The U.S. prestige skin care market grew 3% in the 12 months ending January 31, 2014, reaching $3.6 billion in sales, according to the NPD Group. Products for the face brought in $2.8 billion, representing 78% of the business and two-thirds of the new dollars gained in the total market during this time period. “Today’s look of a perfected face has put some pressure on consumers to have flawless skin. Even the anti-aging crusade has evolved – no longer just about line correction, firming, and wrinkle repair, the emphasis is on things like radiance, resiliency, texture, evenness, and clarity,” said Karen Grant, vice president and global industry analyst, The NPD Group, Inc.

Within skin care, the top sales-generating segment was facial moisturizers, with $1.1 billion in sales and a 1% increase over the prior year. Age specialists registered $436 million in sales with a 4% increase; eye treatment racked up $394 million in sales with a 4% increase, while masks saw $53 million in sales and a 61% sales increase.