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Long, thick eyelashes make your peepers pop, but if you live in a sunny climate, cleaning mascara from the inside of your sunglasses can make you pooped. Finding sunglasses that fit your face, your lifestyle and your budget requires some time and effort, because your choice of eyewear is just as personal as your choice of makeup.
Sunglasses Facts
The same ultraviolet rays that sun-kiss your skin can damage your eyes, leading to conditions like pinguecula, photokeratitis and damage to your retinas that can’t be undone. Pinguecula is a thickening that appears on the white part of your eye. It can feel like you have something in your eye that you can’t remove. Photokeratitis is basically a sunburn on your cornea. It can result in temporary blindness that is commonly called “snow blindness.” Photokeratitis usually corrects itself, but over time UV damage can become permanent.
Frames
Large frames that sit a bit farther down on your nose will keep your lashes from fluttering against your lenses. Solid plastic frames tend to have less fitted nosepieces than wire frames. Many sports frames are curved like goggles, which will also keep them from bending or breaking your lashes.
Lens Shape
Bug-eyed lenses bow out in the center, keeping them away from your eyelashes. Avoid perfectly flat lenses, unless they are bifocals that will sit very low on your nose. Half-glasses are also an option, especially if you only need glasses for reading and close-up handwork like embroidery or making jewelry.
Tips and Hints
Curl your eyelashes with a warm – not hot – eyelash curler before applying curling mascara. The more tightly curled your eyelashes are, the less chance of them scraping against the insides of your sunglasses. Use thickening or volumizing mascara instead of the lengthening kind, to keep lash length under control. Consider clip-on sunglasses if you have no problem with your regular glasses. Try on sunglasses in full makeup before you buy, to make sure that you have enough clearance between your lashes and the lenses.
