The Formularx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ — Efficacy 4.4/5.0, Safety 4.0/5.0 | DemythSkin
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[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
The Formularx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++
The Formularx

The Formularx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++

SunscreenSun Protection
Efficacy
Strong
4.4 / 5.0
Safety
Mostly Safe
4.0 / 5.0
System Verdict
Decent sunscreen base, but the “vitamin C + peptide” marketing does far more heavy lifting than the formula does. The efficacy score is driven mainly by a competent multi-filter UV system with decent photoprotection coverage, plus humectants and soothing additives that make the texture more wearable; however, the vitamin C ingredients sit in a support role rather than as a clearly high-impact treatment, the peptide is present at trace-level positioning, and the gold/antioxidant extras add very little proven topical benefit.
Active Ingredients Detected
S Tier: Gold StandardsHigh Clinical Proof | Skin-Transformative
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateTitanium DioxideAscorbic Acid
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
Ascorbyl GlucosideButyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneSodium HyaluronatePanthenolSorbitol
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
OctocryleneCentella Asiatica ExtractDicaprylyl CarbonatePentapeptide-4Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
C Tier: Marketing IdolsHype | Limited or Weak Data
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root ExtractScutellaria Baicalensis Root ExtractGlycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root ExtractGoldGlutathioneChamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower ExtractRosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract
D Tier: Potential IrritantsBe Cautious
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
What Each Ingredient Does
Water
solvent base
Propanediol
humectant solvent
Butylene Glycol
humectant solvent
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UVB filter
Octocrylene
UV filter stabilizer
Ascorbyl Glucoside
vitamin C derivative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UVA filter
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UVA filter
Titanium Dioxide
mineral UV filter
Centella Asiatica Extract
soothing botanical extract
Ascorbic Acid
vitamin C antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
humectant
Panthenol
humectant soothing agent
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
antioxidant extract
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
gel thickener
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
light emollient
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
antioxidant extract
Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract
soothing brightening extract
Gold
marketing additive
Disodium EDTA
chelator
Pentapeptide-4
peptide signal ingredient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
antioxidant extract
Glutathione
antioxidant additive
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
soothing extract
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Gold, Disodium EDTA, Pentapeptide-4, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glutathione, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract.

Frequently Asked

Is The Formularx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ worth it?

The Formularx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ scores 4.4 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Strong) and 4.0 out of 5.0 for safety (Mostly Safe) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. Decent sunscreen base, but the “vitamin C + peptide” marketing does far more heavy lifting than the formula does. The efficacy score is driven mainly by a competent multi-filter UV system with decent photoprotection cove

What are the key active ingredients in The Formularx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++?

The Formularx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ contains these gold-standard actives with strong clinical evidence: Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Ascorbic Acid.

Does The Formularx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin flags these ingredients in The Formularx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ as potential irritants: Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate.

How is The Formularx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

Analyze on DemythSkin

Analysis last updated: 2026-08-19. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.