August 4, 2011

Clinique Black Honey Collection Review, Swatches, Photos

Dude, dude…anyone watch Alex’s awkward Regis and Kelly interview. WTH!?

Man, I winced but I guess being interviewed my Regis, who has a tendency to shout out questions, can be overwhelming. Thoughts?

That evil eye he gave Regis at the start had me lol’ing!

Anyway……….Finally I bring you the Clinique Black Honey Collection that’s available now at Nordstrom (not sure when it’ll launch elsewhere but if you’ve seen it anywhere else do shout it out).

Jump!

The Clinique Black Honey Collection is a stunning collection of color cosmetics that was inspired by cult favorite lip color, Black Honey.

Black Honey is one of those OMG kinda shades of color in the tube that you honestly can’t picture yourself wearing but turns into a rather universally flattering shade of berry on lips. It’s a favorite of makeup junkies for a very long time for a valid reason, the shade just works and looks fabulous on everyone.

One of the key items in this collection is the Clinique Lipgloss/Lipstick Dup in Black Honey. This is where the magic of the collection starts particularly for those who have never tried Black Honey before. This features Clinique Long Last Glosswear in Black Honey on one side and a Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey on the other. It’s ever so convenient to have both shades available in a single tube.

Black Honey looks amazingly intimidating in the tube but the color is a lovely shade of crushed berries on lips. It’s pretty much universally flattering so most anyone is going to get away with the color. It’s particularly a nice shade for Fall as it has that bit of a vampy edge that never really jumps over the cliff if you know what I mean. Almost Lipstick is a great formula as well as it’s smooth, hydrating, and applies like butter. Long Last Glosswear is a nice topper here as it gives Black Honey just the right amount of shine and extra boast in the shade.

I have to say both the Clinique Color Surge Eyeshadow Quad and Gradient Powder Blush in Black Honey are gorgeous and the blush in particularly is very unique however, the shades didn’t quite work for me.

Clinique Color Surge Eyeshadow Quad in Black Honey is made up of a creamy beige, a dusky brownish rose, an brownish Indian red rose, and a deep chocolate berry. The shades all have an injection of almost a berry shade. In the compact the colors are very nice although they seem vaguely familiar to me but I’m not so well versed on the Color Surge Quads so can’t compare these colors to any other quad. To use you’ll highlight with the beige, use the paler dusky rose on your entire lid, use the brownish rose on the outer v, and define with the berry brown. I used the quad like this and I also used the quad in reverse by applying the berry brown on my lids for more of an evening look.

Personally these aren’t my shades. They make me look a bit tired and they seem to emphasize my dull skin. I also didn’t love how frosty the main color looked on my lids. I’m just not a frost girl. That combined with the fact I wasn’t really getting a Black Honey vibe from the colors just resulted in me not feeling the love for the quad in the end. This isn’t any fault of Clinique’s, I just think the colors fail to work for me.

Clinique Gradient Powder Blush in Black Honey is very unique. The color is a berry brownish shade that’s does suit the Black Honey theme well. The color graduates so you’ll notice it’s darker on one side and it creeps towards the right and becomes lighter. It is pigmented and created a very warm dusky brown berry on cheeks. A color like this has to be used with a lighter hand but it easily sheers out so you aren’t looking to overly done. I both liked and disliked the color. In some cases it created a rather sophisticated, sculpted cheek look for me and in other cases I ended up looking muddy. It’s something you have to play with to get into place just right but in the long run I felt like the color wasn’t doing anything for my complexion sadly.

The Black Honey Collection is a very exciting selection of Fall colors. I think it’s well worth a look at and a swatch to see if it is something you’ll need to have. Personally, the colors just weren’t working for me in the long run. I fell for it rather hard but after playing with it I think I might lack the skill to make these look colors look pretty!

Did you grab any of it?

Love it?

Played with on counter?

Thoughts?

Share them!

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • kimkats

    Ooooo… I like it on you, Muse!! I like the original Black Honey – I’ve worn it on and off since it was a pot gloss (which is longer ago than I’m going to admit to!) I’ve always thought it was weird how the stuff appears so purple in the package (regardless of what the product is) but goes on *much* browner and warmer than you’d think just by looking at it…. I’m gonna have to scope this out soon – I see my Younker’s is going to have a clinique GWP starting in a couple weeks, so hopefully they’ll have it by then! Love me a GOOD gwp, which clinique seems to have been lacking in recent years, but that’s another story… ;D

    • the Muse

      hey kim! thank you dear I thought it made me look too tired. ha I can’t say I remember that girl ;-D it almost looks black too sometimes! True…I remember some GREAT GWPs back in the day!

  • Jessica

    Muse, I so wanted to love this. I’ve been waiting for more Black Honey items for years so I was kind of let down 🙁
    While it’s all lovely, I’m just too pale to pull the shades off.

    • Freidra

      I bet you could swing the cheeker – I’m incredibly pale and I LOVE the way the blush turns out on me. A sheer orange purple. LOVE.

  • Gouldylox

    I picked up the cheek a bit ago and really like it. I need to pick up the lip – they didn’t quite have that out yet (which is odd) when I got the blush!

  • Sarah S.

    Got the gel liner and it’s pretty nice… lemming the lip combo! I had black honey almost lipstick 17 (!) years ago, when I stole it from my sister’s bat mitzvah makeup stash, haha, memries.

    • the Muse

      LOL sarah ;-D I need to get the gel liner curious minds if I can use as a base/cream shadow!

  • Sarabeara

    Hi Muse! Thank you for the loverly swatches! I’ve spotted the stuffs on Sephora, they’re just listed as out of stock, so I’m assuming they’re coming soon! I’m definitely hauling the blush!

  • eight

    Hey Muse, sorry to be off-topic, but I have some posts on my bloglovin feed from “you” but they are linking to someone’s tumblr? for example:

    lol, any clue why?

  • Kelly

    I’m in DC and picked up the gloss/lipstick at my local Blue Mercury on Monday. Gorgeous colors! I used to wear the lipstick all the time, but forgot about it for a few years as I played w/ other colors, however, it’s now back in rotation and I’ve gotten tons of compliments. It truly is a color for everyone as I’m very fair-skinned w/ pink undertones, blue eyes, and light auburn hair, and it looks as great on me as it does on you!

  • 2sillybugs

    I do like the lip color on you Muse. Well, I was excited about this collection but after looking at your pics it won’t work for me either, although I may pick up the lip color. Thanks!

  • Courtney

    I think this looks great on you! Not tired at all. Btw, thanks so much for posting the AS interview. I didn’t have a chance to tivo it in time. He is so friggin adorable, I swear. Very down to earth. Loved the evil eye too btw

    • the Muse

      hey court my pleasure and thank youuuuuu! I didn’t even know he was going to be on the show..I have a keyword auto record set up with his name on tivo so this was automatically recorded, I was so hyped when I got home and saw it there!

  • smashinbeauty

    The interview so so funny 🙂 Love Alex’s acting in the TV series. 🙂 Swedish people have an amazing English clear accent. 🙂

  • Liane

    The black honey almost lipstick has long been a favorite of mine. I’m not a girl who can pull of most lipsticks as I’m quite fair and a strong lip makes me look too overdone, but black honey is always classy.

  • Lauren S.

    That interview was downright cringe-worthy….eeeep. Kelly seemed a bit smitten though!

  • M

    I.WANT.THE.LIP DUO!!!! I tried the Black Honey Almost Lipstick when it.was still sold in Singapore, and somehow the colour didn’t show up much on my tanned skin. 🙁

    But as a beauty junkie, damn it, I have to try it AGAIN, LOL. Maybe it will work on me 10 yrs after that first try!

    • the Muse

      how odd M! I’m surprised since I thought it would look the best on darker skin!!!!!!

  • Tweety

    The colors look lovely in the box but not so much on my skin =[ I tried the lipstick and it was a complete FAIL on me! I’m so glad you can pull it off Muse. You look lovely!

    • the Muse

      aw thanks tweety and so sorry to hear it didn’t work for you 🙁

  • breyerchic04

    What I really want to see is other shades of Almost Lipstick, also very dark but that go on very sheer and layerable, like one much cooler, and another either with shimmer or something.

    I have the almost lipstick, and the gloss that is from Sephora only. So I probably won’t get the combo.

  • BV

    Okay I love Alex but I couldn’t watch this. Both Regis and the chick (I’m from Oz so I really don’t know) were painful. I got to the part about the military – until quite recently military service was compulsory in Sweden… which I don’t think they mentioned. They maybe did later on but yeah that wasn’t working for me. Talk about dolts.

    You have to feel sorry for actors sometimes.

    I like the darker colours on you btw.
    Cheers
    BV

    • the Muse

      bv I totally understand…LOL they are AWFUL! Most annoying tv personalities ever. i think mandatory service stopped in 2010, so true that wasn’t mentioned. aw thanks hun!

  • lexi

    I’ll have to watch this. If I was famous, you couldn’t pay me enough to go on that show. I dislike them both SO much.

  • lauren

    Hey! I find your swatches and reviews very helpful…I just came across your site a couple days ago, and have to ask about the headbands! lol..i notice them in every single pic, and was just wondering if there was some kind of underlying meaning to them, hehe 🙂

    thanks again for the black honey info!

    • the Muse

      thanks for the comment glad you’re enjoying the reviews! 🙂 No underlying meaning behind the headbands…didn’t know headbands had to have a meaning ;)!

      • lauren

        oh no, i didnt mean it that way. i thought maybe you make them and sell them, or since they usually match your clothes, maybe you wear them to compliment the makeup in your fotds. thanks again for the info!

        • the Muse

          nope I don’t make or sell them just pick them up at the store Lauren 🙂 yup I like matching my makeup, accessories, etc…*shrug* some folks don’t but I like matching shades up. ;-D

  • Lisa

    I love the e/s. Too bad they didn’t work for you. side note… I want to see what your hair looks like!!! 🙂

  • katrosado

    Muse these do look just lovely on you. I think they do work for you 🙂 Darn darn darn! I just ordered from sephora earlier this week. I missed this being available, I’ll have to order again soon.

    • the Muse

      you’re too kind katros thanks chica! It prob wasn’t there last week I think it is fairly new hun! so you def didn’t miss out ;D!

  • Majick

    I think the BH colors look great on you Muse. I like them but I think I’ll skip the Clinique and go right for Alex! LOL He’s such a hottie and I’m loving his character switch this season.

  • Mary the Muse Militant

    Muse, you look amazing with the darker eyeshadow.
    Very glamorous !

      • Mary the Muse Militant

        Am fine thanks Muse.
        I wasn’t posting here as I was away on holiday for a couple of weeks.
        I heard no english for the duration except from my nearests and dearests. Bliss !
        I did check Musings though from an internet cafe. Couldn’t resist !

  • Crystal

    you look so pretty with the shadow and lip color. you always do but this is a great look!

  • Anna

    Hello Muse
    I got the lippie combo. Love it.
    The Clinque counter at Macys has them here in CA. BTW on a non-beauty note- have you checked out the Halloween offerings at Yankee Candle. They are so cute this year- and they gave “bleeding candles” Gosh, I cant wait for fall 😉

  • cathee

    i think it looks great on you! I really love it, it makes me want to give it a try haha
    i think you should keep using these, you seriously look so amazing with them on

  • Esther

    Hi Muse
    I just bought the Black Honey Gradient Blush and the Superbalm lipgloss (I think it’s not available in US but it’s available in Singapore where I live) last night. Just have to lay my hands on these LE beauties 🙂 I really like the unique colors of these items 🙂

    • the Muse

      hey esther ;-D good hauling! I agree, they are VERY unique shades ;-D! enjoy ’em!

  • Majick

    DAM MUSE! Alex wasn’t available so I had to buy the BLack Honey collection! LOL
    (WHAT is wrong with me?)
    At first I thought I looked a little too pink but I have a few folks who I trust and they loved it on me. I’m wearing the look today. I was really glad that the orangish shade does not look coppery on me -it goes to the plum side. This makes my hazel/brown eyes looked greener.
    I already had the BH cream liner so I only had to get the lip, blush, and eye palette. The blush is much nicer on than it looks in the pan.
    And, I still think the colors look very nice on you. 🙂

  • Curlygirl

    Muse..girl, you’re tripping!! Those colors look great on you. Dress it up a bit more and va-va-voom! LOL.. I got these yesterday at my base exchange and I’m loving the colors. I usually do a nude lip gloss, but I have to admit I’m looking forward to rocking this in the fall!!

  • Aisha

    Great review. Personally I think the colors look pretty on you! I wanted to know if the Lipgloss/Lipstick Duo was in full size, as in if the Almost Lipstick and Long Last Glosswear were both individually full size/amount items in this 2in1. Because I’ve gotten these limited editions duo packs from Clinique recently and the lipstick size were very disappointing!

    Thanks much. Also I hear rave reviews on this color suiting fairer skin mostly, what about on medium fair skin with olive undertones ??

    • the Muse

      aw thanks aisha you’re too kind! they aren’t full size sadly 🙁 the size is very disappointing sadly but it’s a toss up for having both in one easy to travel with case I guess ;-D it’ll look fab on all skin tones, it’s kinda universally flattering imho 😉

  • Lauren

    The Black Honey collection is also sold at Macy’s. I just got the blush and eye shadow the other day; I love the colors.