Skin care is always important, but after a long cold winter, it needs a little extra TLC to get summer ready. After that great burst of summer weather we had here in Chicago a few days ago, it made me want to get in gear and start prepping! Today I’m sharing some of my favorite products to help you get your skin in tip-top shape for the warm months that await us.
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The best part is I’m giving everything away to one lucky winner! Just comment below and tell me your favorite tip to protect your skin from the hot summer rays. Must be 18 years or older to enter and a U.S. resident. Contest ends 5/27/15 at 1PM CST.
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Urban Decay Beauty Balm, $34 
If the idea of going beach and/or poolside with nothing on your face other than sunscreen makes you want to stay inside, Beauty Balm is for you. It evens out your skin (think minimizing redness, pores and fine lines) while giving you protection from the sun with SPF 20.
Coola SPF 30 Organic Matte Makeup Setting Spray, $36
To keep the heat from melting off your makeup, a setting spray is key. This will keep your makeup looking fresh all day, and give you a dose of SPF 30 when you apply it! It’s one less thing for you to worry about, whether you’re poolside or just enjoying a barbecue with friends!
Bliss Super Minty Soap N Scrub, $32
Winter weather can leave your skin feeling rough, and the remedy to that is an exfoliator. This one by Bliss is perfect for summer because not only will it slough off the dead stuff, and it’s got peppermint in it, so it’ll feel nice and cooling when the temps soar!
Ulta Luxe Smooth Exfoliating Body Scrub, $19.50
This exfoliator will get the job done as well, and the nice thing about this one is that it’s got some great stuff in it that you’re skin needs to stay moisturized, like Shea Butter, aloe and vitamins. It also comes in a variety of great scents, all perfect for summertime, including a fragrance free option!
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Lorac SelfTANilizer Body Bronzing Gradual Self Tanner, $34
I love this Lorac self tanner, because it’s a 2 in 1 bronzer and self tanner. The bronzer not only gives you instant color, but it lets you see exactly where you’ve put the tanner, so there’s no guessing and hoping for the best! The self tanner will build gradual color so you can get the exact shade of tan that you want.
St. Tropez Award Winning Glow Kit, $48
St. Tropez is known for their self tanner, and they’ve put their best tanner in a convenient kit to make things easy for you. This product is great because you can tan, shower and be ready to go in an hour. If you want darker color, you just leave it on a bit longer! The kit also comes with a gradual tanner anti-aging face cream and a mitt for application.
St. Tropez One Night Only Tanning Lotion, $16
If you just need color for a night and that’s it, this is for you. One Night Only gives your streak free, natural looking color for the face and body. It lasts just 24 hours, so if you want some color for a big night out and nothing else, this is the answer!
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La Roche-Posay Anthelios 30 Cooling Water-Lotion Sunscreen with Cell-Ox Shield XL, $36
If you hate that greasy feeling some sunscreens can leave behind, this might be your new favorite product. This SPF 30 sunscreen has a water-like texture that is light and gets absorbed into your skin quickly.
Coola Liplux SPF 30 Original, $12
One of the areas that easily gets forgotten when it comes to sun protection is the lips! It’s such sensitive skin, and trust me, you do not want to burn it! This lip balm has UVA and UVB protection, and also moisturizes while it protects.
 Clinique Sun Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Sunscreen Targeted Protection Stick, $21 
This stick is great because you can easily and quickly apply sunscreen to areas of your body that might get overlooked, or just need a little bit of extra protection. I’m talking about your nose, eye area, earlobes and even scars.
Coola ER+ Radical Recovery After Sun Lotion, $32
If you did your best but still got burned, you’re going to need some relief. This after sun lotion relieves sunburn, and uses organic agave to moisturize while it soothes.