Product Review: Clinique Black Honey Glow Set

Growing up, my makeup use consisted of whatever was cheap either on base (my dad was in the Air Force) or at Ben Franklin at the mall (did I really just reference Ben Franklin?? I AM APPARENTLY 112 YEARS OLD). However, I secretly coveted my best friend’s stash of Clinique. Those green compacts! The shiny silver eyeshadow trays! Dreamy. I saved my allowance and waited for Bonus Time, and one of the very first Clinique purchases I made was Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. That was… a very long time ago (*cough*1991*cough*).

However, 20 years later, Black Honey is still in the game. Over the holidays, I snapped up Clinique’s Black Honey Glow Gift Set, which was a Sephora exclusive (note: it’s not available online anymore, but my local store still had some in stock last time I was there).

Clinique Black Honey Glow Set. Image from my phone!

It contains the “cult classic” Almost Lipstick, the more updated Superbalm, and a gel blush. Let’s start with the blush.

Is it just me, or do gel blushes give you problems too? I swear, I either look like a little girl who played in Mommy’s makeup stash, or it blends into my skin altogether. In the case of Black Honey gel blush, it was the latter. I don’t like it at all, so I probably won’t be using it again. Next!

The Superbalm has been in my rotation for the past year or so. It goes on SO smooth – and it’s a great, neutral color. It seems like it’s going to be so dark, but it’s actually very sheer. Especially in these cold winter months, my lips need all the moisture they can get. This one is a little smaller than full-size, but it’s perfect for me to keep at my desk to re-apply throughout the day.

And then there’s the Almost Lipstick. I haven’t worn this in probably 10 years or so, so I really didn’t know what to expect. My coloring is different now than it was 10 years ago, so I was a little nervous that it wouldn’t work for me anymore. But seriously, I think this stuff is MAGIC. Every single person I know who wears it or has worn it looks great in it.

Please pardon my yellowness.

I should note, in case you’re wondering… the blush I’m wearing in the picture above is not the gel blush. Seriously, I took a picture of me wearing it and you can’t even tell I had any on. I should also note, too, that the Magic Black Honey is NOT really that red in real life. It’s just, you know… a picture from my phone. A professional photographer, I am not.

Anyway, the bottom line is this: If you love Clinique’s Black Honey, you’re probably going to love this set. That said, though – since I didn’t care for the blush, it would have been more economical for me to purchase the Superbalm and the Almost Lipstick separately. But who knows, maybe you have a gel blush secret that I don’t know about. And if so, you should probably tell me about it!

So how about you? Do you have any “cult classics” that grace your makeup bag? Tell me about it in the comments!

Disclosure: I purchased the set above with my allowance – er, money – at my local Sephora. I am not affiliated with Clinique, Sephora, or a cult (haha) but All Things Chic does use affiliate links.