Prestige beauty sales proceed to rise, whilst the specter of a possible global recession looms.

In keeping with data from The NPD Group, prestige beauty sales within the U.S. grew to $6 billion within the third quarter, a 15 percent increase versus 2021’s third quarter.

“Unit sales and revenue are each growing by double digits for beauty products sold within the prestige market, indicating that customers are indulging in beauty products this yr,” said Larissa Jensen, beauty industry adviser, The NPD Group, in an announcement.

NPD reports that makeup sales officially surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 levels through the third quarter, posting $2.1 billion in total sales, with lip makeup ruling because the fastest-growing segment for the quarter, growing 32 percent.

Despite having the bottom total sales volume at $853.8 million, hair care products saw probably the most growth within the third quarter, increasing 23 percent versus 2021’s third quarter, while items with restorative and strengthening claims outpaced overall category growth.

Skincare sales swelled 14 percent versus 2021’s third quarter, to $1.7 billion, which was largely driven by clinical brands, followed by natural brands.

While brick-and-mortar skincare sales saw probably the most growth, NPD reports online sales still account for 40 percent of sales, except in terms of hair care, which has an almost even channel split between online and in-store revenue.

Bringing in $1.3 billion in sales within the third quarter, fragrance saw an 11 percent increase versus the identical period last yr, with brick-and-mortar revenue commanding greater than three-quarters of U.S. sales within the category.

While continued, regular demand for fragrance is one growth driver, average prices for fragrance have risen amid inflation more quickly than those of every other category, also fueling the category’s climbing performance.

Jensen said she forecasts cross-category performance to stay unfettered by macroeconomic pressures through the vacations, a testament to Leonard A. Lauder’s “lipstick index,” which speculates that cosmetic sales rise during times of economic hardship as consumers look to reasonably priced indulgences.