Today I’m going to tell you a story about the Clinique Black Honey Gift Set ($25.00, Clinique.com — $36.50 value), which includes full sizes of each of the following:
- Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, $16, Sephora.com, .07 oz. / 1.9 g
- Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Black Honey, $16, Sephora.com, .21 oz. / 7 ml
- A Different Nail Enamel in Black Honey, $12.50, Sephora.com,.14 fl. oz. / 4 ml
- Quickliner for Eyes Intense in Black Honey, $16, Sephora.com, .01 oz. / .14 g
Now, I’m a pretty traditional gal: I love a smokey eye, a mauve-to-berry-colored lip, and sweet, classic clothing. I’m definitely more, say, Kate Spade than Alexander McQueen.
So when a group of bloggers asked me if I was “in” for the Clinique Black Honey Gift Set ($25.00, Clinique.com — $36.50 value) multi-blog review and giveaway, I was a little concerned: Was this deep plum shade really “me” enough to present with any degree of authenticity to my readers?! I dyed a blonde streak in my hair and immediately dyed it out. Could I really handle dark plum?!
While Clinique says “Black Honey lipstick is a shade any woman can wear, yet looks different on everyone,” I didn’t believe it at first.
So I sheepishly tried it. And it turns out, Clinique was right. I loved it. On me, it looked more classic and sophisticated than I would have ever guessed. I’ll let you judge from the photos below (and scroll down for the giveaway):
Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, $16, Sephora.com
Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is described as “a glossy, ultra-light lipstick.” It’s a deep burgundy-plum with neutral undertones and a slightly glossy finish. There’s a balm-like texture to it when applying, quite smooth and very sheer, though it produces enough shine to make it far prettier than your standard Chapstick. The color lasts a few hours — two to three on me, and I am not great with lipstick durability! — and it does not dry out the lips.
Ingredients: Castor seed oil, Cetyl ricinoleate, Glyceryl triacetyl ricinoleate, Candelila wax, Carnauba wax, Polyethylene, Tocopheryl acetate [± Yellow 5 lake (ci 19140), red 33 lake (ci 17200), Red 28 lake (ci 45410), Red 6 lake (ci 15850), Blue 1 (ci 42090), Iron oxides (ci 77491, 77492, 77499), Red 7 lake (ci 15850), Mica, Bismuth oxychloride (ci 77163), Red 30 lake (ci 73360), Carmine (ci 75470), Manganese violet (ci 77742), Red 22 lake (ci 45380), Titanium dioxide (ci 77891), Red 21 lake (ci 45380), Yellow 6 lake (ci 15850), Red 27 lake (ci 45410), Orange 5 (ci 45370), Red 36 (ci 12085)]
Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Black Honey, $16, Sephora.com
Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Black Honey is surprisingly more rich than the balm-like lipstick of the same shade. It is a color that builds as you apply more product, stretching from a medium-pigmented mauve-esque violet to a deep, rich plum as more gloss is applied. It has a creamy, glossy finish. It has semi-sheer to full color coverage, depending on how many layers you put on, and a lightweight, comfortable-to-wear feel on the lips. I recommend applying additional layers after the first with a lip brush, as it can get hard to make it even, at least for me. This shade lasted for two to three hours on me and was quite hydrating.
A Different Nail Enamel in Black Honey, $12.50, Sephora.com
A Different Nail Enamel in Black Honey is described as a “glossy, long-wear nail enamel that won’t irritate sensitive eyes or skin…This quick-drying nail color is formulated to ensure your eyes don’t itch, burn, or water when you apply it to your nails.”
It’s a deep, rich plum with neutral undertones and a shiny finish. The color is so strong, it almost looks black until it hits the light, when you catch glimpses of sophisticated dark plum. It was extremely pigmented — totally opaque in one coat — and even darker after two coats. The consistency was heavy but smooth, spreading across the nail easily. It lasts for about a week — but again, I am not the greatest judge of durability. That said, it wears well and gives a deep, lasting shade that is polished and sophisticated for the winter months.
Quickliner for Eyes Intense in Black Honey, $16, Sephora.com
Clinique says Quickliner for Eyes Intense in Black Honey is “an eyeliner pencil in a richly pigmented shade for instant intensity […] This long-wearing eyeliner glides on effortlessly and smudges to a smooth blur of color.”
It is a deep chocolate brown with a trace of plum and a matte finish. It’s not quite as plum or burgundy colored as the rest of the collection, except perhaps the richly dark nail polish, but it still complements the rest of the collection.
Clinique Quickliners are some of my favorite pencils to use. The formula is hassle-free, as they are soft and glide effortlessly across the lash line, without any drag. They can fade or migrate a bit over the course of the day (again, the durability issue with me), but I reapply often and the color builds easily, still appearing classic and not overdone.
