NPD reports luxury beauty segment increase in the US

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According to the latest report from research company The NPD Group, high-end perfumery items priced at over $50 are continuing to expand in the US market into more mainstream brands. One fifth of all skincare spending is now in the luxury segment and is becoming less confined to the classic high-end brands such as La Prairie and Guerlain.

The company says the baby boomer generation, with significant disposable income and a concern to retain a youthful appearance, are the driving force behind the increase. 

According to The NPD Group, the sale of luxury skincare products priced above $50, particularly those with anti-aging properties, has grown 27% from 1997 to 2000. Now accounting for one-fifth of total skincare spending, sales of luxury products totalled $354m in the US domestic market last year. NPD anticipates that the anti-aging segment will continue to be strong for many years to come

The table below shows the top ten best-selling high-end skincare lines in the US domestic market last year, ranked by sales value.

Leading US prestige skincare lines 2000

1) Estée Lauder Resilience Face/Throat Créme
2) Lancôme Renergie Créme
3) Lancôme Re-Surface Créme
4) Estée Lauder Fruition Extra Multi Complex
5) Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Complex
6) Lancôme Primordiale Nuit Créme
7) Lancôme Renergie Créme
8) Lancôme Primordiale Intense Solution
9) Estée Lauder Diminish Retinol Treatment
10) Estée Lauder Resilience Refirming Créme    

Source: NPD Beauty Trends

Skincare manager at NPD Beauty Trends Mark Brooks commented: "The future looks promising for the age specialist category. In consumers' eyes, high costs are justified by the advanced technology and complex ingredients required to develop the best skincare products."