We interviewed three tinted lip balms for the very important role of Chief Handbag Lip Balm.

The job of Chief Handbag Lip Balm is very, very prestigious.

It’s the lip product you reach for without even thinking. The one you’ll desperately rummage around in the bottom of your bag for because it’s so easy and reliable.

You know, the lip balm that makes your heart sink when you’ve wound or squeezed every last schmear of goodness out of the stick or tube.

Everyone needs a Chief Handbag Lip Balm. Or three. Or three hundred.

But finding a lip balm that’s easy to apply, wears well and makes you feel great throughout your entire day is the challenge.

From the gym (or snoozing your gym alarm) and your morning commute to work meetings, coffee catch ups and well into the night, most of us don’t have time to cart around a makeup bag full of lip products.

Enter, ChapStick Total Hydration 100% Natural + Tint lip balm.

The tinted lip balm comes in three shades - Merlot, Rose Petal and Coral Blush - and promises advanced moisturisation with rosehip and jojoba oils, plus a subtle touch of tint to enhance your natural lip colour.

But does it actually do what it says it does?

To see if this balm is qualified for the job of your next go-to tinted lip balm, three Mamamia writers put the different shades on their faces (well, lips) for a thorough road test.

Jess Wang, Editorial Assistant.

Low maintenance, fool-proof and simple touches that guarantee easy effortlessness.

These were all the things that made the ChapStick Total Hydration Moisture + Tint in Coral Blush an instant hit in my beauty bag.

I had already tried the shade Merlot months ago, and loved it for its highly pigmented but nourishing and sumptuous feeling, but the wearability of this nude-toned offering guaranteed it prime real estate in my handbag.

On its own, Coral Blush is an everyday shade that looks as good at the office, popping out to the shops or at a party, which this end of the year tends to be littered with.

Because of the subtle tint, you can merrily sip on a margarita or chomp into a burger slider and confidently avoid any fears of your lippie straying.

It has that caramel-esque colour - like the tones favoured by the Kardashian/ Jenner clan - so it goes particularly well with a bold smoky eye, when you just need a little bit of lip colour to finish the look.

Hydration wise, it holds its own against my favourite balm and while this means it won't last as long, I'll happily reapply it, eyes closed or otherwise.

Amy Clark, Lifestyle Content Producer.

I have genuinely been using these lip balms since the first time I spied them on the shelves around two years ago.

For me, this product sits right between the thick cream I put on my lips before bed (my lips are dry), and the hard-to-apply but stunning lipstick I'd wear for a work event.

The shade Merlot is my go-to for the days when I can't mentally deal with the upkeep of a full on lipstick. In other words, Monday through Friday.

I also have and wear the Rose Petal shade in the summer months, but the red wine tone of Merlot looks like what I wish my natural lip colour was, and suits my red hair and autumn (aka red) skin tone.

It applies easily, lasts for long enough (expect to reapply after lunch because, food) and feels moisturising on.

Also - this might seem obvious, but when I fork over my money for a tinted lip balm, I expect it to, you know, tint my lips.

If you feel naked without a little extra colour on your lips, give this one a go.

Clare Stephens, Weekend Editor.

Coming up to summer, my favourite lip colour is a neutral pink that leans towards almost a mauve shade.

It's one of those colours that goes perfectly with a lighter makeup look and a bit of a (fake) tan, but I've only been able to find it a handful of times.

ChapStick Total Hydration tint in Rose Petal IS. THIS. COLOUR.

When I first tried it, it was more pigmented than I expected from a lip balm. It's buildable, so you can go from a sheer look to fuller coverage as you please, and it has the added benefit of moisturising your lips rather than just adding pigment.

The tint feels slightly less waxy than a regular lip balm, which helps the colour stay on for longer and look fuller.

I find that if I'm out for the day - at the races or a wedding or just Sunday drinks with friends - my lips get cracked and dry under lipstick. I often avoid wearing it altogether for this reason.

But a light, moisturising product like the ChapStick tints is perfect for wearing on those occasions. You can reapply as regularly or as sparingly as you like, without worrying about flaky lips. Being a little less thick than a typical lipstick, it also won't get messy when you're eating or drinking.

I usually find lipstick too high maintenance for summer, and also prefer a more natural look. The Rose Petal shade is enough to enhance your colouring, without appearing too heavy.

This shade is 100 percent my new colour for summer, and I'll be taking it everywhere with me.

You can find ChapStick Total Hydration 100% Natural + Tint in Rose Petal, Merlot and Coral Blush at Priceline, Woolworths and Independent Pharmacies.