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The Clinique Almost Lipstick franchise has a new darling. Today, the brand is introducing Nude Honey, a sheer, balmy lip color that channels the same effortless appeal as its cult-classic predecessor. It’s only the third iteration in the Black Honey family, and if history is any indication, this one’s poised to fly off shelves just as fast.
First launched in 1971, Black Honey has long held icon status — one of the rare beauty products (alongside stalwarts like Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream) to stay relevant across generations. While other formulas have come and gone, Clinique’s sheer raisin-tinted balm has never been retired. Its genius lies in the way it enhances lips without masking them — making it a universally flattering tinted lip balm.
Clinique Almost Lipstick swatches in Pink Honey, Nude Honey, and Black Honey (left to right).
After a 2021 resurgence fueled by TikTok, Clinique Black Honey has only amassed more fans — the brand now sells seven tubes every minute globally.
The buzz even sparked renewed interest in tinted balm-meets-lipstick hybrids, all while nude lips continue to trend across this year’s red carpets, from the Golden Globes to the Met Gala. Think soft-focus browns, pinky beiges, and tawny neutrals that reference the fleshy to true brown ’90s lip trends in a more refined fashion. Nude Honey taps directly into that energy: part of the same sheer lipstick family, with a new shade profile meant to flatter bare skin, glazed complexions, and softly sculpted lips.
While Clinique Black Honey’s claim to fame was subtly enhancing the lips’ natural tone, Nude Honey may be an even closer match to that “your lips but better” brief. After testing it for the past two weeks, here’s our full review.
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WWD/ Claire Sullivan
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Nude Honey
Price upon publish date of this article: $25
Clinique Nude Honey Almost Lipstick Review — Editor Testing Notes
Fans of Black Honey will instantly recognize the appeal of Clinique’s new Nude Honey shade: It’s a sheer wash of color that requires no mirror to apply and no second thought. But where the original leans berry and wine-stained, Nude Honey shifts the story to something earthier and softer — less fresh-picked fruit, more early-aughts minimalism with the sheen of a modern lip gloss. The shade sits right between a neutral mauve and a milk-tea brown, and it builds beautifully without ever looking overdone.
What surprised me most was how incredibly wearable it is across different makeup looks. On bare skin, it adds just enough color to make lips look polished. With lip liner (I tried it over Make Up For Ever’s Wherever Walnut liner), it takes on a quietly sculpted effect that feels elevated, but still low-effort. It never pulls orange, and it also doesn’t veer too pink or too beige. Similar to the original Black Honey, the magic is in the neutrality of its undertones.
WWD Shop writer Claire Sullivan with bare lips (left) and after two swipes of Clinique’s Nude Honey Almost Lipstick (right).
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
As with the rest of the Almost Lipstick line, the formula is balm-forward — hydrating, smooth, and lightweight. Where Black Honey adds oomph with every swipe, Nude Honey is the subtler counterpart that enhances what’s already there. It’s the shade I’ve reached for during Zoom calls, Sunday errands, and even a wedding, proving its versatility in real time. Nude Honey is a new neutral in the best sense — one that could rival the success of Black Honey in short order.
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Nude Honey
Price upon publish date of this article: $25
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
Price upon publish date of this article: $25
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Pink Honey
Price upon publish date of this article: $25
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Meet the Author
Claire Sullivan is a contributing commerce editor for WWD and Footwear News, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion, and lifestyle stories. She has over eight years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She’s tested hundreds of products during her time as an editor, so she’s well-versed in selecting the products that make a meaningful difference in your skin and hair. Sullivan has worn Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick for over a decade and tested the new Nude Honey shade for two weeks to write this review.
