Clinique Almost Lipstick Tinted Lip Balm in 3 Iconic Shades Black Honey, Pink, and Nude Honey | Sheer + Lightweight
Transparency Note: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I bought this tube with my own money to see if the internet hype was real, and these are my honest thoughts.
The Lipstick That Looks Scary but Magic: My Review of Clinique Black Honey
If you have been on TikTok or Instagram in the last two years, you have seen this lipstick. It’s the Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey.”
It’s a cult classic that has been around since the 70s, but it recently exploded again. The claim? It looks good on literally everyone, regardless of skin tone. As someone who struggles to find the perfect nude shade (they are always too orange or too pink), I finally caved and bought it to test the theory.
First Impression: “Is This Going to Make Me Look Goth?”
When you first twist up the tube, the color is intimidating. It looks like a deep, dark raisin or dried blood color. If I saw this in a store without knowing what it was, I would never pick it up.
But the keyword here is “Almost” Lipstick. It is not a full-coverage lipstick. It’s a hybrid—somewhere between a lip balm, a sheer gloss, and a stain.
The Swatch Test
The moment I swiped it on my hand, I understood the hype. It’s not purple. It swipes on as a sheer, glossy berry tint.
The texture is incredibly slip-y and moisturizing. There is zero drag. It feels more like a high-end chapstick than makeup. It melts into the skin rather than sitting on top of it, which is my favorite kind of formula for daily wear.
The “Your Lips But Better” Effect
Here is the magic trick: Because the pigment is transparent, it mixes with your natural lip color to create a custom shade.
On me, it turns into a healthy, rosy-brown hue that makes me look awake. On my friend with a deeper skin tone, it looked like a rich plum gloss. On my paler friend, it was a soft berry.
I also tried the “Pink Honey” shade (the lighter sister), which is beautiful if you want something barely there, but honestly? Black Honey is the one you want. It adds just enough drama without looking like you are “wearing lipstick.”
The Pros and Cons
The Good:
- You don’t need a mirror to apply it. Seriously, you can apply it in a moving car.
- It’s super hydrating.
- It matches any eye makeup look.
The Bad:
- It is not long-wearing. Because it’s a balm texture, it will come off when you eat or drink. You need to reapply often (but I don’t mind because it feels good).
Final Verdict
Is it worth the hype? Yes. It’s the ultimate “I’m not trying, I’m just naturally effortless” product. I keep one in my purse at all times now because it saves me when I look washed out.
If you were scared of the dark color in the tube—don’t be.
You can find Black Honey (and the other shades) on Amazon here:
