Masterchef’s Melissa Leong reveals how she stays energised despite having to get up at 4.30am

Masterchef’s Melissa Leong has revealed how she manages to stay looking and feeling her best despite 4.30am wake times and gruelling days shooting.

The TV host and food expert relies on a combination of early nights, good skincare, magnesium baths and daily exercise to make sure she is in top shape all year round.

Melissa explained that while she is naturally a ‘night owl’, after years of experience in her job, she has managed to teach herself to get into bed as early as 8.30pm in order to make sure she wakes up well-rested.

‘If I’m filming Masterchef or have a shoot the next day, then I’m in bed as early as I possibly can [be],’ she told Bed Threads.

Masterchef’s Melissa Leong (pictured) has revealed how she manages to stay looking and feeling her best despite 4.30am wake times and gruelling days shooting

The first thing Melissa said is key to staying energised and looking her best is always doing her skincare before she goes to bed; she has noticed huge benefits from using Olay (pictured)

The first thing Melissa said is key to staying energised and looking her best is always doing her skincare before she goes to bed; she has noticed huge benefits from using Olay (pictured)

SOLID SKINCARE REGIME

The first thing Melissa said is key to staying energised and looking her best is always doing her skincare before she goes to bed.

‘My mother instilled the importance of a solid skincare routine from a young age. I love the ritual of it; it helps me wind down at the end of a long day,’ she said.

Melissa starts by doing a proper cleanse to get rid of all the makeup she wears for work. She likes to use an oil cleanser.

She follows this with either a glycolic or lactic acid serum with retinol, along with an eye cream. 

Occasionally, she also uses an LED light mask for ‘extra glow and skin recovery’. 

Melissa has also been pictured using Olay Power Duo for the past four months, and she said even her facialist has noticed a difference in the quality of her skin.

Melissa (pictured) said she likes to have a good quality breakfast, but also not over-eat as she knows she'll be eating through the day; she aims for protein, good fats and fibre

Melissa (pictured) said she likes to have a good quality breakfast, but also not over-eat as she knows she’ll be eating through the day; she aims for protein, good fats and fibre

GOOD QUALITY BREAKFAST

The second thing the TV judge swears by is a good quality breakfast.

Melissa explained that her days often revolve around a lot of food, so she doesn’t like to over-eat first thing.

However, she does need to get her ‘digestion fired up’ and so will typically eat something like an egg with avocado, mushrooms or another vegetable on the side.

‘I just focus on protein, good fats and a little bit of fibre, because who knows what else the day will throw at me?’ Melissa said. 

Melissa said she swears by magnesium baths when she wants to unwind and get a decent night's sleep (pictured in her robe)

Melissa said she swears by magnesium baths when she wants to unwind and get a decent night’s sleep (pictured in her robe)

MAGNESIUM BATHS

Melissa said she swears by magnesium baths when she wants to unwind and get a decent night’s sleep.

With a bath in her home, she regularly fills two cups of magnesium salt flakes, lights a candle and takes a book in there. 

Melissa (pictured) relies on a combination of vitamins B, C, D, magnesium and zinc, all of which she said helped to bring her back from the brink of burnout

Melissa (pictured) relies on a combination of vitamins B, C, D, magnesium and zinc, all of which she said helped to bring her back from the brink of burnout

VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS

Melissa is a big fan of vitamin supplements.

She said a combination of vitamins B, C, D, magnesium and zinc have brought her back from the brink of burnout and ‘continue to help me get through the most gruelling parts of my work schedule’. 

'I've been in love with Pilates since recovering from a back injury a few years ago,' Melissa posted on Instagram (pictured working out)

‘I’ve been in love with Pilates since recovering from a back injury a few years ago,’ Melissa posted on Instagram (pictured working out)

DAILY PILATES

The Masterchef judge is also a big fan of exercising as regularly as possible.

She especially loves reformer Pilates, and visits the studio Good Times Pilates in Melbourne several times a week to stretch.

‘I’ve been in love with Pilates since recovering from a back injury a few years ago,’ Melissa posted on Instagram.

‘For me, it’s the single most beneficial thing for definition and flexibility, but more importantly, strength.’

She isn’t the only celebrity devotee of the practice, with others including Pip Edwards and Rachael Finch swearing by Pilates.