Congratulations! Your order qualifies for free shipping Free delivery when you spend $49+ | You are $49 away from free shipping.

FREE Gentle Genius™ Hand Cream when you spend $110+ SHOP NOW >

WARNING: These products are leaving soon SHOP NOW >

Pick, mix, & save! Buy 2 Boosters, get one free No code required SHOP NOW >
Pai Skincare UK

Your Basket 0

Congratulations! Your order qualifies for free shipping You are $49 away from free shipping.
Sorry, looks like we don't have enough of this product.

Subtotal Free
Shipping, taxes, and discount codes are calculated at checkout

Your Cart is Empty
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK
Pai Skincare UK

Bright Now ™ PHA & Rosehip Exfoliating Toner

$49.00

100ml / 3.4 fl.oz

Our debut acid toner, made for every skin type and gentle enough for daily use, revealing smoother, glowing skin without irritation.

Pai Skincare UK

Exfoliating

Pai Skincare UK

Brightening

Pai Skincare UK

Evens skin tone

Free delivery when you spend $49 (Mainland USA) | 90-Day returns

Pai Skincare UK

Free Gentle Genius™ Hand Cream when you spend $110+

Bright Now ™ PHA & Rosehip Exfoliating Toner

$49.00

•

Vegan

•

Powered By Green Chemistry

•

Cruelty Free
Why You'll Love It

SWIPE BRIGHT.
An ultra-gentle daily exfoliator that sweeps away dead skin cells and brightens visibly from the first pass, for a smoother, more uniform-looking complexion. Better yet, it's clinically proven for sensitive skin.

Doing the heavy lifting is PHA (Polyhydroxy Acid), whose oversized molecules stay up top instead of pushing into deeper layers. You get the resurfacing payoff of a traditional acid without the burn. Backing it up: the first 100% natural COSMOS-certified Niacinamide, a clinically proven brightener that evens tone at the cellular level, plus CO2-extracted organic Rosehip loaded with antioxidant carotenoids to amplify radiance.

No fragrance, no alcohol, just a daily brightening, skin-smoothing step that actually agrees with sensitive skin.

Directions

Once a day, morning or evening. Give the bottle a quick shake, saturate a reusable cotton round, and sweep across cleansed, dry skin, taking it from face down to neck.

Full Ingredients

Aqua (water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice* (aloe vera), Gluconolactone, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc Lactate, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract*ᶜ, Babassu Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters, Sea Water Extract, Pandanus Conoidus Fruit Oil (buah merah), Caprylyl/capryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Arginine, Hyaluronic Acid, Glucosylrutin, Citric Acid.

24% Organic (of total, minus water and minerals) / 100% natural origin.

*Organic ᶜCO₂ extracted

Recycling

Say no to landfill! Let's recycle everything! - Sarah

Unscrew the cap from the glass bottle and rinse all parts. Place the glass bottle in your curbside recycling.

All Pai boxes, cartons, sleeves and inserts can be recycled with your curbside paper recycling.

Some product components are not currently curbside recyclable in most US programs. We are working on a US-specific recycling solution. In the meantime, check what your local recycling provider accepts at earth911.com.

Pai Skincare UK

  • An independent trial of consumers with enlarged pores and uneven skin tone showed the following results*:

  • 87%

    agreed skin looked brighter

  • 87%

    agreed it didn't dry out the skin

  • 80%

    agreed skin looked clearer

*Based on a one week independent consumer trial of 105 subjects

Pai Skincare UK

Key Ingredients

  • Rosehip Extract

    A Pai Skincare hero, this radiance-boosting skin superfood is rich in Omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9. Highly regenerative, Rosehip also fuels our skin health for a brighter and more even-looking complexion.

  • Natural Niacinamide

    The first 100% natural, COSMOS-certified Niacinamide that brightens and evens skin tone by helping to slow down our skin’s melanin production. A potent antioxidant, it neutralises free radicals to banish dullness, too.

  • Deep Sea Magnesium

    Harnessing the power of the ocean, this natural complex has a regenerative and anti-inflammatory effect. It soaks in quickly to improve the skin’s health at every level.

  • Organic Aloe Vera

    This powerful plant extract is known for its deeply soothing and hydrating properties, helping to reduce inflammation for an altogether calmer complexion.

  • Hyaluronic Acid

    A sugar the body naturally produces, Hyaluronic Acid can hold between 10 and 50 times its weight in water, storing it like a reservoir for the skin – giving a long-lasting, moisturising effect. Our all-natural form comes from maize.

  • Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA)

    This formula is powered by Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs) in the form of Gluconolactone, which gently resurfaces to reveal smoother, clearer and glowier skin. The larger molecule size means PHAs penetrate the skin less deeply than AHAs and BHAs – making them a better fit for sensitive complexions.

Pai Skincare UK

“Exfoliating is tricky territory for those with sensitive skin. So our first acid exfoliant had to be gentle enough for daily use, yet powerful enough to deliver dazzling results. A world away from old school toners, it resurfaces your skin to reveal and maintain an everyday glow – without dryness or drama.”

SARAH BROWN
FOUNDER, PAI SKINCARE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bright Now a good replacement for the discontinued REN Ready Steady Glow tonic?

It was developed specifically to serve consumers left without Ready Steady Glow after Unilever closed REN in 2025. Both are British-made daily acid toners, but Bright Now improves on the original in key ways: it swaps lactic acid (AHA) for gluconolactone (PHA), which delivers comparable resurfacing without the stinging or sun sensitivity. It also replaces Ready Steady Glow's parfum and four citrus essential oils (all containing the allergen limonene) with a completely fragrance-free formula, and adds niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and CO2-extracted rosehip for brightening and hydration that the original didn't offer.

What skin types and concerns is Bright Now best suited for?

It works across a broad range: blemish-prone skin benefits from the cell turnover and pore-clearing action, dull or uneven skin gets the brightening and tone-evening effects, and mature skin sees texture refinement and improved radiance. In the consumer trial, 80% agreed skin looked clearer and 87% agreed it didn't dry out skin, so it suits drier and oilier types alike.

How do I use Bright Now in my skincare routine?

Use once daily, AM or PM. Shake before use, soak a reusable cotton pad, and sweep across cleansed, dry face and neck. It's a leave-on formula, so no rinsing needed. Apply before your serums and moisturisers, and pair it with Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil at night for a complementary rosehip-powered brightening routine.

Is Bright Now suitable for sensitive skin?

It was designed specifically for sensitive skin. The formula is independently patch tested for 96 hours (four times the industry standard), and published research confirms gluconolactone PHA is compatible with clinically sensitive skin, including rosacea and atopic dermatitis (Green et al., Cutis, 2004). In the consumer trial, 88% of 105 subjects agreed it caused no irritation, and 81% said it didn't cause any tingle.

Can I use Bright Now during pregnancy?

Yes. Bright Now is pregnancy-safe. It uses PHA (gluconolactone) rather than the AHAs or retinoids that are typically flagged during pregnancy, and the entire formula is 100% natural origin with no essential oils or fragrance.

Does Bright Now increase sun sensitivity like other acid toners?

No. Unlike glycolic acid and other AHAs, gluconolactone PHA does not increase photosensitivity (confirmed in published research; PMID: 15002656), so it's safe for year-round daily use without needing extra sun protection precautions beyond your normal routine. That said, daily SPF is always a good idea, especially if brightening and evening skin tone are your goals.

Can I use Bright Now alongside retinol, vitamin C, or other actives?

Yes. Because PHA works gently at the skin's surface rather than penetrating deep, it layers well with other actives in the Pai range, including retinoid and vitamin C boosters. Apply Bright Now after cleansing, then follow with your treatment serums and moisturisers as usual.

What does the niacinamide in Bright Now do, and why is it special?

Bright Now features the first 100% natural, COSMOS-certified niacinamide available in cosmetics, which means certified organic formulations can finally include this gold-standard brightening active. It works by inhibiting melanosome transfer, the process that moves pigment from melanocytes to surrounding skin cells. In vitro research found it reduces that transfer by 35–68% (Hakozaki et al., British Journal of Dermatology, 2002), and a 12-week vehicle-controlled clinical study showed 5% topical niacinamide significantly improved hyperpigmentation and skin lightness from as early as week 4 (Bissett et al., Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2005).

What role does the CO2-extracted rosehip play in this toner?

Organic rosehip extract (Rosa canina) delivers the carotenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids that provide antioxidant protection and support radiance while your skin is being exfoliated. CO2 supercritical extraction significantly increases the concentration of natural antioxidants like tocopherols and carotenoids while decreasing peroxide content compared to conventional methods (Koraqi et al., Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024). It's the same extraction method used in Pai's Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil, so the two work as natural partners in a brightening routine.

What certifications does Bright Now hold?

Bright Now is COSMOS Organic certified with 100% natural origin content, Vegan Society registered, Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certified, and dermatologist tested and approved. It's also hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (so it won't clog pores), and free from parabens, silicones, sulfates, gluten, alcohol, fragrance, and essential oils. Like every Pai product, it's formulated and manufactured in Pai's own London lab.

What makes Bright Now different from other acid toners?

Most acid toners use AHAs or BHAs that penetrate deep into skin, causing stinging, redness, and sun sensitivity. Bright Now uses gluconolactone (PHA), a larger-molecule acid that delivers the same resurfacing effect but works at the skin's surface, so there's no irritation trade-off. It's also fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and essential oil-free, which is rare in this category. In a consumer trial of 105 women, 87% agreed skin looked brighter after one week while 88% agreed it caused no irritation.

What clinical evidence supports Bright Now's brightening claims?

In an independent consumer trial of 105 women (aged 30+, with enlarged pores and uneven skin tone), 87% agreed skin looked brighter after seven days, 86% agreed it gave skin a glow, 80% agreed skin looked clearer, and 72% agreed skin tone looked more even. Notably, 82% also agreed skin felt smoother and 75% said it felt less congested.

 

The actives are supported by published peer-reviewed research: a 12-week vehicle-controlled study found 5% niacinamide significantly improved hyperpigmentation and skin lightness (Bissett et al., 2005; PMID: 17166242), and a 12-week regimen comparison confirmed PHA delivers comparable smoothing results to AHA with significantly less irritation (Green et al., 2004; PMID: 15002656).

How is Bright Now different from Pai's Phaze PHA Clarifying Face Wash, since both use gluconolactone PHA?

Both use the same gluconolactone PHA, but the format changes what they do. Phaze is a wash-off cleanser designed for daily decongesting and clarifying, so the PHA has limited contact time with skin. Bright Now is a leave-on toner, meaning the gluconolactone stays on your skin to deliver continuous resurfacing, brightening (with added niacinamide and rosehip), and hydration throughout the day or night. You can use them together or alternate depending on whether your priority is clearing congestion (Phaze) or brightening and evening tone (Bright Now).

Is Bright Now suitable for darker skin tones concerned about hyperpigmentation or uneven tone?

Yes. The niacinamide in Bright Now works by reducing the transfer of pigment-containing melanosomes between skin cells, rather than suppressing melanin production itself. Research found it reduces that transfer by 35–68% (Hakozaki et al., British Journal of Dermatology, 2002), which helps fade hyperpigmentation and even out tone without affecting overall skin colour. The PHA exfoliation also supports this by gently lifting away pigmented dead cells at the surface, and because it doesn't increase photosensitivity the way AHAs do, it's less likely to trigger the post-inflammatory darkening that can follow irritation on deeper skin tones.

Overall rating: 4.7586207 / 5 from 29 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Bright Now ™ PHA & Rosehip Exfoliating Toner effectively brightens and smoothens skin, providing a clearer and more even complexion. It is gentle on sensitive skin and feels lovely and silky, making it a suitable daily radiance-boosting step.

Summary topics

  • Skin Brightness: 50%
  • Skin Feel: 16%

Review topics: [irritation, results, feels, use, skin, looks, base, difference, glow, face, toner, addition, pai, exfoliator, routine, cleanser, fan].

Review highlights

  • "Definitely brightened my skin, feel I can face people now with no make up on!" — Julie O.
  • "I've been using it for 3+ weeks and my skin is visibly brighter and smoother." — Agne I.
  • "Exfoliates and gently cleanses the skin, smooths it in the end, and leaves it radiant." — Marion D.

Reviews

Like a soft blanket cocooning my face…

"I have fairly sensitive skin usually well controlled with other sensitive skincare. However, my face suddenly flared up recently with red patches; a little sore & swollen in areas. As soon as I used the very gentle Pai cleanser and applied the very gentle toner & moisturiser, I felt such relief! It was as if my face was being cocooned in the lightest and softest blanket. Have been using for a few weeks and can definitely recommend. I will continue using; am a definite convert now."

— Berni J. (5/5)

Lovely but my skin said no :(

"I was really excited when this launched, as it seemed to offer a gentle alternative for my rosacea-prone skin. It felt lovely and silky on application and I enjoyed using it. Sadly I had to stop after a few days due to excessive breakouts. I've now stripped back my routine and the breakouts reduced as soon as I stopped using the product. When I'm confident my skin has settled down I'll look to gradually reintroducing my lovely pai products once more."

— Joy G. (2/5)

Amazing

"Recently I switched up my routine a bit. I switched from The Anthemis moisturiser to the C-2 Believe one. I also added this toner which I use in the evenings. That along with the hyaluronic acid serum. My skin has never look brighter, healthier, younger, better. I can't believe how well the products work together. I get up in the morning and my skin already looks great before doing anything to it. It's just got a youthful healthy glow. Pores and scars from spots seem to be disappearing rapidly and my skin just looks much clearer. I'm so happy with the new products and I just love Pai overall. Been using them for years and I'd recommend to everyone. I'm 36 and feel like I have the best skin of my life right now. For reference - my skin is pretty normal but I can get hormonal breakouts around my chin/jaw area."

— Kim (5/5)

Another fantastic Pai product

"I have very sensitive skin and dehydrated skin. I have been using this toner in the morning time for a couple of weeks now and I have noticed that I need to use less moisturiser and my skin feels soft with zero dryness all day. This toner will be a part of my regular Pai skincare routine. Thank you Pai for developing products that are suitable for sensitive skin. Finally I can get excited about a new product without the fear of a reaction"

— Joanne R. (5/5)

The BEST toner on the market

"I've tried many toners, and most of the time they leave my skin dry and/or irritated, however this is different. I've been using it for 3+ weeks and my skin is visibly brighter and smoother. There's no irritation and it's just a joy to use in my AM skincare routine. *I was kindly gifted this with no obligation to review it, I am just genuinely a big fan of the product and the brand!"

— Agne I. (5/5)

A new addition to my nighttime routine

"I have been using Bright Now for about 3 weeks and it has quickly become a staple for my evening routine. After 1 week my skin was brighter, week 2 my pores seemed smaller and week 3…well week 3 was a game changer. My skin looks more bright and clear, I have had a plump milk spot (milia) on my upper eyelid for years and with nightly use of Bright Now the milk spot has become flat and is fading! I use Bright Now nightly after washing my face with Light Work then follow with moisturiser and Pai’s Rosehip oil. Bright Now is gentle but effective, my skin hasn’t dried out or become irritated with nightly use. I was a huge fan of REN’s Ready Steady Glow but was only able to tolerate it a couple of times a week as it would dry my skin."

— AS (5/5)

The first active that hasn’t caused a flare

"Beautiful, gentle, brightening. I have super sensitive skin and type I rosacea, so actives and Vit C usually make my skin kick off. Throw illness and meds into mix, a little sunlight, and that can make things worse. Not a problem with this, it’s so gentle I can use night and day. Well done Pai! Definitely recommend"

— Heidi (5/5)

Magic in the bottle

"When I received this product I wasn’t sure if I like it or not. Now it’s been 2 weeks using it every morning and my skin looks amazing, My skin is glowing. Love it. Another amazing product from Pai magic factory 🤩"

— Sarka K. (5/5)

Another lovely Pai product

"This is a lovely addition to my routine. I am always wary of new products but I always trust Pai’s ingredients. This causes no irritation at all and leaves my skin happy and brighter. I am huge Pai fan and this product is a lovely addition!"

— Michelle S. (5/5)

Gentle and effective exfoliator

"Ive been using the Bright Now PHA for a couple of weeks now and have definitely seen a brightening in my complexion. My skin generally feels softer and smoother. I’m familiar with liquid exfoliators having used BHA for quite some time now but the PHA in Bright Now definitely feels more gentle while still doing a great job. Would highly recommend!"

— Aman (4/5)

Q&A

You May Also Like