Prestige skin care sales up; anti-age captures bulk of facial skin care market

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. Sales of prestige skin care products gained some steam during the first half of 2010, with anti-age capturing the lion's share of the facial skin care market, according to market research firm the NPD Group.

Prestige skin care dollar sales rose 7% in the first half of the year compared with the first half of 2009. All segments posted positive dollar growth in the first half (January to June) of 2010, except for the body segment, which slipped 5%.

The biggest skin care category winner was sets and kits, up 17% in dollar sales. The face category came in second with an increase of 7% in dollar sales. Sun and hair experienced dollar sales increases of 5% and 3%, respectively.

It likely comes as no surprise that anti-age captured the bulk of the facial skin care market at 61%. In the face category, anti-aging outperformed the overall segment performance, up 9%, compared with the first half of 2009. Of anti-aging dollars, the majority was spent on facial moisturizer (44% dollar share). Age specialists were the second-largest segment at 25% share, followed by eye products at 19% share.

"The results so far this year are quite encouraging, especially when we see that total skin care has not just surpassed the results of the recessionary year 2009, but has almost surpassed the pre-recession year of 2008," stated Karen Grant, VP and global industry analyst for NPD. "New launches (excluding gift sets) are up almost $20 million more than first half 2008, and specialized facial treatment products are up almost 60% compared with 2008. These achievements are signs that 2010 will be the year of prestige skin care."