Total prestige makeup sales increased by nine percent to $1.4 billion in U.S. department stores year-to-date from January through May 2011, according to The NPD Group, Inc., a beauty market research company in Port Washington, NJ.

NPD research shows for the month of May, makeup posted its strongest dollar performance (+ 11%) in the last three years. Prestige makeup segments (face, eye, lip, sets, other color, and nail) posted healthy sales gains in the first five months.

Nails showed the largest growth in the prestige makeup category. This segment grew 57 percent in dollar sales vs. January through May 2010. Chanel Le Vernis Nail Enamel, Lippmann Collection Nail Enamel, and Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer were the top three best-selling prestige nail color brands during this time period.

The eye segment gained nearly 10 percent dollar growth during January through May 2011 vs. the same time period in 2010. Sub-segments like eye shadow and mascara both grew 11 percent in dollar sales, while eyebrow products grew 10 percent. Lancôme Definicils High Definition Mascara, Clinique High Impact Mascara, and Lancôme Hypnose Drama Mascara ranked as the top three best-selling prestige mascara brands.

“The return in popularity of eye products comes with a shift from strong or playful colors, and all-purpose mascaras, to products that subtly punctuate and dramatize features around a flawless and yet natural looking face,” explained Karen Grant, vice president and senior global industry analyst, The NPD Group.

In the first five months, lip color posted double-digit dollar growth of 13 percent, compared to the same time last year. Top three best-selling prestige lip color products were: MAC Lipstick, Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge, and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine.

“Prestige makeup sales are soaring this summer due to the strength of offerings that are easy to adopt and enticing with fashion, fun, as well as functionality,” Grant reported.