If you've worked as a Beauty Advisor at Ulta for any length of time, you've probably heard about the Prestige Beauty Advisor role. It's positioned as the step up, the natural progression. But what actually changes? Is the pay bump worth the additional expectations?
Having talked to plenty of people who've made this transition, I can tell you the answer isn't simple. For some people, Prestige is absolutely worth pursuing. For others, it's more headache than reward. Here's what you need to know.
What the Prestige Role Actually Means
At Ulta, the store is divided into two main sections: mass (drugstore brands like Maybelline, NYX, E.l.f.) and prestige (higher-end brands like Clinique, Lancome, Urban Decay, MAC, and the higher-priced skincare lines). Regular Beauty Advisors work across the whole store. Prestige Beauty Advisors focus specifically on the prestige section.
The prestige side has higher price points, which means the customers shopping there often expect more. They want educated recommendations, personalized consultations, and people who can speak intelligently about ingredients and application techniques. The Prestige role exists to provide that higher level of service.
Unlike department stores, Ulta doesn't have brand counters. You're an Ulta employee working the prestige section of the floor. Brand ambassadors and freelancers also work the Ulta floor representing their specific brands, but they're employed by the brands, not Ulta.
What Changes in the Role
Customer Interactions
Prestige customers tend to be more engaged and more demanding. They often know what they want and need help with specifics rather than starting from scratch. You'll do more shade matching, more skincare consultations, and more detailed product recommendations.
The interactions are often longer. A customer shopping prestige skincare might want a ten-minute conversation about their concerns and options. That's different from pointing someone toward the NYX aisle.
Returns and exchanges can be more complex because the products cost more and customers are more invested. Someone returning a $60 foundation has higher expectations for how that interaction goes than someone returning a $9 mascara.
Product Knowledge Requirements
You'll need to know more products at a deeper level. Prestige skincare especially requires understanding of ingredients, skin types, and how different products work together. A customer asking about retinol needs more than a basic answer.
Brand training becomes more important. Ulta offers training on prestige brands, and you're expected to attend and retain it. When a customer asks about the difference between two Lancome serums, they expect you to actually know.
This is the part some people love. If you're genuinely interested in beauty products and enjoy learning about them, Prestige gives you more opportunity to get into the details.
Sales Expectations
Prestige has higher sales goals because the products cost more. A good day in prestige generates more revenue per transaction than mass, and management knows this. You'll have sales metrics tied to your work in that section.
You're also more likely to be involved in prestige-specific promotions: gift-with-purchase events, new product launches, brand-specific initiatives. These can be fun or stressful depending on your perspective.
Scheduling and Hours
In some stores, Prestige Beauty Advisors get slightly more hours than regular Beauty Advisors. This varies by location and staffing needs, but the role is sometimes positioned as closer to full-time potential.
You're also more likely to be scheduled during peak shopping hours when prestige traffic is highest: weekends, evenings, and around holidays. If you prefer off-peak shifts, this might not be ideal.
The Pay Difference
Prestige Beauty Advisors at Ulta typically earn $2-4 more per hour than regular Beauty Advisors. If your store's regular BA rate is $13/hour, Prestige might be $15-17. If regular is $15, Prestige could be $17-19.
The exact bump depends on your location, your current pay, and the store's budget. Some people report getting a significant raise with the promotion. Others report smaller increases.
Over time, even a $2/hour difference adds up. At 28 hours per week, an extra $2/hour is about $56/week, or roughly $2,900 per year before taxes. Not life-changing, but meaningful.
The pay increase is ongoing, not a one-time bonus. If you're planning to stay at Ulta for a while, the higher hourly rate compounds over every shift you work.
How to Get Promoted to Prestige
Prestige positions aren't always posted externally. Many stores promote from within, moving strong Beauty Advisors into the Prestige role when openings occur.
Demonstrate Product Knowledge
Show that you already understand prestige products. Seek out brand training opportunities. Be the person who can answer detailed questions about Clinique skincare or Urban Decay palettes. Managers notice who knows their stuff.
Perform Well in Current Role
Hit your sales goals, get positive customer feedback, and be reliable. Promotions go to people who are already proving themselves, not people who promise they'll step up if given the chance.
Express Interest
Tell your manager you're interested in Prestige. Ask what it would take to be considered. Sometimes this is obvious, but sometimes managers don't know you want it unless you say so. Make your interest clear.
Be Patient but Persistent
Openings depend on turnover and store needs. There might not be a Prestige spot available right now. Keep performing, keep asking, and be ready when a position opens.
If your store rarely has Prestige openings and you want the role, consider whether a different Ulta location might have more opportunity.
Is It Worth It? The Case For
The extra pay is real money over time. If you're working close to full-time, the annual difference is noticeable.
The work is often more interesting. If you love prestige products and enjoy detailed customer consultations, Prestige lets you focus on what you actually care about.
It looks good on a resume. If you're building toward brand-side roles, regional management, or other positions in beauty, "Prestige Beauty Advisor" carries more weight than general Beauty Advisor.
More hours are often available. If you want full-time or close to it, Prestige positions sometimes offer more scheduling priority.
Better access to prestige training and product knowledge. The learning opportunities are genuinely useful, both for the job and for your broader beauty career.
Is It Worth It? The Case Against
Higher expectations come with higher pressure. Some people find the increased scrutiny on sales metrics stressful. If you prefer a more relaxed work environment, Prestige might not feel that way.
The customers can be more demanding. Prestige shoppers who spend more expect more. Some are wonderful. Some are difficult. You'll deal with both.
Weekend and evening hours are more common. If you need weekday daytime shifts, Prestige scheduling might not work for you.
The pay bump might be smaller than expected. Talk to current Prestige staff at your store about what they actually make. If the difference is only $1.50/hour, that changes the calculus.
If you don't love prestige products specifically, focusing on that section all shift might not appeal. Some people prefer the variety of working the whole store.
Who Should Pursue Prestige
Prestige makes sense if you genuinely prefer prestige products over mass, want more hours and higher pay, enjoy detailed customer consultations, and are comfortable with higher sales expectations.
It's also a good move if you're building toward a career in beauty beyond retail. The experience and knowledge transfer to brand-side roles, field management, and other positions.
Who Should Stay Where They Are
If you like the variety of the whole store, don't want increased pressure, or have scheduling constraints that conflict with peak shopping hours, regular Beauty Advisor might suit you better.
There's no shame in staying at the Beauty Advisor level. It's a legitimate job. Not everyone needs to climb a ladder. Know what you want from work and make decisions accordingly.
Making Your Decision
Talk to Prestige Beauty Advisors at your store. Ask them directly what changed when they moved into the role. What do they like? What do they find harder? What's the actual pay difference?
Consider your own priorities. Is the extra money worth the extra demands? Do you want to invest more deeply in prestige product knowledge? Are you trying to build a longer-term career in beauty?
Try to get a realistic picture before you commit. The promotion is worth pursuing for many people, but it's not right for everyone. Better to make an informed choice than to chase a title that doesn't align with what you actually want.
If you decide Prestige is for you, go after it deliberately. Build the knowledge, demonstrate the performance, and make your interest known. When a spot opens, you want to be the obvious choice.