05 Dec 2023 --- Beauty appears to be more than skin deep — even recession-proof. Consumers fighting high inflation with thinner wallets may have sought solace in small expenditures at retailers like Ulta Beauty. The beauty retail giant surpassed analysts’ expectations with solid third-quarter results, reporting net sales of US$2.5 billion, up 6.4% year-over-year, thanks partly to higher comparable sales and strong new store performance. The stock rose after the company released results that pleased analysts.