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Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
Clinique's cult sheer lipstick: don't judge it by the tube, it glides on as a glossy, balm-like tint.
7.5
Good
Beauty score
#5 of 6 lips
Community
—/10
- Format
- Lipstick
- Finish
- Glossy
- Shades
- 1
- Price tier
- Mid-range
Made for: All skin types · Sensitive skin
Key ingredients:Vitamin E
Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score
The verdict
Clinique's cult sheer lipstick: don't judge it by the tube, it glides on as a glossy, balm-like tint.
Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is Clinique's sheer, emollient lipstick that sits between a tinted balm and a gloss. Its blend of blue, red and yellow pigments sits in a creamy, sheer base that melts into lips and plays up their natural color, so Clinique says it looks different on everyone. Clinique calls it the #1 lip color shade in the US, and creators have revisited it since it went viral on TikTok. It is fragrance-free and allergy tested, but wear is short and some Reddit users find it reads too brown on their lips.
Best for
- A low-effort, 'my lips but better' sheer tint
- Sensitive lips that react to fragranced lip products
Why it’s trending
Clinique calls Black Honey the #1 lip color shade in the U.S. (Circana, 12 months ending December 2024)
SourceWhat we love
- Sheer tint that plays up natural lip color
- Fragrance-free and allergy tested
- Comfortable, balm-like texture; buildable from sheer to deeper
- Clinique cites Circana data naming it the #1 lip color shade in the US
Worth knowing
- Short wear; needs reapplying after eating or drinking
- Small 0.06 oz bullet for $25
- Very sheer; not for anyone wanting opaque color
- Some wearers find it looks too brown on their lips
How it scored
The breakdown.
Five factors, weighted for makeup. Here’s our working.
7.5Good
Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.
- Payoff & performance30%7.8
Clinique describes a sheer, glossy tint that plays up natural lip color, more balm than lipstick in payoff, and it has been the subject of repeated creator try-ons since going viral.
- Wear time15%5.6
Sheer, emollient formulas fade quickly, and Clinique makes no wear claim; expect to reapply after meals.
- Shade range & inclusivity15%7.4
It is a single shade that Clinique says flatters all skin tones yet looks different on everyone, though some Reddit users find it too brown on them; Pink Honey and Nude Honey extend the line.
- Value20%7.0
$25 for a 0.06 oz bullet is pricey per gram, though the formula lasts a long time with light, balm-like use.
- Community love20%8.8
Clinique cites Circana data naming it the #1 US lip color shade, Allure lists past Best of Beauty wins, and viral try-on videos have drawn hundreds of thousands of views.
Beauty profile
Inside the bottle.
Texture
Emollient, balm-like sheer lipstick (brand description)
Format
Lipstick
Finish
Glossy
Coverage
Sheer
Shade range
Single shade
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Size
0.06 oz
Key ingredients
Ingredient encyclopedia →What’s in it: Castor seed oil base with candelilla and carnauba waxes and tocopheryl acetate; Clinique says it is 95% conditioning ingredients. Black Honey is one shade; Almost Lipstick also comes in Pink Honey and Nude Honey.
How to use
Apply directly to the lips, alone or layered under or over other lip color; one coat gives a sheer tint and more coats build intensity.
Free from (brand-stated)
- fragrance
- parabens
- phthalates
Claims & certifications
- Fragrance-free
- Paraben-free
Full ingredient list (INCI)23 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand
- Ricinus Communis (castor) Seed Oil,
- Glyceryl Triacetyl Ricinoleate,
- Cetyl Ricinoleate,
- Euphorbia Cerifera (candelilla) Wax,
- Copernicia Cerifera (carnauba) Wax,
- Polyethylene,
- Tocopheryl Acetate,
- Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate,
- Barium Sulfate,
- [+/- Yellow 5 Lake (ci 19140),
- Blue 1 Lake (ci 42090),
- Iron Oxides (ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499),
- Red 7 Lake (ci 15850),
- Mica,
- Carmine (ci 75470),
- Titanium Dioxide (ci 77891),
- Red 6 (ci 15850),
- Red 22 Lake (ci 45380),
- Red 30 Lake (ci 73360),
- Yellow 6 Lake (ci 15985),
- Bismuth Oxychloride (ci 77163),
- Red 33 Lake (ci 17200),
- Red 28 Lake (ci 45410)]
Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.
We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.
What people say
Straight from the source.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.
4 verbatim quotes · 2 positive · 1 mixed · 1 critical
r/PaleMUAPositive
Clinique Black Honey is a classic for a reason, it looks dramatic in the tube but goes on like a sheer berry tint that works on basically anyone.
r/PaleMUAPositive
I’m a fellow lip biter and black honey covers the red pretty well without looking wild.
r/muacjdiscussionCritical
At least once a year I see Clinique's Black Honey looking amazing on someone and think "should I try it again, it's supposed to suit everyone! Surely it will suit me!". Then I remind myself it makes me look like I've smeared melted chocolate pudding on my lips
r/PaleMUAMixed
Black honey is too brown on me, too. I like e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick in black cherry. It is similar to Clinique black honey but is more rosy and less brown.
Price & value
Is it worth it?
Typical price
$25.00
for 0.06 oz
DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury
Right around the going rate for lips. Our value score: 7.0/10 for a mid-range pick.
Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.
Where to buy
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money
Community
What members noticed.
Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.
No member ratings yet.
Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.
Highlighted: what it’s built to do.
Discussion
No discussions yet.
Tried Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
Why does Black Honey look different on the lips than in the tube?
Clinique says its blend of blue, red and yellow pigments sits in a creamy, sheer base. Whatever it looks like in the tube, it glides on as a sheer, glossy slip of lightweight color.
Is Almost Lipstick in Black Honey fragrance-free?
Yes. Clinique lists it as allergy tested and 100% fragrance free, and free from parabens and phthalates.
Is it a lipstick or a lip balm?
Clinique describes it as not quite lipstick and not quite gloss, with a texture more like a tinted lip balm that layers easily.
Are there other shades?
Almost Lipstick also comes in Pink Honey, a soft sheer pink, and Nude Honey, a flexible nude.
Sources we checked (6)
- clinique.com/products/almost-lipstick-in-black-honey-pink-honey-and-nude-honey
- clinique.com/products/almost-lipstick-in-black-honey-pink-honey-and-nude-honey.json
- bluemercury.com/products/clinique-almost-lipstick
- allure.com/review/clinique-almost-lipstick-black-honey
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinique
- shop.tiktok.com/us/pdp/clinique-almost-lipstick-black-pink-shades-glossy-finish/1731493685930987873
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