Introduction
Optimals has long enjoyed a quiet cult following among skincare buffs yet still manages to fly under the radar of the average bathroom shelf. The Swedish brand is best known for marrying no-nonsense formulations with a sprinkle of Nordic plant lore, and I have to admit there is something charming about that understated confidence.
Enter Age Revive Night Cream, a name that sounds equal parts superhero cape and evening lullaby. According to the brand it is an overnight multitasker meant to fortify the skin barrier, smooth lines and leave even battle-weary complexions feeling baby soft by sunrise.
With promises of Silver Birch Leaf nutrition, a mysteriously titled Multi Renewal8 Technology and a fatty-acid hug from linseed oil, the claims certainly piqued my curiosity. So I cleared my bedside table and spent a full two weeks massaging a pea-sized dab over face and neck nightly to discover whether this nocturnal hopeful is worth your hard-earned money.
What is Age Revive Night Cream?
Age Revive Night Cream sits in the overnight treatment category, which simply means it is designed to work while you sleep, taking advantage of the skin’s natural repair cycle during the night. Overnight treatments are usually richer than day creams and aim to address longer term concerns like fine lines, dehydration and barrier weakness without the interference of daytime stressors such as UV light or pollution.
This particular cream focuses on mature or line prone skin that could use extra support. Its formula blends glycerin for basic hydration with a nutrient cocktail sourced from silver birch leaf, delivering minerals, sugars and amino acids that help reinforce the skin barrier. A proprietary Multi Renewal8 complex is included to encourage overnight cell turnover and general surface renewal, while linseed oil brings omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that cushion and strengthen the skin over time.
The texture is intentionally rich so that it can cling to the skin through the night, yet it is designed to absorb fully rather than leave a greasy film. The brand suggests a pea sized amount spread thinly across face and neck after cleansing, steering clear of the eye area. Used consistently, the formula aims to soften the appearance of lines and leave skin feeling more resilient by morning.
Did it work?
In the spirit of rigorous skincare science I benched my usual overnight treatment for a few days before starting Age Revive Night Cream, patting myself on the back for the very controlled experiment that followed. Fourteen nights felt like a reasonable window to gauge progress, long enough for my skin to register changes yet short enough to pinpoint any early red flags.
Night one was all about texture. The cream spread smoothly and sank in faster than its richness suggested, leaving a comfortable veil rather than a greasy film. By morning my cheeks felt pleasantly cushioned and there was a subtle glow, the kind you get after a satisfying eight hours of sleep even when you only clocked six.
Through the first week that softness stayed consistent. Fine dehydration lines along my forehead appeared slightly blurred each dawn and I noticed less tightness after cleansing. However the promised “wow” moment around wrinkles never quite arrived. My deeper smile lines looked the same and a tiny congestion bump appeared on my chin around day five, nothing disastrous but enough to remind me the formula leans rich.
Days eight through fourteen delivered marginal gains rather than dramatic leaps. The cream continued to excel at overnight cushioning and my skin tone looked a touch more even, likely thanks to steady hydration. I did not see meaningful firmness or a visible smoothing of established lines although my barrier behaved well, no redness or flaky patches even after a long day in an air conditioned office.
So did it live up to its claims? Partly. It softened, nourished and kept irritation at bay but the multi target promise of wrinkle diminishment felt ambitious for what is essentially a comfort focused hydrator. I enjoyed the temporary morning plumpness yet after two weeks I missed the brighter, more refined finish my regular treatment delivers. For that reason I will not be making a permanent swap, though I would happily recommend Age Revive to anyone whose primary overnight wish list is simple: wake up to skin that feels pillowy, calm and well behaved.
Age revive night cream’s main ingredients explained
The backbone of this formula is good old glycerin, a tried and true humectant that pulls water into the upper layers of skin for an instant hit of plumpness. Working alongside it is a duo of silicones, cyclopentasiloxane and cyclohexasiloxane, that give the cream its silky glide while locking that moisture in place overnight. They evaporate slowly so you get the cushioning feel without a suffocating coat.
Next comes the hero plant element, silver birch leaf extract. Rich in trace minerals, natural sugars and amino acids, it supports the skin’s natural barrier and helps calm light surface irritation. If your face often feels taut by bedtime this extract can be surprisingly soothing by morning.
The headline Multi Renewal8 technology is a proprietary blend the brand keeps under wraps, but judging by the INCI it likely centers on pea extract, red currant and sea buckthorn juice. These botanicals bring gentle antioxidant perks that mop up some of the free radicals amassed during the day, giving your complexion a fresher canvas to repair itself on.
Linseed (flax) oil rounds things out with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that reinforce cell membranes and lend that supple, well fed feeling. One note of caution: linseed oil carries a moderate comedogenic rating, meaning it has a fair chance of clogging pores in skins already prone to congestion. Stearic and palmitic acids register in the low-to-mid range as well. If you struggle with blackheads or cystic breakouts consider a patch test first.
Good news for plant-based shoppers: none of the listed ingredients are animal derived so the cream appears suitable for vegans and vegetarians, though cross-contamination in manufacturing can never be ruled out completely. The formula is also free of common pregnancy red flags like retinoids or high-dose salicylic acid, yet fragrance and certain preservatives can still trigger sensitivities. As always expectant users should clear any new topical with their healthcare provider before slathering it on nightly.
Finally a quick word on safety additions. Phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate keep the microbial count in check so you can dip in without worry. There is a touch of synthetic fragrance plus titanium dioxide for the faintest hint of brightness, neither of which affected my skin but fragrance sensitive readers may wish to sample before committing.
What I liked/didn’t like
Here is the quick rundown after two weeks of nightly use.
What works well:
- Rich texture sinks in faster than expected leaving skin cushioned not greasy
- Consistent overnight hydration keeps barrier calm and reduces morning tightness
- Plant based actives and omega fatty acids offer a gentle, vegan friendly alternative to stronger anti aging formulas
What to consider:
- Results on established wrinkles are modest so line focused users may want a booster serum alongside
- Linseed oil plus stearic and palmitic acids mean the formula may not suit congestion prone skin
- Light added fragrance could be a deal breaker for highly sensitive noses or reactive complexions
My final thoughts
After two weeks on my nightstand Age Revive Night Cream has proven itself a solid comfort blanket rather than a time machine. It moisturises generously, keeps irritation to a minimum and gives that lovely morning pillow softness, yet its wrinkle smoothing claims stayed closer to a polite suggestion than a headline act. I have tested enough overnight treatments to know that a 7/10 rating is nothing to sniff at; plenty of formulas never make it past night three. Still, the bar for long term anti-ageing performance is high and this one clears it only halfway. I would recommend it to friends whose top priority is barrier support and overnight hydration, especially those with dry or mildly mature skin that prefers a gentle routine. Oilier or deeply line focused users might want something more targeted or lightweight.
If you like the idea of one product doing most of the heavy lifting but need a different angle, I have a few tried and loved alternatives. First up is Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal, an excellent all-rounder that somehow manages to be nourishing yet breathable on every skin type I have introduced it to, and the price per use is a pleasant surprise. Fans of a brighter finish may enjoy Overnight Glow Serum by Pixi which layers easily under lighter moisturisers and delivers a noticeable radiance boost within a week. Those chasing a gentle retinol vibe without the typical dryness could explore Retinol Night Cream by Geologie; it packs a refined punch and keeps breakout prone skin relatively calm. For a luxe but no-fuss option Twilight Night Serum by Joanna Vargas pairs ceramides with mild exfoliation and has never failed to rescue my complexion after long travel days.
Before you slather anything new please patch test behind the ear or along the jawline for a couple of nights (sorry to sound like an over protective parent). Remember that any gains you score with a night cream rely on consistent use so keep realistic expectations and give your chosen formula the time it needs to show off.