Marcelle has long been one of those quietly reliable Canadian beauty houses that pops up in drugstores and surprises you with formulas that punch above their price point. While it may not dominate social feeds like the buzziest indie brands, skincare veterans know the name stands for sensible science backed by decades of dermatological know-how.
Enter the tongue-twister Revival+ Skin Renewal Anti-Aging Night Cream, a title that promises to take tired skin on a full-scale comeback tour while you sleep. Marcelle touts it as a global anti-aging solution aimed at the 45-plus crowd, highlighting chicory root, detoxifying actives and a promise of a morning glow so fresh it could pass for eight hours of uninterrupted dreamland.
I spent a solid two weeks massaging the cream into freshly cleansed skin each night, scrutinising everything from texture to next-day luminosity to determine whether Revival+ lives up to its bold billing or quietly joins the overcrowded night-cream shelf.
Disclaimer: This is not a paid or sponsored review. All opinions are genuine and based on my personal experience. As always, individual results can differ depending on skin type, lifestyle and a host of unpredictable factors.
What Is Revival+ Skin Renewal Anti-Aging Night Cream?
Revival+ Skin Renewal Anti-Aging Night Cream is an overnight treatment from Marcelle aimed at skin that is starting to show visible signs of aging, particularly in those over 45. Overnight treatments are products designed to work while you sleep, when skin is naturally in repair mode and less exposed to environmental stressors. They are typically richer than day creams and focus on supporting the skin’s own nighttime regeneration process.
This cream positions itself as a “global anti-aging solution,” meaning it targets multiple concerns such as fine lines, loss of firmness, dullness and dehydration rather than focusing on a single issue. Marcelle highlights chicory root extract for renewal, detoxifying actives to sweep away daily buildup and a blend of hydrators that aim to leave skin looking fresher by morning.
The formula promises to regenerate skin for a more radiant look, help redefine facial contours, hydrate deeply and deliver a more pronounced glow after a full night of use. Applied to cleansed skin as the last step of an evening routine, it slots into the same category as other night creams designed to provide a concentrated hit of moisture and anti-aging support while you sleep.
Did It Work?
In the name of very serious science I benched my regular night cream for three nights before starting Revival+, giving my skin a clean baseline and earning myself imaginary lab goggles. Fourteen days felt like a fair window to see tangible shifts so I stuck to the same routine each evening: cleanse, mist, two drops of serum then a blueberry-sized dollop of Revival+ pressed over face and neck.
First impression was texture. It is cushiony yet not greasy, sliding on easily and setting to a soft satin within a minute. Night one I woke with skin that felt comfortably hydrated but not especially brighter. By night three that hydration had locked in more decisively. My cheeks, which usually get papery by morning, stayed plump and I did not need a midday spritz to keep foundation from cracking.
Week one closed with small wins. Fine dehydration lines along my nasolabial area looked slightly relaxed and there was a subtle all-over glow that friends mistook for a new highlighter. Contour redefining however was modest. My jawline did not suddenly sharpen and gravity never takes a vacation.
Into week two the cream’s heavier side began to surface. I noticed two tiny congested bumps on my chin, likely from the rich emollients and dimethicone. Nothing alarming but enough to remind me that my combination skin prefers formulas with a lighter occlusive profile. On the upside overall tone appeared more even and the inner-cheek dullness that creeps in during long workdays was less obvious.
Final morning report after day fourteen: hydration and radiance boxes ticked, minor smoothing achieved, no dramatic detox effect detected. The chicory-root glow exists but it is more backstage warm light than spotlight brilliance. Revival+ delivered pleasant results yet fell short of the transformative comeback tour the packaging suggests.
Would I keep it in permanent rotation? Probably not. While it is a solid performer for overnight moisture I already own lighter creams that deliver similar benefits without flirting with congestion. That said if your main concerns are comfort, hydration and a gentle boost of morning luminosity this could be a dependable bedside companion.
Main Ingredients Explained
Front and center is chicory root extract, a botanical often praised for its ability to nudge cell turnover in a gentle way. Think of it as a milder cousin to retinol that helps surface fresh skin without the textbook flaking. Working beside it are two lab-made peptides acetyl tetrapeptide-9 and acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester which signal the skin to produce more collagen and reinforce elasticity over time. The supporting cast is a dependable blend of humectants like glycerin and butylene glycol that pull water into the upper layers followed by emollients such as octyldodecanol and dicaprylyl carbonate that seal that moisture in and leave a silky finish.
There is also retinyl palmitate, a vitamin A derivative included at what feels like a low beginner-friendly level. It offers mild wrinkle smoothing and tone evening benefits but its presence means the formula falls into the use-with-caution category for anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. Dermatologists generally advise skipping all retinoids unless a physician gives the green light so file this cream under ask your doctor first.
Antioxidant protection arrives via sunflower seed extract soy extract tocopherol and its more stable cousin tocopheryl acetate. Together they mop up free radicals generated by UV exposure and pollution helping preserve the collagen you already have. Lecithin boosts penetration of these actives while sodium polyacrylate creates the cushiony texture that makes the cream feel richer than its price tag suggests.
As for comedogenic potential, ingredients like hydrogenated coco-glycerides cetearyl alcohol and dimethicone can sit toward the middle of the pore-clogging scale especially for very oily or acne-prone skin. Comedogenic simply means an ingredient has a tendency to create blockages that may lead to blackheads or breakouts. I only saw two tiny bumps during testing but anyone prone to congestion will want to patch test first.
The INCI reads free of animal-derived ingredients and the brand is certified cruelty-free so the formula is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans. It is also fragrance-free, a rare win for sensitive noses though it does rely on phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin for preservation which some reactive skins prefer to avoid. All in all the ingredient list skews sensible science over flashy fillers yet it does carry that pregnancy caveat so keep a careful eye on usage if you fall into that demographic.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is the quick rundown after two weeks of nightly use.
What Works Well:
- Cushiony texture absorbs fast and leaves a soft satin finish without greasy residue
- Reliable overnight hydration keeps dehydration lines at bay and helps makeup sit smoother the next day
- Subtle next-morning radiance gives skin a rested look that friends noticed
- Fragrance-free vegan and cruelty-free formula suits sensitive noses and ethical shoppers
What to Consider:
- Rich emollients may prompt minor congestion on combination or breakout-prone skin
- Contour firming effect is modest so do not expect a sculpted jawline
- Heavier feel than lightweight gel creams which could be a drawback for hot climates or those who prefer minimal occlusion
My Final Thoughts
Night creams are the backstage crew of any routine, quietly handling repair work while we faceplant into the pillow. After two diligent weeks with Marcelle Revival+ I can say it delivers solid overnight hydration and a soft sunrise glow yet stops short of a headline act. On my combination skin it was more comforting blanket than shape-shifter, smoothing dehydration lines and evening tone without pulling off the firmer-jaw miracle printed on the box. That is not a knock so much as a reality check: at 7/10 this is a competent performer that will please normal to dry skins craving plush moisture and a fragrance-free formula. Oily or congestion-prone types may find the rich occlusives a bit clingy, and anyone hunting for dramatic contour lifting might want to keep scrolling.
Would I recommend it to a friend? To the one who complains her skin feels papery by dawn, yes. To my serum-stacking buddy who breaks out if you wave dimethicone near her, probably not. The price lands comfortably in mid-drugstore territory so you are not mortgaging the house for decent results, but you are also not unlocking secret youth crystals.
If Revival+ sounds almost right but not quite your vibe, a few tried-and-tested alternatives deserve mention. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is my reliable all-rounder, wrapping skin in a light yet nourishing veil that suits every temperament and wallet. For a more luxury bounce Pro-Collagen Night Cream by ELEMIS plumps fine lines without the weight. Those who prefer a refreshing gel cloud will love LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask which soaks in fast and leaves cheeks dewy by breakfast. Finally Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue by BIOSSANCE excels at calming stressed complexions while topping up moisture reserves. I have rotated through each of these and can vouch for their particular charms.
Before you slather anything new, a quick PSA from your overprotective skincare aunt: patch test behind the ear or along the jaw for a couple of nights to rule out surprises. Remember nightly creams work by steady accumulation; the glow will fade if you toss the jar aside after week three. Consistency, sunscreen and a hint of patience remain the unsexy keys to keeping any hard-won radiance around.