10 dupes under $20 for (the almost always sold out) Clinique Black Honey lipstick
We’ve seen cult followings for beauty products before but the love for Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in ‘Black Honey’ surpasses all rhyme and reason.
The ‘your lips but better’ shade has been around for decades but has risen in popularity recently thanks to dedicated The Lord of the Rings fans who went on the hunt for the exact lipstick Liv Tyler was wearing throughout the fantasy franchise. Subsequently, they shared their findings to the masses via TikTok and a viral star was born.
@thebrontemarie Replying to @Not Joe Mama ♬ original sound - Bronte-Marie
It’s not the first time that TikTok users have put us onto drool-worthy lip products (we’re still scouring the platform for Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil dupes) but besides the whole Liv Tyler connection, why is everyone frothing over this Black Honey lipstick ($48 from Sephora) so bad?
Well, for starters, it’s universally flattering. It adapts to suit the wearer and is sheer enough that it literally looks like you’re not even wearing anything on your lips, but you are, and boy does it look good.
Plus, due to the success of the original formula, Clinique has reformulated and expanded the Black Honey lip range to include a Pop Lip + Cheek Oil ($49 from Sephora) and a Pop Plush Creamy Lip Gloss ($48 from Sephora). Additionally, the Almost Lipstick now comes in a fresh and summer-inspired 'Pink Honey' shade ($48 from Sephora).
However, the thing we’re not as thrilled about is that thanks to its cult-status and dedicated TikTok fandom, the Black Honey range is almost always sold out, and the price tag isn’t too cute either.
The solution? Keeping a running list of plausible and budget-friendly dupes, of course!
Here are 10 Clinique Black Honey lipstick dupes that cost less than $20.
1/ Nivea Blackberry Shine Lip Balm
We don’t know about you but we’re always more likely to reach for lip balm than lipstick during the day. Nivea Blackberry Shine Lip Balm ($4.49 from Chemist Warehouse) gives you the same shiny, blackberry-hued finish of Clinique Black Honey with the added bonus of 24 hours of hydration.
2/ Hurraw Black Cherry Tinted Lip Balm
The Hurraw Black Cherry Tinted Lip Balm ($7.95 from Healthy Life) leans on the red end of the Clinique black honey shade spectrum. The vegan-friendly formula utilises nourishing cold-pressed nut and seed oils to help condition lips, too.
3/ Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in ‘Plum’
Love the OG Burt’s Bees lip balm? This Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in ‘Plum’ ($9.99 from Priceline) incorporates the same beeswax, vitamin E, and oil-infused recipe you know and love. It also looks deceptively similar to Clinique’s Black Honey once it’s been smoothed over lips.
4/ e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Core Lip Shine in ‘Ecstatic’
Besides the fact the e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Core Lip Shine in ‘Ecstatic’ ($12 from e.l.f. Cosmetics) has a literal heart-shaped hydrating core in the middle of the lipstick bullet (so cute we can’t deal), this is probably the most bang-on dupe for Clinique’s Black Honey.
5/ Ethique Sugarplum Tinted Lip Balm
The Ethique Sugarplum Tinted Lip Balm ($13.95 from Nourished Life) is infused with hydrating cocoa butter, castor seed, moringa and jojoba oils and a refreshing hint of peppermint. Its sugarplum shade is a doppelganger for Clinique Black Honey, and the 100 per cent plastic free and home-compostable packaging is a lovely bonus too.
6/ Rimmel Kind & Free Lip Balm in '006 Berry Twist'
Love the colour of Clinique Black Honey but prefer a more hydrating formula? The Rimmel Kind & Free Lip Balm in '006 Berry Twist' ($13.39 from Chemist Warehouse) has the same sheer, lightweight wash of 'your-lips-but-better' Black Honey colour, but it's been enriched with lip nourishing and conditioning oils that help to keep your pout moisturised throughout the day.
7/ Peripera Ink Mood Glowy Balm in 'Mauve Dive'
Love the wet-look shine of a K-Beauty lip balm? It'll be love at first swipe once you try this glowy, glass finish formula. Peripera Ink Mood Glowy Balm in 'Mauve Dive' ($14.82 from YesStyle) leaves lips with a subtle water colour tint of black honey colour, while an infusion of botanical oils promotes a plush, pillowy pout.
8/ Burts Bees Naturally Tinted Lip Balm in 'Red Dahlia'
Lauded as the O.G. Clinique Black Honey dupe, the Burts Bees Naturally Tinted Lip Balm in 'Red Dahlia' ($12.99 from Priceline) is an almost perfect colour match. However, compared to the newer lip balm formulas on this list, this traditional beeswax lip balm is not as hydrating. However, if you prefer a more natural, satin finish over the glossier options we've listed here, this could be the pick for you.
9/ Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick in 'Black Cherry'
Prefer the opacity of a traditional lipstick over the sheer finish of Clinique's Black Honey? Try Revlon's Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick in 'Black Cherry' ($16.80 from Big W) instead. The glossy, high-shine finish lippy is packed full of saturated berry-hued colour. The formulas has been enriched with aloe, hyaluronic acid and rose quartz too, to help condition, moisturise and soften your pout.
10/ Biya Clear Glossy Lipstick in 'Wine Truffle'
This lipstick boasts the same sultry, just kissed hue as Black Honey. But, in all honesty, we prefer the sheer, buildable formula and gloss-like shine of Biya Clear Glossy Lipstick in 'Wine Truffle' ($11.69 from YesStyle) a whole lot more.
Love a budget-friendly dupe for your favourite beauty buys? These are our go-to drugstore makeup dupes.
Main image credit: @cliniqueswitzerland
Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).
