Nail category growth remains strong.

In analyzing the first-half growth of the prestige beauty market, Karen Grant, vice president and senior global industry analyst, The NPD Group—and a member of Beauty Packaging’s Board of Advisors—says, “It’s not a surprise that the nail segment takes the lead once again.” She says fun shades and colors like neons and metallics, along with funky textures and decals, have added to this growing trend.

According to the firm’s market research, prestige makeup sales within U.S. department stores for the first half of 2012 grew 8% to $1.8 billion. Unit sales were up 4% to $74 million. All makeup segments experienced growth. Some of the biggest winners were Nail and Sets, and sub-segments Eye Brow, Eye Liner, and Lip Color. While Nail continues to be the smallest segment, it experienced the largest growth of all  at 68% during the period.
 
“The trends in prestige makeup for the first half of 2012 are quite telling especially when you take a close look at those categories in Nail, Lip and Eye—they exceed sales in the overall market. Consumers continue their desire to play with color, and accentuate and define their eyes. Underlying these trends is one consistent element—they have the lowest price points in the prestige marketplace,” noted Grant.