It is a weird, dark, raisin-colored stick that looks terrifying in the tube. Honestly, if you saw it sitting on a shelf without knowing the backstory, you’d probably think it was a goth-era relic or perhaps a mistake. But Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey is arguably the most successful "accident" in cosmetic history. It isn't a lipstick. It isn't a gloss. It’s this strange, chameleonic balm that has managed to survive the 1970s, the 90s grunge movement, and the hyper-speed cycles of TikTok without changing its formula once.
Most people buy it because they heard it’s a "universal" shade. That's a bold claim. In the beauty world, "universal" usually means "looks okay on three people but makes everyone else look washed out." Yet, Black Honey actually pulls it off. It’s transparent. It relies on the physics of your own lip color to do the heavy lifting. When you swipe it on, the pigments settle into your natural skin tone, creating a berry tint that looks like you just ate a bowl of expensive cherries.
The 1971 Origin Story No One Remembers
In 1971, Carol Phillips, the founding editor of Vogue and the visionary behind Clinique, wanted something that felt like a "black turtleneck" for the face. She wanted something chic, effortless, and slightly edgy but wearable for the average woman. The 70s were weird for makeup. You had the lingering pastels of the 60s clashing with the earthy, bronzed aesthetic of the disco era.
Black Honey arrived in a pot back then. It was a thick, gooey tint. The goal wasn't to cover the lips in pigment but to stain them. By 1989, Clinique realized that sticking your finger in a pot was getting old, so they moved it into the iconic "Almost Lipstick" silver tube. It’s been exactly the same ever since. No "New and Improved" formulas. No scent changes. Just that same blend of castor oil and iron oxides that somehow makes everyone look like they’ve just been for a brisk walk in the cold.
What's fascinating is how the product manages to bridge the gap between generations. You have Gen Xers who wore it to high school in the late 80s now sharing tubes with their Gen Z daughters who discovered it through a 7-second video on their feed. It’s a rare piece of cultural glue.
Why the "Almost Lipstick" Formula Actually Works
Let’s talk about the texture. It’s slippery. If you’re looking for a liquid matte that will survive a three-course meal and a hurricane, this isn't it. Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey is high-maintenance in a low-maintenance way. You have to reapply it. Often. But because it’s so sheer, you don't even need a mirror to do it. You can do it while walking, while talking, or under the table during a boring meeting.
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The ingredient list is surprisingly simple compared to modern "clean girl" brands that cram twenty different seed oils into a balm. It’s heavy on Castor Seed Oil, which provides that signature slip. It also uses Candelilla Wax and Cetyl Ricinoleate. It doesn't have a taste. It doesn't have that cloying vanilla scent that every other brand seems obsessed with lately. It just feels like... nothing.
The Physics of the Tint
Most lipsticks use opaque pigments to block out your natural lip color. Black Honey does the opposite. It uses a specific ratio of red, blue, and yellow pigments suspended in a transparent base. This allows light to pass through the product, hit your lips, and bounce back.
- On pale, cool-toned lips, it looks like a soft plum.
- On deeper, warm-toned lips, it looks like a rich, burnt honey.
- On medium skin tones, it often pulls a classic berry.
It's essentially a color-corrector that leans into your biology. This is why it looks different on everyone. It’s not a mask; it’s an enhancer.
The Arwen Undomiel Factor and the 90s Grunge Revival
If you’re a certain age, your first encounter with Black Honey wasn't on Instagram. It was in a movie theater in 2001. Rumor has it that Liv Tyler wore it as Arwen in The Lord of the Rings. While makeup artists have occasionally debated the exact mix of stains used on set, the consensus among the fandom—and the spike in sales at the time—solidified Black Honey as the "Elf" lip color. It gave that ethereal, "I'm a thousand years old but my blood is fresh" look.
Before that, it was the darling of the 90s. While brands like MAC were pushing heavy, brown-toned mattes, Clinique was the alternative for those who wanted the "vampy" look without the commitment of a heavy lip. It was the "un-lipstick." It fit perfectly with the minimalist, slightly disheveled aesthetic of the era.
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Then, around 2021, the internet broke. Again. A new generation discovered that this weird, dark stick was the secret to the "no-makeup makeup" look. Sales skyrocketed. It was sold out for months. Every drugstore brand tried to make a dupe. But here’s the thing: most dupes fail because they are too pigmented. They try too hard to be a lipstick, missing the "almost" part of the name.
Addressing the Flaws (Because It’s Not Perfect)
Look, as much as people rave about it, Black Honey has some drawbacks. Let's be real. It can be drying for some people. If your lips are already peeling, the dark pigment will settle into those dry patches and make them look like tiny craters of raisin skin. It’s not a heavy-duty lip treatment. You still need a good lip mask at night.
Also, the price. For what is essentially a tinted balm, $25 (or more, depending on where you shop) feels steep to some. You’re paying for the legacy and the specific formulation that hasn't been perfectly replicated yet.
Some people also complain that it "disappears." Well, yeah. It’s a sheer tint. It’s not meant to be a 12-hour stain. If you want longevity, you’re looking at the wrong product. This is for the person who likes the ritual of reapplying or who wants their lip color to fade gracefully rather than leaving a weird ring around the edges of their mouth.
How to Actually Wear It in 2026
You don't just have to swipe it on and call it a day. There are levels to this.
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- The "Lived-In" Look: Apply one layer. Blot it with a finger. This makes it look like a natural stain rather than a product.
- The High-Shine Hack: Put it on, then layer a clear, thick gloss over the top. This gives it a "black cherry" depth that looks incredible in photos.
- The Lip Liner Combo: Use a cool-toned brown or mauve liner first. Fill in with Black Honey. This gives the lips more definition and prevents the "blurring" effect that some people dislike.
- The Gradient: Apply it heavily in the center of the lips and fade it out toward the edges. It creates a "just bitten" look that is huge in Korean beauty trends.
Variations: Pink Honey
A few years back, Clinique released Pink Honey. It was supposed to be the lighter, sunnier sister. It’s fine. It’s a pretty, soft pink. But it doesn't have the soul of the original. It doesn't have that slightly "ugly-cool" vibe that makes Black Honey stand out. If you want a basic pink balm, there are a thousand options. If you want something that looks like a secret, you stick with the original.
Real-World Comparison: The Dupe Hunt
People are always trying to find a cheaper version. The most common "dupes" mentioned online are:
- Elf Hydrating Core Lip Shine in Ecstatic: It’s close. It’s cheaper. But it’s a bit more purple and a lot more "slippery." It doesn't have the same grip on the lip.
- Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia: This is the OG budget alternative. It’s more of a true red-brown. It’s missing that "inky" blue undertone that makes Black Honey work on cool skin tones.
- Nivea Blackberry Shine: This is much more pigmented. It’s more of a purple tint than a raisin tint.
None of them quite capture the way Black Honey reacts to your pH and natural lip shade. It’s a chemistry thing.
Final Verdict on the Cult Classic
Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey isn't a trend. Trends die after eighteen months. This is a staple. It’s the white t-shirt of the makeup world. It’s not going to give you a "transformation," but it will make you look like a slightly more rested, slightly more polished version of yourself.
If you hate heavy makeup, you’ll love it. If you love heavy makeup, you’ll probably use it on your "off" days. It’s the one product that seems to survive every seasonal purge of my makeup bag.
Actionable Steps for the Best Results:
- Exfoliate first: Use a damp washcloth or a sugar scrub. This is non-negotiable for sheer tints.
- Don't overthink the "Black" in the name: It looks scary in the tube, but it’s actually quite cowardly once it hits the skin. It won't turn your lips black.
- Check the lighting: This color looks best in natural daylight. In harsh fluorescent office lights, it can look a bit more plum-heavy, so keep that in mind if you're heading into a big meeting.
- Pair with minimal eye makeup: Let the lip do the work. A bit of mascara and a groomed brow is all you need to make the berry tint pop.
The reality is that Black Honey is one of the few products that lives up to the hype because the hype isn't based on marketing—it's based on decades of people looking in the mirror and thinking, "Oh, that actually looks good."
Next Steps for Your Routine:
Check your current lip collection for "raisin" or "sheer plum" shades. If you find they are too opaque, try applying them over a heavy layer of clear lip balm to mimic the "Almost Lipstick" effect. If that still doesn't give you the depth you want, it might be time to grab the original tube and see why it hasn't changed since 1971.