If there’s one thing we can rely on Melissa Leong for, it’s beauty inspiration. Melissa’s skin care routine kept us glowing throughout 2021, and her confetti-speckled eyeshadow made us feel inspired to try some fun makeup of our own. And now, as we kick off 2022, the Masterchef judge has shared even more wisdom, this time in the form of eight self-care habits she plans on making a priority this year.
In a caption that accompanied a bare-faced Instagram selfie, Melissa shared: “I’m not a new year’s resolution person, but like most people, my stress is through the roof and my body is paying for it.”
To help her build rejuvenating and, most importantly, achievable wellness resolutions for 2022, Melissa enlisted the help of naturopathy, Chinese medicine, and overall wellness experts @portelliotwellness and @komyunitiwellness.
These habits Melissa listed include:
- Two minutes of hummingbird breathing exercises as soon as I wake up.
For anyone who isn’t familiar with this yoga breathing technique, it is essentially exactly as it sounds. By inhaling slowly and creating vibrations that resemble the sound of a buzzing bee you will produce nitric oxide which helps to calm an anxious mind, boost immunity, regulate hormones and even reduce blood pressure. - Warm oil self-massage with black sesame before shower (two minutes on work days, longer when I can).
bh recommends: Neutrogena Body Oil (Sesame Formula) ($11.95 at Chemist Warehouse)
- Use a tongue scraper (gross but good)
- Coffee after food
- Sip on warm water during the day
- Take prescribed supplements daily, even if they taste [like crap]
bh recommends Kynd’s Rest, Restore+ Immunity ($19.95, Chemist Warehouse) as an all-in-one to boost your immune system, improve sleep and relieve the severity of cold or flu symptoms.
- Have a chill wind down routine before bed involving no screens. I like to stretch and a bush chai by @kungkascancook with oat milk and maple syrup.
- Prioritise sleep
And because she thinks of everything, Melissa finished her list off with this caveat: “This is what is recommended to me by professionals. Please seek expert advice particular to you!”
Main image credit: @fooderati
Do you have any other wellness hacks that you include in your routine?
I don’t like the taste of warm water. I have to add lemon juice to it.
I like to add lemon juice to my water, but dont often have a spare lemon. Could use a bottle juice I guess
I like my tea hot & my water cold.
Yes so much easier to drink
I prefer warm water and would prefer it to water out of the fridge.
I like hot water with lemon or grapefruit
A lady I use to work with would always drink warm water and I would always wonder why. Now after reading about it I totally get it.
Yet another celebrity I’ve never heard of.
Coffee comes first – food later. I drink water straight from the tap or from the fridge – it doesn’t matter as long as I’m drinking plenty of water.
Tongue scraper – love it. The bird breathing technique is interesting.
Yes I would like to know how to do the bird breathing technique. Not so keen on the tongue scraper as I understood the bacteria on your tongue was good for you.
Oh yeah agreed – i do love to prioritise sleep – I’ve valued sleep ever since becoming a mum some 24 years ago and my first did not want to sleep for more than 2 hours at a time!!
btw she’s a good sleeper now and doesn’t tend to sleep much at home anymore but I do still have her room with her bed in it in case she wants to sleep over here occasionally!
I take vitamins and minerals everyday and it really helps me physically and mentally
my life changed for the better when I took sleep more seriously, I have a set bedtime now and stick to it with only the rare exception of events that go later etc. – my mental and physical health is a lot better for it.
Sipping warm water is great during the day. I enjoy this too.
One and three, yessss! Would love oil massage too, when in the mood. The rest nope. Do not need. Or want.
I used to have warm water with lemon juice daily but never saw any benefit so don’t bother anymore.
I take a multivitamin and try and go for a long fast walk everyday if I can.
Good for her.
a good work life balnce and don’t be so hard on myself
Not a big fan of warm water.
I start the day with Metamucil, 1 tsp of inulin powder & 1 tsp of wheatgrass, & the same before bed, without the wheatgrass. I also like matcha in the morning & a daily serving of chia seeds added to yoghurt or soup.
Lately I’ve been enjoying warm water with lime juice but no too much because it’s not very tooth friendly
I would like to do the breathing technique but don’t know how to make the bee sound while creating vibrations
I prefer a yummy cup of tea over warm water..
I like the idea of prioritising sleep. Something I wish I could do but don’t.
I like water at room temperature. I always find myself running to the loo when I have chilled water
I’m hearing quite a bit about tongue scrapers – isn’t brushing your tongue with a toothbrush good enough these days??
Ah this is an old one. But why coffee after food?
Some nice rituals to implement within the day 🙂 But coffee after food would be tricky
I don’t drink coffee, just lots of water instead.