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Bright Now ™ PHA & Rosehip Exfoliating Toner

£34.00

100ml / 3.4 fl.oz

Our first acid toner for all skin types, even sensitive, designed to reveal smooth, glowing skin every day.

Exfoliating

Brightening

Evens skin tone

Free delivery when you spend £30* | 90-Day returns

Free Mini Light Work™ Cleansing Oil when you spend £65+

Bright Now ™ PHA & Rosehip Exfoliating Toner

£34.00

•

Vegan

•

Powered By Green Chemistry

•

Cruelty Free
Why You'll Love It

SWIPE BRIGHT.
This ultra-kind exfoliant whips off dead skin cells and is proven to brighten skin from the very first use – for a smoother, more even-toned complexion. All that and still clinically proven for sensitive skin.

Thanks to PHA – or Polyhydroxy Acid, whose molecules are larger than other exfoliating acids, making it gentler on the skin – and the first 100% natural COSMOS-certified Niacinamide, Bright Now™ works hard to even things out without irritation. Fragrance and alcohol free, think of it as your daily radiance-boosting, skin-smoothing step.

Directions

Use once daily, AM or PM. Shake before use. Soak a reusable cotton pad and apply to cleansed, dry skin, sweeping across the face and neck.

Full Ingredients

AQUA (water), ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE* (aloe vera), GLUCONOLACTONE, NIACINAMIDE, GLYCERIN**, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, ZINC LACTATE, ROSA CANINA FRUIT EXTRACT* (rosehip), 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

of total: 24% organic, 100% natural origin

sur total: 24% bio, 100% d'origine naturelle

*organic / biologique

**made using organic ingredients / formulé à partir d'ingrédients biologiques

Recycling

We do our bit so it’s easy for you to do yours. Check out our instructions on how to recycle Pai packaging.

  • 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

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.

“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

What does PHA stand for?

PHA is short for Polyhydroxy Acid, the exfoliant used in Bright Now™ Toner. The PHA we use in this formula is called Gluconolactone.

What does PHA do for skin?

PHAs gently exfoliate the skin, resulting in a smoother and more radiant complexion. The larger molecule size means they don’t penetrate the skin too deeply in a way that causes irritation, making them a better choice for sensitive skin that needs a gentler approach.

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.

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.

“

This is a great toner and skin refresher to use in the morning.

It brightens the skin and is lightly oiled, without being heavy, leaving a subtle glow.

”
Anna
Bright Now™ PHA & Rosehip Exfoliating Toner
“

Wow.

I've been using it this morning and night and am genuinely so impressed by the results. I love the difference it's made.

My skin looks and feels brighter and clearer. 

”
HQ
Bright Now™ PHA & Rosehip Exfoliating Toner
“

I’ve been wary of exfoliating toners because of my Uticaria.

This is nice and gentle and I think my skin is actually already brighter.

Love the glass bottle too.

”
Charlotte
Bright Now™ PHA & Rosehip Exfoliating Toner
“

My skin looks like it's glowing - even my teenagers and husband have noticed, commenting that my skin looks smoother, softer and 'just nicer'.

I have sensitive skin, and this hasn't affected me at all - there has been no drying effect and none of the usual redness/rawness that some new products can cause.

This is now part of my daily routine, and I highly recommend giving it a try.

”
Mum
Bright Now™ PHA & Rosehip Exfoliating Toner
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