Bionike Defence Hydra SPF 20
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Bionike Defence Hydra SPF 20 is a chemical sunscreen using a small but modern filter set of Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. It is lightweight with a balanced finish, low white cast and a non-stinging profile suited to sensitive skin. The protection is rated weak, largely reflecting the low SPF 20 rating and limited filter load. With a score of 49.0/100, it is best viewed as a light daily moisturizer rather than a primary sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Weak
30
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #9, UV filter
- +28.8 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #15, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- β4.4 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
π₯
Eye sting
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Cetyl Palmitate at #11, wax film
- β5 Cetearyl Alcohol at #7, rich gel-network thickener
π
Fungal acne
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- β47 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetyl Palmitate, Sucrose Polystearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
π§
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch)
- β 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #24, hyaluronic family
- β 2 2 strong humectants (Panthenol, Betaine)
- β 1 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch)
- β 5 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +4 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (37)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
4 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 17.6 UV protection
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10 Undecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 14 feeds malassezia
- β 4 wax water lock
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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18 Tridecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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20 Betaine
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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21 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
22 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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23 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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28 Arginine
pH adjuster
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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30 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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32 Algin
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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34 Serine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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36 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
Does Bionike Defence Hydra SPF 20 leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. It is a chemical sunscreen with a balanced, lightweight finish that absorbs cleanly on most skin tones.
Is Bionike Defence Hydra SPF 20 any good?
It scores 49.0/100 with protection rated weak, largely because of the low SPF 20 and limited filter load. It is best viewed as a light daily moisturizer rather than a primary sunscreen.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using modern filters Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, with no mineral filters.