According to beauty market research conducted by The NPD Group Inc., as of January through April 2011, the total prestige lip segment grew by 7% percent to $185.2 million in U.S. department stores and 4% percent in units to 9.8 million. The biggest increase was lip color, NPD says, with a growth of 11% to $92.1 million, compared to January through April of the previous year.

Since February 2010, lip color has experienced 15 months of steady dollar growth, with seven of those months posting double-digit increases, including April 2011 (30%). Annual 2010 results showed – for the first time since 2002 – that lip color saw a unit increase, 8%, the highest increase since 1998.

NPD Group says the top five best selling lip color products of 2011 are:

MAC Lipstick
Lancome L’Absolu Rouge
Clinique Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick
Lauder Pure Color Lipstick New
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,” says Karen Grant, vice president and senior global industry analyst, The NPD Group.

“In 2010, we saw the preference for rich as well as retro colors and in 2011 we are seeing new neutrals come to the fore. As the fashion industry increasingly features bold as well as understated lip statements on the runway and in advertisements, lip color appears to be getting its groove back,” Grant says.