Study finds more than 170 million U.S. consumers use beauty products

PORT WASHINGTON , N.Y. According to a recently released report by The NPD Group, a provider of consumer and retail information, more than 170 million consumers use beauty products in the United States.

In 2007, 3-out-of-4 men aged 18 to 64 said they wear fragrance. Their top priority when wearing a fragrance: That a woman or significant other likes it, according to The NPD Group.

Meanwhile, 9-out-of-10 women aged 18 and older report that they use skin care, make up or fragrance.

When it comes to skin care, nearly half (42 percent) of women skin care users aged 18 and older said they look for products that are made from natural/organic ingredients. And 77 percent of women skin care users aged 18 and older said they don’t mind paying more for a skin care product “that really works.”

In the makeup segment, growth in 2007 came from such staple products as mascara and foundation, according to The NPD Group, and mineral make up sales have increased more than 30 times since 2003.

The No. 1 reason she buys a fragrance for herself: It’s an “overall great fragrance.”