Imperial Jade Body Oil Through the Year: Seasons, Skin Types and Layering

Use Imperial Jade Body Oil every day after you bathe, on skin that is still damp, and adjust how much you use and what you layer it with to the season and to how dry your skin is. In summer a few drops on their own are plenty; in winter it can go over a rich body cream. This guide covers how to fit it into a full body routine, from the wash before it to the scent around it.

The basic method, in brief

Pat skin after the shower so it is damp but not dripping. Warm a few drops of Imperial Jade Body Oil between your palms, press them into one area at a time and smooth them upward toward the heart. Add drops as you go rather than pouring everything at once. Give it about a minute before you dress. The oils, mongongo, Kalahari melon seed, marula, grapeseed and argan with vitamin E, sink in without a tacky film, and skin looks polished and feels soft for hours.

Building a full body routine around it

Imperial Jade is the step that closes the routine. What comes before it shapes how well it works.

Wash: a cleanser that leaves skin comfortable

Start with something that does not leave skin tight, so the oil is adding softness rather than making up for dryness. Our Replenishing Body Wash is a castile-style liquid soap with organic coconut and jojoba oils, organic aloe vera and a touch of Kalahari melon seed oil. It works into a soft lather, rinses clean and comes in scents that match the body oil.

Polish: a scrub once or twice a week

On rough or dull-looking skin, a weekly scrub helps the oil go further. Our Lava Body Caviar uses sea salt and organic sugar in a blend of oils. Massage it over wet skin, rinse, pat dry, then oil.

Oil, with or without cream

On most days Imperial Jade is enough on its own. On very dry days it layers well over our Rejuvenating Body Cream. The two share Kalahari melon seed and argan oils. Smooth the cream over damp skin first, especially on elbows, shins and heels, then press a few drops of oil over the top.

Adjusting through the seasons

Summer. Skin needs less. A few drops on legs and arms in the morning, after a cool shower, leave a soft sheen without weight. If you are heading into the sun, let the oil settle for a full minute, then apply sunscreen to exposed skin. The oil does not replace it.

Autumn. As the air loses its humidity, shins and forearms are usually the first to feel it. This is when daily use starts to matter. Move to evenings, after a warm bath, and give dry areas a second pass.

Winter. Indoor heat dries skin quickly. Use the oil every day on damp skin and, on the roughest areas, layer it over body cream. Warm the oil a little longer between your palms when the bathroom is cold.

Spring. Bring back the weekly scrub as you start to show more skin, and ease the amount back down as the weather warms.

Adjusting to your skin

Very dry skin. Oil on damp skin every day, cream underneath on the driest patches, and an extra drop pressed into elbows, knees and heels.

Normal skin. Oil on its own after the shower, daily or as often as skin feels like it needs it.

Skin that dislikes heavy products. Use fewer drops and favor mornings after a warm shower, when skin is most damp. The grapeseed and Kalahari melon seed oils in the blend are light and quick to absorb.

Choosing and matching a scent

Imperial Jade comes in Hawaiian Black Lava, musky and woodsy; Moroccan Fig and Bergamot, fresh and bright, and our best-selling scent across the whole range; and Violet and Bergamot, a fresh floral. Many people keep a lighter scent for mornings and a deeper one for evenings.

Each one also comes in our body wash and body cream, so the whole routine can carry one scent. Hawaiian Black Lava matches the Lava Body Caviar scrub. Our Fragrance Roller Oil comes in all three, if you want to refresh the scent at your wrists later in the day.

Questions about building a routine with Imperial Jade

Does the oil go on before or after body cream?

When skin is very dry, smooth on the Rejuvenating Body Cream first and press the oil over it. On most days the oil is enough on its own.

Is Imperial Jade too rich for summer?

No. Use a few drops on legs and arms after a cool shower and let it settle before you dress. It leaves a soft sheen rather than a heavy layer.

Which scent should I choose?

Moroccan Fig and Bergamot is our best-selling scent and an easy place to start. Choose Hawaiian Black Lava for something warmer, or Violet and Bergamot for a floral.

Can I use a scrub on the same day?

Yes. Scrub in the shower, rinse, pat dry and apply the oil straight away. Keep the scrub to once or twice a week.