By Dhanel Moon
Sun protection is not a summer-only conversation. Throughout the year, your role as an esthetician becomes even more essential. Clients look to you not only for treatments, but for trusted guidance on how to protect their skin with products that honor their unique biology, melanin expression, lifestyle, and wellness needs.
Supporting them with the right SPF is an act of care, education, and long‑term skin preservation.
Begin by understanding their skin type. Before recommending sun protection, ground yourself in the fundamentals of their skin physiology. Whatever the season, prioritize broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher, then refine the recommendation according to the skin’s condition, texture preferences, daily environment, and routine.
- Oily or breakout-prone skin:
Choose lightweight, water-based, non-occlusive formulas that allow the pores to breathe and minimize congestion. These textures are especially helpful when heat, humidity, activity, or heavier product layering increases oil and buildup. - Dry or barrier-compromised skin:
Look for creamy, nourishing mineral SPFs that reinforce the lipid barrier while shielding from UV stress, particularly when cold air, indoor heat, or low humidity leaves the skin depleted. - Sensitive or reactive skin:
Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are often well tolerated. Look for simple, fragrance-free formulas and consider the client’s known sensitivities.
Your product recommendations should always reflect the skin’s current condition, not just its category.
Always honor your client’s skin tone. For deeper skin tones, SPF selection requires thoughtful attention.
While mineral sunscreens offer excellent protection, many formulas leave a visible cast. Seek out melanin-friendly mineral or tinted formulas designed to blend seamlessly into deeper complexions without creating a grey or ashy undertone. Tinted formulas with iron oxides can offer added support for clients concerned about visible-light-induced hyperpigmentation.
Your clients will appreciate the care you take in choosing products that protect and respect their natural radiance.
Be sure to address your client’s skin issues holistically when choosing sunscreens. Many holistic skincare brands formulate sun-protective products with multifunctional benefits, allowing you to support protection and skin wellness simultaneously.
Look for sunscreens that also:
- Calms inflammation
- Supports hyperpigmentation correction
- Strengthens the moisture barrier
- Delivers antioxidants to neutralize UV‑induced free radicals
This approach allows you to recommend products that align with complete skin wellness rather than a single-issue solution.
And remember, your expertise truly matters. Your clients trust your wisdom. They rely on your ability to curate or choose products that align with their skin goals, lifestyle, and long‑term wellness. Thoughtful SPF retailing is an extension of your professional integrity and your commitment to their beauty journey.
SPF retailing should move with the calendar. In warmer months, clients may prefer lighter textures and more frequent reapplication around sweat and water. In colder or drier months, they may need richer textures and greater barrier support. The commitment remains the same: beautiful, comfortable protection every day of the year.
If you’d like to share, we invite you to send us your favorite year-round sunscreen selections for inclusion in the NBEW Sun Protection Review. Your insight helps elevate NBEW and the wider esthetics profession.
With moonlit guidance and gratitude,
Dhanel Moon
P.S. Learn how to formulate professional holistic skincare customized for your clients online today at https://dhanelmoon.substack.com/.
About Dhanel Moon
Dhanel Moon is a Licensed Esthetician with nearly 20 years of experience caring for clients and studying the ways skin responds to care, environment and daily life. Her work encourages people to understand their skin from a place of knowledge, curiosity and reverence rather than fear.
Read more from Dhanel Moon: dhanelmoon.substack.com
