Introduction
Bliss is one of those playful yet science minded brands that loyal spa goers swear by but that casual skincare browsers may still be overlooking. Its cheerful approach to formulas has earned a reputation for delivering skin changing actives without the sticker shock or intimidation factor of some dermatologist backed labels.
Enter Renew & Smooth Night Serum, a name that practically promises a Cinderella moment the minute the lights go off. Bliss touts it as a nightly resurfacing treatment powered by a six acid cocktail that combines punchy glycolic with gentler polyhydroxy and fruit acids. According to the brand it sweeps away dead cells, amps up overnight radiance and leaves zero sticky film, all while suiting every skin type and serving a faint floral jasmine scent.
I massaged the serum on clean skin every other evening for a solid two weeks, upping to nightly use once my face acclimated to the mild tingle. The goal: see if this glow whisperer truly earns a spot in a crowded bathroom cabinet and whether it deserves your hard earned dollars.
What is Renew & Smooth Night Serum?
Renew & Smooth sits in the overnight treatment category, meaning it is a leave-on formula designed to work while you sleep rather than something you rinse away. Overnight treatments are useful because skin temperature rises and cellular repair peaks during the night, so active ingredients can often penetrate more efficiently and with less daytime irritation.
This particular treatment is a water-based resurfacing serum that relies on a six-acid blend: glycolic acid for deep exfoliation, polyhydroxy acid for gentler surface smoothing and a trio of fruit-derived acids from sugarcane, apple and citrus to round out the mix. Together they loosen the bonds holding dull, dead cells so fresher skin is revealed by morning.
The formula is labeled for all skin types though those new to acids are advised to start every other night to gauge tolerance. A mild tingle is normal. Because alpha hydroxy acids can make skin more sun sensitive, daily sunscreen is essential.
Additional callouts include aloe and glycerin for hydration, licorice for some brightness support and a light jasmine scent that fades after application. The serum is sold in a 1 oz size and is meant to be applied to clean, dry skin as the first step after cleansing, followed with moisturizer if needed.
In short it is an exfoliating night serum aiming to smooth texture and boost radiance with a blend of acids balanced by soothing and hydrating agents.
Did it work?
In the name of rigorous skincare science I benched my usual overnight treatment for three days before starting Renew & Smooth so my face could serve as a clean control group. Fourteen days felt like a fair window to see what this acid cocktail could actually do.
I began every other night for the first week. One full pump spread easily across cheeks, forehead and chin, then down the neck for good measure. A mild fizzing tingle popped up around my nose and between my brows but settled within a minute, no flushing or stinging. By the next morning skin felt soft to the touch, like I had taken very fine sandpaper to the rough patches along my jawline. Visually though, not much had changed yet.
Night five I noticed the faint floral scent had already trained my brain to expect that gentle prickle. Surface texture continued to feel smoother and my usual midday shine seemed dialed back a notch, probably thanks to the acids keeping pores from getting gunked up. Still, dullness lingered and the post breakout spots on my cheek looked exactly the same.
After the first week I switched to nightly use. The tingle lessened, suggesting my skin had acclimated. By day ten I could see a touch more clarity, as if a gray film had been wiped off the mirror. Makeup went on with fewer skips around my nose and my toner-soaked cotton pad picked up less debris, always a satisfying sign. On the flip side I caught a couple of micro flakes near my mouth, nothing a richer moisturizer could not fix but worth noting if you lean dry.
Day fourteen rolled around and the verdict was mild but measurable progress. Texture: noticeably refined. Glow: present though hardly blinding. Dark spots or fine lines: no meaningful shift. The serum definitely did not leave any sticky aftermath and it cooperated with everything from lightweight gels to heavier creams.
So did it live up to the claims? Partially. It smoothed and brightened in a gentle, incremental way. It did not deliver the dramatic overnight transformation the marketing hinted at and it did not outperform my current acid staple, so I will not be making a permanent trade. That said, for anyone new to chemical exfoliation or craving a mid level option that behaves well under other products, Renew & Smooth is a pleasant, user friendly choice that proves Bliss still knows its way around a glow formula.
Renew & Smooth Night Serum’s main ingredients explained
The star of the formula is glycolic acid, a small alpha hydroxy acid that can wiggle deepest into the stratum corneum to unglue dull surface cells. Bliss does not reveal the exact percentage but the mid-level tingle suggests a concentration around 6 to 8 percent which is enough to accelerate cell turnover without turning your face crimson. Because glycolic also pulls water into the skin you get a mild plumping bonus alongside the exfoliation.
Next up is gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid often called a gentler cousin to AHAs. Its larger molecular size means it works more slowly so you score smoothing benefits with less sting while also receiving antioxidant protection. The blend then layers in fruit-sourced acids from sugarcane, apple, orange and lemon. These contribute extra exfoliating enzymes plus some naturally occurring sugars that help the skin hold moisture.
Balance comes from a handful of cushioning agents. Aloe juice and glycerin flood the surface with hydration so you do not wake up tight or flaky. Squalane, sunflower seed oil and oat kernel oil provide a whisper of lipid support that keeps the acid party from eroding the barrier. None of these oils are considered highly comedogenic which means they have a low likelihood of clogging pores though very acne-prone readers should still patch test.
Licorice root extract nudges down redness and can over time help soften the look of dark spots thanks to its glabridin content. Green tea delivers a dose of polyphenols to neutralize free radicals and vitamin E rounds out the antioxidant squad. Dimethicone shows up as a texture enhancer creating that glide-on feel yet it is breathable and likewise rated low on the pore-clog scale.
The formula is free of obvious animal-derived ingredients so it is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. It does contain fragrance in the form of a floral jasmine blend which could be a deal breaker for ultra-sensitive skin. Pregnant or breastfeeding users should remember that even though glycolic acid is generally viewed as the safer AHA compared with salicylic acid any active treatment should be cleared with a doctor first. Finally the acids in here will increase photosensitivity so keep that SPF in heavy rotation the morning after use.
What I liked/didn’t like
After two weeks here is the quick rundown of highs and lows.
What works well:**
- Noticeably refines texture overnight yet feels gentle enough for nightly use once skin adjusts
- Absorbs fast with zero tack so it layers cleanly under both gel and cream moisturizers
- Light jasmine fragrance fades quickly and the formula is vegan friendly at an accessible price point
What to consider:**
- Results on hyperpigmentation or fine lines are modest so those concerns may need a stronger active
- Can cause mild flaking on drier areas unless paired with a richer moisturizer
- Contains fragrance which may not suit very sensitive skin
My final thoughts
Overnight treatments sit in that sweet spot between effort and reward: you tap them in, go to bed and hope to wake up looking like you slept twice as long. After two weeks of dedicated use alongside plenty of comparable formulas in my rotation, I feel I have given Bliss Renew & Smooth a fair shake. It earns a respectable 7/10 on my personal scorecard because it reliably smooths rough patches and builds a gentle glow without the collateral redness that stronger acids can trigger.
Would I recommend it? Yes, with qualifiers. If you are new to chemical exfoliation, prone to irritation or simply want a mid strength serum to keep texture in check, this is a considerate choice that will not bully your barrier. If you are chasing aggressive brightening or line softening you may crave something with heftier percentages or retinoids.
For friends who ask, I say Renew & Smooth is for combination or normal skin types seeking maintenance-level refinement. Very sensitive users might balk at the fragrance and those already devoted to high octane acids will likely find it a little tame. Still, its cooperative texture and modest price make it an easy yes for many in the middle.
Should you want options, a few alternatives I have run through my own nighttime lineup come to mind. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is an excellent one and done pick that wraps exfoliation, hydration and barrier support into a single step and clocks in at a wallet friendly cost per use. If you favor a lighter serum texture, Pixi’s Overnight Glow Serum pairs glycolic with soothing aloe for a similar radiance boost, while Trilogy’s Rejuvenating Overnight Mask leans on natural oils and plant actives to deliver a cushion of moisture alongside gentle resurfacing. For those feeling adventurous with actives, Pestle & Mortar’s Superstar Retinol Night Oil marries retinol with coenzyme Q10 for a bump in anti aging prowess without feeling greasy.
Before you leap into any of the above, remember the basics: patch test on a discreet area, ramp up slowly and keep SPF in the daytime mix. Sorry for sounding like an over protective parent but skin only gets one life and actives are not a sprint. Results from any overnight treatment require consistency to maintain, so set realistic expectations and enjoy the gradual glow.