Sure, you could spend $25 on Clinique's iconic Black Honey lipstick, but these ultra-affordable stand-ins mean you really don't have to. (Amazon)
Even if you've never thought of yourself as a "lipstick person," the ultra-popular, '90s-chic (and Drew Barrymore fave) Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey will probably change your mind. The creamy, universally flattering formula is made from a blend of blue, red and yellow pigments, so it works for any skin tone. It's also particularly good for drier, more mature lips since it glides on like a balm and has none of the waxy feel of some lipsticks, and it won't settle into fine lines.
The shade looks dark in the tube but, once on, it works like a customized tint, lightly staining lips a natural-looking berry hue that's just a hint or two above bare. As the name suggests, Almost Lipstick makes you look pulled together but not too "done." Black Honey is a beloved everyday lip color and a clear winner for winter — a near-perfect product, except for one thing: the price.
This bestseller has been around for decades but still frequently sells out.
I truly can't say enough good things about E.l.f. products, and this sheer lip stain is no exception. It's highly ranked by Redditors for its Black-Honey-esque qualities (similar texture and staying power, and a near-identical hue) and I would even go as far as to say it surpasses the original. It's infused with vitamin E for an ultra-moisturizing effect and, unlike Clinique Black Honey (and its parent company, Estée Lauder), the E.l.f. version is cruelty-free.
As the, uh, (black) cherry on top, I cannot imagine beating this ridiculously low price.
If you like your lip products with a little (literal) flavor, you could do far worse than this blackberry-tasting balm by Nivea that manages to moisturize your pucker and leave behind a sexy, subtle, just-bitten burgundy glow. These fan-favorite tints contain high-quality ingredients, including real blackberry, raspberry and strawberry fruit juices and skin-nourishing agents like shea butter and avocado oil.
Though it's a solid swap for Clinique Black Honey, the downside here is that Nivea's tint is not as long-lasting as others on this list. Still, these balms are great beauty staples to have on hand, and they make excellent gifts.
I fell in love with this tinted balm the moment I held it to my lips. It's made with hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturizer and skin plumper, and it left my mouth not only an ideal burnt berry shade, but smoother, more supple and younger-looking.
While this hue is not an exact 1:1 replacement for Clinique's iconic Black Honey lipstick, it's super close. And the addition of sun protection and natural emollients like castor oil make it a worthy foil.
Now $25 isn't the most I've ever paid for a lip-tinting cosmetic (that would be the $48 I shelled out for Chanel's Rouge Coco with one of my first paychecks — not the smartest financial decision I've made, but I'd do it again). Still, I'm mostly a budget-minded beauty shopper. I like to cut costs on frivolous makeup (and even skin care) whenever I can. To that end, over the past few weeks, I've tested a dozen or so Clinique Black Honey replacements at more affordable price points. I've also scrolled through multiple Reddit threads to uncover the stand-ins that other beauty obsessives recommend.
As it turns out, there are now loads of high-quality swaps for this iconic lipstick. My picks all ring in at far less than half of what you'd pay for Black Honey, which means, unlike my Chanel impulse purchase, you can responsibly afford to buy a few tubes.
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