Q: "I don't tan very easily but would love to be able to wear a bikini and not look so pale, would you recommend fake tan? I've never tried it before and am a bit skeptical, how can you get it to look totally even on your whole body and will it fade evenly? If you've applied it to your body should you also put it on your face? Can you get a fake tan applied at a beauty salon (I'm sure its hard to apply the lotion to your own back!)?" (Rebecca, West Vancouver)

A: Rebecca: I definitely recommend instant tanning gels or creams over the sun's dangerous UV rays - especially those with fair skin. There are several tanning creams on the market but very few give you that natural bronzed tan colour. I recommend Guinot's Self Tanning Gel or Giesse's Self Tanning Lotion. They contain totally natural ingredients which have the added benefit of moisturizing, hydrating, and protecting the body without clogging pores or irritating sensitive skin.

In terms of application, you may go to a professional esthetician who will apply it evenly, or you can try it yourself at home. In either case, you should exfoliate the skin first with a body cleansing scrub or exfoliant to prepare the skin for deeper penetration of the cream or gel, producing a rich, luxurious, healthy tan. Although this process is effective for both body and face, some prefer to use make up for the face instead.

Q: "This has always confused me, when it comes to eyebrows should you pluck or wax? Which way gives the best results and is there a secret to shaping?"

A: Plucking is for chickens! We tweeze, sweetie.... We do this in order to more accurately define the shape of the eyebrows. Waxing is far too harsh for the very delicate skin near your eyelids. Waxing stretches the skin causing wrinkles. The secret is to follow the natural curve of your eyebrow taking from the underside of the eyebrow only and tweezing the area between the eyebrows while keeping the inside edges in line with the corner of each eye. It is best to have a professional esthetician shape your eyebrows first, then you can follow the proper shape.

Q: "I need some bikini line advice. I've tried shaving - bad idea, I've tried wax strips - painful, even though the package said it wouldn't be! And my latest attempt was a hair removal cream - it didn't remove the hair right to its root (I'm not sure if its meant to). So what do you think? Whats the answer to a smooth bikini line? Help....." (Tania, Vancouver)

A: "Sore"y! Tania - No Pain, No Gain!! The best solution for bikini lines is waxing by a trained esthetician which should be less painful than home applications. The good news is that subsequent waxing gets progressively less painful as hair growth is diminished. An alternative to waxing is electrolysis for permanent hair removal.

We don't recommend shaving because it adversely affects hair regrowth, and rashes/razor burns are a common problem. Creams are not only ineffective but are very harsh for your skin.

Q: "What's the best way to remove an unwanted dark hair from a mole?"

A: Moles should be treated with respect, and unwanted hair should only be removed after consultation with your doctor. You could try trimming it, but be careful.

Q: "I have quite a large, deep, round shaped scar on my knee from an accident a few years ago, can something like this be removed successfully (I know small scars can)..." (Robyn, Vancouver)

A: Not knowing how deep your scar is, Robyn, we recommend that you consult with a paramedic esthetician who is licensed to operate a system such as the painless Micro-dermabrasion Power Peel system. This is extremely effective for the removal of skin abnormalities such as minor scars, stretch marks, fine lines, pigmentation, even tattoos.

Q: "I'm just looking for some info on make-up. I have freckles and am wondering what I should use on my face to look beautiful. If you can help please write me back ASAP!"

A: The best "camouflage" make up is Cinema Secrets which is endorsed by the entertainment industry. Cinema Secrets multi-purpose foundation is ideally suited for both beauty and corrective applications. The foundation is sheer and close to natures skin tones and blends perfectly to provide maximum coverage without noticeable texture for up to 12 hours.