Summer fashions show off your skin. If you are not quite ready for shorts and tank tops, have no fear: you have some time before temperatures hit seasonal highs. Here is how you can prepare.

Hair Removal

For smooth, sexy skin, you have several options. Regular shaving can be painful; to reduce bumps, ingrown hairs and skin irritation, replace blades often and treat skin before and after shaving with top quality products. Depilatory creams are quick and easy to use. However, some ingredients can cause a mild burning sensation, so treat a small area first to test for sensitivity. Waxing lasts longer, but may also pose a burn risk. For a painless but permanent solution, opt for laser treatments at a medical spa.

Sunblock

Stock up on sunblock. By now, you have heard that the sun causes 90% of your skin’s premature aging. Blotches, wrinkles and texture irregularities can be minimized or avoided if you simply protect your skin from the sun. Sunscreens have chemical compounds that absorb most of the sun’s harmful UV rays; this prevents them from damaging your skin. Sunblock gives better protection by creating a physical barrier between the sun’s rays and your skin. The active ingredients in sunblock — titanium dioxide and zinc oxide — also tend to be gentler on skin than their chemical sunscreen counterparts. Whichever you choose, check the expiration date.

Moisturizer

Heat can be hard on your skin. Add exposure to sun, environmental pollutants, chlorine and insect repellant, and summer can be your skin’s most difficult season. Drinking enough water is crucial to keep skin hydrated, but looking your best requires moisturizer as well. Rich ointments and emollients tend to feel too heavy and greasy on summer days; instead, opt for lightweight, greaseless formulas enriched with vitamins C and E. Hyaluronic acid and hydroxy acid applied at night can help restore skin during sleep, so you wake looking refreshed and ready for another day of summer fun.