the formula rx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF50 Pa++++
72/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
The Formula RX Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF50 PA++++ is a hybrid watery-gel sunscreen mixing the modern filter Uvinul A Plus with older filters, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, avobenzone, and titanium dioxide. It wears with a balanced finish, low white cast, and a lightweight feel, with a low pore-clogging profile, though it may commonly sting somewhat near the eyes. The blend earns a good measured protection tier. The score of 72.0/100 reflects a comfortable gel sunscreen with a mixed filter generation.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
73
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #4, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #5, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +28.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +17.6)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- −9.3 UVB coverage saturated
- −14.9 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Octinoxate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
👕
Fabric stains
High
10
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #7, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #8, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #9, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 4 Sodium Hyaluronate at #12, hyaluronic family
- → 2 2 strong humectants (Panthenol, Sorbitol)
- → 4 Humectant polyols
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- ✨ Vitamin C
- ✨ Centella asiatica
- ✨ Panthenol (B5)
Full ingredient list (28)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → 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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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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13 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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Botanical extract
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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19 Gold
Supporting ingredient
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
-
23 Glutathione
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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27 Sorbitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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Botanical extract
Does The Formula RX Hydrashield gel sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast. As a watery-gel hybrid it generally absorbs with a balanced finish despite containing some titanium dioxide.
Is the the formula rx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF50 Pa++++ good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is lightweight with a low pore-clogging profile and a balanced finish, so it is generally workable for those skin types. Note it may commonly sting somewhat near the eyes.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, mixing the modern filter Uvinul A Plus with older filters and titanium dioxide. It is SPF50 with a good protection tier and scores 72.0/100.