The Formula rx Hydrashield Vitamin C + Peptide Watery Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 Versus Banila Co Hello Sunny Essence Sun Stick SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glutathione
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, 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 Root Extract, Gold, Disodium EDTA, Pentapeptide-4, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glutathione, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Silica
Abrasive
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientCopaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingArtemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Myrtus Communis Oil
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil
Antimicrobial
Rose Flower Oil
Masking
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentMentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract
MaskingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentPropanediol
Solvent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingAgarum Cribrosum Extract
Skin ConditioningEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Cloustoni Extract
Skin ProtectingSargassum Fulvellum Extract
Skin ConditioningSargassum Muticum Extract
Skin ProtectingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningPorphyra Yezoensis Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingJania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningEuglena Gracilis Extract
Skin ConditioningMacrocystis Pyrifera Protein
Skin ConditioningMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ulva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Fragile Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Minutissima Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningPikea Robusta Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Enteromorpha Compressa
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Ulva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Polyethylene, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Vinyldimethicone, Octocrylene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Silica, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ozokerite, Bisabolol, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Titanium Dioxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Myrtus Communis Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Betula Alba Juice, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Agarum Cribrosum Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Laminaria Cloustoni Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Sargassum Muticum Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Porphyra Yezoensis Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Euglena Gracilis Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Protein, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Codium Fragile Extract, Chlorella Minutissima Extract, Chlorella Ferment, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Plankton Extract, Pikea Robusta Extract, Hydrolyzed Enteromorpha Compressa, Hydrolyzed Ulva Lactuca Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateThis ingredient is also known as Octinoxate and is one of the oldest and most widely used chemical UV filters in skincare.
It has a simple job: soap up UVB radiation (290-320 nm), the wavelengths responsible for sunburn and a big chunk of long-term sun damage.
In formulas, it's always paired with a separate UVA filter because octinoxate solely protects skin from UVB.
Because it's an oil-soluble liquid, it's easy to blend into the oil phase of lotions/creams and gives a cosmetically elegant feel.
The one quirk about formulating this ingredient is photostability; the molecule slowly changes shape into a less effective version when sunlight hits it. So the longer you're in the sun, the weaker its protection gets. The drop can be more than 30% in some formulas.
It also doesn't play nice with Avobenzone (the common UVA filter) since avobenzone destabilizes octinoxate and the two degrade each other. But don't worry: brands have solved this issue by adding photostabilizers like Tinosorb S to prevent degradation and keep SPF stable under heavy UV exposure.
The maximum allowed level is 10% in the EU and Australia, 7.5% in the US and Canada, and 20% in Japan.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics up to 10%.
One last thing worth knowing for context:
Octinoxate has been the subject of ongoing review in Europe where the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's (SCCS) 2025 final opinion is that this ingredient is an endocrine-active substance.
Lab and animal studies suggest it can act a bit like a hormone in the body (mildly mimicking estrogen and slightly blocking male hormones). It's important to know this hasn't really been shown to happen in everyday human use.
This ingredient is also banned in Hawaii over coral reef concerns.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateOctocrylene is an oil-soluble organic UV filter that mainly absorbs UVB and short wave UVA II light.
Its real superpower is teamwork: octocrylene is remarkably photostable and is most famous for stabilizing avobenzone (the workhorse UVA filter).
This ingredient is commonly used to enhance both UVB and UVA protection due to its unique property in stabilizing avobenzone. It also pulls double duty by boosting water resistance and giving formulas a smooth, spreadable feel.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has deemed octocrylene to be safe as a UV-filter at concentrations up to 10% (capped at 9% in propellant sprays). The US also permits it up to 10%.
Two things worth knowing:
You'll usually see this ingredient used in concentrations between 2-10% (higher amounts when used as a stabilizer for avobenzone).
Learn more about OctocrylenePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium Dioxide
