According to market researcher The NPD Group, Inc., for the period January through April 2011, the total prestige lip segment grew by 7% to $185.2 million in U.S. department stores, and 4% in units to 9.8 million. Lip color led the segment, with an increase of 11% in dollars ($92.1 million), compared to the comparable period last year.

After almost a decade of declining sales, lip color began to show growth again last year. Since February 2010, the category has experienced 15 months of steady dollar growth, with seven of those months posting double-digit increases (April 2011 was up 30%).  Annual 2010 results were the first time since 2002 that lip color saw a unit increase—up 8%—the highest increase since 1998.

In order, the top five bestselling lip colors, January through April, reported by NPD, are MAC Lipstick, Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge, Clinique Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick, Lauder Pure Color Lipstick and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine.

“What is particularly noteworthy of the trend in lip color is that we are seeing these significant increases in sales at a time when overall usage of lip color appeared to be dropping off. Coming out of the recession, it seems that the consumers’ thirst for color and play was reawakened,” said Karen Grant, vice president and senior global industry analyst, The NPD Group—and a member of Beauty Packaging’s Board of Advisors.