Some celebrities insist on donning shades in the night. Many of them have gone on record to say, that no other accessory gives a lift to their appearance, and instant stardom, more than sunglasses. A 71-year old female style enthusiast says that it is better than a facelift.
Carry sunglasses, if you step out between 10 am to 5 pm, and not only in summers. You never know when the Sun God will decide to bestow its blessings on Planet Earth.
And what do sunglasses for the eyes ?
Reasons to Wear Sunglasses
1.) UV Protection. The sun’s UV radiation can cause cataracts; benign growths on the eye’s surface; and photokeratitis, sometimes called snow blindness, which is a temporary but painful sunburn of the eye’s surface. Wide-brimmed hats and caps can block about 50 percent of UV radiation from the eyes but optometrists say that is not enough protection.
2.) Blue-Light Protection. Long-term exposure to the blue and violet portion of the solar spectrum has been implicated as a risk factor for macular degeneration, especially for individuals that are “sun sensitive.”
3.) Comfortable vision. The sun’s brightness and glare interferes with comfortable vision and the ability to see clearly by causing people to squint and the eyes to water.
4.) Dark adaptation. Spending just two or three hours in bright sunlight can hamper the eyes’ ability to adapt quickly to nighttime or indoor light levels. This can make driving at night after spending a day in the sun more hazardous.
5.) Skin Cancer. Cancer of the eyelids and skin around the eyes is more common than people think. People should wear sunglasses outdoors whether they are working, driving, participating in sports, taking a walk, running errands or doing anything in the sun.
Five Tips for Healthy Eyes
1.) Wear protective eyewear any time your eyes are exposed to UV light, even on cloudy days and during winter months.
2.) Look for quality sunglasses that offer good protection. Sunglasses should block out 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation and screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light.
3.) Check to make sure your sunglass lenses are perfectly matched in color and free of distortions and imperfections.
4.) Purchase gray-colored lenses. They reduce light intensity without altering the color of objects, providing the most natural color vision.
5.) Don’t forget protection for children and teenagers. They typically spend more time in the sun than adults.
Source: American Optometric Association
Eyewear need not be expensive for protection. The quality of the frame and the optics of the lenses add to the cost of sunglasses. Look for the right certifications for UV protection.
How do you enhance looks further with the right shape of sunglasses ?
The key is to balance the excess in the face shape, by introducing opposing elements.
An oval face is considered to be the perfect face, but it does need balancing with angular frames. See the difference that it makes, despite the versatility of the face.
2. Round face
This is one of the commonest face shapes. However, at times, trapezoid or square faces are misconstrued as round, due to flab on the cheeks. Observe carefully, the diameter of the face at the forehead, between the ears and close to the chin. It gives a fair idea, where you belong.
A round face will need angular shapes – rectangular, square or cat-eye to counteract the rounded effect.
3. Square face
They have a strong jawline, a broad forehead and a wide chin and cheekbones. The shapes they wear should have rounded edges somewhere, to counteract the angularity of the face.
4. Inverse triangular face
Since the face is broad at the temples, and tapers down towards the chin, large frames would cover the width at the top. However, the shape of the glasses should not reinforce the face shape, and should not taper downwards.
See how this pair adds instant glamour. Wayfarers could be the way to go ….
5. Rectangular face :
This face shape needs to be evaluated carefully, after tying back the hair and taking off jewellery. The diameter should be the same, for the larger part of the length, forehead to below the ears. The chin can taper off at times, but the proportion of the broader part classifies it as rectangular. A slightly rounded version is the oblong shape, which needs a different treatment, but is often confused with rectangular.
As with the square face shape, this too needs rounded edges in the eyewear. They can be larger than the ones worn by other face shapes, given the larger area available above and below the eyes.
See the fun element provided by the fancy frame that Angelina is sporting. The Aviators kind of reinforce the tapering at the chin, hence, are not perfect, but provide the angularity needed. The cat-eye glasses look best.
6. Oblong face
This is a rounded and very well-proportioned face, where the length is larger than the width. This is broader than the oval face.
The rounded edges need angular sunglasses. Take your pick.
The list above is not exhaustive. One can bring out the best in a face, with a three-pronged approach of using the right make-up, hairstyle and eye wear.
Go ahead, experiment or consult a specialist to create a signature style for you. Have fun !
(Pictures borrowed from the internet).