The product: Clinique Black Honey Lip Duo

I’m going to start off this review with a story. Albeit a very short story, but a story nonetheless.

Once upon a time, there was a young makeup addict named Rae. She was getting on just fine with glosses, and blushers, and eye makeup – but she had one terrible, terrible flaw: she didn’t own any lipstick. So, one day while travelling, she picked up the ever-hyped Black Honey Almost Lipstick.

The lipstick’s texture was love at first swatch, and the translucence was perfect for a first-lipstick sort of lipstick, but… the shade just wasn’t quite right. It was cute, for sure, and many in fact said it looked just right – but as she soon found out, this young beauty addict simply didn’t like warm (or even slightly warm) lip colours, no matter what.

Like so many other products, the slim silver tube, inconspicuously labelled Black Honey on one end, ended up leaving her collection – but the encounter was never forgotten.

The Almost Lipstick

The Almost Lipstick texture is honestly just lovely – it has the same smooth, comforting (but not-too-heavy) weight of a light layer of petroleum jelly, but it has more shine payoff, and because it’s firmer in the tube, it’s much easier to apply.

Because it’s so sheer, the classic Black Honey just sort of “amps up” your natural lip colour. I’d definitely recommend it for neutral and warm skintones, and it’s best for medium-light to dark complexions – ladies on the very fair side of the spectrum may find this one a little harder to pull off.

The Long Last Glosswear SPF 15

The true star of the show here, though, is the Long Last Glosswear end of the duo. I hadn’t tried Black Honey in gloss form until this one came along (though it was originally released in gloss format, and is sold as a Superbalm at Sephora), and I love it.

I wasn’t crazy about the Almost Lipstick against my skintone, but this one? It’s absolutely perfect. Something about the fact that it’s both more sheer and more glossy has me sold, and I’ve been reaching for it on an alarmingly regular basis. Okay, so the formula could do with being a little thinner (though the heaviness does increase wear time), but it’s blissfully glitter-free, ridiculously shiny (without ever looking gloopy or tacky), and just so… effortless.

The verdict?

If you’re new to Black Honey or if you’re a longtime fan, this is the perfect time to pick up a tube. It’s a smash hit for a very, very good reason, and while it quite isn’t as universal as advertised, it’ll still flatter a good… say, 80% of skintones?

Give it a pass if you’re into more pigmented lip colour, but if you’re searing for a sheer duo that’s easy to throw in your purse and apply (even without a mirror), don’t miss this one!

P.S. Did I mention that the gloss is gorgeous?

P.P.S. No, seriously, it gives me, like… supermodel lips. I’m afraid this is what true love looks like!

More photos, swatches »