Image Credit: Sylve Coless
With an illustrious career in fashion design and cult-favourite brand maison balzac to her name, elise pioch balzac is the epitome of parisian chic. She walks us through her morning routine.
IN BED
How do you prepare for tomorrow the night before?
I don't! I love to think that every morning, the sun rises on a new world, without connection to the day before. It opens up a vast amount of possibilities and freshness.
What do you wear to bed?
I wear very comfortable cotton t-shirts and pants, I really admire women who look attractive in bed but I don't know how to do that!
How do you dress your bed?
Fluffy pillows and super soft throws make my heart sing. I like to make my bed look like a cloud, so shades of white, cream and grey always win.
What is on your nightstand?
My Chanel lip moisturiser (a gift from a friend) and a pink carafe of water with matching glass from Maison Balzac.
Who do you sleep with?
I sleep with my husband Pablo and our black cat, Minette.
How many hours do you sleep?
I try to sleep at least 8 to 10 hours each night - I adore sleeping!
What time do you wake up?
We wake up at 8am every day, without an alarm clock. We don't close our blinds, so the natural light does the job regardless of wherever we are in the world.
What is the first thing you do on waking?
I open the curtains to look at the horizon and the morning light. From our bedroom, we can see the Pyrenees which are on the border between Spain and France.
BODY
How do you work out?
I walk our daughter to school and back every day.
How often do you exercise?
Daily!
How do you motivate yourself when you don’t feel like exercising?
There is no way around it - she needs to go to school!
What is your first drink of the day and why?
My first drink is a cup of homemade chai tea because the combination of black pepper, fresh ginger, and spices gives me a boost of energy. It also reminds me of being in Sydney, where I discovered chai tea 15 years ago. I haven’t stopped drinking it since.
What is for breakfast and why?
I skip breakfast at least twice a week to reset my digestive system. On the other mornings, I prepare avocado on toast with local olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, then garnished with coriander or basil. It keeps me going for hours!
FACE
What is your AM beauty routine?
Each morning and evening, I wash my face and neck with Dermalogica Pre-Cleanse Oil. I am literally obsessed with its citrus fragrance and I love how the oil gently yet efficiently melts impurities from my skin.
Then I apply a hydrating serum. I alternate between Twelve Beauty Ideal Moisture Level Serum and Dermalogica BioLumin-C Serum. The last layer is a moisturising cream. I like Dermalogica Skin Smooth Cream or Aesop Primrose Facial Hydrating Cream.
I wear very little make-up, only some Chanel Natural Loose Powder and the Chanel Soft Touch Eyeshadow Powder in Colour 47 (Ebony). I usually choose between make-up on the eyes or the lips.
What makeup products do you prefer?
I love Dermalogica and Chanel; Dermalogica because it is not about beauty, but wellness, and Chanel because it is so chic!
What is your standby routine for awakening a tired face?
My first weapon is to catch up on sleep. If this is not possible, I use one dose of Asepta Coup d'Eclat, then apply my usual serum, finishing with the Clarins Beauty Flash Cream. Then I will wear some very red lipstick and some bold jewellery from Lyn & Tony. Both serve to distract from a tired face!
WORK
What is the first thing you do?
I check my inbox and quickly read my hundreds of emails. I will answer them later on, but I need to get a sense of what's ahead of my day.
What is top of your to-do list?
It really depends; it changes every day. I don't have any problems attending to my favourite tasks - thinking of new products, visiting clients and communicating with my team - but I need a list to make sure I will also take care of the tasks I don't like as much (like admin, paperwork, accounting and problem solving).
What is your 10am pick-me-up for energy?
I cut an apple into tiny pieces and sprinkle some seeds and honey, cinnamon powder and a big spoon of yoghurt or cream over it. Delicious!