How to achieve perfect skin in a few steps?

GETTING RID OF EYEBAGS

Do a mini-massage around the eyes to decongest the area where fluids can stagnate, causing eyebags. Place a pearl of eye cream on each index finger. Gently press down on the “head” of the eyebrow (in the middle, where the little V happens), hold for ten seconds and gradually release the pressure over the same period. Repeat under the arch, at the beginning of the eyebrow, and just under its “tail”. With the surface of the fingers, apply slow, gentle pressure at the outer corner of the eye, right on the angular part of the lower orbicularis bone, alternating between pressure and rubbing. Repeat each movement 10 times. If you are using an eye mask, repeat the same steps “dry”, just before its application.

Recommended products:

– Benefiance WrinkleResist 24 Pure Retinol Smoothing Express eye mask, Shiseido (approx. USD88.5o): In fifteen minutes, it smoothens out wrinkles and revitalizes the eye area.
– Contour Expert Eyes Eye Merveillance, Nuxe (approx. USD39.50): Full of caffeine, it easily fills out eyebags and helps minimize puffiness.

REMODEL YOUR CONTOURS

Heat a knob of rich balm between your hands and then work it into the face with your palms. Pull it from the middle of the chin down the jawline, ascend in front of the ears to the temples, then back down to and behind the ears. Place the palms 3cm below the scalp close to the roots of the hair and pull towards the forehead, alternating your right and left hands.

Recommended products:
– Age Perfect Extraordinary Oil-cream, L’Oréal Parisv (approx. USD24.40): Specially designed for massage.
– Multi-Intensive Super Restorative Day Wear cream, Clarins (approx. USD132.90): A protective treatment for dry skin.
– Givenchy (approx. USD122.70): A velvety cream which boosts the firmness of skin, Smile’n Repair Serum.

EXFOLIATE WITHOUT IRRITATION

If you have sensitive skin, forget scrubs – they are too abrasive. Opt instead for a nourishing and soothing hydrating mask, to apply daily on dry skin in the morning or the evening before your night treatment. Its emollient action helps to gently remove dead skin cells, restoring shine and velvety feel to the skin after rinsing.

Recommended product: a formula packed with hyaluronic acid and vitamins that restores plumpness to the skin, Derm Acte MultiVitamin, Académie (approx. USD51.80).

In: If you are addicted to scrubbing, use it only on the areas that need it, and mix it with a dab of gel cleanser to make it gentler.

Out: The thing not to do is use a scrub and dry rub. You agitate and irritate the skin.

LEARN HOW TO MASSAGE YOUR MASK

To boost efficiency, adopt the massage reflex. First apply your mask, nourishing cream or moisturizer in a thick layer, from the base of the neck to the top of the forehead. Then, carry out delicate movements in a circular and upward direction from the centre of the face towards the contours. A good idea: practice these gestures over a steam bath with lavender essential oil, to promote the penetration of the assets, whilst soothing the skin.

Recommended product: a cocktail of smoothing and nourishing ingredients, Global Anti-Aging skin mask, Filorga (approx. USD80.40).

CLEANSE YOUR SKIN GENTLY

Choose a cleanser of a rich cream or oil texture. Place a nut-sized dab on your face. Pat in the cleanser without too much pressure, respecting the forms and contours of the face from left to right (right to left at the oval of the face), the sides of the nose to the temples, and each temple to the other. To remove the cleanser, soak a cotton pad in lotion without alcohol and perform the same movements with it.

Recommended product: a protective cleanser that soothes the driest of skin, Lait-Crème Démaquillant Surgras Mixa Expert Peau Sensible (approx. USD5.40).

In: Use fingers instead of cotton to apply the cleanser.

Out: The thing not to do is use a bad-quality cotton pad to rinse the lotion, as it may irritate the skin.

 Céline MOLLET