5 TIPS FOR PICKING THE PERFECT SUNGLASSES

Well hello, summer and all the awesomeness that comes with it. If you have SPF and sandals checked off, now you just need to find the right sunnies. Not are they probably the most practical accessory you’ll ever own, the right pair instantly ups your cool factor.

Ever wondered why the sunglasses your friends have looked amazing on them but you look like a horse or fly (or a horsefly, queue the "Why the long face?" jokes). Well, that's just the problem, it's that the shape of your face doesn't suit the frame. The secret is to pick glasses that balance out your features.

START BY IDENTIFYING THE BASIC SHAPE OF YOUR FACE
Round: This shape of the face is roughly as long as they are wide with a round jaw like Adele, Michelle Williams, and Anele Mdoda.

Oval: These are thinner than they are long faces with a round jaw and the cheekbones may be high. Your celeb inspiration is Kerry Washington, Sonia Sedibe and Kate Middleton

Square: Are roughly as long as they are wide with a strong, somewhat squarish jawline. Salma Hayek, Cameron Diaz, and Dineo Moeketsi all have this face shape.

Heart-Shaped: Okay, no one has a symbol of a love-shaped face but it’s when your face is sort of as wide as it’s long, with a jawline that comes to a point at the chin. Think Reese Witherspoon, Halle Berry, and Michelle Mosalakae.

NOW TAKE A LOOK AT WHICH FRAMES ARE RIGHT FOR YOU
Round Face Goal: Your frames should make the face appear longer and thinner. So pick a pair where the frames are wider than deep and stay away from square or round styles – they’ll just make your face look rounder. Also, make sure the bottom of the frame doesn't rest firmly on your fuller cheeks.
Your perfect fit: Oversized sunnies

Oval Face Goal: Although this is said to be the easiest face shape to pick hairstyles and glasses for your frames should keep the natural balance of the shape of your face. Do select frames that are as wide or wider than the broadest part of the face.
Your perfect fit: You can pretty much pull off any shape

Square Face Goal: Frames should soften the angles of your strong jawline and broad forehead and make face your look longer. So the curves on round frames will soften your features.
Your perfect fit: Round sunnies

Heart-shaped Face Goal: You need to focus on making the width at the top of your face less of a focus which will create the effect of broadening the shape of your chin. This means your frame should be wider than your forehead or have bold endpoints. If you don’t fancy pointy-ended sunglasses opt for a frame with rounded endpoints.
Your perfect fit: Cat-Eye sunnies

TOP SHOPPING TIPS

The more expensive the sunglasses, the better they are. Right? Wrong, the cost has nothing to do with how well they work. By all means, fork out the cash for a pair of Gucci glasses but cheaper sunnies with a 100% UV blocking can be just as effective at protecting the eyes.

Sunglasses protect the delicate skin around the eye as well as the eye from harmful UV rays. You want your sunglasses to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. That way you get to prevent crows feet from going all squinty in the glare as well as prevent eye diseases like cataracts, retinal degeneration or keratitis (inflammation in the corner of the eye).

Shopping for sunglasses will require testing out a few pairs. The bridge of the nose piece needs to fit perfectly – to small and it will just end up pinching your nose and irritating your skin, too big will result in it chafing the delicate skin on the bridge of your nose. The earpieces should have a bend that fits snuggly behind the ear to keep them in place. Lastly, the arms should be parallel to prevent outward bowing and stretch. Who needs sunnies that just keep slipping off your face.