The Mystique of Clinique Black Honey (and Some Alternatives)

The Internet is a powerful place. A full decade later, TikTok made the classic balmy lip color Clinique Black Honey pop off in a brand new way. How? Through one of its go-to methods: name dropping. Turns out, Molly Ringwald’s Breakfast Club lipstick scene was an application of guess what? Black Honey.

Need more? Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, Emilia Clarke, Reese Witherspoon and Liv Tyler have all been seen wearing Clinique Black Honey, particularly in the 90s and early 2000s. In fact, Liv wore it as Arwen in Lord of the Rings, which is really all the convincing I need.

Black Honey’s success in the current milieu makes sense for more than just its celeb-laden history. The versatile shade is indelibly ’90s. However, most of our wallets can’t keep up with buying every viral product. So what alternatives exist for an easy wearing, buildable berry shade? We’ve got a few picks, some more of a Black Honey dupe than others:

Clinique Black Honey Dupes and Alternatives

• Nivea Blackberry Shine Lip Care Balm: I’m absolutely obsessed with this product – it’s the easiest color I can blind apply to my lips and know they’re going to look great, and I can feel good about putting it on.
• Nyx Fat Oil Lip Drip in FOLD04 That’s Chic: obviously a lip oil will have a shinier finish than a lipstick, so if you’re looking to up the wattage, this is a great way to go.
• elf Hydrating Core Lip Shine in Ecstatic: sheer and moisturizing like the Nivea product (though the blackberry is my OG addiction).
• Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia: who doesn’t love Burt? Ultra hydrating, buildable color, and the name is to die.
• Honest Beauty Moisturizing Vegan Tinted Lip Balm in Plum Drop: everyone digs Honest Beauty for clean formulas, and this shade is decadent while still being wearable.
• Covergirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm in Bliss You Berry: I have a mixed history with Covergirl products. Sometimes the lashes are to die, sometimes the formulations haven’t been great. But this balm is a no brainer!

Which ones have you tried? I’d love to hear your thoughts about which dupe is the most Black Honey-like, or if you think the OG is worth it.