There are plenty of beauty products out there that claim iconic status – but few are quite as famously beloved as Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in shade Black Honey. Born in 1971 (with the intention of becoming the ‘black turtleneck’ of the make-up world) this jammy, balmy lipstick shade remains a brand bestseller today, and has recently enjoyed a major resurgence thanks to a new school of Gen Z fans posting about it on – where else – TikTok.
So, how does a humble lipstick become such a smash hit? This unassuming tube certainly doesn’t look like a crowd-pleaser at first glance: in fact, the almost-black tone looks decidedly niche. But swipe this bruised-red balm over your lips and you'll soon realise what all the fuss is about. The pigment sheers out to become a translucent tint, imparting major plumping shine and a hint of colour that somehow suits every single skin tone. Though the viral formula was once impossible to get hold of, it's now firmly back in stock - and 20% off for Black Friday, no less.
Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey
Clinique Black Honey: The History
Black Honey doesn’t exactly come from humble beginnings: it has enjoyed the backing of the A-list for quite some time. Drew Barrymore wore it through the nineties, Emilia Clarke loves it today, and Liv Tyler even wore it in Lord Of The Rings. But perhaps Black Honey’s most boast-worthy claim to fame is that it was the lipstick used by Molly Ringwald during that Breakfast Club scene – the actress even name-checks it as one of her all-time favourite products in her biography, Getting The Pretty Back.
So popular is this single shade of enhancing balm, it even outlived the rest of the line. When Clinique attempted to discontinue the Almost Lipstick collection, outrage predictably ensured: so much so, Black Honey survived the cull and is today the only shade still in production. In fact, it's the number-one selling lipstick in Clinique's entire roster, with one sold every three minutes worldwide.
Now, the truly iconic Black Honey has found a whole new fanbase in the beauty-obsessed TikTok community, where the hashtag #cliniqueblackhoney has currently racked up over 307 million views. From soft-goth loyalists to nineties revivalists and classic-glam MUAs, it seems there's no one that doesn't love this unassumingly brilliant beauty hero.
Clinique Pop Plush Creamy Lip Gloss
Clinique Pop Plush Creamy Lip Gloss
Such is the popularity of this suits-all shade, Clinique has just released a lip-gloss iteration for anyone who enjoys major shine. Pop Plush In Black Honey Pop offers the same iconic shade with extra reflective shine, and it's spot-on for indulging in the y2k revival.
So, can a single lipstick really look 10/10 on every one of us? Here, the ELLE beauty team put Black Honey to the test.
George Driver, Senior Beauty Editor - Digital
I've heard the hype about Clinique Black Honey and its much-anticipated return for a while now so when I finally got my hands on it, plus the new Pop Plush lip gloss I was expecting big things. And they didn't disappoint. Despite the colour looking a little intimidating, the 'Almost Lipstick' is exactly that - a surprisingly sheer balm that adds just a hint of brown-toned berry tint to your lips. On me, it just brought my face back to life. With the gloss on top, the berry tone was more obvious and avoided the dreaded sticky reputation of other glosses. I'll be wearing separately and layered together from now on.
Medina Azaldin, Senior Beauty Assistant
Considering I grew up during the peak of Black Honey, I’ve never actually tried it until now and I’m happy to report that I am very much in the Black Honey camp. I appreciate that unlike most ‘universally-flattering’ lip colours, it doesn’t appear pink against my skin tone, but is instead a sheer berry which brightens a bare face while staying neutral enough to pair with stronger blush or eye looks. I love the balmy sheen of the original but if you’re after something glossier, the Pop Plush version is the one. It adds volume to the lips too, without a stingy, minty feel. You’ll have to reapply both products after a few drinks but its sheer enough to do so sans mirror.
Roberta Schroeder, Senior Ecommerce Editor
I am old enough to have had an original tube of Black Honey rattling around in the bottom of my backpack two decades ago, and I still remember how it was the only lipstick all the girls in my class wore around school. Today, the shade feels less rebellious than it did during teenhood, but it gets maximum points for being a super-easy, flattering lip colour that I can’t imagine anyone taking offense to (unlike my form tutor). I wouldn’t be mad at a little more pigment – on my skin tone it doesn’t seem to pop all that much – but admit the barely there sheen does make an effortless option that pulls together a simple beauty look.
Panashe Nyadundu, Editorial Intern
If you’re looking for a moisturising lip balm that adds a bit of colour to your lips, then definitely try Clinique’s Black Honey lipstick. Despite the balm having an intimidatingly deep blackberry hue, it glides on almost transparently, enhancing the colour of your natural lips. I’ll be using this for days on the go or when I want to wear a more understated lip look.
As for the lip gloss, the only downfall is how much precision is needed to achieve an even finish as it applies quite streaky, but the high shine and pigment really does make up for it. It's also super buildable (I’m wearing three layers), which means that you can go as muted or intense as you like, without that sticky feeling.
