The best time of year at Ulta and Sephora is when you get to go in and get that sweet birthday freebie. 

I really perfer to shop at Ulta. Their rewards program and shopping experience is better in so many ways. But...their birthday savings are notably a bucket of crap. They change what you get each quarter in a way that has no equivilent vlue. This year, I got the best birthday gift (really). First quarter got an Ulta-brand lip mask. Third and fourth quarter get a deluxe-size mascara. But me? I got a teeny tiny NARS Orgasm blush. But, as you can see, if you don't have a second-quarter birthday, you're SOL. Now, like most beauty enthusiasts, Orgasm has been a part of my makeup bag for years, but no one can complain about a backup. 

Sephora very nicely lets you pick between three different gifts. Options are a Bumble & Bumble shampoo and conditioner set, a GlamGlow skincare set, or a Bite Beauty set of lip products. If you've been around here for a while, you know I wanted some lipsticks. The set includes a matte lip pencil and a tiny Amuse Bouche lipstick. 

Overall, a dang good birthday, right? Best of all, these are free. If you belong to the FREE rewards program, they are FREE. They're also all wonderful products that I will really use every day. Those Bite lipsticks are living in my purse, and I'm loving the blush for travel.