Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

I have been waiting to get my hands on this lipstick for a very, very, very long time. The months of viewing the 'out of stock' button on the Clinique website were starting to get to me until I finally emailed their customer service and I was told the product would no longer be distributed. I was crushed and began to research dupes for the product, purchasing the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Adore as a consolation prize. That was, until I received an email saying it was back in stock and a lovely friend purchased it for me. Finally I had it! And it was everything I could have hoped for.

This product seemed to have had its hay day in 2005 when people could not get enough of the Black Honey and many were left disappointed when it was continually out of stock. I found myself in the same predicament after I had seen a friend wearing it and fallen in love. Any Google searches resulted in people asking the same question I was asking ("Where can I buy the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey?"), only they had asked almost 10 years ago.

So when it came back in stock and I received it in the mail, I was thrilled but cautious. I had high hopes for this product and the colour may not have suited my skin tone. However, that's the beauty of the Clinique Almost Lipsticks; they are sheer enough to suit anyone. That is not to say there is no pigment in them, there is more pigment than a balm but not as much as a lipstick, hence the name.

Do not be frightened by the colour of the actual product; it will not turn your lips black. This colour is a deep almost plum red that moisturises the lips and leaves a nice gloss without looking like too much of a lip gloss. It can be built up to a darker red but it is still quite sheer which makes it suitable for everyday use. Like many Clinique makeup products, it is the perfect in between and has rarely left my lips since I got it.

One thing I'm not sure about yet is the smell. It smells like the fake lipsticks I had when I was younger, cosmetic-y and plastic. The nostalgia is welcome, albeit strange for a reasonably expensive (almost) lipstick.

You can buy it from Clinique for AUD $36...They now have a liner, a shadow and a nail polish all in the same black honey colour so definitely have a look at those.

Side note: The Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Adore mentioned above is lovely with a minty moisturising feel. However, it is brighter and much more buildable than the Black Honey, leaving a smooth stain on the lips. A full review of this will be out soon but, in the meantime, you can purchase it from Priceline for AUD $17.95.

Happy shopping!