Ashley Barnard delves into a make-up bag full of tricks and asks expert Jo Leversuch for her top tips for a fresh, youthful look

JO Leversuch is an expert at making women look beautiful, from creating flawless complexions for brides and bold statement looks for fashion houses, to giving one-to-one tuition to those who need an update and a bit of a make-up boost.

She asked me to bring along my own make-up along to our meeting so she could show me how to get the best out of what I already had, but I can't help feeling ashamed of my bargain concealer and mascara as she set out her seemingly endless array of brushes, creams, potions and miracle formulas. But the Darlington-based beauty guru is also an expert at putting you at ease and we are soon gossiping away about new products she is excited about.

Jo has had a busy summer with a steady stream of wedding clients which will continue into the winter, but she is keen to tell me about her individual lesson service – two hours with Jo and your make-up bag, plus extra time to go shopping with her if you are unsure or unconfident about getting the right products over the counter.

“Everyone is different and I love that. I begin by giving clients some sheets of paper with face and eye shapes to discuss what will work best for them, and another blank sheet on which they can jot down the techniques and products we are using as we go along,” she says.

Jo shows me how to create a dewy, natural look and has lots of tips and tricks that are a revelation. Lesson number one is all about getting the right base. “Lots of women skip out a primer; they think it’s just another product they have to buy. But would you paint a door without a primer first? It’s just the same and it really helps the make-up stay in place all day," she says.

Jo uses a feather-light moisturiser on my face first – a product she swears by called Steam Cream – and then applies a primer, to help prevent excess oil building up on my skin. The products she recommends include Estee Lauder Idealist and Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, but says Rimmel and Maybelline make good high street alternatives.

Lesson number two is concealer, and Jo tells me mine is a shade too dark for my skin. “You want to avoid that panda look with really white under-eyes, but the concealer needs to reflect light to hide the dark areas and create a blank canvas. To find the right colour for a foundation you need to try three different shades and make a line with each on your jawline before you buy. Leave for about five minutes and the one that disappears into your skin is the one you should buy.”

Jo pats the concealer into my eye area then uses a highlighter pen to spot fluid from the top of my cheek bone all the way to my hairline. “This is a great trick to get a dewy look as it reflects the light upwards. You can also use a highlighter pen across fine lines, rather than in them, to minimise their appearance.”

Lesson number three: bronzer. Jo shows me how to create the sculpted look made famous by celebrities like Kim Kardashian. “Contouring can really alter the shape of your face," she says. "Along with the highlighter, if you use a bronzer brush to apply just under your cheek bones, along your temples and on your neck, it emphasises the shape of the face.”

Jo finishes my cheeks with some pink blusher before guiding me step-by-step though a flicked eyeliner technique – something I’ve never been able to master. “There are some really great liquid pens on the market now which make it so easy, but if you start with a pencil first, working from below the upper lash-line, you give yourself a template to follow and avoid getting the gap between the lashes and the liner,” she says.

Jo, who trained with top make-up artist Ariane Poole for four years in London, says she enjoys the process of helping women overcome their make-up stumbling blocks and says she loves to see the confidence boost they get after a tutorial.

“I can teach so many different looks with just a few products," she says. "A lot of women get into a rut with their everyday look and come to me to help with a lack of confidence, after an illness or just for a pick-me-up. I work with all ages so get the full spectrum,from teaching a teenager for the first time to helping an older woman change her routine to make her look more youthful.”

To book a session with Jo contact her on 07815-835211; jo@makeupbyjo.co.uk; W: makeupbyjo.co.uk; or follow @JoLeversuch.