I was wandering around the bath section in Anthropologie yesterday when I spotted this odd-looking orange tube.
I thought it was candy from afar, but it’s actually Yu Be Moisturizing Cream ($15 for 1.25 oz) from Japan. It totally looks like something I’d find on a dusty shelf at Long’s Drugstore in Hawaii (NOTE: Long’s carries lots of interesting Asian beauty brands). It kinda looked out of place amongst the girly, froo-froo bath products at Anthropologie.
Yu Be is a glycerin-based moisturizing cream packed with vitamins E, B2 and camphor (stinky!). It’s used to treat split cuticles, chapped lips, cracked heels, calluses burns and severe dry skin.
According to the company history printed on the back, Yu Be’s been around since the late 1950s.
“World-class mountain climbers from Japan use it moisturize and protect their skin from the extreme cold and wind on expeditions to the summit of Mt. Everest.”
If it’s good enough for extreme climbers, it’s gotta be good enough for me, right?
I don’t know… I’ve got some hella dry alligator skin and crusty cuticles. 🙂
The thick, custard-colored cream gives off a very strong, medicinal camphor scent.
I worked a pea-sized amount all over my hands and into my cuticles. The cream feels thick but absorbs well and doesn’t leave a greasy film.
Thankfully, the freakishly strong camphor scent faded quickly (or I got used to it), and within five minutes I couldn’t smell it at all.
I kept checking how my hands felt throughout the day. Even after I’d washed my hands a couple times, I could still feel it, especially around my cuticles. No doubt, my hands felt more soft and supple than usual.
Pretty amazing stuff.
I can see why Yu Be Moisturizing Cream is “The #1 Selling Medicated, Vitamin-Enriched Skin Cream in Japan.” This stuff is fabulous and moisturizes like a mo fo’.
Yu Be Moisturizing Skin Cream
Price: $15 for a 1.25-oz. tube
Use: A rich, long-lasting moisturizing cream
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
I only wish it contained SPF. That’s a bummer…
Work is cruising by for me today. I’m ready for an afternoon coffee break, though. One tall latte, please!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Holly says
September 15th, 2008 at 2:05 pmHey Karen,
This stuff sounds a lot like Elizabeth Arden 8 hr cream but the price is definately preferable! How would you compare the 2??
P.s. im forgiving American boys (for now!) so I hope your looking out for good husband material for me!!
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 2:18 pmHi Holly,
Yu Be works just as well, but is a touch stinkier, for sure. The smell does go away quickly. I really like how my hands feel so silky after I use this, so the scent is forgivable.
I will keep an eye out for you… according to my single girlfriends in SF the pickin’s are slim!
Dao says
September 15th, 2008 at 2:24 pmHi Karen,
I nominate you for the “I heart your blog” award. Please click here to see the detail and accept the nomination.
You have an awesome blog!
On the other hand, I think Japanese like to put camphor into lots of things. I used to have a lip balm from Japan that’s kinda like Chapstick and it has camphor. That lip balm rocks! And yeah, glycerin is a good moisturizer.
Daos last blog post..Hair Setting Tutorial
Shiny says
September 15th, 2008 at 2:58 pmHi Karen,
Sorry to be going topic from this product a little but winter is coming up and I have the worst dry skin ever, especially on my face. Can you think of anything that would be good to smear on a couple times a day? If it helps I have really non-sensitive skin, and do not have acne. Also, in grad school so kind of price conscious.
Thanks to you and any other posters who can help in this! <3
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 3:03 pmHi Shiny,
When I was in college and on a tight budget, I used Cetaphil Cream on the dry spots on my face. You can get it at the drugstore, and a huge jar costs $13, and you can use it all over the your body, too. It doesn’t have a scent, either, which is nice!
Glosslizard says
September 15th, 2008 at 4:27 pmI’ll try some on, but I don’t always have a good working relationship with the smell of camphor!
My fave hand and cuticle cream is Curel’s fast-absorbing Hand and Cuticle Cream with monoi oil! It’s only about $5 a tube and it is one of the longest-lasting hand moisturizers I’ve found!
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 5:15 pmHi Glosslizard,
Y’know, I usually don’t either, but the scent fades pretty quickly if you can get over the initial burst of stinkiness.
I’ve never tried that Curel cream. Does it have SPF?
ponikuta says
September 15th, 2008 at 6:29 pmOh, I tried this on the other day at MECCA and boy does it stinks. The smell totally put me off but I must admit the texture was very thick and gooey.
ponikutas last blog post..Birthday Part 2
Shiny says
September 15th, 2008 at 6:36 pmThanks Karen – I’ll that with a humidifier for my room and see how it works 🙂
Glosslizard says
September 15th, 2008 at 8:03 pmNo, I usually use the Curel during the day and then slather on a little Neutrogena spf 30 before heading outside (I keep one in the car too)!
Marissa says
September 15th, 2008 at 8:08 pmNo joke, I just got this stuff about a week ago! I really wasn’t expecting much despite its fantastic claims. After using it though I also give it an A. I mostly use it on my elbows and they stay soft throughout the day.
Marisol says
September 15th, 2008 at 8:50 pmI really like Burt’s Bees Lemon Cuticle Cream. Works really well on my cuticles and leaves a nice scent.
Marisols last blog post..A Day of Remembrance
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 9:44 pmHi Ponikuta,
Yeah, girl, it’s stinky. It goes away though…
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 9:46 pmHi Shiny,
Great! I hope it helps. The town where I went college has a really dry, cold climate (cold for California, LOL), and I remember it working like a charm. If it’s too heavy you can always try the moisturizer, which is slightly lighter and comes in pump. 🙂
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 9:48 pmHi Glosslizard,
Oh! Do you keep your SPF in the car? I used to do that, too, until I read that the active ingredients can break down in the high heat of the car.
Hopefully I can find the Curel hand cream when I hit up Longs one of these days after work.
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 9:49 pmHi Marissa,
Yes! I will put some on my elbows tonight.
I wish I could have a big vat of it to dip my feet into, LOL. Gawd, imagine how stinky it would be…
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 9:52 pmHi Marisol,
Burt’s has lots of nice lotions. Have you tried their Baby Bee Lotion? It’s really nice!
Karen says
September 16th, 2008 at 7:52 amHi Dao,
Thanks for the nomination. Good luck, I hope you win!
Glosslizard says
September 16th, 2008 at 2:01 pmHa ha, I figured it’s probably breaking something down! I don’t like having tubes in my purse (they’re biggish and I always poke myself on the pointy ends — I know, loser, right?) so I keep one by the door to use on the way out and one in the car for when I forget! I figure heat-challenged spf is better than none at all! 🙂