We Tried This ’90s Cult-Favorite Lipstick That’s Selling Out (Again)

There’s a part of me that wishes I could pull up an old photo of a braces-clad Jenny wearing this just to have a point of comparison, but I’m also slightly relieved at the dearth of photographic documentation from those extremely awkward years.

Besides, I think adult me wears this berry-meets-mauve shade much better than I did in my tweens, when it most definitely wore me.

And now, after years of being a beauty editor and trying every lipstick under the sun, I can speak to the nuances of the lipstick. You know, things like texture (sheer and balmy) and finish (a subtle sheen). Color payoff (almost translucent to start but easily buildable) and the application itself (breezy thanks to the slim, ovular bullet).

But the true magic of Black Honey is that it melds to your natural lip color—no matter your lip color—so it somehow looks good on anyone but doesn’t look the same on everyone. In short, I can see why a new generation is falling in love with it.

In a world where there’s a new product every week, it’s oddly comforting to know that quality is quality and classics are classic for a reason. Clinique Black Honey lipstick was good 20 years ago when I first tried it, and somehow it’s even better now knowing how many options are available to us these days.

As of writing, it’s still sold out in several locations, so if you come across a tube at your (gasp) mall or department store, grab it. Or you could always get a similar product online. (We hear E.L.F’s Sheer Slick Lipstick in “Black Cherry” is a convincing dupe.)