BEAUTY:// Clinique Black Honey
Why this 90s cult-classic deserves a spot in every makeup bag.
Maybe it’s the sommelier in me, but every Fall, I find myself drawn to any wine hue when it comes to beauty & style. Wine Red, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Merlot, Cabernet, Pinot, Mulled Wine — name the Wine, and I love it for lipstick.
Year after year, I am constantly repurchasing my Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. No wonder it’s continuously applied & goes with everything!
Clinique Black Honey is a cult classic and the epitome of Lazy Luxury Beauty. Decade after decade, I find myself turning to Black Honey. It was a favorite as a teenager in the early 2000s and one of the first products that introduced me to makeup! To this day, it always feels so nostalgic every time I use it. I love anything from the 80s, 90s, and 00s - especially beauty.
A Shade Unlike Any Other
First introduced in 1971, Black Honey is one part mysterious, one part sophisticated, and all parts universal. Though it appears alarmingly dark in the tube — a deep, almost gothic burgundy — it's a sheer lip color that reacts to the unique chemistry of the wearer's lips, enhancing natural lip color to create a personalized shade.
More Than a Lipstick
Clinique cleverly coined it "Almost Lipstick" because it doesn't fit the traditional lipstick mold. It's not opaque, nor is it a gloss. This product marries the hydrating properties of a lip balm with the sheer color of a gloss, minus the stickiness.
It's lightweight, making it an everyday essential, and it can be layered for deeper intensity, perfect for a transition from a day-to-night look. The balmy texture provides a kiss of color without overwhelming, making it surprisingly versatile. Daytime casual? A light swipe suffices. Dramatic evening elegance? Buildable intensity is at your fingertips.
Not quite a lipstick, not quite a gloss, Black Honey is a universally flattering burgundy hue that resembles that perfect shade of Wine. With an emollient-rich, balm-like formula, the pigment is transparent and glides over lips.
Why I Love Black Honey
For lips, I love a “your lips, but better” look. Gel creams & balms are always a favorite texture for any kid's cosmetics.
The result is a sheer, glossy finish with a perfect burgundy “just sipped” wine hue.
See below for ways to wear Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. I’m wearing it the Luxury Lazy way in both pictures :-)
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
What it is:
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is a universally flattering lipstick-balm hybrid in an iconic shade from the 90s with a sheer glossy finish.
How to Wear:
Lazy Luxury: Line lips with liner (I love rms Go Nude liner in either Sunrise or Sunset Nude - such a great brand) & fill in with Black Honey.
Nightluxe: Line and fill lips with a deep chestnut wine pencil (I love Nars in Do Me Baby) and top with Black Honey.
Luxury Lazy: Wear on its own! Exfoliate lips with a lip scrub (I love By Terry) & then use Black Honey as if it was your lip balm! “Overline” your lips by applying just a little over the lip line.
Where to Buy
Have you tried Black Honey yet? Any beauty products from decades past that you love? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time! xx sSs