Sheer Tinted Lipstick / Lip Color · updated 2026-06-15

The best Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey dupes

We compiled and scored the affordable, currently-available dupes for Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey — ranked by how close they really are, with live prices and direct links.

See the ranked list → How we score

Ranked by consensus

Every Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey dupe, scored & ranked

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#1 78/100 e.l.f. Glossy Lip Stain in Black Cherry

Dupe of Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

e.l.f. — Glossy Lip Stain in Black Cherry

● Good enough

A widely-cited budget dupe that delivers a similar sheer deep-berry wash with a glossy finish for a fraction of the price, though it leans slightly more pink and is more of a stain than a balm.

“Best cheap shade match”

Known dupe widely cited as a Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey dupe

$5.00

Check price at Amazon → Save $1979% less than the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey Amazon price · checked 2026-07-30 23:00:01 UTC

#2 68/100 Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry

Dupe of Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

Revlon — Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry

● Worth a look

Gives a comparable berry-plum tone but in a more pigmented cream finish, so it's less sheer and less glossy than the chameleon Black Honey effect.

“Good drugstore color, more opaque”

Known dupe widely cited as a Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey dupe

Check price at Amazon → vs $24 retail

#3 65/100 NYX Butter Gloss in Black Cherry

Dupe of Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

NYX — Butter Gloss in Black Cherry

● Worth a look

A sheer glossy deep-berry that mimics the shine and wash-of-color effect, though as a gloss it's stickier and less of a true lip color.

“Glossier take on the shade”

Known dupe widely cited as a Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey dupe

$5.43

Check price at Amazon → Save $1977% less than the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey Amazon price · checked 2026-07-30 23:00:01 UTC

#4 62/100 Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Sweet Violet / Red Dahlia

Dupe of Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

Burt's Bees — Tinted Lip Balm in Sweet Violet / Red Dahlia

● Worth a look

Captures the sheer, comfortable balm-like wash of berry tint but with less of the signature glossy depth and chameleon shift.

“Sheer balm alternative”

Known dupe widely cited as a Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey dupe

$9.36

Check price at Amazon → Save $1561% less than the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey Amazon price · checked 2026-07-30 23:00:01 UTC

We have not personally tested these — every score blends independent community and reviewer sources, weighted by independence, with no paid placement. Read the full methodology →

No paid placements — just the trade-offs

Why these rank the way they do

Black Honey's whole appeal is the sheer, glossy "your-lips-but-berry" chameleon wash, so these alternatives rank on how well they recreate that translucency and shine rather than just the berry color.

e.l.f. Glossy Lip Stain in Black Cherry

Tops the list because it nails the two things that matter most here — a sheer deep-berry wash and a glossy finish — for the lowest spend of the group; it only loses points for skewing slightly pink and behaving more like a stain than a comfortable balm.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry

The berry-plum tone is right, but it's a pigmented cream, so you get opacity instead of the see-through, light-reactive effect that defines Black Honey — a good drugstore color, just a different finish altogether.

NYX Butter Gloss in Black Cherry

Captures the shine and wash-of-color better than the Revlon, but as a true gloss it's stickier and reads as topcoat more than lip color, which keeps it mid-pack.

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Sweet Violet / Red Dahlia

Ranks lowest because, while it matches the sheer, comfortable balm feel, it misses the signature glossy depth and chameleon shift — you trade the most distinctive part of Black Honey for everyday comfort.

Bottom line: Get the e.l.f. stain for the closest sheer-glossy match on the cheap; step up to Revlon if you'd rather have real berry pigment, or the Burt's Bees if comfort matters more than that glossy chameleon effect.

About Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey & its dupes

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is a cult-classic sheer lip color that's been beloved since the 1970s and saw a massive resurgence via TikTok. It's a translucent deep berry-plum-brown with a glossy, balm-like finish that shifts to flatter almost every skin tone because it deposits a universally-flattering my-lips-but-better wash rather than opaque pigment. The appeal is its chameleon quality, comfortable non-drying formula, and subtle shine — it reads differently on everyone, which is exactly why it became iconic and so frequently dupe-hunted.

How to choose a Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey dupe

Decide what matters most to you: the exact sheer berry-brown shade, the glossy non-sticky finish, or the universally-flattering "your lips but better" effect. If you want the closest color-and-finish match, look for a sheer/glossy tinted balm or lipstick in a deep berry-plum tone rather than an opaque bullet. If you prefer more shine, a tinted lip oil or gloss version gets you the look with extra slip; if you want longer wear, a sheer satin lipstick will hold better but feel less balmy. Swatch on the back of your hand knowing it sheers out dramatically — the bullet always looks darker and scarier than the final result on lips.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey dupe FAQ

Why does Black Honey look so different on everyone?

It's a sheer, translucent formula with relatively low pigment load, so it lets your natural lip color show through and blends with it — meaning the same product reads as soft berry on one person and deeper plum-brown on another.

Is Black Honey actually black?

No. It looks like a dark, almost-scary deep berry-brown in the tube, but it applies as a sheer, glossy wash of berry-plum that's far more wearable than the bullet suggests.

Is it moisturizing or drying?

It has a balm-like, glossy finish and feels comfortable and hydrating rather than drying, though it's not super long-wearing and needs reapplication after eating or drinking.

How is it different from a regular lipstick?

It sits between a lipstick and a tinted balm/gloss — more pigment than a lip balm but far sheerer and shinier than a traditional opaque lipstick.