Sales of prestige beauty products grew 5% to $627 million in U.S. department stores for July 2012, according to the NPD Group. Fragrance sales, representing 23% of prestige beauty dollars, were flat for the month. Skincare, representing 37% of prestige beauty sales, grew 9%; makeup, representing the lion’s share of prestige beauty at 41%, increased 5%. Year-to-date (January through July) sales of total prestige beauty equaled $5.2 billion, an increase of 9% versus a year ago. Individual category year-to-date dollar performances saw sales of skincare grow 11%, while fragrance and makeup each increased 7%.