5 WORST US Cosmetic Stores You Should Never Buy From (And 3 That Are Worth It)

The same mascara. The same foundation. Five different stores. Wildly different prices, and one of them is currently fighting a federal class action. We looked at five of the biggest beauty retailers in America and found insider whistleblowers, lawsuit settlements, and price markups that will make you rethink your Sunday shopping run. From the drugstore charging you 21% more for identical products to the prestige retailer allegedly reselling returned makeup as new, these are the five cosmetic stores that don't deserve your money anymore. Then we reveal three stores that actually earn it, including one most people walk right past. Stores covered: Walgreens, CVS, Macy's beauty counters, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Target, Walmart Premium Beauty Sources: CBS News price comparison (makeup prices across 5 stores): https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/new... Ulta repackaged makeup allegations (CBS News investigation): https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ulta-bea... Ulta class action allowed to proceed across 18 states: https://www.businessoffashion.com/new... Ulta shareholder lawsuit following stock drop: https://us.fashionnetwork.com/news/ul... Sephora $1.2M California CCPA privacy settlement: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-release... "Clean at Sephora" class action ruling (Finster v. Sephora): https://www.klgates.com/Litigation-Mi... Sephora Beauty Insider drives 80%+ of revenue: https://www.loyaltylevers.com/example... LVMH ownership of Sephora and multiple beauty brands: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sephora Department store counter sales quotas and commission structure: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/make... Gift with purchase psychology (Estee Lauder, 1959): https://www.racked.com/2017/9/22/1627... Macy's closing 66 stores in 2025: https://www.newsweek.com/macys-stores... Walmart Premium Beauty marketplace launch and brand authorization: https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/... Ulta loses market share for first time in company history (2024): https://www.retaildive.com/news/ulta-... Ulta-Target partnership ending August 2026: https://www.ulta.com/investor/news-ev... Cosmetics industry average markup (~78%): https://finance.yahoo.com/news/20-pro... ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: Educational content only. Not medical advice. Always patch test new products. The research on cosmetic ingredient safety is evolving. Consult dermatologist for personalized recommendations. Brand names mentioned for fair commentary on matters of consumer health. #makeupdupes #beauty #sephora #ulta #cvs #walgreens #cosmetics #beautytips #skincare #makeuphacks #beautyshopping #sephorahaul #ultabeauty #targetbeauty #walmartfinds #savemoney #consumerreport #beautyon #budget #drugstorebeauty #makeupdupes