Editor Review: Testing The New Clinique Nude Honey Lipstick for 2025

Clinique's Black Honey lipstick might be the most iconic lip product ever. For more than 50 years, the beloved shade has been a go-to for celebs and beauty editors alike, thanks to its ability to enhance your natural lip color with a buildable your-lips-but-better berry tint.
Now, Clinique just leveled up its lip game with a new addition to the lineup: Almost Lipstick in Nude Honey. This new shade leans more mauve and neutral than the original's deeper and slightly purple undertone. Think of it as a lip version of Glossier You—the pH-balanced fragrance that adapts to your skin chemistry. Nude Honey works the same way, adjusting to your natural lip tone to deliver a just-for-you nude that flatters everyone.
Ahead, team Cosmo got their hands on Clinique's Nude Honey to see how it stacks up against the OG Black Honey. Keep reading for our full thoughts.
The Nude Honey shade swaps Clinique's classic deep berry Black Honey for a soft brown. At first swipe, the formula looked nearly identical to its cult-favorite sister, but after a few layers, it developed into something a bit more wearable—slightly more brown with a hint of orange-pink, rather than a reddish purple. Honestly, it looks like someone took my natural lip color, bottled it up, and turned it into a slightly bolder lip product.
As someone who doesn't typically reach for lipstick, I appreciated the thin applicator that allows me to be precise and trace around the edges of my lips without a mirror—no smudging or overlining necessary. And while the formula isn't the most hydration-forward, it's still filled with enough emollients (aka moisturizing ingredients) to keep the lips feeling soft and conditioned as I wear it. The finish is subtle—somewhere between a creamy balm and a lipstick—and though it's not glossy, it doesn't dry out my lips, either. The result is simply natural, but brighter, bolder, and better than my bare lips.
Beauty editor Beth Gillette also put the new shade to the test. "I never bought into the Black Honey renaissance, but I did use it years ago in high school and remember loving the vampy look it gave me without all the fuss of more pigmented formulas. My lip vibe as of late, though, is something softer and simpler, hence why I haven't picked it back up in so long. But! Nude Honey is essentially that and everything I would look for in a formula like this in 2025. It's the same shade as my natural lip color, but makes them look plump, smooth, and a little glossy."
If you're looking for a natural lip that gives a little something extra, Nude Honey is that shade. It takes your lip color a bit deeper with a neutral tint that's super easy to wear. I love the original Black Honey for nights out or full glam looks, but it can feel a little too much with softer or no makeup. Nude Honey, on the other hand, is super wearable and works perfectly for everyday. The only downside is that the Almost Lipstick formula is a bit matte. If you want a glassy finish, I recommend topping it with a clear gloss. Or maybe this is Clinique's cue to drop a Nude Honey lip gloss—just saying!
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers everything from beauty trends to buzzy product launches. For this story, she tested Clinique's Nude Honey Almost Lipstick ahead of the drop to give her full thoughts and review. She also tapped Cosmo's beauty editor, Beth Gillette, for her insight.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You'll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it's usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles' entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.

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