As you prepare to show more skin, get ready to face the sun's rays with 6 top summer skin tips!

1. Exfoliate for clearer, smoother skin

Why? Exfoliation removes dead, dulling skin debris to prevent congestion and improve hydration from toners and moisturizers.

When? Perform in the mornings prior to toner, moisturizer, SPF and make-up application. Tip: Make-up will last longer on an exfoliated skin!

Don’t forget: After you exfoliate, follow with a hydrating body cream to seal in moisture, and always shield freshly exfoliated skin with an SPF (as recommended by the FDA).

2. Keep skin hydrated

How? Up your regimen’s level of hydration with intensive masques, perfect for use one to two times a week. Boosters are a great fit, working best when layered underneath a moisturizer. Toners are a refreshing moisturizer prep, working to even out skin porosity.

Tip: Refresh with a revitalizing toner spritz at your desk, in the car, at the gym, on the plane!

3. Make friends with H20

Why: Higher temperatures and more time outdoors leads to internal dehydration, which can result in headaches and dizzy spells!

What you can do: Eight 8-ounce glasses of plain, filtered water every day help maintain critical moisture balance of the body and skin, and assist in detoxification.

Tip: If you drink caffeinated beverages, you must triple the amount of water you drink!

Recommended: Plain and pure water!

4. When in doubt, apply (and reapply!)

Why? It’s not enough to just apply sunscreen, you must apply enough, and apply frequently. Studies indicate that most people do not apply nearly as much daylight protection as they should.

How much? A teaspoon for the face. For the body, about as much as would fill a shot glass.

How often? Re-apply every two hours.

Tip: Stay out of the midday sun from mid-morning to late afternoon whenever you can.

Recommended: The 12 Best Natural Sunscreens to Try Now

5. Soothe over-exposed skin

What’s next? Unfortunately, the damage is done, but you don’t have to suffer in pain! Super-soothing botanical and cooling gels can help prevent peeling and reduce redness and inflammation.

How? Apply cooling balms generously over-exposed skin, preferably at the first sight of a pink glow.

Recommended: Aloe Vera Spray

6. Repair and treat sun damage

What causes skin damage? UV light causes photo aging in the form of brown spots, coarse skin and wrinkles, whether you have burned your skin or not. When sunlight comes in contact with skin a cascade of damage results (including the stripping of barrier lipids) causing inflammation, production of reactive oxygen molecules that affect healthy cell growth, and stimulation of collagen destructing enzymes.

What to do? A tan may be a popular summer look, but it indicates damage. Bombard your skin with age-fighting ingredients to help undo any damage that may occur, and to further protect it from the aging effects of UV.

Recommendation: Vitamin C Serum