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As beauty editors, we\u2019ve tested countless face creams, cleansers, and serums, but the best Clinique products have a way of sticking around in our collections. Through every trend, reformulation, and viral moment, the brand balances staying timeless and cutting-edge. A great example is the Moisture Surge line, which keeps evolving yet remains a go-to for moisturizing dry skin. Another is the Black Honey Almost Lipstick, the sheer berry shade that refuses to be anything but universally flattering\u2014a term we use very<\/em> sparingly. It\u2019s been a mainstay in our bags for years and reenters the spotlight every few years with a new color, or as a \u201ctrendy\u201d product the younger generations of beauty lovers discover and can\u2019t get enough of.<\/p>\nOur Top Clinique Products<\/strong><\/h2>\nAllure<\/em> editors have done the work\u2014a.k.a. slathered, swiped, and tested our way through over 30 of the brand\u2019s best sellers\u2014to bring you the 10 absolute standouts. Whether you\u2019re here for a newer launch or the makeup staples that have been around for five decades, these are the best Clinique products we\u2019ll never stop recommending.<\/p>\n\n
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Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nStick With Me:<\/strong> Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm<\/h2>\n\n
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Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Why we love it:<\/strong> Like a crayon for grown-ups, the Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm makes applying color effortless\u2014no mirror required. It\u2019s sheer enough that you can easily swipe off any mistakes, but it still delivers a flattering wash of color with each (buildable) layer. Available in 14 shades, the balm is packed with mango and shea butters to leave lips feeling plump, soft, and subtly shiny. Plus, there\u2019s no sharpening needed\u2014you simply twist to reveal more of the balm, making it the ultimate fuss-free, on-the-go lip essential.<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\nAllure<\/em> senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin applying the Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Fuller Fig<\/p>\n<\/span>Sarah Felbin<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n<\/p>\nFelbin after applying the Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Fuller Fig<\/p>\n
<\/span>Sarah Felbin<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\u201cI’m all about a low-maintenance lip that’s easy to touch up throughout the day, and it doesn’t get any easier than the Chubby Stick. This is a one-swipe wonder. Fuller Fig is my favorite shade\u2014not too pink, not too nude, and not too brown. The formula is moisturizing and feels pillowy soft on my lips (not too thick or heavy). And, it looks great on its own or paired with a lip liner.\u201d \u2014Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\nKey ingredients:<\/strong> mango butter, shea butter<\/li>\nShades:<\/strong> 14<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBalm Dot Com:<\/strong> Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm<\/h2>\n\n
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Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n<\/p>\nAllure<\/em> associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen applying the Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm<\/p>\n<\/span>Sarah Kinonen<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhy we love it:<\/strong> Clinique\u2019s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, an Allure<\/em> Best of Beauty darling, is basically a spa day, jarred. A tiny scoop melts into a silky cleansing oil that glides over skin, breaking down even waterproof makeup without irritating your eyes. The secret? Safflower oil, which softens and nourishes as it cleanses, so your skin feels baby-smooth instead of stripped. Massage it in as step one of your double cleanse, and suddenly removing your makeup will feel less like a chore and more like a treat. With fewer than 10 ingredients, it\u2019s one of our top picks for more sensitive skin types.<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\nKinonen before applying the Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm<\/p>\n
<\/span>Sarah Kinonen<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n<\/p>\nKinonen after applying the Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm<\/p>\n
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\u201cHands down, this is the most buttery cleansing balm I’ve ever used. It easily glides onto skin, melts away dirt, oil, and makeup (base and eye), and leaves a silky sort of finish. I can’t tell you how many jars I’ve gone through over the years!\u201d \u2014Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\nKey ingredients:<\/strong> safflower oil<\/li>\nFragrance-free:<\/strong> yes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBeauty Icon:<\/strong> Almost Lipstick in Black Honey<\/h2>\n\n
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Almost Lipstick in Black Honey<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Why we love it:<\/strong> Clinique\u2019s Almost Lipstick isn\u2019t quite a balm, but it also isn\u2019t quite a lipstick, and this Goldilocks-like formula is exactly why we love it. First launched back in 1971, the sheer formula has found a whole new life on TikTok thanks to Gen Z\u2019s obsession with the shade Black Honey, which snagged a 2023 Best of Beauty Award. The lineup also includes its mauve sibling, Pink Honey, and the latest addition to the fam, Nude Honey, which sits perfectly between the two. \u201cBut, what makes Black Honey unique is that it\u2019s so universal\u2014it\u2019s perfectly between a warm and cool tone,\u201d New York City-based makeup artist Jewels Grogan told Allure.<\/em> The featherlight wash of color and texture, infused with castor seed oil, candelilla wax, and vitamin E, makes it a comfortable formula you\u2019ll actually want to reapply all day. It\u2019s no surprise a tube of Black Honey flies off shelves every four minutes.<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\nAllure<\/em> commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Almost Lipstick in Black Honey<\/p>\n<\/span>Sarah Han<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n<\/p>\nHan after applying the Almost Lipstick in Black Honey<\/p>\n
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Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\nAccordionItemContainerButton<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n\n
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\u201cWhat I\u2019ve always liked about the Almost Lipstick formula is that it\u2019s hydrating enough that I don\u2019t need to apply a balm beforehand but it delivers the pop of color I so often crave from regular lip balms. Because of it’s balmy nature, it glides on so<\/em> smoothly and is super buildable\u2014I like to take my time layering on the color to its fullest potential. The downside is because it\u2019s balm-like, a good amount comes off during a meal, but I don\u2019t mind reapplying\u2014it\u2019s second nature, no matter what kind of lip I\u2019m wearing. If I\u2019m not eating, it lasts throughout the morning or afternoon without losing enough pigment to be noticeable.\u201d \u2014Sarah Han, commerce editor<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\nKey ingredients:<\/strong> castor seed oil, candelilla wax, vitamin E<\/li>\nFragrance-free:<\/strong> yes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nLash Legend:<\/strong> High Impact Waterproof Mascara<\/h2>\n\n
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High Impact Waterproof Mascara<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n<\/p>\nAllure<\/em> editor in chief Jessica Cruel applying the Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara<\/p>\n<\/span>Jessica Cruel<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhy we love it:<\/strong> If there\u2019s mascara I trust to survive long days, surprise tears, and the kind of humidity that usually spells disaster for eye makeup, it\u2019s Clinique\u2019s High Impact Waterproof Mascara. Unlike most waterproof mascara formulas that can leave lashes feeling stiff or flaky, this one keeps them soft and lifted while delivering major volume. It\u2019s also ophthalmologist-tested and safe for sensitive eyes, making it a go-to for contact lens wearers, anyone prone to irritation, and even brides on their big days. “I especially love this mascara for my teary-eyed brides\u2014it applies smoothly, evenly, and never smudges or clumps, even over false lashes,” Lauren Lumsden, an Austin-based makeup artist, told Allure<\/em>. The tapered brush grabs every lash, defining and lengthening without clumping or flaking. The result? Long, fluttery lashes that stay put.<\/p>\n\n
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\u201cDon\u2019t tell anyone but\u2026I\u2019m terrible at mascara. So if I give one my approval, it must be beginner-friendly. I use the top of this cone-shaped brush to concentrate on areas that I like to emphasize, like the outer corners and the small inside hairs. It has a medium-size wand so even I can avoid smudging product on my lids (a miracle for sure). Also, it doesn\u2019t clump after I add about one hundred layers in my attempts to get an even coating.\u201d\u2014Jessica Cruel, editor in chief<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\nShades:<\/strong> 2 (Black, Black\/Brown)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nComplexion\u2019s Confidant:<\/strong> Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel<\/h2>\n\n
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Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n<\/p>\nAllure<\/em> visuals director Kathryne Hall applying the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel<\/p>\n<\/span>Kathryne Hall<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhy we love it:<\/strong> True story: The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion was a mainstay on many of our moms\u2019 and grandmothers\u2019 vanities 20 years ago\u2014and for some of us beauty editors, it was one of the first skin-care products we ever<\/em> tried. (Throwback!) Over the years, Clinique has expanded the line to better suit different skin types, including the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, a lighter, oil-free version designed for oily skin. Formulated with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate\u2014two well-known humectants that draw in moisture\u2014it hydrates without feeling heavy or greasy, keeping skin balanced and feeling comfortable throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n
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Tester feedback from visuals director Kathryne Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\nAccordionItemContainerButton<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n
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