Summer in the city runs on its own clock. The commute starts earlier, the evenings run later, and there's rarely a spare five minutes between the two. What tends to go unnoticed in all of it is what the season is doing to your skin: heat, air conditioning, harder water, an extra shower before you've even left the house.

Designed for skin, and schedules, on the move, Olverum Dry Body Oil delivers moisture that keeps pace. No residue, no wait, no extra step in a morning that doesn't have room for one.

Why Does Skin Feel Dry in Summer?

Dryness isn't only a cold-weather problem. Heat and sun exposure affect the skin barrier just as cold does, air conditioning steadily draws moisture from both room and skin, and frequent showering or swimming adds to the effect.

The mechanism behind this is called transepidermal water loss, or TEWL: the process by which water escapes through the skin into the air around it. A healthy barrier keeps this in check. A compromised one lets moisture out faster than skin can replace it, which is why skin can look dewy on the surface while still losing water underneath.

The fix isn't to wash less or strip less. It's to replenish the lipids that hold moisture in.

What Is Dry Body Oil, and How Does It Work?

Dry Body Oil was formulated to give the comfort of an oil without its usual trade-off: the heavy finish, the wait before you can get dressed. It absorbs quickly, softens skin and slows moisture loss, leaving a satin finish rather than a residue.

It's also where Olverum's Functional Fragrance pillar earns its name. The scent is built around bergamot, lavender and bitter orange, selected for their functional as well as aromatic qualities. When inhaled, their aromatic compounds interact with the olfactory system, which is closely linked to mood, memory and the body’s stress response. Bergamot and bitter orange help create a sense of freshness and mental clarity, while lavender is associated with reduced tension and a calmer state. Together, they support both mind and body, helping you feel more alert, balanced and settled. Apply it in the morning and the effect travels with you.

A Lipid-Replenishing Blend

Apricot Kernel Oil. Rich in nourishing fatty acid that conditions areas of dryness.

Poppy Seed Oil. Lightweight skin softening for smoother, more supple skin with naturally high content of essential fatty acids, antioxidant compounds while defending against everyday environmental oxidative stress

Olive-derived Squalane. A lipid the skin already recognises, so it settles in fast and helps reduce water loss.

Shea Butter Esters. Shea's softening effect, without the weight.

Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil. Helps the oil spread easily for a silky, fast-absorbing finish.

Together, they replenish the skin's lipid barrier and leave the body feeling soft, smooth and properly moisturised, not just coated.

How to Use Dry Body Oil

Apply to damp skin straight after your morning shower, while the surface can still seal moisture in. Warm a little between your palms, then work in long strokes upwards, giving extra attention to elbows, shins and shoulders, the areas that dry out first.

If you're in a hard water area, and most of London is, this step matters more than most. Hard water strips the skin's barrier faster than soft water does, which makes replenishing it each morning worth the thirty seconds.

A drop through damp hair, worked from mid-lengths to ends, helps protect against humidity and city pollution too. No rinse, no wait. Get dressed and get on.

Since 1931, that's been Olverum's approach: fewer ingredients, each one earning its place, in formulas built to be used, not just admired.

Your City Essential

Light, fast-absorbing and built for the pace that summer sets, Dry Body Oil fits into a morning that doesn't have room for anything slow.

Discover Dry Body Oil and make it part of how you get ready for summer in the city.

Common Questions

Does Dry Body Oil work in hard water areas? Yes. Hard water increases transepidermal water loss, so skin in hard water areas, London included, tends to dry out faster. Dry Body Oil replenishes the lipids hard water strips away.

Can I use Dry Body Oil on my hair? Yes. A small amount worked through damp mid-lengths and ends helps smooth frizz and protect against humidity.

Will Dry Body Oil leave a greasy residue? No. It absorbs quickly to a satin, non-greasy finish, so you can dress straight after applying.

When is the best time to apply Dry Body Oil? Straight after showering, while skin is still slightly damp so the oil can help seal in moisture.