edge on lower free shipping, $50 against $59, and publishes its delivery times. Planet Beauty has the edge on salon hair care and in-store returns. Pick Dermstore for a skin care routine, and Planet Beauty if hair care leads your list.
Planet Beauty vs Ulta Beauty: Which Is Cheaper to Ship?
On the free shipping level alone, Ulta Beauty looks lower at $35, per page excerpts, against $59 at Planet Beauty. Compare brand lists, since each store carries different lines.
Planet Beauty vs Sephora: Which Is Better for Members?
Sephora’s Beauty Insider members get free standard shipping with no minimum, per excerpts of its pages. Sephora suits shoppers who buy often enough to join. Planet Beauty suits shoppers who want its salon hair care directory and can reach $59.
Planet Beauty: Best for Salon Hair Care Brands and In-Store Returns
Best for: shoppers who want salon hair care, skin care and makeup brands with free shipping over $59 · Starting price: Free shipping on orders over $59 (conditions apply) · Our score: 4.2/5
Planet Beauty describes itself as Southern California’s go-to destination for premium beauty since 1990. Its homepage groups products into Makeup, Skin, Hair, Body, Men, Beauty Tools and Fragrance, and its brand directory includes Kiehl’s, Olaplex, Dermalogica, GHD, Living Proof, Redken and Paul Mitchell.
As of October 2026, the header reads free shipping on orders over $59, and the returns page says items can be brought to any Planet Beauty store. Read our full Planet Beauty review or grab the latest Planet Beauty coupons.
✅ What We Like
- Long directory of hair, skin and makeup brands
- Free shipping on orders over $59
- Returns at any Planet Beauty store
- Refunds to the original payment method
💡 Things to Consider
- Returns page lists more than one return window
- Select tools and devices are final sale
Dermstore: Best for Skin Care With Clear Delivery Terms
Best for: skin care shoppers who want published delivery times and fees · Starting price: Free standard shipping on orders over $50; $7 fee under $50 in the US · Our score: 4.3/5
Dermstore’s delivery page lists free shipping on orders over $50 and a $7 fee on US orders under $50, after any discount and before tax. Standard orders are delivered within 3-5 working days, expedited shipping costs $10.95 for delivery within 2-3 working days, and overnight shipping costs $29.95.
That clear fee table makes Dermstore a good alternative if you want to know delivery costs before you check out. We could not confirm its current returns terms, so check its returns page before you order.
✅ What We Like
- Free shipping on orders over $50
- Published delivery times and fees
- Standard delivery within 3-5 working days
💡 Things to Consider
- $7 fee on US orders under $50
- Returns terms not confirmed on the pages we read
Ulta Beauty: Best for a Lower Free Shipping Level
Best for: shoppers who want free standard shipping at a smaller order size · Starting price: Free standard shipping on $35 purchases (contiguous US) · Our score: 4.3/5
According to excerpts of Ulta Beauty’s pages, free standard shipping applies to a $35 purchase in the contiguous US states. The guest services excerpt describes returns within 30 days for a refund to the original payment, and returns from 31 to 60 days as merchandise credit.
The pages did not load when we visited, so confirm these terms on Ulta Beauty’s guest services page before you order.
✅ What We Like
- Free standard shipping at $35, per page excerpts
- Refund and merchandise credit periods described
💡 Things to Consider
- Free shipping excludes Alaska, Hawaii and oversized packages, per page excerpts
- Pages did not load for us, so confirm terms
Sephora: Best for Free Returns and a Wide Brand Range
Best for: shoppers who want free returns and member shipping perks · Starting price: Guest checkout: free standard shipping with a $50 minimum; Beauty Insider members: no minimum · Our score: 4.4/5
According to excerpts of Sephora’s pages, Beauty Insider members get free standard shipping with no minimum, while guest checkout orders need $50 for free standard shipping and pay $6.95 below that. The excerpts describe returns within 30 days of purchase for a refund to the original payment method.
Sephora’s pages returned an error when we visited, so confirm shipping and return terms on its site before you order.
✅ What We Like
- Free standard shipping for Beauty Insider members, per page excerpts
- Returns within 30 days, per page excerpts
💡 Things to Consider
- Guest checkout needs $50 for free standard shipping
- Pages did not load for us, so confirm terms
Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose Planet Beauty if you want salon hair care and skin care brands with in-store returns and free shipping over $59.
- Choose Dermstore if skin care leads your list and you want published delivery fees.
- Choose Ulta Beauty if you want the lowest free shipping level in this group.
- Choose Sephora if you want member shipping perks.
How We Compared These Retailers
We read Planet Beauty’s homepage and returns page and Dermstore’s delivery page on October 28, 2026. Ulta Beauty’s and Sephora’s policy pages did not load, so we used excerpts of their pages and ask you to confirm the terms. Scores are editorial and based on those pages, not product use. No retailer reviewed this article.
Our top pick for salon hair care brands, with current codes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Planet Beauty?
It depends on what you need. Dermstore is a good alternative for skin care with published delivery fees, Ulta Beauty if you want a lower free shipping level at $35, and Sephora if you want member shipping perks.
Which retailer has the lowest free shipping level?
As of October 2026, excerpts of Ulta Beauty’s pages list free standard shipping on a $35 purchase, compared with $50 at Dermstore and $59 at Planet Beauty.
What is the Planet Beauty return policy?
Planet Beauty says you can bring items to any Planet Beauty store, and refunds go back to the original form of payment. Select tools and devices are final sale, and the returns page lists more than one window.
Does Planet Beauty offer free shipping?
As of October 2026, Planet Beauty’s homepage header reads free shipping on orders over $59, followed by an asterisk for conditions.
Does Dermstore charge for shipping?
Dermstore’s delivery page lists free shipping on orders over $50 and a $7 fee on US orders under $50, after any discount and before tax.
Are there Planet Beauty promo codes?
Our Planet Beauty coupon page lists current codes and offers. Click Get Code on the page so the discount is applied at checkout.
About the author: Mohamed Zaki, Founder & Chief MarTech Strategist, Coupons Scout. Mohamed Zaki is the founder of Coupons Scout and leads how the team finds deals and researches the software behind them. He focuses on marketing technology, automation tools and ways to pay less for them.
Editorial note: this article is based on research of brand product pages, help centers and policies, last checked October 28, 2026. Scores are our editorial opinion. Coupons Scout may earn a commission from some links, which never changes our rankings.
Sources
Brand pages we used for this article, checked October 28, 2026. Prices and plans can change, so confirm on the brand’s own website before you buy.
