Clinique Lipstick, From Black Honey to Pop

Clinique Lipstick, From Black Honey to Pop

Clinique lipstick is best known for Black Honey, the sheer berry that has been in handbags since the 70s. Here is the full Clinique lip lineup with the sheer berry lipsticks from other brands that share its easy, flattering color.

Black Honey began in 1971 as a sheer gloss in a little pot, not long after Clinique itself launched in 1968. It was named by Carol Phillips, one of the brand's founders, and in 1989 it moved into a lipstick bullet as Almost Lipstick. That sheer, jammy berry has been a cult shade ever since, because it somehow suits nearly everyone. It is the reason most people first try a Clinique lipstick, and it is still the one I would hand to someone who says they cannot wear color.

The first row is Clinique lip color, from the original to the new. Almost Lipstick comes in Black Honey, the universal berry, and Pink Honey, a universal pink. Pop Shine Longwear Lipstick gives a glossy finish, and Pop Satin Longwear Lipstick is a soft satin. The Dramatically Different lipstick is a shaping color built on the brand's famous moisturizer. Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm is the fat crayon that made balm color easy. Pop Plush Creamy Lip Gloss in Black Honey Pop is the gloss version of the cult shade, and Clinique Pop Cheek + Lip Oil in Black Honey works as a lip oil and blush at once.

A quick test: swipe Black Honey on bare lips and look at it in daylight. It adapts to your natural lip color, so it looks slightly different on everyone.

Floating collage of Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey and Pink Honey, Clinique Pop Cheek + Lip Oil in Black Honey, Clinique Pop Plush gloss in Black Honey Pop, m.ph Love Bites and a Clinique Chubby Stick over a honey gold sky and sea
Clinique Lipstick

Clinique lip colors

More Clinique for lips and cheeks

Clinique makes a lot more for lips than color. These are the treatments, balms and extras I would add to a Clinique lipstick.

Chubby Stick Moisturizing Cheek Color Balm is the cheek version of the famous crayon, easy to blend with fingers. Daily Calm Lip + Cheek Color is a soft color for both. Superbalm Lip Treatment is a thick, dependable balm for very dry lips. Repairwear Intensive Lip Treatment helps with the look of lines around the lips. Moisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment hydrates and plumps. Quickliner for Lips is a twist-up liner that never needs sharpening. The Lip Edit Lipstick Gift Set bundles several shades, and the Mini Black Honey Cult Classic Lip Duo is a gift that pairs the cult shade in two formats.

Pairing tip: wear Black Honey on lips and a Chubby Stick Cheek Color Balm in a berry tone on cheeks. It is the fastest way to look awake.

What I would skip: a long-wear satin lipstick on dry winter lips without a balm. Put Superbalm on at night and a thin layer in the morning, then apply color.

More Clinique for lips and cheeks

Sheer berry lipsticks like Black Honey

If you love Black Honey, there are sheer berry lipsticks from other brands with the same easy, jammy look. These are the ones I would try next.

VIOLETTE_FR Bisou Jelly in Aïssa is a cool berry with a pigmented core. m.ph Lip Ciggy in Love Bites is a sheer black currant in a pocket-size stick. Westman Atelier HydroBalm in Glogg is a sheer black cherry with peptides. MAC Lustreglass in Beam There, Done That is a rosy plum pink. Glossier Ultralip in Cranberry is a crimson berry with hyaluronic acid. YSL Loveshine Lip Oil Stick in Plum Levitation is a medium berry pink. ISAMAYA Lips Balm in Follow is a berry glaze with vitamin E, and Gucci Glow & Care Shine in Jody Wild Mauve is a dark raspberry with a glowy finish.

How to use them: swipe straight from the bullet and press your lips together. Sheer berries are forgiving and do not need a liner.

What I would skip: a sheer berry over a heavy concealer on the lips. It turns chalky. Wear these on bare lips, or over a thin balm.

Sheer berry lipsticks

Where to start with Clinique

Start with the original Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. It is the one that made Clinique lipstick famous, and it looks good on nearly everyone. Add a Chubby Stick for easy color on weekends and Superbalm for nights. If you want to try something new, one of the sheer berries from other brands will give you the same feeling with a different texture. Keep it simple: a sheer berry, a good balm and a cheek color in the same tone is all you need for an easy fall face. Black Honey also layers well over a nude liner if you want a little more shape for evenings.