UV Protection Boosts Makeup Sales

Playing it safe in the sun is paying off for makeup marketers. Sales of prestige skin care and makeup products with any SPF reached $1.4 billion in the 12 months ending May 2016 (June’15-May’16), growing 7% during the past two years, according to a new study by The NPD Group. 

“Sun care looks to be the next beauty growth area to emerge, as consumers move from a singular focus on correction to a broader focus on care,” said Karen Grant, global beauty industry analyst, The NPD Group.

Across skin care and makeup SPF 15, the largest segment in terms of dollar sales, experienced a decline in the 12 months ending May 2016, as share shifted to the higher levels of sun protection. Within skin care, sales of SPF 40-50 grew more than $36 million while makeup sales in this range more than doubled, to $14 million. This trend toward higher SPFs exists not only within the sunscreen and broader skin care markets, but is becoming increasingly evident in products ranging from facial moisturizers to foundation. At the same time, self-tanners returned to growth after a decline, perhaps indicative of consumer concern with the sun and opting for a UV-free alternative for a summer glow. Self-tanners experienced a 7% increase in sales from June 2015-May 2016 after a decline the year prior.

“From what they eat to what they put on their bodies, consumers are becoming more focused and well-versed in health and wellness. Consumers today are more proactive and less reactive when it comes to managing their well-being. This attitude also translates to the beauty consumer, whose emphasis today weighs less on fixing an issue, and more on preventing one from happening in the first place,” said Grant. “For more than a decade, all the news in skin care was about serums and technology, but today the focus has shifted to cleaner, simpler, and lighter products. The growth in products with higher SPF ties into today’s mindset and is connected to other emerging care formats including oil, water, milk, and clay.”