If you think finding that perfect swimsuit is going to be your biggest challenge this summer, think again!  Even after you’ve bought that bikini guaranteed to make you the belle of the beach, you’re going to have to deal with the pale skin, scaly feet and cellulite that you’ve been able to keep under wraps all winter long. Thankfully, there are simple solutions that will have your body beach-ready in no time. We’ve gone to some of the best spas in the area to find out about the latest treatments to get your feet fit for sandals, give your skin a great glow, and even get rid of those unwanted dimples on your thighs before you bare it all.

EXFOLIATION
The first step in beach body prep is exfoliation. “You have to get rid of the winter dryness to reveal a new layer of skin, especially if you’re planning to tan,” says Marlene Tremarco, spa coordinator at Montclair’s Bangz Salon & Spa (973-746-8426).  “Tanning with dry skin will only make your skin drier, and the skin will peel, taking the tan you worked so hard to get with it.” Tremarco recommends their 60-minute Body Glow and Vichy Shower treatment, which starts with a sea salt scrub to get rid of dry, dead skin, and is followed by a Vichy shower and massage with a moisturizing lotion. 

For an exfoliation treatment fit for a queen, head to the Beaura Spa at Parker Center for Plastic Surgery in Paramus (201-967-1756) for their Pearls, Rubies and Roses special ($130). “Our Pearls, Rubies and Roses treatment not only exfoliates dry, winter-weathered skin, but leaves you with a glowing complexion from head to toe,” says spa director Irina Dubinsky.  It begins with a Ruby Body Peel,  done with a combination of finely ground rubies, precious pearl protein extracts, avocado oil, and wild rose fragrance. Next, relax in a Pearl Milk Cream Bath—a warm blend of whole-milk cream, finely ground freshwater pearls, and wheat proteins. This luxurious one-hour treatment ends with a light massage with wild rose and jasper body oil.

FEET
To get them ready for summer, feet need extra TLC—chances are they’ve suffered more neglect than any other body part after being hidden away all winter long.  To get rid of the dry, scaly skin on your soles, try exfoliation with a fruity twist at the Just Salon & Spa in Millburn (973-376-5878).  Their salt pedicure scrubs come in strawberry, orange and peach scents just for summer. For a scented manicure to match your sweet-smelling feet, get the lemon or honeysuckle-scented manicure at Dieci Lifestyle Spa in Livingston (973-716-0101).  The spa manicures start with exfoliation from elbow to hand and end with a body butter massage and polish application.

HAIR REMOVAL
For hair removal, head to the Elan Medispa and Dermatology Center in Old Bridge (877-352-6772) and try Aesthera, a new process that uses pneumatic energy and broadband light to get rid of unwanted hair.  It’s fast and painless, unlike conventional laser hair removal treatments, and, because the light destroys the hair follicles, after six to 10 treatments done every two to three weeks, you’ll be blissfully hair free for life. Treatments are pricey—$125 per treatment for the upper lip, for example—but considering the long-lasting effects, it’s well worth the trouble. There is one downside—“While you’re going through the treatment, you can’t tan,” says Krista McCabe, owner of Elan Medispa, “If the light picks up on any excess pigmentation, you might burn.”

If going without a tan is not something you’re willing to do, try Beyond Spa’s soy-based hair removal system. Though it looks like and heats up like wax, it’s gentler, making it excellent for sensitive facial and bikini areas. Prices start at $10 for the upper lip and $40 for a Brazilian wax.

REDUCE CELLULITE
And now for every woman’s biggest wish come swimsuit season—shedding a few inches and getting rid of cellulite.  Alas, this is not quite as easy to achieve as getting silky-smooth skin or fuzz-free legs, but Dubinsky, spa director at the Beaura Spa, has the perfect—but temporary—quick fix: “We recommend our Slendertone Body Wrap to get bikini ready in no time or to kick start a summer weight loss program,” she says. Dubinsky says the wrap removes toxins from the skin and will make your body appear slimmer and your cellulite less noticeable. For more long-term results—that also take longer to get— head to Just Be Smooth in Millburn (973-376-8889), where technicians use an Endermologie machine to knead and roll the skin, basically massaging the cellulite away.  You’ll need about 20 to 26 treatments over 6 months to see optimal results, and then one treatment a month to maintain results.

AIRBRUSH TANNING
At this point, you’re all set to hit the beach to get some sun, but for those of you who choose to fake it rather than bake it, head over to the Jacqueline Pasquale Spa in Edgewater (201-941-3455).  The spa specializes in airbrush tanning and makeup applications; clients include everyone from singer/model Carmen Electra to First Lady Laura Bush.  Airbrush tanning is safer than a tanning booth, and at the Jacqueline Pasquale Spa, the solution is applied by technicians to ensure an even tan. “What sets us apart is that we have a customized tanning solution,” says Pasquale, co-owner of the spa.  “We have four main colors, and then within that we can customize the solution to perfectly match the color our client wants.” The solution comes in two formulas—Quick Dry and New Generation; the latter takes longer to dry and has a greasy feel, but has the advantages of a moisturizer, peptides, and other great things for skin meant for dry skin. Full-body tans, which last about a week, start at $40.

Do It Yourself

Don’t have time to get to the spa? Try these at-home treatments to get similar results:

Manicure/Pedicure
Shed dead skin with Dr. Scholl’s For Her Foot Serum, a daily moisturizing treatment with beta hydroxy, shea butter, glycerin and vitamin E, that will leave feet soft and smooth. For nails, OPI has a new Australia Collection for Spring/Summer that includes colors from the pale pink “Canberra’t Without You” to the deep wine “Suzi Loves Sydney.”

Tanning
Tanning doesn’t get much easier than this! Apply Olay Touch of Sun Overnight ($6.99, at drugstores) at bedtime and wake up with moisturized skin with a natural-looking glow. For your face, try the new Dove Energy Glow Daily Face Moisturizer ($6.99, at drugstores), which comes in formulas for different skin tones, including medium to dark skin. If you’re tanning outdoors, use Decléor Tan Accelerator Pre-Sun Care ($35.50, sephora.com) which promotes even tanning while protecting skin from harmful rays.

Lip Protection
Don’t forget, lips need SPF protection from the summer sun too. Try Blistex Lip Infusion Moisture Splash Lip Balm SPF 15 ($2.90, at drugstores), or Neutrogena MoistureShine Soothing Lipsheers with SPF 20 ($7.65, drugstores) if you want a little color. For coverage that won’t come off in the water, try Tarte Stain or Shine Summer 2007 sunglosses ($32, sephora.com) set of three full-sized double-ended lipglosses & waterproof-denim sunglass case.

Hair Removal
Try Moom Organic Hair Removal kit ($19.95, Moom.com) with Tea Tree to keep arms, legs and elsewhere fuzz free for up to 8 weeks.  The process is similar to waxing, but since Moom’s formula is sugar-based, it is water soluble and easier to wash off than wax.

Hair Protection
Before hitting the beach, spritz on Phyto Plage Protective Beach Spray ($20, phyto.com), with protective UV filters and white-lotus extract to keep hair from getting dry and brittle. 

Cellulite
Smooth out your skin with Murad’s award-winning Firm and Tone Serum ($75, 800-336-8723) which helps to minimize both cellulite and stretch marks, or try Lierac’s Ultra Body Lift 10 ($45, beauty.com), which contains a high level of caffeine and promises cellulite reduction in just 14 days.