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If you grew up in the late ’90s and early 2000s, the Clinique counter was more than just a spot to pick up skincare — it was a rite of passage.

I still remember tagging along with my mom, hands sticky with the tester pots of Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, eyes wide as she selected her free-gift-with-purchase sets, and me hovering over the fat, crayon-like sticks that seemed to promise a world of color with zero fuss.

Those Chubby Sticks were my first foray into the universe of Clinique’s precision and fun: a precursor, I’d later realize, to the contour palettes and MAC lipsticks I would covet as a teenager.

Now, in January 2026, Clinique is bringing that joy — and those iconic sticks — back, reimagined for today’s makeup enthusiast. The Chubby Sticks Collection, originally launched in 1997 as one of the brand’s first stick-format makeup products, is making a major comeback, and it is nothing short of a celebration of creaminess, convenience and confidence.

“Consumers have asked us to bring back Chubby Sticks with more shades, and this felt like exactly the right moment,” Christie Sclater, Clinique’s senior VP of global marketing, exclusively shared with Post Wanted. “The stick category is trending, big playful formats are resonating, and people are gravitating toward effortlessly easy, mistake-proof expression.”

The relaunch introduces its classic formulas and on-trend shades across four essential products for the whole face: Cheek Color Balm, Moisturizing Lip Color Balm, Sculpting Contour and Sculpting Highlight.

And yes, the magic that made Chubby Sticks so beloved — their creamy, buildable, mistake-proof formulas — is still very much intact. As anyone who has ever tried them can attest, Chubby Sticks are the kind of product that instantly feels intuitive, forgiving, and fun to use. They invite experimentation, blending and layering, and they’re perfectly ideal for both makeup newcomers and seasoned pros alike.

Let’s start with the Cheek Color Balm. This creamy blush is the very definition of “effortless glow.” With eight shades, including five new hues, it’s designed to deliver that naturally flushed look without the worry of overdoing it.

“The joy (and fun!) of Chubby Sticks is they allow you to play,” Sclater said. “Chubby is designed to make creating a look easy to build and blend — no mirror required. The way we like to apply Chubby Sticks is to play with the buildable nature of the shades.”

The formula is soft, blendable and entirely mistake-proof, so whether you prefer a subtle flush or a more dramatic pop, the transition is seamless. It’s the kind of blush you reach for when you want to look polished in 30 seconds or less, which is perfect for busy mornings or last-minute Zoom calls.

The Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm is a nostalgic nod to every lip balm you secretly wanted to wear in school but now feels grown-up enough for daily life. Formulated with mango and shea butters, it glides on effortlessly, leaving lips soft, nourished and touched with just the right hint of color.

With 14 shades available, including seven new additions, it’s safe to say there’s a shade for every mood — from understated “I just woke up like this” nudes to statement-making reds and berries. The creaminess is complemented by a subtle sheen that makes lips look full and healthy, never sticky or heavy.

For those who want to sculpt and define without a complicated routine, the Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour is a dream. The creamy formula glides on smoothly to create natural shadows and definition, and it comes in three shades, including two new ones.

Compared to the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand, Clinique’s oversized crayon remake is less goopy to use, more forgiving on fair skin tones and blends into the skin with a bit more staying power.

Contouring has never felt more approachable or foolproof. Similarly, the Sculpting Highlight delivers a touch of luminous magic. This light-reflecting cream stick makes it easy to accentuate your favorite features with a subtle shimmer, available in three shades, two of which are brand-new.

Both contour and highlight feel indulgent on my skin while staying completely user-friendly, so they’re the perfect products for those of us who love the idea of makeup as play as much as we love it for its transformative power.

Of course, no Clinique product would be complete without the brand’s signature commitment to skin safety that has been a household know-it-all ethos. All Chubby Sticks are dermatologist tested, allergy tested and 100% fragrance free, making them suitable for virtually everyone — even the most sensitive skin. It’s a rare combination: products that are fun, effective and safe.

For those of us who remember standing at the Clinique counter, weighing our options while clutching free gifts, this relaunch is a nostalgia trip. Even more so, a reminder that beauty can be accessible, playful and effortless all at once.

The Chubby Stick line has always had a way of turning everyday makeup routines into little acts of self-expression. And now, with fresh shades and an updated collection, it feels like the perfect blend of past and present. Whether you’re revisiting an old favorite or discovering the magic of Chubby Sticks for the first time, this relaunch is a beauty editor-approved must-try (insert me giving this an approval stamp right here).

To give you a full sense of how the Clinique Chubby Sticks perform in real life, I tested them across five key criteria:

This article was written by Victoria McDonnell, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include testing the best sheet masks on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos for all hair types and budgets. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.