33 Easy Ways to Get Ready for Summer

Hair can only absorb so much water, so always pack a leave-in conditioner to protect strands from the elements. Spritzing liberally before hitting the beach or pool will save strands from damage later.

We like Sally Hershberger Hyper hydration Super Keratin spray, $13; soap.com.

Want to be a wash-and-go girl this summer? Fugate suggests getting an in-salon keratin smoothing treatment now to keep frizz at bay as the summer hits. Giving your hair a little bit of time to grow out post-treatment will ensure that it keeps just enough of its natural texture and wave to look effortless and perfectly beachy later.

Cynthia Chua, founder of New York’s Strip Ministry of Waxing, says you must exfoliate at home before getting waxed to remove dead cells. This helps prevent pain and irritation by exposing the freshest skin to the surface. Use your favorite scrub for an intense—and all-over—exfoliation session.

Can’t make it to the salon for some tress T.L.C.? No worries. Try a replenishing hair masque packed with ingredients like proteins and hi-tech polymers to smooth split ends and add shine.

Before beach season, Fugate says to start switching out products that can dry out your hair (if you have brittle strands, hairsprays with alcohol should be the first to go), and opting for enriching mineral or beach sprays instead. Look for products that also have UV protectors to protect your strands— and your scalp.

We like the Fekkai Summer Marine Hair series, $24 each; fekkai.com.

Chua warns that you need to be extremely careful when selecting your waxing salon. “Double-dipping" and other unsanitary practices can cause bacteria to grow in communal wax pots, leading to skin infections in sensitive areas later...

Scared of wax-induced pain? When worn thirty minutes before your appointment, the BareEase Prep Kit (complete with latex panty and a tube of pain-relieving lidocaine cream), gently numbs your bikini area to make your Brazilian as ouch-free as possible.

$25; bareease.com

"Excess salt causes the body to retain water," Chua explains "This can lead to puffiness, under-eye bags, and swollen features." In addition to drinking more water, increase your consumption of foods rich in Vitamins E and C now to help de-bloat by summer.

Invest in stay-put eyeliner, mascara, foundation, and lipstick to look your best during the beachy months. Embrace spring's technicolor eye makeup trend, and make waterproof liquid eyeliners in an array of funky shades your first seasonal purchase.

We like Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner, $17; sephora.com.

In lieu of heavy foundation, try a tinted moisturizer to keep your skin dewy and evenly-toned, without the feel of heavier makeup products. For your best faux glow, find a moisturizer that has an SPF of at least 20, and test possible shades along your jawline to find your best match.

We like E.L.F. Studio Tinted Moisturizer, $3; eyeslipsface.com.

Primp for beach days and sun-soaked soirees, alike, with an iridescent beige-y pink nail lacquer.

We like Essie Topless & Barefoot Nail Polish, $8; essie.com.

Bright pink or coral lipsticks are surprisingly flattering on a range of skin tones and can even help you look tanner than you actually are. Start with a medium shade and layer bright or neutral lip glosses to find the wattage that best suits you.

We like MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Insanely It, $14.50; maccosmetics.com.

Pimples are a major bummer, and they seem to only get worse as the mercury rises because of inflamed skin, sweat, and grim. If you commonly deal with blemishes, try a foundation with acne-ingredients, like benzoyl peroxide, to cover, treat, and prevent breakouts in one go.

We like Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup, $24.50; clinique.com.

Stock up on purse-friendly kits that you can tote anywhere you go this summer. Multi-purpose sets, like the Lorac TANtalEYES Palette contains four shimmering eye shadows (some can double as face highlighters) and a body-bronzing gel you can apply in a cinch for easy sumer livin'.

$36; loraccosmetics.com.

Surf and sand can do a number on your paws, so nails should be strong and conditioned long before you hit the beach. Use a cuticle nourishing pen nightly to strength nail beds and encourage growth.

We like Sally Hansen Quick Care Cuticle Treatment, $8.99; drugstore.com.

If your polish always chips or you never have time to tend to your nails, treat yourself to a salon-only gel manicure. Alternate between regular polish and longer-lasting gel services (results can last up to three weeks!) to reduce possible damage to your nail enamel.

There's no point to having pretty toes if your heels are cracked and calloused. But metal buffing tools can easily cut the skin's surface and lead to possible infection. Instead, invest in a good at-home crystal exfoliating tool to smooth out rough spots weekly.

We like Perfect Formula Crystal Pedi-Buff, $31; perfectformulas.com.

Don’t show up at the beach with untoned, winter skin. Many salons now offer a slew of services to help you look better in a bikini without the gym time. Talk to you spray tan esthetician about tricks for creating the illusion of muscle tone before you start your next sun-free session.

Brazil Bronze Glow Bars (located across the country) offer a “Cellulite Annihilator” treatment that combines sunless tanner with cellulite-fighting ingredients like caffeine, glycolic acid, and copper peptides to help smooth the appearance of your skin as you get your faux glow.

You can save time—and money—by applying your own sunless tanner. The trick is to use a spray that allows you gradually build your tan, instead of aiming for an instead deep glow. Just remember to look for options that work on face and body, exfoliate thoroughly before applying anything to your skin, and avoid white clothing afterwards.

We like Mystic Tan Sunless Tanning Spray for Face & Body, $38; beauty.com.

The only major drawback to self-tanning products? The distinctive scent. Enter a whole new array of odor-masking products that are applied over sunless tanning cream to neutralize more noxious smells.

We like Xen-Tan Scent Secure, $32; xen-tan.com.

Fine lines and rough spots of skin can cause slight streaks when you're self-tanning. Next time, use a DHA-containing cream packed with moisturizers that will help to plump up wrinkles and even skin texture.

We like Clarins Instant Smooth Golden Glow, $32.50; clarins.com.

Stubbly, dry underarms are not cute, but you can improve their tone and texture before you need to slip on a sun-dress. Enter Dove Ultimate Go Sleeveless Nourishing Deodorant, which smooths underarms with moisturizers like Vitamin E and F.

$5; dove.com

Take a cue from Kim Kardashian and make a statement with artificially-enhanced lashes. In-salon extensions or pigmentation treatments (like Lash Dip) can create instant results and last up to six week after application.

Shaving can be your best friend and worst enemy. Always remember to use a fresh, sharp razor, and stock your cabinet with ingrown hair helpers—just in case.

We like Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads, $8; blissworld.com.

NYC dermatologist, Dr. Dennis Gross, tell us that dry winter skin gives can ultimately lead to oilier, thicker skin as the season's change and exfoliation slows. So, select a face wash that works a little harder but is still gentle enough not to strip skin.

We like Dior Gentle Cleansing Milk, $32; sephora.com.

"The best thing you can do for your skin at the start of summer is not to over-dry it—and not over-moisturize it either,” says Dr. Gross. If you use a heavy moisturizer, switch to a light, daily source SPF. If your skin's oiler, find an oil-free sunscreen stick.

We like Clean &Clear Morning Glow Moisturizer, $6.49; shopcleanandclear.com.

Want a red carpet-worthy glow? If you have severely dry skin, Dr. Gross suggests a trip to the derm for a mild peel or deep moisturizing masque. This will clear out dead skin cells, allowing moisturizing ingredients to penetrate the skin's surface and return it to its healthiest state.

The skin on your body needs T.L.C. during the colder months too. Dr. Anne Chapas, an NYC dermatological surgeon, advises that people with “back-ne,” (back acne) use washes packed with salicyclic acid to clear out pores all year round. Treatment sprays and lotions containing the bloemish-fighting ingredient are also available.

We like Neutrogena Body Clear Pink Grapefruit Body Wash, $5.84; target.com.

…And start applying it now. Dr. Chapas explains that even in during darker, colder months, most of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can pass through clouds. Water and sand also help reflect rays, so wear SPF daily for year-round protection.

Ashley Pierson, a Pilates instructor at Equinox gym, says getting in shape for summer is a lot easier than you think. Pierson recommends signing up for a beginner yoga or Pilates class and buying comfortable, cute footwear that will help pamper your feet in between sessions.

We like Blake Brody Footwear, $100-135; amazon.com.

In addition to regular exercise, Pierson also swears by starting a healthy diet that incorporates good fats, like avocados and hemp protein, to help flatten your stomach. She also recommends a quick abdominal workout before hitting to the beach to tighten muscles.