How to Choose the Best Eyeglasses for Your Face Shape and Skin Tone

Finding the perfect pair of glasses always seems to fall under one of these two extremes: you either love every pair you try on, or nothing fits you right at all.

Instead of spending the whole afternoon trying on every pair of glasses in the store, identifying your face shape can easily narrow down your choices and make buying glasses an easier and more pleasant experience.

Choosing for your face shape:

Round face

A round face is one of the most common face shapes and is characterised by a wide forehead, round chin and full cheeks. Choosing glasses for this face shape should be aimed at taking attention away from the fullness of the face.

Buy: rectangular and angular frames. They will add defined lines to your look, highlighting your cheekbones

Avoid: round frames, rimless frames and small frames because they will accentuate the fullness of your face, making you look even rounder

Heart-shaped Face

If you have a broad forehead, high cheekbones with a pointed, narrow chin, you are part of the club. Like a heart, the widest part of your face is at the top, and the narrowest part is at the bottom. The goal is to minimize the width of the forehead and broaden the appearance of the chin.

Buy: bottom-heavy frames, round glasses or frames with rounded ends. They will add width and volume to the narrow part of your face.

Avoid: top-heavy frames and frames with heavy brow lines because that will draw attention the forehead

Oval Face

Oval-shaped faces are characterised by a chin that is narrower than the forehead, and high cheek bones. Choosing frames for this face shape is easy because of the natural balance of the forehead, chin and cheekbones. Frames should be as wide, or slightly wider than the broadest part of the face.

Buy: square or rectangle frames. Frames with upswept corners also work well because they make the cheekbones more prominent and contoured.

Avoid: overly-round frames and oversized frames that cover half the face because they take away the natural balance and symmetry of the face.

Square Face

The distinguishing features for this face shape is a prominent jawline with angular bone structure. A good rule to follow is to look for glasses that are the opposite of your face shape.

Buy: Round and oval frames focus on softening the sharp angles and brings balance to the face.

Avoid: thin frames and box-shaped glasses will make the angles on your face even harsher and more exaggerated (unless that’s the look you’re aiming for).

Diamond Face

You have a diamond face if you wide cheekbones and a narrow forehead and chin. This face shape is great because you have both angular and curvy features that go well with many types of frames.

Buy: top heavy frames, with curvy brow lines and semi-rimless. This creates a great contrast to the sharp chin. Upswept cat eye frames will emphasise your cheekbones.

Avoid: narrow frames, and box-shaped glasses. These frames draw attention to your narrow features instead of complementing them.

Choosing for your skin tone

Now that you’ve chosen a frame to match your face shape, it’s time to choose a colour that will match your skin tone.

Cool Skin Tone

Most fair people will have this skin tone, with blue and pink undertones.

Buy: Classic colours like grey or black are great. If you want to switch it up a notch, dark blue, green, purple and turquoise frames will make you stand out.

Avoid: bright and pale colours because they will emphasise the paleness of your skin and make you look washed-out.

Warm Skin Tone

Having a yellow, bronze or golden cast to your skin means you have a warm complexion.

Buy: “fire shades” like gold, red, orange and brown. These colours go well with the undertones of your skin.

Avoid: Pastels and white, as they contrast your skin tone, instead of complementing them.

Glasses are a great fashion accessory, so use these tips to get the most flattering pair of glasses and start creating eye-conic looks!