LUI Ritual: Melissa Leong
Here at LUI, we love the idea of rituals: those little everyday practices that help you feel calm, centred and whole. We believe shaving deserves to be part of this self-care routine. In celebration of mindful moments, the LUI Ritual series asks friends of the brand about their own positive habits and how they elevate their day.
HI, MY NAME IS… Melissa Leong.
BUT EVERYONE CALLS ME… Mel, Fooderati, sometimes Chef Michelle Lee (true story, printed by a paper once, now all my close friends call me that as my alter ego), Oi You.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I DREAMED OF BEING… able to travel the world. As many countries and experiences as possible, please!
BUT NOW I WORK AS… a television presenter, journalist, MC, writer and a bunch of other things, in the worlds of food, travel and MMA. I’d say things are working out for Tiny Mel on the travel side of things!
THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN I WAKE UP IS… locate one of my cats and squish them for as long as they’ll let me. Pets really are the MPVs of any household, in my opinion.
THE LAST SONG I PLAYED ON SPOTIFY… 'Bittersweet Symphony' by The Verve.
MY MORNING ROUTINE IS…
1. Highly dependent on my insane work schedule, but if it’s up to me, it does not start too early!
2. A peaceful transition into the day, that shouldn’t be rushed if I can help it.
3. Kickstarted by teeth cleaning, skincare and body care. An everything shower involving dry body brushing, stomach massage (abhyanga), shower, shave and body moisturiser (I am legitimately obsessed with the LUI BODY MOISTURISER) while my skin is still damp…it’s not something I get to do every day, but if I could, that would be the dream.
4. …Not officially a morning routine until I’ve made a coffee and am contemplating what to cook for breakfast.
5. As slow as I can make it. My life is pretty erratic, so when I do have a choice, it’s about quiet, calm and not being in too much of a hurry to get places.
THE PERFUME I SPRAY ON RIGHT BEFORE I LEAVE THE HOUSE IS… highly dependent on my mood. I am a collector of fragrances, and see them like a wardrobe. How I want to feel that day is reflected in the clothes I choose, but also in the fragrance I finish things off with. Right now I’m into Merit Beauty’s fragrance for something soft, musky, clean, comforting and close-wearing, or Dries Van Noten’s Soie Malaquais; a warm and spicy combination of bergamot, chocolate, chestnut and silk. A hefty compliment-getter, if you’re into that sort of thing.
MY COFFEE ORDER IS… a batch brew. Some people say black coffee drinkers are a bit psychotic, but there are often so many flavours, textures and aromas in my day, that I need to start off with something simple and succinct. If that scares you, I’m ok with that!
THROUGHOUT MY DAY I FIND JOY IN… self-expression. Whether that’s how we choose to dress, wear our hair, put on makeup, or carry ourselves in the world, I value a strong sense of identity in the way I carry myself, but also in the people I see along the way. I love people-watching, and seeing how people express their personality as they walk through the world.
MY LUNCH ORDER IS… highly mood dependent! If I’m in a rush, it’ll be something nourishing that won’t make a mess, like a shish tawook; a beloved Lebanese classic of skewered, spiced chicken, cooked until toothsome over charcoal and often found wrapped in pillowy soft pita and liberally brushed with garlicy toum (there is always something minty in my bag for after!). I am also a fan of going to yum cha with friends when I have the time. It’s a part of my culture than I am so proud to share… and nobody gets FOMO!
MY 3PM PICK-ME-UP IS… if I’m shooting on set, it’ll be some kind of jelly snake, and a shot of espresso, for energy. If left to my own devices, perhaps a cup of herbal tea and a quick lie down.
AFTER A LONG DAY I SWITCH OFF BY… closing the door and exhaling. Going home to the quiet is how I can be a people person all day. If I can potter around my house, pat a cat, listen to a podcast or call a friend while cooking dinner, I’m pretty happy.
THE LAST BOOK I COULDN’T PUT DOWN… Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. I loved every single syllable of that book and if I could forget it entirely and read it again just to feel that enveloped, I would.
MY NIGHTTIME ROUTINE IS…
1. Remove makeup ASAP. Oil cleanser, regular cleanser, let no molecule of makeup exist on my face when I am done.
2. A shower. I am a morning and evening shower person. I want to feel clean and fresh when hopping into bed. A luxurious body wash that smells delicious is essential to the wind down routine.
3. LED Mask and something silly on TV. You can’t do much with one of those things on, so it’s an opportunity to just sit and bask in the red glow of undoing the damage of the day.
4. A quick check of my schedule to make sure I know what’s going on tomorrow. It sounds counterintuitive, but I sleep better knowing that I’m prepared for what tomorrow has in store.
5. Big lights off. I’m very opinionated about lighting. I have all my lamps on timers so that if I end up falling asleep before I plan to, everything will turn off eventually. There’s nothing worse than getting situated in bed and realising you need to get up to turn off a light.
THE LAST THING I DO BEFORE BED IS… apply lip balm and hand cream. I don’t quite get the whole 17 step night routine that ends in an epic “morning shed” that everyone seems into online, but waking up feeling hydrated and soft is pretty nice.
YOU CAN FIND ME ONLINE AT... @FOODERATI.