Welcome back to Fetch!
It’s September, which means fall is here! Whether you’re sipping a pumpkin spice latte, spending hours picking out Halloween decor, sniffing the cinnamon brooms at Trader Joe’s (me too) or just anxiously awaiting cooler weather, there are so many things to love about the season. One of my personal favorite ways to channel autumnal vibes is through my makeup pouch, which brings us to the theme of this month’s issue—the icon, the legend, the moment… Clinique Black Honey.
First created in 1971 by Clinique founder Carol Philips, Black Honey has been a timeless shade for decades. It was first sold in a glass pot and named “Black Honey” for its shiny appearance and texture. Later, it would be repackaged into a sleek metal tube that made it easy to toss into your bag or pocket, which is what most of us are familiar with today. Two of the biggest reasons Black Honey is so loved are its formula and shade. The classic “almost lipstick” is exactly what it sounds like—it gives wearers the moisturization and easy application of a lip balm with a little extra pigment, making it perfect for everyday wear. And the iconic shade is a sheer, berry tone that isn’t too warm or too cool—often, you’ll see it marketed as “universally flattering,” a shade that looks good on everyone and is perfectly suited to the season.
Black Honey has graced scenes both big and small, from Liv Tyler in Lord of the Rings to countless social media creators who want to share what the hype is all about. The newfound resurgence in popularity has inspired whole collections allowing for full Black Honey-inspired makeup looks, spin-off shades like Pink Honey and Nude Honey, and of course, new formulations of Black Honey herself. Over the course of my makeup-wearing and impulse-buying career, I’ve built up a bit of a Black Honey collection, and I’ve put together a vaguely helpful guide to help you decide which Black Honey formulation (Original, Gloss, Lip Oil, and a secret fourth thing) is right for you.
Original: Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
The original Black Honey is a formula that’s hard to describe—it really is between a moisturizing lip balm and a sleek, creamy lipstick. While it takes some patience, it builds up beautifully, and the pigment is a truly neutral berry, not too warm or too cool at all. The metallic silver tube feels fancy and futuristic—applying it will make you feel incredibly cool. This (almost) lipstick is a unique experience that can’t be replicated, for sure. However, if you have sticker anxiety or are otherwise nervous about using your cool things, this lipstick might function less like a beautiful lippie and more like decor on your vanity. But if you’re dedicated to giving your lipstick the love it deserves, the original Black Honey is an absolute classic that’s worth adding to your collection.
Gloss: Clinique Pop Plush™ Creamy Lip Gloss in Black Honey Pop
While researching how Black Honey is marketed, the idea that it looks like an intimidating goth shade in the packaging but goes on “natural” came up often—but what if you want to look like the Hex Girls from Scooby Doo? The Pop Plush lip gloss is worth checking out. It’s more pigmented than the original and gives a high-shine finish. While it looks great by itself, putting it over your favorite lipstick, especially a similar vampy red shade, really takes it to the next level. While it’s not sticky, it’s definitely thick, and the hourglass-shaped applicator has a bit of a learning curve. But if you love drama, shine, and looking like you can’t eat garlic, Black Honey gloss is worth checking out.
Lip Oil: Clinique Pop™ Lip + Cheek Oil in Black Honey
This lip oil might be the most effortless option on this list. It’s easy to apply without a mirror and toss into any backpack, purse, or pocket. The pigment falls somewhere between the original and the gloss, and the formula feels comfortable and moisturizing. If your preferred everyday makeup look isn’t super full glam but not quite clean girl either, this lip oil over your favorite stain or lipstick is a solid pick. Oh, and as the name suggests, you can use it as both a shiny lip oil and a dewy blush, if you’re into that.
Bonus: Cheek Pop™ Powder Blush in Black Honey Pop
Speaking of matching your lipstick to your blush… if you prefer powder blushes, this shade pairs perfectly with just about any of the options on this list. This blush mirrors the black honey vibe while still being very wearable, and you can build this smooth, forgiving formula up to your desired vibrancy with a fluffy brush or even your fingertips. Also, the daisy embossing is very cute and sure to make you smile whenever you apply it. I picked this up as a very reasonable birthday gift card purchase, and it just might be my favorite blush to date.
While I’ve given plenty of praise to this collection, I’d be remiss to not mention the concerns around the price tag on most of these items. Black Honey’s virality spawned a worldwide hunt to find the perfect “dupe” that wouldn’t break the bank, leading countless tests of other balms, glosses, lipsticks, and stains—with some coming incredibly close. Even Clinique themselves took notice of the phenomenon and argues that “there’s no such thing as a true Black Honey dupe.”
At a time when everything keeps getting more expensive and people turn toward small luxuries like lipstick, the pursuit of finding a dupe might seem like a reasonable choice. After all, there should be no shame in only buying from more affordable brands, like NYX or e.l.f., that can also offer great beauty products. Buy what makes sense for your budget and for what you look for in a lipstick—but consider that in the pursuit of buying dupe after dupe, you might end up spending just as much money on four lippies you might not even like instead of one that you haven’t tried. There are plenty of ways to catch a bargain, like hunting at your favorite discount stores, waiting until the holidays for sales or gift sets, or even utilizing rewards programs or gift cards. Because at the end of the day, your perfect face of fall makeup should work for you.
I hope you enjoyed this little infodump, and I hope you’ll tune in next month for whatever I decide to report back on.
With love, Jess
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