It’s summer, and sun or no sun that means sandals, bare legs, bronzed cheeks and popsicle-stained pouts. A decent sunscreen and pair of sunglasses are the only musts, but we all love a few beauty treats for a touch of colour and a hint of summery scent.

For sandal-ready feet and fingers to match, try 'five-free' nail polish by Benecos. Free from toluene, camphor, phthalates, formaldehyde and colophony, this vegan polish comes in 16 shades, from winter darks to summer brights. The Peach Sorbet, a delicious creamy pinkie peach, is the perfect pastel for summer. A two-coat application lasts me just about four days with a top coat. Look for Benecos nail polish in health food shops or order it online through naturalskincare.ie (€ 8.95).

If you want a natural flush that looks like it was picked up at the beach rather than out of your make-up bag, try dusting your cheeks with a bronzer or blush, or both, by British brand Lily Lolo. One of my favourite better-for-you cosmetic companies, Lily Lolo offers mineral make-up packaged in chic minimalist monochrome. Its lightweight, buildable bronzers and blushes are available in mineral and pressed powders, and matte and subtle shimmer finishes. The blushes come in an array of shades – peaches, browns and pinks – and many are vegan, carefully labelled as such on the website (lilylolo.co.uk). Expect to spend between € 12 and € 21 – not bad at all considering a little goes a long way with these highly pigmented powders. Products can be ordered online at www.lilylolo.co.uk and are available in select Irish salons.

Prepping your pins for sundresses and swimwear should always smell like coconuts, in my opinion.

I love Sapien Women products from Surya Brasil – a natural, vegan, sustainable beauty brand with a long free-from list – and not only because they all smell just as summer should, like delicious coconut with a hint of mango. The Sapien Women Shave Gel (€17.99) provides plenty of slip for a clean shave and leaves the skin feeling delightfully dewy. When you're out of the shower, apply the light, non-greasy Sapien Women Body Moisturiser (€23.99) while your skin is still a bit damp for a soft, smooth, hydrated finish. You can order these online through yourtonic.com.

Fresh-faced with a bold lip is something of a trend this season. Whether you want a bold, smudged or subtle pout, Ilia's Tinted Lip Conditioners (€ 28 through Net-a-Porter) are the way to go.

These sheer, buildable sticks by the LA-based luxury brand wear like lip balm. They combine moisturising organic ingredients, such as jojoba oil, beeswax and cocoa butter, with on-trend colour – and there are plenty to choose from (www.iliabeauty.com).

For budget-friendlier colour and a glossier finish, try one of my favourites: Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balms (€ 7.95). Available in nine sheer shades, these delicious, sweet and simple balms add a hint of colour while moisturising your lips with the likes of beeswax, shea butter and coconut, olive and sunflower oils. You'll find them at The Health Store, Nourish and select pharmacies and health food shops.

kharris@irishtimes.com