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Nostalgia for the ’90s has crept into every crevice of beauty and fashion today. Denim maxi skirts, low-rise women’s jeans, sexy slip dresses, and Clinique’s Black Honey Almost Lipstick, a sheer raisin lip color. Last year, after selling out multiple times at Ulta, Sephora, and Amazon, I decided it was time to write an honest test review of the celebrity-favorite Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick.
Our current thirst for all things #CliniqueBlackHoney has been viewed over 304 million times. TikTokGirls and men alike rave about this lipstick’s ability to suit any skin tone and give lips a wine-toned, subtly glossy appearance. Celebrities are jumping on board, with Emilia Clarke (brand ambassador) calling it “delicious” and explaining in an article that “every time you put on a coat, it adds even more drama.” Instagram post. Zooey Deschanel reportedly wore Black Honey while filming New Girl.
But before Clinique Black Honey became popular on TikTok, it was Y2K’s “it” lip color seen on stars like Drew Barrymore and Courteney Cox in the ’90s. The shade has appeared many times on screen, most notably in The Breakfast Club when Molly Ringwald slips it into her cleavage as a lipstick party trick approach. Liv Tyler wears the tube in The Lord of the Rings, and Julia Roberts can be seen giving it to her stepdaughter in Step Moms.
Ally Sheedy and Molly Ringwald wearing Clinique Black Honey in a scene from the 1985 film The Breakfast Club.
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures/Getty Images
In recent years, the lip color’s enduring popularity has skyrocketed thanks to a number of viral TikTok videos that have brought this iconic lip product back into the spotlight. It has sold out multiple times over the past two years and recently became the most popular gift for women for the 2024 holiday season.
I’ve been wearing Clinique Black Honey lipstick on and off for over 10 years and it’s great. Read my honest test review after a lot of experience using this cult favorite lipstick.
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How we tested Clinique Black Honey Lipstick
- Products tested: Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick
- Exam period: over 10 years
- Main ingredients: Castor oil, candelilla wax, glycerin
- Strong Points:
- Looks good on all skin tones
- Buildable colors
- deeply moisturizes
- The slim bullet makes it easy to apply to cupid’s bow and the corners of the lips.
- Cons:
- Must be reapplied frequently for darker lips
- Color transfers easily after application
- Editor’s test and review notes: “Clinique Black Honey is one of the best lip colors I own. One coat is enough to liven up my natural daytime lip color, and with several coats, it feels like a super emollient lip balm. I like that it gives a stain-like look on the lips.The shade has a cool tone so the teeth look whiter and brighter too.It’s everything an everyday lip color should be, comfortable and moisturizing. It is easy to apply without using a mirror.
Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey
Prices on the date of publication of this article: $21.25
Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey – Editor Test Review
With the feel of a great lip balm and the look of a glossy lip stain, the easiest way to describe Clinique Black Honey is as a lip enhancer. While real lipstick hides your natural lip tone perfectly, and there’s a time and place for that full-coverage color effect, Clinique Black Honey goes super transparent like a watercolor pigment. The berry shade looks dark in the tube (think a rich berry red lipstick), but once you apply it, you’ll notice that it has very little beautiful color effect.
I have been wearing Clinique Black Honey for about 10 years. I first tried it when I was in my early 20s, and I wasn’t sure which color would look best on my fair skin, which is cool in the winter and warm in the summer. This lip balm was described to me as appealing to everyone, and having tried Clinique Black Honey over the years since then, I can attest to that. Everyone I recommend this lip balm to, regardless of their skin color, falls in love with it.
Whenever I have dinner plans after work and want to look polished after a long day at the office, I always carry Clinique Black Honey in my shoulder bag. The advantage of this formula is that it can be used in a variety of ways. During the day, I apply 1-2 coats for a little oomph, and when I’m out at night, I layer 2-3 coats over my lip liner. Bold berry lip. I’m always tempted to reapply to keep it hydrated throughout the day, but I love that I can expect to look flawless even when I’m not near the mirror applying it. The color tends to transfer to your coffee mug or glass if you drink it immediately after swiping, but other than that it’s a perfect pick.
WWD Shop Editor Claire Sullivan tests Clinique Black Honey lipstick in her New York City office. was captured in leica q3 camera.
WWD/Adam Manthroglu
About Clinique Black Honey Lipstick
Clinique introduced the Black Honey shade in 1971. It was originally formulated as a sticky gloss sold in small glass pots. This pigment looked almost like a black mulberry shade in the pot. This was in contrast to the flashy makeup colors that were popular at the time. But the magic of Black Honey is that it immediately shines through when applied, enriching your natural lip color and adding shine.
By the ’90s, Clinique reformulated the shade into an Almost Lipstick format, designed to be easier to apply. As the name suggests, the Almost Lipstick formula adds a jammy tint to your lip product that’s somewhere between a lip balm and a good lipstick. With new packaging, your favorite lip color is now easier to apply on the go. It’s very sheer so you don’t need to use a makeup mirror. The revamped packaging has reinforced Clinique’s Black Honey as a true sensation. Clinique says it sells seven tubes every minute.
Where to buy Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey
Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick is available for purchase online at various retailers including Nordstrom, Ulta, and Sephora. Clinique recently launched in Amazon’s Premium Beauty Store with perks like two-day shipping and access to flash sales throughout the year for Amazon Prime members. Due to its popularity on TikTok, Clinique’s Black Honey Lipstick often sells out, so consider yourself lucky if you can get your hands on this lip balm while it’s in stock.
Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey
Prices on the date of publication of this article: $21.25
See more Clinique Black Honey Makeup shopping items tested by our editors
Clinique Pop Plush Creamy Lip Gloss Black Honey Pop
Editor’s test and review notes: “The original Clinique Black Honey shade in Almost Lipstick Formula has a sheen to it. Think of it as influencing the look you get after applying a moisturizing lip balm. The lip gloss iteration of the iconic shade , it has a sheer finish, so I love that it can be layered over pink lipstick or nude lip liner for added depth and richness.” sullivan
Prices on the date of publication of this article: $25
Clinique All About Shadow Eyeshadow Palette
Editor’s test and review notes: “The 2024 Bingo Card didn’t have a Black Honey eyeshadow palette, but when I first saw it, I was blown away. The eight-pan palette has only one shade that mimics the original Black Honey tone. It doesn’t contain any. Instead, it offers a number of options for painting your eyelids with transparent neutrals and mauve tones. This gives your eyes the same but better effect as Almost Lipstick. Masu.” – sullivan
Prices on the date of publication of this article: $48
Clinique high impact mascara
Editor’s test and review notes: “Black mascaras tend to look a bit drab on my fair skin and blonde hair, so during the day I usually opt for black-brown tones. I’ve always been a fan of Clinique’s High Impact Mascara, but its Almost I tried Honey and it expertly coats each lash without clumping the ends.The black honey shade looks like a slightly more interesting brown mascara. Looks amazing when paired with the Black Honey eyeshadow palette.” sullivan
Prices on the date of publication of this article: $26
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meet the author
claire sullivan She is the senior beauty and lifestyle commerce editor for Footwear News and WWD, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion, and lifestyle articles. She has over six years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She stays up to date on all things beauty and health related, as well as the latest shopping trends and clothing brands. Sullivan has been wearing Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick for 10 years and writes this review with extensive experience testing products.
Source: Shop – wwd.com
