We Loved the Viral ‘Black Honey’ Lipstick. Now, Meet Pink Honey and Black Honey Gloss
Sadaf Razi is Adore Beauty's Senior Beauty Editor.
She's a former fashion editor (who worked at various glossy mags) and stylist-turned digital beauty and lifestyle writer. She has been in the lifestyle/media industry for over 10 years and her work has also been featured on international covers like Elle France and Vanity Fair Mexico.
Some of her fave Adore Beauty products include Cicaplast B5, CeraVe Cleansing Oil and Lancôme Renergie Triple Serum.
Key Takeaways
- Iconic product:** Clinique Black Honey lipstick has been a cult classic since its launch in 1971, loved for its versatility on all skin tones.
- Viral sensation:** The product gained massive popularity on TikTok, appealing to younger audiences with its promise of flattering everyone.
- Sheer coverage:** The unique formula provides a sheer wash of high-shine colour, enhancing natural lip tones for a subtle, impactful look.
- New shades:** Clinique has expanded the range with Pink Honey and a gloss version of Black Honey, catering to different preferences for lip colour and finish.
- Easy application:** The sleek packaging allows for on-the-go application without the need for a mirror, making it an ideal everyday product.
- Great for all:** Whether you prefer a light berry hue or a more glossy finish, there's a Clinique product suitable for everyone’s taste.
If you Google ‘beauty TikTok trends’, there’s one iconic product that'll undoubtedly come up.
Only, it isn't new. It actually first launched more than 50 years ago.
More recently, the one-shade-fits-all product became a TikTok sensation because of its very big claim to flatter all skin tones.
I've been itching to try it, but predictably, units of this cult classic have been selling out everywhere.
What is this viral product?
None other than Clinique Black Honey.
Described as ‘not quite a gloss and not quite a lipstick’, millions of people around the world (this writer included) have been trying to get their hands on a sleek tube of this black honey lipstick.
So much so, my search history looked something like this:
Does Clinique still make black honey lipstick? Is Black Honey Clinique discontinued?
Where can you buy Clinique Black Honey lipstick in Australia? When is Clinique Black Honey back in stock?
If you’ve been searching where to buy Clinique Black Honey, I have good news!
You can now buy Black Honey in Australia at Adore Beauty. You can also buy Pink Honey and Black Honey gloss at Adore Beauty too.
Yep you heard me correctly!
Because Black Honey was such a hit, Clinique have released Pink Honey - a soft pink that is meant to give a 'your lips but better' effect AND wait, there's more...
A new Black Honey gloss!Want to see how they look on different faces and complexions?
Keep reading for our Clinique Black Honey reviews.
What Is the Clinique Black Honey Lipstick?
The definition of a cult classic, Clinique Almost Lipstick - Black Honey has been around for decades!
It first launched in 1971 as a thick lipgloss pot, and was given its name because Clinique’s founder Carol Phillips thought it looked like a gooey pot of honey.
Here's what you need to know about this 'universal' lip product:
- The moisturising tinted lip balm gives lips a sheer wash of high-shine colour that can be worn alone or layered over other lips products.
- The gloss lipstick hybrid is Clinique's #1 best-selling lipstick, and it promises to suit all complexions.
- Black Honey looks like a deep raisin shade, but once applied, the blue, red and yellow pigments transform into a sheer veil that looks a little different on everyone.
- Formula is paraben, phthalate and fragrance-free, and enriched with ingredients such as castor seed oil and candelilla wax.
- Comes in a sleek silver lipstick bullet that's easier to apply than the original pot packaging.
- It now also comes in a new light pink shade - 'Pink Honey' as well as a gloss version 'Clinique Pop Plush Creamy Lip Gloss- Black Honey.'
Black Honey on TikTok.
We also need to talk about how this product went viral on TikTok.
Because the kids on TikTok love rediscovering things that were big back in the day (like Farrah Fawcett hair and 90s beauty trends), it's no surprise Black Honey ended up all over our social feeds.
The impressive claim of Black Honey looking great on literally everyone probably helped, too.
Here are just a couple of the thousands of TikTok videos singing Clinique Black Honey's praises.
@geenahunt I’ve been seeing this everywhere and had to try it @Clinique #blackhoney #cliniqueblackhoney ♬ originalljud - absolutesnacc
@marjmaroket okay yup it’s gorge 🖤#cliniqueblackhoney #clinique ♬ original sound marj
Our Clinique Black Honey Reviews.
So the million dollar question is...
Does this coveted lippy that looks like a chic goth berry shade actually suit all skin tones? And what do the new Clinique Almost Lipstick Pink Honey and Clinique Pop Plush Creamy Lip Gloss- Black Honey Pop 4.5ml shades look like on?
I had serious doubts, so I enlisted a few of my AB colleagues with different features to help me test it out.
Here are our honest thoughts...
1. Sadaf (Me!), Senior Beauty Editor.
There’s no viral beauty product I’ve been more compelled to try than Clinique Black Honey.
OK lies, I have a comprehensive TikTok beauty trends to-do list, but this was right at the top.
At first glance, the colour of this lipstick scared me.
I thought, there’s no way this deep burgundy, almost black shade will go on sheer, let alone suit my lips or my skin tone.
Firstly, the formula glides on really nicely, feels silky to apply and melts into the lips. Tick.
One swipe gave me a sheer tint that enhanced my own natural lip colour. Two swipes? A light berry colour that as the brand says, left a ‘just-ate-a-plum’ look.
I’m not usually a berry-hued lip gal, but I loved how this looked on my lips and with my complexion. Double tick!
I also love that while subtle, the shade still makes an impact.
Bonus points for the fact you can grab it from your handbag and quickly swipe it on without a mirror, too.
2. Gin, Recruitment Lead.
Gin loves herself a bright lippie, but she also needs hydrating formulas to keep her dry lips feeling comfortable.
These are her thoughts on Black Honey:
"I always wear red lipsticks, so it's nice to be in something different!"
"This feels both hydrating and moisturising on my currently very cracked lips, and it's easy to apply without a mirror."
"I like that two coats give me an almost browny-plum hue on my lips. Not something I'd usually try, but I like it!"
Meet Clinique Black Honey Gloss and Pink Honey.
Here are some of the main features of Clinique's newest lippie shades!
- A layerable, soft, glossy wash of colour with a comfortable balm-like texture in your new signature pink shade.
- Sheer coverage and can be worn alone or under makeup.
- The unique Pink Honey shade looks a little different on everyone.
- Paraben-free, Phthalate-free, Fragrance-free
What:
- An ultra-shiny, buttery lip gloss in a cult classic shade, with nourishing ingredients to leave your pout looking plump.
- Has a long-lasting, high-shine finish.
- Leaves lips looking plump and hydrated.
- Formulated with Aloe butter, avocado butter, shea butter, hyaluronic acid.
Our Mini Clinique Black Honey Gloss and Pink Honey Reviews.
Sadaf, Senior Beauty Editor.
I love the original Black Honey lipstick and I was hesitant to try the new Black Honey gloss version as I’m not really a gloss-wearing gal.
But I was pleasantly surprised.
The gloss is much more pigmented (and juicy!) but I didn’t mind that.
It gives that ’90s vibe with its browny/maroon shade finish on my naturally dark lips which I really liked (and is very on-brand for me).
I also loved that it instantly makes my lips look more plump!
Megan, Social Media Manager and Makeup Artist.
“I am IN LOVE with pink honey!!”
“I applied about two layers for this finish and also lined my lips with the M.A.C Cosmetics Lip Pencil in ‘Stripdown’ to tie it together and give it some depth.
It gives me the perfect ‘my lips but better’ look and the formula is super nourishing on my forever dry lips.
BIG fan over here.”
Final Verdict...
If you want a subtle glossy lip balm that imparts the perfect light berry hue, Clinique Black Honey is it.
It's the perfect everyday lip product for everyone, including people like me who wouldn't usually dip their toes into a wine-coloured shade.
And the fact it’s referred to as the ‘makeup equivalent of a chic turtleneck’ makes it a purchase you'll reach for again and again.
But honestly, I really didn't think I was going to like this as much as I did.
Now, I can totally vouch for the Black Honey hype.
Want high-gloss and a bit more depth in colour?
Then Pop Plush Creamy Black Honey Lip Gloss- Black Honey Pop is for you.
And those looking for the perfect subdued pink they can wear every single day - Pink Honey is your gal.
Watch our former editor Amy and I try some of the latest beauty TikTok trends, including Black Honey in this YouTube video below:
Want to read more about some of Clinique's other iconic products? Check out one of these articles below!
