It’s not a wonder that Clinique’s classic vintage lippie, their Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, is one of Elle’s Hall of Famers in the “Best Beauty Products since 1985″ feature. You first look at it and your mind screams “No Way” because of the assumption that what you see is what you get, but Black Honey’s sinister dark color is not what it seems once you apply. It’s products like these that get people who hate makeup to actually consider makeup.
With Black Honey, Clinique created a natural “Your Lips But Better” shade for everyone regardless of their skin color. Black Honey is a universally flattering sheer but not too sheer lipstick that hundreds of fashion and beauty editors, models, and natural look lovers have kept in their personal kits since the 1980s. Campaign image for Black Honey:
With the recent success of Revlon and their drugstore delight, the Colorburst Lip Butters, it’s not a surprise that Clinique’s Almost lipsticks (I had a pink one as a teen in the 90s) have had their share of fame preceding all the other sheer products we have on counters today.
Mine cost about Php200 more than the original SRP price tag on Clinique’s website. I’m not sure how much Black Honey costs at local Clinique counters in Rustan’s or if they carry stock of that shade, I probably should have checked first. Here’s a swatch of a light swipe followed by a shot with more heavy handed swipes.
I think perhaps the secret behind the shade flattering all ethnicities is the fact that Black Honey’s ruddy reddish pigment warmly resembles that of blackberries or even dried, clotted blood (and so there goes my “pleasant to read” aim for this post lol). Black Honey is back at the forefront of a glorious revival, the return of high shine sheer lipsticks.
Clinique’s Almost Lipsticks aren’t as greasy as the Revlon Lip Butters, which tend to slide around a lot over your lips. Clinique’s Almost Lipstick finish is actually what I’d hoped the Revlon Lip Butters’ texture would be like because they set into the lips but you don’t get your lips overtly sticky. I have one photo of me wearing it sheer and sorry, this first one with sheer application is a strange shot because I’m sleepy, didn’t fix my hair, and I bit my lip. The second photo is me wearing it with like 4-5 layers on.
For double the price tag at $15 or nearly Php Php700.00, Clinique’s Almost Lipsticks are more long wearing and have buildable color impact. Love rings by Diva, Chainmail bandana necklace by Agatha (I actually don’t know what the neclace is called haha). Yikes, I’ve failed to hide the fact that I’m so sleepy in both photos.
