Not all sunglasses are created equal, and as spring arrives, we wanted to take the time to break down which type is the best for you depending on your preferred outdoor activity. Team style-over-substance, we see you too! The second half breaks down which style of sunglasses is best for your face shape.
ACTIVITY: GOLF
When you’re out on the green, you’ve got to have proper UV protection. You might think you’re safe under cloud cover, but UVA rays can pass through cloud, glass, and your skin. These aren’t the kind of rays that cause sunburn, but target your body’s internal health — cataracts are of particular concern when it comes to eye exposure.
Aside from that, if you’re out on a course with direct sunlight or direct sunlight and water traps, you could benefit from a pair of sunglasses with polarized lenses. Lens polarization helps reduce glare, which makes tracking your ball through the sky an easier feat regardless of what the sun is up to.
Keeping these factors in mind, you should also consider that not all polarized lenses have UVA and UVB protection. A dark lens does not necessarily mean that you’re getting the proper amount of cover from UV rays, so be sure to double check descriptions and product details.
Brands we love that carry polarized, UVA/UVB resistant sunglasses:
ACTIVITY: FISHING
The importance of UV protection as well as the benefits of polarization also apply to sunglasses for fishing, though polarization is essentially not optional here. Getting out on a boat in the middle of a lake or on the ocean, you’re dealing with glare off the water’s surface regardless of weather.
Polarization is almost necessary for the most optimal fishing experience as it filters out types of light that can make it difficult to see underwater activity below the reflective surface.
The best type of sunglasses for fishing are also those curved to fit over your entire eye to block out the sun from peeking in over the top or from the side, and in this case, we have to hand it to Oakley as the absolute best brand for fishing sunglasses.
Several styles of Oakley glasses fit the bill of shaped-to-the-eye, polarized, with UVA+UVB protection, but they even have sunglasses designed specifically for fishing and other water sports called the Split Shot varietal. See why they’re top dog here.
ACTIVITY: RUNNING/BIKING
When you’re on a run or a ride, the last thing you want to be thinking about are your sunglasses. It’s important to get frames that fit very close to the shape of your head so you don’t risk them flying off when you’re sprinting or coming to hard stop — and a close fit reduces the chance of a bug flying into your eye to just about zero (this is an annoyingly frequent occurrence I can speak to personally).
Some sunglasses come with a strap for extra security, but if you find the right pair for your head, you shouldn’t need one.
Also of concern to runners and bikers should be complete and total UV protection (we’re talking UVA and UVB here). Regardless of cloud cover, shielding your eyes from UVAs is an absolute must. Look carefully for the level of UV protection your running/biking sunglasses offer. Anything less than UV 400 carries the risk of sun damage along with it.
Best brands in the realm of biking/running sunglasses:
ON TO STYLE
If you’re here to determine the shape of sunglasses that work best for your face, here’s the rub. This advice is based on bone structure and what we believe enhances it, but bottom line, if you like a pair of sunglasses you should just get them. Live your best style life, regardless of these suggestions. However, if you want to make an informed decision on a new pair, the information below should serve as a guide.
This info applies to facial structure regardless of gender, so don’t fret if you don’t resemble our featureless face shape models. Additionally, you may not have all features of your most-alike face shape.
FACE SHAPE: OVAL
An oval face is longer than it is wide, with a jaw that is narrower than the at the cheekbones. Your chin is round and your jawline may also be rounded.
This is a versatile face shape, but the primary look you’re after has got to be square frames. A pair of aviators or a classic Ray-Ban shaped frame draws attention to and suits the balanced nature of your features.
Your celeb face shape-alikes: Jessica Alba, Bella Hadid, Robert Pattinson
Examples of frames for you:
FACE SHAPE: SQUARE
Your face is very equal when it comes to length vs width, your jawline is broad and obviously square, your chin is noticeably flat/square along the bottom, and your face is likely widest at the cheekbones.
The best style of sunglasses for this face shape are any that lean towards a rounded edge or have curved features — these elements balance out and can even soften the angular nature of your face.
Your celeb face shape-alikes: Margot Robbie, Henry Cavill, Mila Kunis
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-8878126241-81ea4aa0cb934fcb95c0fe220633a2e0.jpg){kind=link}
Examples of frames for you:
FACE SHAPE: CIRCLE
Your face is about the same width and length. Your jawline and chin are round in nature and your cheekbones aren’t particularly prominent. Your features may be soft and youthful in appearance.
If you have a round face, the absolute best style for you are angular frames. With a geometrically shaped pair of sunglasses, your rounded facial structure can be made to appear longer and thinner. Rectangular or square frames add structure to your softer features.
Your celeb face shape-alikes: Kaley Cuoco, Selena Gomez, Leonardo Dicaprio
Examples of frames for you:
FACE SHAPE: RECTANGLE
Your facial structure is essentially a hybrid of an oval shaped face and a square shaped face: it is long with angular edges. You will likely have a square jaw and a face that is longer than it is wide, and you may have a high forehead.
If you have a rectangular facial structure, oversized glasses are the fit for you. Your features can handle exaggerated shapes and lines without being drowned out, and oversized frames can add width to a long face.
Your celebrity face shape-alikes: Liv Tyler, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Adam Levine
Examples of frames for you:
FACE SHAPE: HEART
If you have a heart-shaped face, you will most likely have a larger, wider forehead, cheekbones that are close to the same width as your forehead, and a slender chin. This face shape is very similar to round faces, until it deviates around the chin and jawline area.
Those with heart-shaped faces have a few options on the table: rectangular, oval, or aviator shaped sunglasses all work to suit your bone structure. These shapes serve to highlight and accentuate your cheekbones and jawline, while de-emphasizing the forehead.
Your celebrity face shape-alikes: Jennifer Lawrence, Ryan Gosling, Reese Witherspoon
Examples of frames for you:
FACE SHAPE: DIAMOND
Those with a diamond face shape have faces longer than they are wider and will find that their forehead and jawline have a similar width. Your overall jawline is usually long and tapers to a point, and you’ll have high, pointed cheekbones.
If you have a diamond shaped face, you can play it in different ways. Oval sunglasses compliment the highest points of a diamond shaped face while adding softness to your features. Browline glasses are another great option because they add width to the forehead, while minimizing overt point of the chin, in effect balancing everything out.
Your celebrity face shape-alikes: Ryan Reynolds, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez
Examples of frames for you:
