My Go-To Clinique Lipstick Keeps Selling Out, but I Found It for 38% Off at Target

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

Photo:

Real Simple / Tyler Roeland

The concept of one size, style, or shade working for everyone rarely holds up. But once my mom, sister, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and I—all of whom have varying complexions—tried the viral Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick, the hype actually made sense. Not only is this universally flattering shade a hit within my family, but women have sworn by this color-changing lipstick for decades, and it just keeps gaining popularity thanks to platforms like TikTok, with #blackhoney collecting 548.6 million views and counting.

Since Clinique launched the shade in the ‘70s, Black Honey has become the brand’s top-selling lip product. The soft, buildable formula falls somewhere between a lipstick and a balm and gives a natural, rich color that looks a little different depending on who is wearing it. While the product’s social-media virality has caused it to sell out multiple times, you can get it right now at Target—and it’s currently on sale for 38 percent off.

Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick

Target

Buy on Target $24 $15

Based solely on the deep color in the silver tube, Clinique’s Black Honey Almost Lipstick appears to be a shade that I would typically shy away from, as someone who tends to reach for pinks and nudes. Once applied, though, it transforms into a less dramatic, natural shade that is perfect for everyday wear. It looks good on its own for a subtle look, but I also like to layer it over lipsticks with stronger pigments for a sheer, glossy finish. Another plus, especially in the winter, is that it hydrates my lips in addition to adding some color, making it an essential in my bag wherever I go.

Shoppers agree, with one saying they love that it “feels like lip balm” and gives their lips a “transparent tint rather than a thick opaque color.” While the product’s social media fame might make you think this product is meant solely for a younger generation, it has become a staple for women of all ages. Once one shopper found out their granddaughter hadn’t tried Clinique’s Black Honey, they said they “knew exactly what [they were] buying for her Christmas present.”

If you’re in the market for something with a little more shine, Clinique also makes its Pop Plush Creamy Lip Gloss in the shade Black Honey. These lip products have a history of selling out, so we recommend snagging them while they’re in stock and on sale. In the event they do sell out again, we included more lipsticks with similar shades to Black Honey below.