Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in shade Black Honey has become a staple in many makeup routines across the globe and has been a 3x winner of Allure’s Best of Beauty Hall of Fame. It’s described by Clinique as more of a sheer balm than a traditional lipstick or gloss, and the shade is said to be a universally flattering deep raisin color that can be layered to achieve the desired look. This product was extremely popular on social media (particularly TikTok) for quite some time and has been dubbed a “Cult Classic”. Though it is frequently sold out in stores, I was able to purchase it recently in order to see if the product is deserving of such high praise.
To start off, the color is beautiful. I can definitely see how the shade would be flattering on a variety of different skin tones. If you layer it, it lasts quite a while. While it certainly doesn’t stay super pigmented after a couple hours or after eating and drinking, there’s still a sheer tint that stays for a bit of time. I wouldn’t say it’s the most long-lasting lip product I’ve tried, but it’s also not the worst by any means.
As for the price, it seems to be on par. It sells for $23, which is about average in comparison to other mid-range brands that rank above drugstore but below luxury cosmetic brands (Chanel, Tom Ford, Lancome, Charlotte Tilbury, etc).
The only complaint I do have is about the packaging. Clinique is marketed as a “no nonsense” brand–their products are paraben-free, phthalate-free, and fragrance-free. Clinique’s entire claim to fame is that their products don’t contain any ingredients that could potentially irritate the skin or cause an allergic reaction (which is not always true…but that’s a topic for another day). This, along with the fact that they strive to have sustainable packaging, might be the reason why their packaging for certain products is somewhat plain.
However, I don’t think the fact that they have basic packaging advances their brand or enhances their message in any way. In fact, I think it does more bad than good. A large part of sales is having a visually interesting package, and this product just doesn’t. I understand that they want their packaging to be sustainable, but there are other sustainable brands with more exciting packaging.
Despite this, I can’t deny that it’s a good product. I do think the packaging could use some improvement, but this is more of a critique of the presentation of the product rather than the product itself. Overall, it’s a great product and I can understand why it’s so popular. The packaging might not be my favorite, but the formula speaks for itself. I don’t feel confident in saying it’s my favorite lip product of all time, but it’s definitely something I’ll reach for on a regular basis.
Thanks for visiting!
♡ Clotilde
