Sales of prestige beauty products in U.S. department stores rose 6%
during October, to $748 million, according to NPD Group. Of beauty’s top three revenue
generating categories, sales of makeup and skincare grew the most, at 6% each.
Makeup comprises 41% of prestige beauty sales; skincare makes up 36% of overall
sales.  Fragrance, representing 23% of
prestige beauty dollars, grew 5%.

Year-to-date sales (January
thru October) of total prestige beauty totaled $7.5 billion, an increase of 8%
versus a year ago. Looking at the individual categories’ year-to-date dollar
performances, skincare increased 11%, makeup grew 7% and fragrance posted a 7%
increase.