What is the ultimate makeup lesson? MAXINE GORDON brushes up on her cover-up skills for a new summer look

DO you cower when asked about your makeup regime, ashamed that it's no more than a quick wash with a facial wipe and a slap of Nivea? Can you tell the difference between a blusher, a bronzer and a shimmer brick? And does the mention of primers, concealers and lip pencils leave you scratching your head in confusion?

Well, maybe it's about time you checked in for a makeup MOT.

Bobbi Brown at Browns, York, offers free makeup lessons on everything from creating standout eyes to tips for teens.

But if you are an absolute beginner (or just feel like a beauty-bag dinosaur and want some fresh ideas) you can take advantage of the Bobbi Brown Ultimate MakeUp Lesson - 40 minutes with a trained consultant who will talk you through the basics of skincare to the intricacies of creating a smokey eye and tailor-make a beauty regime that's right for you.

I booked in with Jo Clayton, studio manager at Bobbi Brown at Browns, York.

Here's her top five make-over tips:

Face facts

Jo asks me what my main skin concerns are. I say dryness, redness and sensitivity. She begins with the Soothing Cleansing Oil which "dissolves away makeup". She uses a hydrating face and eye cream and points out that all Bobbi Brown moisturisers contain primers, which help foundation stay on longer. I am worried about sun damage, so she also applies a Protective Face Base with a SPF of 50, which unlike white chalky sunscreens I have used before is a light milk that absorbs without a trace. So far, so good.

Cover-up

"Bobbi Brown is 'queen of the base'," declares Jo as we move on to discuss foundation. I like a light, no-fuss, natural look so Jo recommends a tinted moisturiser but also a Touch-up Stick for when I want a "heavier" finish. Jo says that the Bobbi Brown range can match all skin tones "from alabaster to espresso, we can get the colour spot on." She tries three on me, before settling for a 2.5 Warm Sand Touch-up Stick. The trick here, she advises, is to pick a colour that not only suits the skin tone on your face, but also the rest of your body, especially your chest area. "Match your foundation to your body so your face doesn't look too pale against the rest of you," says Jo. Before she applies foundation, she concentrates on my under-eye area, applying a pink colour corrector then a concealer on top. The blueish hue is gone in an instant. "If you can conceal your under-eye really well, the whole of your face looks brighter. You also use less makeup when your under-eye is concealed."

Blush hour

Jo uses three products on my cheek area. A bronzer first, framing the outline of my face and just under my cheekbones, as well as my neck, but leaves the apples of my cheeks clear. Here, she brushes on a soft pink powder blush, before finishing with a sweep of colour from a shimmer palette that features a range of summer shades. I look sun-kissed and extremely healthy and am suitably impressed.

Lip service

There's a trio of little helpers here to achieve the perfect pout: a lip liner to define the mouth, followed by a lip colour in a tawny pink and a streak of gloss for highlight. Jo shares a secret: smooth the lip area in concealer first to enhance definition. Who needs collagen?

York Press:

The latest range from Bobbi Brown, Telluride, offering a tawny, golden glow for summer

Eye life

Jo applies a cream shadow in a soft grey-brown, which is hardly noticeable, but works to even out the redness of the upper-eye area and create a neutral base. I can use this by itself, or blend a stronger colour into the crease for extra definition. Next she uses a black gel liner on my upper eye-lid, carefully applying it inside the eyelid as well as along the eyelash line. The effect is dramatic, and really opens up my eye, especially when she finishes off with a few curls of black mascara. She says: "Keep the strength of your eye liner on the top of you eye, not the bottom. And choose an eyeliner colour in a shade darker than your eye colour to help give definition."

A full range of complimentary makeup lessons are available at Bobbi Browns, Browns York. Booking is recommended.