If you find yourself regularly living in the land of Beauty Tik Tok or viral Tik Tok favourites, it's hard to miss the cultural wave that is Clinque Black Honey Almost Lipstick. The shade is complex a reddy, browny, cherry-esque colour. And it's risen to sudden fame as a tone that is universally flattering on just about everyone; all skin tones and eye colours. So naturally, it's sold out. In just about every store and on every site.
But know this, Black Honey isn't the only lip colour in this shade. There are plenty of other that will offer you the same look - well, almost. And I write this a connoisseur of this particular hue. I've been collecting reddy, pink-brown lipsticks for about eight years.
Finding the right lip colour was always hard for me. As a brown-skinned person, my lips are not pink. They have a natural brown colour that would throw off the tone of most lipsticks I tried, making pinks look weirdly purple and reds appear a little too ruddy for my liking. But then when I was 22, I saw a fellow brown-skinned ex-colleague sporting the cherry-brown colour that I would subsequently adopt as my own for the next decade. Thus my collection began.
So, if you love the idea of Clinque's Black Honey, but can't seem to find it in store, I can assure you there are alternatives. Allow me to present to you my non-exhaustive, but still robust, list of lipstick shades like Black Honey.
Mac Cosmetics in Spice
Don't let the product images fool you, it's much pinker than the brown on-site images. The signature colour of the 90s, perfect for anyone who prefer a matte finish rather than gloss.
Chanel Coco Rouge Flash in Swing
This formula has the same silky gloss feel as Black Honey, if that's what you prefer.
Ethique Lip Balm in Sugarplum
Slightly sheerer than Black Honey, but a great plastic-free and clean alternative.
Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips Walk Of No Shame
My favourite CT shade ever is Walk of No Shame, and this Superstar Lips iteration is glossier than the original Matte Revolution.
Burts Bees Shimmer Lip Balm in Fig
One of the first Black Honey dupes I ever bought. It has a slight shimmer for those who like to sparkle.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Stain in Black Cherry
If you prefer a matte look that lasts, this is your Black Honey alternative.
Bite Beauty Power Move in Extra Sugar Buns
For matte lipstick fans, try this one.
Givenchy Le Rough Sheer Velvet Matte in Rouge Grainé
A totally luxe iteration is this pick from Givenchy Beauty.
