The right way to use Imperial Jade Body Oil is on damp skin, in small amounts, warmed in your palms first and pressed in rather than rubbed. Most complaints about body oil, that it feels greasy, marks clothes or takes forever to sink in, come from skipping one of those four things. Here is what tends to go wrong, and the simple fix for each.
A little context first. Imperial Jade is made only of plant oils, mongongo, Kalahari melon seed, marula, grapeseed and argan, with vitamin E. With no water or filler in it, it behaves differently from a lotion, and technique counts for more.
Mistake 1: Putting it on bone-dry skin
Oil on dry skin has nothing to hold onto, so it sits on the surface longer. Oil on damp skin spreads in seconds and helps seal in the water that is already there.
The fix: apply it within a minute or two of leaving the bath or shower, after a quick pat with the towel. If you missed the window, mist your legs and arms with a little water, or run a damp washcloth over them, then apply.
Mistake 2: Going on soaking wet
The opposite problem. Dripping skin dilutes the oil and lets it slide off before it settles, and you end up using twice as much.
The fix: pat once or twice. You want skin that feels damp and warm to the touch, with no beads of water. That is the point where the oil looks like skin within a minute rather than like product.
Mistake 3: Using too much
This is the most common one. People pour a lotion-sized amount and then wait ten minutes for it to disappear. Because Imperial Jade is all oil, there is nothing in it that evaporates, so whatever skin does not take in stays on top.
The fix: start with four to six drops for both legs and two or three for each arm and the chest. Add a single drop where skin still feels tight. Using more does not add benefit; it only adds waiting time and the chance of transfer to clothes.
Mistake 4: Applying it cold
Oil straight from the bottle onto warm skin spreads unevenly and feels cool and slick. In winter, when the bathroom is cold, the difference is obvious.
The fix: press your palms together for three to five seconds before the oil touches skin. It thins slightly and glides further, and the scent, Hawaiian Black Lava, Moroccan Fig and Bergamot or Violet and Bergamot, opens as it warms.
Mistake 5: Rubbing instead of pressing
Fast back-and-forth rubbing drags oil across the surface and leaves streaks. It also misses the places that need it most.
The fix: press first, then sweep. Lay a flat palm on the skin, press, then smooth the oil in long upward strokes from ankle to hip and wrist to shoulder. On knees and elbows, switch to small circles with your fingertips. Across the chest, a light press-and-release is enough.
Mistake 6: Dressing straight away
Even a light oil needs a moment. Pulling on tights or a fitted shirt seconds after applying is how oil ends up on fabric instead of skin.
The fix: give it sixty to ninety seconds. Use the time for your face, your hair or a glass of water. If you are in a real hurry in the morning, use half the amount on legs and arms only.
Mistake 7: Giving every part of the body the same pass
Shins, knees, elbows, heels and the backs of the arms lose moisture faster and show dryness first. A single even sweep often leaves them still looking dull.
The fix: finish with a second, targeted pass. Press the last drops on your palms into those spots with your fingertips, with a little more pressure and a little more time. On the driest days, the oil can go on over our Rejuvenating Body Cream in those areas.
One habit worth keeping
Store the bottle in the bathroom, capped, out of direct sun. Keeping it within reach of the shower is what makes the damp-skin window easy to catch, and keeping it out of the light helps the oils stay fresh.
While the oil settles on your body, it is a good moment to see to your face. Kalahari melon seed oil, one of the five oils in Imperial Jade, is also the lead oil in our Royal Kalahari Face Serum, pressed into face and neck morning and night.
Questions we hear about using body oil
Why does my body oil feel greasy?
Usually because there is too much of it or skin was dry when it went on. Use fewer drops on damp, warm skin and press it in, and the finish should feel soft rather than slick.
Will Imperial Jade mark my clothes?
Not if you use a few drops and wait sixty to ninety seconds before dressing. Transfer almost always comes from using a lotion-sized amount.
Can I apply it to damp skin in the morning and still wear fitted clothes?
Yes. Use about half your evening amount, keep it to legs and arms, and give it the full wait before you dress.
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