Part 2: How to Shop FSA/HSA Beauty at Sephora & Ulta
- Amanda
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
How to Find FSA/HSA-Eligible Beauty at Sephora & Ulta — Yes, It’s a Thing.
If you read Part 1, then you already know that a surprising amount of skincare — especially SPF and acne treatments — can be purchased with your FSA/HSA dollars.
But here’s where things get fun:You can absolutely buy eligible items from Ulta and Sephora.
You just need to know where to look… and how to get reimbursed.
Let’s walk through it step by step.
Where You Can Use Your Card Instantly
Before we dive into beauty retailers:
Amazon (HSA/FSA Eligible Store)
Your card works immediately on qualifying items. No receipts required.
Everything else below falls under the “buy and get reimbursed” category.
How to Shop Eligible Beauty at Ulta
Ulta actually makes this pretty easy once you know the trick.
1. Use the “FSA/HSA Eligible” Filter
On Ulta’s website:Skincare → Filter → FSA/HSA Eligible
Everything listed under this filter contains active medicinal ingredients that typically qualify.
2. What Usually Shows Up
You’ll see a lot of:
Mineral sunscreens
Acne treatments
Salicylic acid cleansers
Adapalene gels
Hydrocolloid patches
Medicated spot treatments
3. Screenshot the Product Page
Ulta often labels items as "HSA/FSA Eligible."A screenshot + your receipt makes reimbursement quick and easy.
4. Submit Your Receipt
Upload through your FSA/HSA portal and boom — reimbursed.
How to Shop Eligible Beauty at Sephora
Sephora doesn’t label items the same way, but that’s okay, we just use the ingredient trick.
1. Search for eligible product categories:
Try these keywords on Sephora’s site:
“Mineral sunscreen”
“Acne treatment”
“Hydrocolloid”
“Adapalene”
“Benzoyl peroxide”
“Salicylic acid”
2. Check for a Drug Facts Panel
If it has a Drug Facts label, it’s functioning as a medical item — not cosmetic.
3. Cross-Check With FSAStore.com
If the exact product appears on FSAStore.com, that’s a strong signal it qualifies.
4. Save Your Receipts
Required for reimbursement.
Pro tip: Sephora’s website receipts (emailed) show full product detail, which helps your claim process quickly.
Comparing Retailers (The Cheat Sheet)
Retailer | Auto-Approved at Checkout? | Receipt Needed? |
Amazon | ✔ Yes | ✘ No |
✔ Yes | ✘ No | |
✔ Yes | ✘ No | |
Ulta | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
Sephora | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
Brand Websites | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
Up Next
Now that you know how to shop, Part 3 is where we get into the good stuff:
The brands you’ll be shocked to learn offer eligible items, including my personal favorite SPF + acne products. Click-to-shop links for your convenience
Let’s go shopping.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. Eligibility varies by plan and product. Always verify with your provider and save receipts for reimbursement.
