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Prices checked October 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: More of a balm than a lipstick, so the color is just a hint and there's no SPF.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (0.06 oz) is the COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm, Bliss You Berry (0.14 oz), about $8 instead of $25 (save 68%). What you give up: More of a balm than a lipstick, so the color is just a hint and there's no SPF. The cheapest is the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm, Red Dahlia (0.15 oz) at about $5. Prices checked October 2026.
Why it's a good swap A sheer berry tint in a vegan balm with hyaluronic acid and pomegranate oil.
You give up: More of a balm than a lipstick, so the color is just a hint and there's no SPF.
Why it's a good swap A sheer tinted balm with shea butter and botanical waxes for about $5.
You give up: A traditional beeswax balm, so the color is very sheer and less like a lipstick.
Why it's a good swap Same 0.06 oz size and a sheer, shiny tint in a balmy formula with meadowfoam seed oil and vitamin E.
You give up: Some Ulta reviewers mention a noticeable scent or taste; Clinique's is 100% fragrance free.
Typical US prices, checked October 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (0.06 oz)? It usually sells for about $25. Here are 3 cheaper swaps from $5: the COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm, Bliss You Berry (0.14 oz) is the closest match from another brand and the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm, Red Dahlia (0.15 oz) is the cheapest at about $5. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey costs $25 for 0.06 oz. A close cheaper pick is e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick in Black Cherry at $6, a sheer, shiny balm-lipstick. The cheapest is Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia at $5.
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (0.06 oz) ($25) is worth it if you want a sheer berry that is fragrance free and wears like a tinted balm. Ulta's listing calls it Clinique's best-selling lip shade in the U.S., built from blue, red and yellow pigments in a base with 95% conditioning ingredients, and lists it as allergy tested and 100% fragrance free. Reviewed.com's tester called the formula foolproof but found the color and moisture faded quickly.
For the closest format, the e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick, Black Cherry (0.06 oz) ($6) is the same size and e.l.f. describes it as somewhere between lipstick and lip balm, with a shiny finish, meadowfoam seed oil and vitamin E. If you want more balm than color, the COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm, Bliss You Berry (0.14 oz) ($8) is vegan with sodium hyaluronate. The Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm, Red Dahlia (0.15 oz) ($5) costs the least but is a beeswax balm that also contains lanolin and carmine.
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (0.06 oz) | The original | $25 | – | – | View ↗ |
| Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm, Red Dahlia (0.15 oz) | Budget pick | $5 | $20 (80%) | A traditional beeswax balm, so the color is very sheer and less like a lipstick. | View ↗ |
| e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick, Black Cherry (0.06 oz) | Close match | $6 | $19 (76%) | Some Ulta reviewers mention a noticeable scent or taste; Clinique's is 100% fragrance free. | View ↗ |
| COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm, Bliss You Berry (0.14 oz) | Close match | $8 | $17 (68%) | More of a balm than a lipstick, so the color is just a hint and there's no SPF. | View ↗ |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm, Red Dahlia (0.15 oz), at about $5 (80% less). A sheer tinted balm with shea butter and botanical waxes for about $5. The catch: A traditional beeswax balm, so the color is very sheer and less like a lipstick.
The COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm, Bliss You Berry (0.14 oz), at about $8 (68% less). A sheer berry tint in a vegan balm with hyaluronic acid and pomegranate oil. The catch: More of a balm than a lipstick, so the color is just a hint and there's no SPF.
e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick in Black Cherry ($6 at Ulta) is a sheer lip color with a shiny finish and a balmy formula with meadowfoam seed oil and vitamin E.
CoverGirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm in Bliss You Berry ($7.99 at Ulta) gives a sheer tint with hyaluronic acid, and Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia is $4.99 at Target.
No. Ulta's listing says the sheer shade flatters many skin tones but looks different on each person, and Reviewed.com notes the color depends on your natural lip color. On Reviewed's tester it became a deep berry that looked browner at night and more raspberry in sunlight.
Ulta lists the formula as having 95% conditioning ingredients, including castor seed oil and candelilla and carnauba waxes. Reviewed.com's tester found lips felt plush right after applying, but the moisture and color faded quickly, so expect to reapply.
No. Target's listing for Red Dahlia includes beeswax and lanolin, and the brand's Q&A says carmine is used for the color. e.l.f. lists its Sheer Slick Lipstick as vegan, and Target lists the CoverGirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm as vegan.
Each swap links to amazon.com. Prices are typical US prices checked October 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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