Dazzling sales for high-end facial skincare

  Although many people are cutting back on spending due to the tough economic client, it's certainly not all doom and gloom when it comes to professional beauty. Sales of high-end facial skincare products, for example, increased an impressive 9% between 2011 and 2012. According to the latest Mintel research, the market for facial skincare has increased by 20% over the past five years. Valued at £1.1million in 2012, they forecast that it was be worth £1.2million by 2017, and women's mass market products are losing ground to the more prestige, bespoke brands - those typically sold through salons. Men's skincare products is another area where big growth is being seen, with a 3.6% rise in 2011-2012 alone. The research shows that more than four in ten men use a facial moisturiser, while facial cleanser is used by almost a quarter of the nation's males. KEY FACTS: - 8% of men use anti-ageing products, 16% use face wipes and 23% use lip balm. - 52% of women are sceptical about the claims of skincare products, compared to 32% of men. - Less than one in twenty men and women would buy a product because it was endorsed by a celebrity. - Traditional soap is losing popularity, with the proportion of female users dropping from 58% in 2012 to 36% in 2013.