Our Editors Tested Clinique’s Black Honey Lipstick—Here’s What it Looks Like on 4 Different Skin Tones

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Clinique’s Black Honey lipstick has a real legacy. It went viral on TikTok (a phrase which I’ve grown tired of saying, by the way, but I digress) back in 2021 for being a “my lips but better” balm product that looks good on everyone. This was especially funny to me because it was going viral on YouTube back in the late aughts when I was in middle school and obsessively watching beauty vloggers. If you didn’t know, the lipstick actually came out in 1971 and has been that girl for over 50 years now. It’s also the color used by Molly Ringwald’s character in John Hughes’ The Breakfast Club in 1985. Ringwald even later named it her one of favorites in her her memoir, Getting The Pretty Back.

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Anyway here we are, in the present, still using Black Honey like it’s the new girl in town. But that makes sense because the best beauty secrets are the ones we got from our moms anyway. Black Honey is a sheer rosy pink, and probably the reason it looks good on everyone is because it’s pretty sheer and the pink is cut with a brown undertone to really give it a fleshy, saccharine look. So it’s not a magic trick or anything, but it does feel cool that to remember that real legends never die. It was so popular that Clinique later released the shade in a lip gloss as well that’s still available to purchase today, though to be fair, it never reached the heights of the original.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

Buy Now At Target $25

The Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is THE lipstick from The Breakfast Club. It comes in a sleek tube and has a sheer finish.

StyleCaster editors decided to see what everyone was talking about, so we had a bunch of our editors test out the Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick. Read our thoughts down below.

“I’m entering makeup rehab after a summer at the club with mascara tears and smudged eyeliner, so this has come into my life at a perfect time. It’s more opaque than I had anticipated, and it works doubly well as a blush. It doesn’t last terribly long, but the good news is that it fades really beautifully so it looks cute between applications. It’s decently moisturizing and has a good slip, but I still wear a lip balm underneath it just because I don’t play about hydration, and if your lips are kinda dry, this isn’t balmy enough to save them.” — Aamina Khan, Fashion Writer

“I wasn’t familiar with Clinique’s cult classic Black Honey, but once I tried it, I immediately understood the hype. I was initially intimidated by the deep hue, worried it wouldn’t flatter my skin tone—but thankfully I was wrong. The product’s sheer formula creates a lightly pigmented color on the lip that feels natural yet noticeable. I’m more of a gloss girly than a lipstick lady, so I appreciate the silky, shiny consistency. I also like that the product is buildable, so you can use on its own or with oils and balms.” — Robyn Merrett, Style & Beauty Editor

“OK, I’m going to be honest, I was a little intimidated by the richness of the color (plum tends to wash me out), but I was surprised to see how sheer it went on. It’s beautifully hydrating and a nice pick-me-up when I want to enhance my lip color subtly. I’ll definitely be keeping this one in my bag for everyday wear!” —Sophie Hanson, Entertainment Editor

“I bought Clinique Black Honey maybe around two years or so ago because everyone was talking and posting about it, but I didn’t quite understand the hype. How could a lipstick rise to cult, fan, internet, and TikTok status like that and claim to flatter all skin tones? After finally caving and buying a tube, I can confirm that the hype is real. Black Honey was my go-to lippie for a while, which says a lot because I’m really not much of a lipstick girlie at all. After a ton of wear, I found this sheer shade to be perfect for someone like me who’s low-key intimidated by lipsticks, especially darker tones. As for application, the lightweight formula glides on like butter and one swipe goes a long way. Plus, the finish is on the shinier side, which I much prefer to drier, heavier, and more matte ones. In spring and summer, Black Honey can help make your lips look like you just ate a red popsicle or munched on a scoop of juicy berries. In fall and winter, this iconic shade can lend your pout a more vampy vibe. That’s all to say, if you’re looking for a signature lip product that’s a breeze to apply and works for any occasion or season, it might be your time to hop on the Black Honey bandwagon.” —Katie Decker-Jacoby, Associate E-Commerce Editor

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