Constance Eeckhout, the art of gesture at the service of the face

I have a real passion for hands as tools. They're wonderful. Look at the hands of a painter, baker, pianist or sculptor. I shape faces and my hands dance on the skin, bringing it to life.

I'm lucky enough to have set up my practice at home, in the ^7th arrondissement of Paris. I welcome my clients into a world that's very much my own, with seasonal flowers, Trudon fragrances and a playlist that changes with the seasons, from jazz and French chanson to more old-school tunes.

My morning routine to wake up the skin

My morning routine is simple, effective and fast. It allows you to recover a relaxed face after the night. If the double cleansing has been well done the night before, I don't think it's necessary to strip the skin when you wake up. During the night, the skin regenerates and the sebum produced is not bad.

Step 1: rehydrate and wake up the skin

I start by applying a moisturizing mist rich in hyaluronic acid, which I particularly appreciate for its refined scent and immediate plumping effect.

Step 2: decongest the eyes

I then apply a small amount of PERS Eye Cream. I gently pat it under the eyes, then use the small tool provided to glide it over dark circles and the arch to decongest puffiness and dark circles.

Step 3: awaken radiance

I then use a half-pipette of PERS 10% Vitamin C Serum, which I pat on to stimulate radiance and even out skin tone.

Step 4: nourish and massage

I warm a dab of PERS Rich Cream between my hands, then massage it generously into my face. I apply it in particular with my two hooked fingers under the chin and work on the forehead to relax the features and enlarge the eyes. The scent is divine.

This routine takes me about eight minutes and leaves my skin even and matt, with a rested face, without necessarily needing make-up.

My morning skincare essentials

If I had to recommend just a few morning skincare products, I'd stick to two essential steps.

Eye Cream: This should be chosen according to your particular problem. For dark circles and fine lines, I recommend a nourishing cream texture. For puffiness, a more decongesting gel texture.

A moisturizing, nourishing cream: It reinforces the cutaneous barrier and protects the skin from external aggressions. Even if you skip the serum, this step remains fundamental.

Common mistakes in the morning routine

Over-aggressive cleansing: The most common mistake is to cleanse the face too thoroughly in the morning. Skin regenerates during the night, and the sebum produced is not harmful. You mustn't try to scrub your skin at all costs, at the risk of altering its balance.

Neglecting gestures: Applying products is important, but so is taking the time to massage the skin. For me, gestures account for almost 50% of skincare effectiveness. A few movements are all that's needed, and once you know them, they don't take much longer.

My essential gestures to stimulate the skin

To awaken the face and optimize the effectiveness of skin care, I recommend a few simple gestures:

• Smooth the neck by moving your hands up to the temples.
• Smooth out frown lines with zigzagging movements, index fingers one above the other.
• Tap under eyes to deflate puffiness.
• If you have time, pinch a few times on the cheekbones to boost tone.

In the morning, skin doesn't necessarily require more products, but more attention to the gesture. For me, the routine becomes a genuine sculpting ritual that helps to relax the features and start the day with a more open, luminous face.