Clinique Black Honey Lipstick Is Finally Back in Stock After Months of Being Sold Out—And It Works for Almost Everyone

Word on beauty street is that there’s a lipstick that looks good on *almost* anyone who tries it. No matter your skin tone, age, or even style, it’s supposed to work with your skin undertones and look effortlessly selected. Sounds like a tall order, but that’s exactly the reason why Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is such a beauty staple.

In fact, it’s become such a coveted beauty item that you can’t find it anywhere…until now. While the lipstick has been out of stock for months, it’s now back in stock at very limited locations. (Although we’re sure it won’t be for long.)

Like the classic M.A.C Ruby Woo, this lipstick is the stuff of legend in the beauty community. After making its debut in 1971, it quickly became a must-have item in every makeup bag and has since become the best-selling lipstick for the brand. While it went through a slight repackaging in 1989, it has maintained its magic-like formula: a mix of red, blue and yellow pigments blend together to create a berry-like shade that appears to shift to suit your natural lip color when you apply it.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey — $20.00

Also available in a pink honey, this lipstick uses a mix of red, blue and yellow pigments to help produce a flattering and unexpected berry shade. It’s smooth like a balm, but gives your lips a smooth color tint.

Pros: 

• Lightweight
• Smooth consistency
• Balm-like texture
• Universally flattering shade

Cons: 

• Fades after a few hours
• Tends to sell out quickly

Although you can create a richer tone by applying more product, the final result isn’t overbearing. When I wore the lipstick, I was shocked by how natural of a hue it produced against my darker skin. I was expecting a deep purple-y red, but it appeared on my lips as a subtle pink color. For me, that’s the perfect shade for those no-makeup makeup days.

To put it to the test to see if it really works for all, the editors at Well+Good decided to try it on to see how it works on different skin tones. The results (with pictures) ahead.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure about the shade before I put it on. It looks so dark, almost goth-like. But after wearing the lipstick, I couldn’t believe how neutral the color was for my skin tone. It went on a bit more pink than purple, which is right in my realm of preferred lipstick shades. You can easily punch up the color by applying multiple layers or keep it more on the natural side with less application. The only thing to note is that I found the color does come off rather easily, so I did have to apply it pretty regularly in order to keep it looking fresh.

I’m not typically one for dark lip colors, so when I opened the Clinique Black Honey, I was doubtful it would work for me—but it glides on in a much more subtle tone than I’d expected. The deeper pigments blend easily and pair with my natural lip color for a finish that’s somehow bright, slick, and without the least bit of heaviness. If you add more layers, the tone deepens evenly, so you could easily build up the color for a glam nighttime look, too.

The color is so flattering and not at all what I expected—when I saw the bold pigment I was nervous (especially because I’m not a big lipstick lady!) but it was just the perfect amount of color and matches with everything. I also loved that the lipstick’s color was buildable, so when I put it on before heading out to a dinner I put on a couple of extra coats, and for everyday wear I just swipe it over once. My favorite part, however, was the feel—it feels far more like a nourishing lip balm than a sticky or tacky lipstick, which also means the color doesn’t transfer to my coffee mug.

When I heard that Clinique Black Honey was a universally flattering shade, I didn’t really know what to expect. At first glance, it looks like it’s going to be a deep plum. Black Honey, however, is a really sheer, glossy shade of plum that’s perfect for everyday wear. It’s the color I wish my lips were naturally. Although it is sheer, I wouldn’t actually say the lipstick is “buildable.” Slathering it on made my lips shinier, but it didn’t yield a deeper color. That said, it’s not too sticky and almost feels moisturizing—I can see how it’s a fan favorite.