Let’s be honest here, wearing sunglasses is an effortless way for us to look stylish! You’re not dreaming to be like John Elton (who was rumored to have 1,000 plus pairs of sunglasses!) but having sunglasses in your wardrobe gives you endless benefits!
Using sunglasses regularly prevents the harmful UV rays of the sun from damaging your eyes. It is even said that if you always wear sunglasses while spending time outdoors, it will prevent the formation of wrinkles around your eyes! (Isn’t that wonderful?)
Not only that, it can make your visuals sharper, with less glare and improved colors and contrast. And that’s precisely why sunglasses are so valuable to everyone. This ultimate fashion accessory will not only complete your outfit and make you feel more confident but is very important for your eye health and beauty as well!
No wonder why in the United States alone, the sunglasses market generated over 4.66 billion dollars in revenue in 2018. There are even two famous songs about sunglasses that we continue to get stuck in our heads. You’re humming one of the two now, am I right?
But there are few things to consider before investing in your next pair. Your goal is to accentuate your best features, and in general, the best way to do that is to wear frames that contrast your face shape slightly. A frame should emphasize the strong points and deemphasize the weak points of your face so that your face looks perfectly balanced. So knowing your face shape will help you to choose the most appropriate kind of sunglasses for yourself.
But what are the different face shapes and how can you determine your shape?
There are 5 main categories of face shape:
A quick piece of information about face shapes is that almost nobody has a perfect heart, circle, round, triangular or oval shape. Most faces are a combination of a few different shapes. But still, knowing your closest shape will guide you on how to balance and complement your features.
Once you’ve identified your face shape, finding that frame shape that will naturally give balance to your face will be a lot easier.
How to Measure Your Face
First, measure cheekbone to cheekbone
Using a tape measure, place the end on top of your cheekbone just below your eyes and measure to the same point on the other side of your face.
Next, measure your jaw Line:
Place the end of a tape measure below your ears to the ends of your jawbone. Measure to the same point on the other side of your face.
Lastly, measure your face length
Put the end of the tape measure from the center of your hairline to the bottom of your chin.
Write your measurements.
How to Determine Your Face Shape
After measuring the dimensions of your face, look at the mirror, or have a friend or family help you determine which shape your face is. Then check the common face shapes below and see which one of these categories matches you.
ROUND FACE
It is like a square face with soft angles- the sides of your face curve slightly outward instead of being straight. Your cheekbones are the widest part with an equally wide forehead and jaw.
OVAL FACE
Your face length is longer than the width of your cheekbones and your forehead is larger than your jawline. The angle of the jaw is rounded.
SQUARE FACE
Similar in appearance to round face with sharp angle-jawline has very minimal curves but are more pronounced and wide. Your forehead, cheekbones and jaw have the same width.
Your face is about the same length and width across your face and is generally characterized by a broad forehead, square cheekbones and a strong, box shape jawline.
DIAMOND SHAPE
Similar to heart shape with a narrow forehead and small chin but heart shape has wider forehead. Your cheekbones are the widest part of your face.
HEART SHAPE
Your face shape is somewhat similar in appearance to round faces but has a wider forehead. You have a slender jawline and your cheekbones and forehead are the widest part of your face.
RECTANGULAR SHAPE
You have a long face that’s longer than it is wide with angular edges or a square jaw. You’ll likely have a high forehead.
TRIANGLE FACE
Widest at the forehead and gradually narrows through to the jaw.
WHAT SUNGLASSES SUIT MY FACE?
There are different glasses you may choose for your face shape type. Now we’re moving onto what sunglasses suit your face type. Remember that we are trying to help you achieve the best look possible. So following these rules can make it a lot easier for you to pick out the best shades for you.
This guide will help you find a better fitting, more functional pair of sunglasses. To achieve that cool look you can confidently show off, continue reading on for our tips on choosing a frame that will accentuate the features you were born with.
BEST SUNGLASSES FOR ROUND FACE SHAPES
Even before measuring your face, you may have heard from someone that you have a round face shape. The good news is that you can find glasses that can make your face thinner and sharper!
Since you have bigger cheekbones and smaller or less defined jawline, the most important thing to consider when choosing glasses is to select frames that work to add angles. Unlike some other face shapes, a round face is often very distinguished because it is all about the curves.
The best glasses for round faces avoid curved features or small and round frames. Stay away from circles, unless you want to over accentuate the round shape of your face.
To sum it up, choose sunglasses that:
Defined shapes to help slim your cheeks
Sharp-angled frames to add a little extra definition and depth
More angular and wide to add the illusion of length to your face.
Rectangular frames can make your cheeks appear longer and slimmer.
Geometric frames can add some sharper, more distinct lines to your face to create a balance.
Frames such as cat-eye or D-frame: if you have full-bodied curvy cheeks, try to draw attention to them while simultaneously placing the focus on your eyes.
BEST SUNGLASSES FOR SQUARE FACES
To begin with, remember that your face shape tends to have a little bit too much definition. You are very likely to have angular features and a straight line from the forehead to the jaw.
But there are many great pairs of eyeglasses out there that can flatter your features!
To help you round out the sharpness of your face for a more balanced look, choose the opposite shape of your face. These will help soften sharp angles and balance your cheekbones
Too many hard angles won’t do you any favors. Tone your sharp, defined angular features down with some round rims sunglasses.
Make sure your sunglasses are modest in size, like small to medium, and don’t go for anything too bold. Choose glasses that sit high on the nose as they can add length that flatters your face.
To sum up, styles that would work well for square faces are:
Round and oval-shaped frames will soften the hard angles of your face and add balance.
Aviator, butterflies, club masters, cat’s eye, rimless and semi-rimless frames or any frame style that favors oval or circular curves.
BEST SUNGLASSES FOR OVAL FACE SHAPES
Oval is considered the most universal face shape. As mentioned above, you have an oval face shape if the length of your face is more than the width of your cheekbones. And the jawline is slightly rounded with a wider forehead. The most exciting part about your shape is that almost any sunglasses work with your face.
Many would agree that those with an oval-shaped face are in luck simply because all sunglasses types work well with this build. It’s hard to go wrong with your oval face —you can pretty much wear any type of sunglasses that your heart desires. This, however, doesn’t mean that you can pick up any frame off the shelf.
Though most sunglasses will look great on you, here are some tips in looking for your dream sunglasses:
Make sure frames are not wider than your face (the frame should be as wide as the widest part of your face!)
Avoid novelty styles as well as low-hanging arms. Low arms will elongate your face (you surely don’t want that to happen!)
Stay away from narrow frames and frames with heavy design elements. They might add a bit of unnecessary length to your oval face.
Don’t get huge frames that will hide your pretty symmetrical features; choose sunglasses that cover your face from the eyebrows to the cheekbones.
Instead, feel free to go with:
The possibilities are endless
BEST SUNGLASSES FOR OBLONG FACE SHAPES
If you have an oblong or rectangular face shape, you have a long and narrow face with few angles. Your shape is usually longer than it is wide, with all features fairly proportional in distance.
The key to a balanced look with your rectangular or oblong face is to soften edges with the pair of sunglasses that add width to your head. Make sure the widest part of your face is not extended so shy away from sharp, defined sunglasses. You may want to go with softer lines and rounded corners.
You should aim for these types of sunglasses:
Soften the sharpness of your face with rounder styles
Large sunglasses or oversized styles (as long as it’s not offensive!)
Wayfarer styles work well but avoid small frames.
D-frames and clubmasters are also suitable for your face shape.
Square and rectangle with thick frames add width to a long face.
Tall or deep lenses and vintage-style frames sharpen soft features.
Wrap and Shield styles.
BEST SUNGLASSES FOR DIAMOND FACE SHAPES
You might not know but the diamond-shaped face you have is the rarest face shape in the Universe! Your shape is characterized by full cheeks being the widest part of your face and narrow forehead and jawline. A pointy chin completes your head shape and is a noticeable feature that stands out.
Most frame shapes work well with your diamond face, so long as they’re in keeping with your proportions. Avoid frames that are wider than your cheekbones or they will appear even wider than they are (and, in turn, make your chin and forehead appear smaller).
Many glasses frames suit diamond-shaped faces like the following:
BEST SUNGLASSES FOR HEART FACE SHAPES
Opposite to an oval shape, a heart-shaped face, sometimes called a triangle, is one of the most difficult to accommodate. This is not something to be disappointed about, though. Just make sure you follow our guidelines carefully.
If you are heart-shaped, your face is widest at the brow with a narrow chin and high cheekbones. This face shape can be either long or round and often gives the owner a sweet and cheerful look.
Since your chin is narrow and your forehead is wide, you need to help balance them out with your sunglasses.
The best sunglasses for heart and triangle-shaped faces feature wide lower edges with no straight lines along the top because they shift attention downward and elongate the face.
Many glasses fit heart-shaped faces. But first of all,
Avoid round styles that add focus to your forehead. Make sure you don’t add even more weight on top!
Avoid glasses with embellished brow lines or very dark frames because they will draw attention to your forehead.
Avoid bottom-heavy frames, oversized frames, and frames with a lot of design elements.
Instead, go for the following:
Go for semi-rimmed, club masters that can help complement a pointy chin.
A light-colored or rimless style is especially flattering by softening your angular features
Small and medium-sized shades
Frames that are slightly wider than your forehead to add more beauty and balance to your facial features.
Cat-eye styles or glasses that feature rounded edges are ideal for giving the wearer a more balanced look.
Shield, butterfly and aviator styled frames
Bottom-heavy frames may create a bit more width if your chin is especially narrow
Oval-shaped frames work wonders if you have a pointy chin for drawing attention upward toward your eyes.
Frame with low-set temples will draw attention downward, emphasizing the lower part of your face.
BEST SUNGLASSES FOR TRIANGLE SHAPE
Your triangle shape face is characterized by a large jawline, small forehead, and small cheekbones. In short, your face is narrowest on top and widest on the bottom which means there is more bottom definition.
You have still many options for this shape but be sure to avoid Small frames. It is not a good choice since they allow the bottom to become too prominent.
It is better to go with designs that are widest at the top and narrowest at the bottom,
So you want to find a mirror-opposite frame: bold on top, light on the bottom. A mix of round and angular shapes such as the following will particularly fit triangular faces:
Sunglasses with a wider or bolder brow line will draw attention away from your jawline and elongate your forehead.
Now that you know how to find the right glasses for your face shape, choosing your new favorite pairs of sunglasses is now easier than ever.
Your sunglasses should be looked at as an investment. It’s much better to have a couple of pairs of sunglasses that are reliable than a dozen, cheaper sunglasses to match each one of your favorite outfits. You might be wasting your money on that! So choose sunglasses that can work with pretty much any outfit.
With these helpful tips in mind, you’ll be able to find a pair that will look harmonious and will bring a natural balance to your face.
Just a friendly reminder, always keep your sunglasses protected with a case.
May Joy is a writer and editor with extensive background in journalism and academic writing. She also writes for blog post contents with knowledge in SEO. She graduated as Cum Laude at the University of the Cordilleras.
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