Introduction
Feel might not yet enjoy the household-name status of certain legacy giants, but anyone who has dipped a toe into ingredient-focused skincare circles has likely bumped into its clever, sensorial formulas. The indie brand has built a quiet reputation for pairing science with a dash of fun, so when I heard about its new Refinishing Night Serum I was keen to see whether that pedigree still holds.
The name alone sets high expectations. “Refinishing” suggests a full overnight renovation rather than a gentle tune-up, and Feel is happy to fuel the anticipation: the company promises a smoother, more even complexion courtesy of lactic acid for rapid resurfacing and sugarcane-derived squalane for comforting nourishment. They hint at visible results in as little as a week and position the serum as the final flourish in an evening routine.
Claims like these practically beg to be tested, so I cleared space on my bathroom shelf and committed to two full weeks of nightly use. Below, you will find how the serum fared under real-world conditions and whether it deserves a permanent slot in your own bedtime lineup.
What is Refinishing Night Serum?
Refinishing Night Serum is an overnight treatment, meaning it is applied as the final step of an evening routine and left on while you sleep. Overnight treatments make use of the skin’s natural repair cycle and work without interference from makeup or daytime pollutants, offering a low-effort way to let active ingredients stay in contact with the skin for several hours.
The serum centers on lactic acid, a well known alpha hydroxy acid that loosens the bonds between surface cells to encourage gentle exfoliation. To offset potential dryness the formula includes 5 percent sugar derived squalane, a lightweight oil that adds a dose of emollience. Supporting players such as glycerin, niacinamide and allantoin add hydration and soothing benefits.
Feel positions the blend as a texture refiner that can soften the look of post-blemish marks and promote a more even complexion within about a week of nightly use. In practical terms it sits somewhere between a mild daily acid toner and a once-in-a-while peel, aiming to give consistent but not aggressive resurfacing for most skin types.
Did it work?
In the interest of being very scientific I benched my usual overnight treatment for three nights before starting this trial, allowing my skin a mini reset and giving the serum a clear playing field. Fourteen consecutive applications felt like a fair window to judge performance so I slotted it in after cleansing and a lightweight hydrating mist, then called it a night.
Night one delivered the classic lactic tingle that subsided within a minute. By morning my skin looked a touch brighter though nothing dramatic. I followed with SPF and went about my day, noting no dryness or sensitivity. The same pattern held through the first week: mild warmth on application, a smooth feel at sunrise but not the glassy transformation the marketing might suggest.
Things picked up around day eight. I noticed foundation sitting more evenly across the cheek area where I usually battle tiny texture bumps. Two stubborn post blemish marks on my jaw began to fade from angry red to muted pink, which impressed me given that most acids take a full month to move the needle there. Hydration stayed comfortable too, likely thanks to that sugarcane squalane doing quiet background work.
By day fourteen my skin tone looked marginally more uniform and I could skip my usual gentle scrub without missing it. What I did not see was the wholesale resurfacing implied by the term “refinishing”. Deeper freckles and an old acne scar remained unchanged and a hormonal spot that appeared on day eleven healed at its usual pace.
So did it work? Partly. The serum smoothed minor unevenness and offered a respectable glow boost without irritation which is no small feat. Still, the improvements were incremental rather than game changing so I will probably return to my trusty acid rotation. If you are starting your exfoliation journey or want a kinder alternative to stronger peels this could be a pleasant addition and I am glad to have given it a fair shake.
Refinishing Night Serum’s main ingredients explained
Lactic acid is the engine of this formula. As an alpha hydroxy acid with a larger molecular size than glycolic, it exfoliates gently by loosening dead surface cells yet is less likely to sting or over thin the barrier. At 8 to 10 percent by my estimate from the INCI order it sits in the sweet spot where you can see brightness within days without the flaking that stronger peels bring. The pH appears to be adjusted with sodium hydroxide so the acid remains active while staying skin compatible.
Sugar derived squalane steps in as the buffer. This lightweight oil mimics our skin’s own sebum which lets it slip in smoothly and reduce transepidermal water loss. Unlike its older cousin squalene, squalane is fully saturated so it will not oxidize and clog pores. Translation: you get cushiony moisture minus the heavy after feel.
Backing those two stars is a trio of reliable helpers. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate pull water into the upper layers to keep skin plump after the lactic sweep, while niacinamide quietly supports barrier repair and can help fade leftover redness from past breakouts. Allantoin rounds things out with soothing and mild keratolytic properties which is chem-speak for helping shed rough patches without irritation.
There are a couple of potential watchpoints. Caprylic/capric triglyceride and cetearyl alcohol both score around a 2 on the comedogenic scale which means they can occasionally trigger bumps in very clog prone skin. Comedogenic simply means an ingredient may block pores in susceptible individuals. Most normal and dry skins tolerate these fats just fine but if you break out at the sight of coconut oil you may want to patch test first.
The ingredient list is free of animal derivatives so the serum is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. There are no retinoids or salicylic acid which are common pregnancy flags, yet because lactic acid still alters cell turnover it is safest to get a medical green light before using if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Preservation comes via phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin, a duo widely used for their low irritation profile. The texture owes its silky slip to the olive-derived emulsifiers cetearyl olivate and sorbitan olivate while xanthan gum and polyacrylate crosspolymer-6 keep everything evenly suspended so the pump never sputters watery serum on day thirty.
Overall this is a thoughtfully balanced blend that leans on evidence backed actives, stays free of fragrance and uses plant or lab grown sources throughout. Skin that craves mild chemical exfoliation with a hit of non greasy moisture should feel right at home.
What I liked/didn’t like
Here is the quick rundown of where the serum shines and where it might fall short.
What works well:
- Gentle lactic acid delivers a smoother feel and subtle glow within a week without noticeable irritation
- Squalane and hydrators keep skin comfortably moisturised so you can skip an extra night cream
- Fragrance free vegan formula suits most skin types and preferences
- Consistent texture improvement makes makeup sit more evenly, reducing the need for physical exfoliants
What to consider:
- Results stay modest so those chasing dramatic fading of deep marks may need a stronger active
- Light tingle on application could bother very reactive skin
- Price lands higher than some comparable acid serums
My final thoughts
After two solid weeks of nightly use I can say Refinishing Night Serum earns a respectable spot in the “steady performers” category. It brightened minor dullness and helped foundation glide on more evenly yet it stopped short of the dramatic overhaul its name teases. That puts it at a straight 7/10 for me: good enough that I will keep the bottle around for maintenance nights yet not so transformative that I would abandon stronger acids when I want faster movement on stubborn marks.
This is a formula I would point toward beginners dipping a toe into chemical exfoliation or to anyone whose skin balks at glycolic intensity. The lactic-plus-squalane blueprint keeps irritation low and moisture balanced so dry or combination types should feel at ease. If you are already comfortable with higher strength peels or chasing deep scar revision you will probably wish for something punchier.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, but with context. I would stress that the improvements are incremental and best appreciated over time rather than overnight fireworks. For friends with extremely reactive skin I would still suggest a patch test and for results-hungry veterans I would label it a gentle back-up rather than a hero.
Of course the night treatment aisle is crowded and I have spent plenty of evenings test driving alternatives. If you want a single cream that wraps hydration exfoliation and repair into one neat step, Deascal’s Nocturnal Revive Cream is an excellent allrounder that suits every skin type and arrives at a friendlier price. For a cooling gel option that drenches skin in hydration while you sleep, LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask remains a favourite. Shoppers seeking a stronger resurfacing edge might gravitate toward Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum which marries AHAs and BHAs for quicker clarity, while Medik8 Advanced Night Restore offers a peptide-rich cushion for those prioritising barrier health alongside gentle renewal. I have rotated through each of these and can vouch for their distinct strengths depending on what your skin is craving.
Before you rush to add anything new to your cart a few pragmatic notes: always patch test behind the ear or along the jaw for a couple of nights first (sorry for sounding like an over-protective parent) and remember that any glow you gain needs upkeep. Stop using the serum and your skin will eventually drift back to its baseline so consistency is non-negotiable. With that in mind choose the overnight partner you can commit to and your complexion will thank you in its own quiet way.