I have a thing about Joey Potter's lips. Truth be told, I wanted to be Joey Potter back in the day. I longed to slouchily trip my way from jetty to jetty on some seasonal Massachusetts island wearing 100% cotton camis under oversized dungarees, blithely oblivious to the girl-next-door appeal of my no-make-up-make-up and unfathomably glossy hair, all while rolling my eyes at the legions of GAP-ad-worthy guys that happen to be falling for me. The appeal of that fictional life and Katie Holmes's particular brand of beauty were endless. I went so far as to try and mimic her crooked smile (no, really) purposefully turning my own determinedly symmetrical one up at the corner in an effort to develop a level of muscle memory that might make it a permanent, adorable quirk. It didn't work. I feel you're unsurprised.
This month I'm back on the bandwagon because Joey Potter lips are back. The look's a rich chocolate wash of colour (sheer) with a balmy finish - the sort the ever effortless Joey could plausibly have applied with her favourite Chapstick, but IRL involved a prestige beauty pick or two from the Dawson's Creek make-up trailer. In fact the show's make-up artist Brittany Cole recently revealed on TikTok that the team used MAC Lipstick in Twig, £25, alongside Dr Hauschka Lip Care Stick, £10.50, to achieve Joey's couldn't-care-less-lip.
Today there's a new '90s lip hero in town and it comes by way of Clinique's iconic Black Honey legacy. The Almost Lipstick is emollient-rich and balm-like. The original Black Honey shade delivers a layer of berry-adjacent colour and this year's new Nude Honey version offers a subtler finish, a warm, deep nude (as the name suggests) evocative of Holmes's on-screen counterpart.
Clinique went hard on their campaign for this one, bringing in Cynthia Erivo as the face (the Wicked star wore Clinique Almost Lipstick Nude Honey to the Met Gala this year) to great effect - TikTok is head over heels for the stuff. As am I, incidentally, it's a one-product gateway to my dream teen lip look, sitting pretty in my make-up bag as we speak. If you see me pairing dungarees with a lopsided smile anytime soon, ask no questions.
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What Clinique says: 'Sheer, buildable lipstick melts into lips, playing up their natural colour. In three surprisingly flexible shades (black, nude and pink) that look different on everyone.'
What we know: Seven tubes of Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey sells every minute - it's no wonder TikTok can't get enough of the stuff. This latest iteration, an emollient rich nude, has been designed to flatter all skin tones, meshing with the unique, natural tone of your lips.'
WhatRachael Martin, beauty director, says: 'What truly sets Nude Honey apart is its clever blend of warm and cool pigments. These adapt to your natural lip tone to create a shade that’s uniquely yours- expect a flattering colour for all skin tones. The texture is another standout feature for me - it’s balm-like and incredibly comfortable to wear, offering just the right amount of hydration to keep chapped lips at bay. It’s safe to say that Nude Honey has earned its place as a new favourite in my collection- it's effortless, elegant, and endlessly wearable. Hooked.'
Pros
- Moisturising feel
- Beautiful, universally flattering shade
- Buildable formula
Cons
- Needs frequent top-ups