Marcelle is one of those quietly confident Canadian staples that has been taking up real estate on pharmacy shelves for decades, consistently delivering formulas that punch above their price point. The brand might not command the Instagram buzz of the latest K-beauty import, yet it enjoys a loyal following that trusts its science-first philosophy and fragrance-free ethos.
Enter the Revival+ Ultra-Nutrition Anti-Aging Night Cream. Yes, the name is a mouthful, but it certainly leaves no doubt about its ambitions. Marcelle promises that this overnight treatment will hydrate parched skin, restore bounce, smooth wrinkles and even do a little age-spot erasing while you sleep. In short, it claims to reverse several visible signs of time in one plush jar.
I spent two full weeks putting those promises to the test, massaging the cream into my face and neck every night after cleansing to see if it could earn a permanent spot on my nightstand and justify its price tag.
Disclaimer: this review is not paid or sponsored. All opinions are entirely my own, based on personal experience, and results can vary depending on individual skin type and concerns.
What Is Revival+ Ultra-Nutrition Anti-Aging Night Cream?
Revival+ Ultra-Nutrition is Marcelle’s take on an overnight treatment, a category of skincare designed to do the heavy lifting while you sleep. Unlike a day cream that focuses on light texture and makeup compatibility, an overnight treatment is richer, with ingredients selected to support the skin’s natural nighttime repair cycle. In practical terms this means you apply it as the final step after cleansing and let it sit undisturbed for several hours, giving actives the longest possible contact with your skin.
Formulated specifically for dry and mature complexions, this cream targets four familiar age related complaints: loss of elasticity, persistent dryness, deepening lines and overall dullness. Marcelle positions it as a multitasker that supplies lasting hydration, helps reinforce firmness, boosts radiance and softens the appearance of age spots for a more even tone. The brand’s promise is not instant transformation but gradual improvement with nightly use, making it the kind of product intended for consistent long term incorporation rather than a quick fix.
In short, Revival+ Ultra-Nutrition is a thick, peptide-infused moisturizer meant to seal in moisture and provide a concentrated dose of skin rebuilding ingredients during the hours your skin is most receptive to repair.
Did It Work?
In the name of science I benched my usual overnight treatment for a three-day washout period, which had me feeling like the most dedicated of lab rats. Fourteen nights seemed a reasonable window to judge results, given that skin cells start a new cycle every couple of weeks.
Night one, the cream felt cushiony and left a faint film that took a good ten minutes to settle. I woke up with skin that looked comfortably dewy rather than lacquered, so the finish passed the pillowcase test. By night four the immediate hydration payoff had become predictable: I could count on smoother cheeks and no tightness around the nostrils when I brushed my teeth the next morning.
Week two revealed the limits of that plush texture. While my skin stayed moisturized overnight, the benefits did not always last through the following afternoon. I noticed myself reaching for a midday facial mist on colder days, something I rarely do when using my regular ceramide-rich balm. Fine lines along the crow’s-feet area seemed a touch less etched thanks to the plumping effect of glycerin and shea butter, though deeper nasolabial folds were unmoved. As for radiance, the cream delivered a soft glow that was visible under bathroom lighting but less obvious in harsh daylight, and any age spots on my cheekbones looked exactly the same in side-by-side photos.
Firmness claims were the toughest to verify. A gentle pinch test at the jawline felt marginally springier by day fourteen, but we are talking millimeters here, not a dramatic bounce-back. No breakouts, stinging or redness occurred, so the formula earned full marks for tolerability.
Bottom line: Revival+ Ultra-Nutrition ticked the boxes for overnight comfort and short-term suppleness yet fell short on long-range firmness and pigment work within the two-week window. I will finish the jar because it is pleasant to use, but I will return to my old standby once it is empty rather than make this a permanent fixture on my shelf.
Main Ingredients Explained
The backbone of Revival+ Ultra-Nutrition is a trio of classic moisturizers: glycerin, shea butter and coco-glycerides. Glycerin, a humectant that pulls water into the skin, teams up with shea butter’s rich fatty acids to trap that moisture overnight, while coco-glycerides smooth everything out so the cream glides rather than drags. This combo is heavenly for dryness yet two of the three, shea butter and hydrogenated vegetable oils, sit around the middle of the comedogenic scale. Translation: if you are acne-prone, these lipids can sometimes clog pores and provoke bumps, so patch testing is wise.
Next come the firming agents. Acetyl tetrapeptide-11 is a short chain peptide marketed for improving elasticity by nudging collagen and elastin synthesis, though most studies are brand sponsored and small. Pisum sativum (pea) extract adds antioxidant protection and may gently inhibit enzymes that break down skin structure. Neither ingredient performs miracles in two weeks but they support skin’s long-term resilience when used consistently.
The formula rounds things out with a respectable antioxidant squad: sunflower seed extract, tocopheryl acetate and plain tocopherol. These help neutralize free radicals generated by daily environmental stress which, over months, can mean subtler lines and less slap-dash pigmentation. There is also hydrolyzed prunus domestica, a plum derivative rich in polyphenols that quietly boosts the antioxidant tally.
Preservatives and texture helpers include phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, sorbic acid and a smattering of silicones like dimethicone. All are approved for topical use at low concentrations although anyone with a known sensitivity to phenoxyethanol should note its presence. Sodium salicylate, a relative of salicylic acid, appears late in the INCI list. Amounts are tiny yet out of an abundance of caution I would still advise pregnant or breastfeeding users to check with a physician before nightly application.
Good news for ethical shoppers: Marcelle states the cream is free of animal-derived ingredients so vegetarians and vegans can slather without guilt. Fragrance-free status also lowers the risk of irritation for reactive skin. The jar packaging does mean antioxidants see air every time you open it so keep the lid tight and store it away from heat to preserve potency until the last scoop.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
After two weeks of nightly use here is how the cream’s strengths and quirks shook out.
What Works Well:
- Plush buttery texture sinks in within minutes leaving skin comfortably cushioned till morning
- Reliable overnight hydration keeps dry patches and tightness at bay even in heated bedrooms
- Peptide and antioxidant blend offers a solid foundation for gradual firmness support and environmental defense
- Fragrance free vegan formula stayed gentle on my reactive skin with zero redness or breakouts
- Accessible price compared with many peptide packed night creams makes repeat purchase less painful
What to Consider:
- Jar packaging lets air touch the antioxidants each time you open it so potency may dip over months
- Rich lipid load could feel heavy or clog prone on combination or blemish prone skin types
- Promises around firming and spot fading may require longer than two weeks to show perceptible change
My Final Thoughts
After two weeks in my bathroom laboratory Revival+ Ultra-Nutrition has earned a solid 7/10. It is a comforting night cap for thirsty skins and a gentle entry point for anyone curious about peptides, but it does not deliver overnight nirvana. The plush texture, zero fragrance and sensible price make it easy to like yet the firming and dark-spot talk feels more aspirational than transformative within the jar’s lifespan. I would recommend it to friends who complain of winter flakiness or want a break from heavily perfumed luxury creams, less so to those chasing dramatic lifting or rapid pigment correction. In other words this is the reliable sedan of night treatments, not the convertible.
If you love the concept but want to shop around, my face has already done the legwork. Deascal’s Nocturnal Revive Cream is an excellent all-rounder that plays nicely with every skin type I throw at it and the price tag feels positively friendly. Those seeking a touch more science-backed glamour might lean toward ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Overnight Matrix which marries decadence with a visible next-day bounce. For minimalists there is BIOSSANCE Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue, a featherweight balm that somehow keeps skin hydrated until brunch. Finally sometimes I reach for Olay’s Retinol24 Night Cream when I crave a gentle retinol hit without courting morning redness. Each of these has earned repeat-purchase status on my shelf so consider them worthy alternatives if Revival+ does not tick every box.
Before you slather with abandon remember the boring but important stuff: patch test new products on a discreet spot for a couple of days, especially if you are sensitive to rich plant butters or preservatives. Keep expectations realistic, maintain consistent nightly use and know that any glow you win will slowly fade if you ghost your skincare routine.