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Beach sunnies 101: how to buy the best UV protection sunglasses!

Beach sunnies 101: how to buy the best UV protection sunglasses!

For most of us our beach ensemble is pretty minimal - and that’s a good thing!

The beach is one of life’s simple pleasures. All you need is the water, sand and the sun - and a couple of key beach accessories!

A good looking pair of shades is an essential part of your beach ensemble!

You know what’s also essential? Making sure you have the right pair of beach sunglasses. But how do you choose? Read on...

How to choose sunglasses

Choose a pair of sunnies that match your face

A good pair of shades can instantly give you an extra +10 cool points.

But there’s a catch: you need to choose a pair of sunnies that matches your face shape.

With personal taste being what it is, everyone has a different idea of what goes best with each different face shape.

That said, we can give you some pointers on what sorts of sunnies may be best suited to your face shape.

As a general rule... 

  • Round faces: opt for squared frames
  • Square faces: round sunglasses make for a great contrast with square faces (aviators are a great bet)
  • Diamond faces: if you have a diamond face, you probably have high cheekbones too - oval frames complement these faces well
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    beach sunglasses

  • Oval-shaped face: you’ve got it made - just about any shape will work with your face (you lucky duck!)
  • On top of choosing a shape that complements your face, we recommend choosing a pair that provides generous coverage - not just for your eyes, but also for the sensitive skin that surrounds your eyes.

    That’s because beach sunglasses aren’t just a fashion statement - they’re also key in protecting you from harmful UV light.

    Oh, and while we’re on the subject...

    Choose UV protection sunglasses

    Everyone knows Slip, Slop, Slap - we all remember the PSAs and ads from our childhoods!

    What you might not have realised is that circa 2007, this slogan was updated with two new additions:

  • Seek shelter in the shade
  • Slide on a pair of sunnies
  • If your beach ensemble didn’t include a pair of UV sunglasses, it definitely needs to now!

    Spending a lot of time in the sun without a pair of shades is risky - and UV damage is serious.

    It’s even worse when you’re at the beach, where you’ll have to deal with sunlight bouncing off the water and directly into your eyes!

    Getting sunburnt stinks. But you what’s worse? Getting sunburn on your eyes.

    Yep, eye sunburn is real, and it can even lead to permanent damage to your vision! 

    On top of bringing together your beach ensemble, the right pair of beach sunglasses can also protect your vision from lasting damage.

    Key word: the right pair of beach sunglasses.

    Luckily for you, each of the beach sunglasses we stock at our online beach store has 100% UV protection, helping protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

    Darker doesn’t always equal better

    Tint and darkness have nothing to do with UV protection. There, we said it!

    UV sunglasses use a special UV layer or coating. This layer is completely clear - darkness has nothing to do with it. If you look hard enough, you can even get completely-transparent prescription glasses with UV protection!

    With a dark pair of non-UV sunglasses though? Your eyes can comfortably stay wide open, which means they’re exposed to much more UV… but without the protection that a proper pair of UV sunglasses offers.

    UV protection sunglasses

    Let your true colours shine through

    It’s not just a fashion statement, either - the colour lenses you choose can also affect how well your sunglasses perform.

    Get comfy, because we’re about to blow your mind with a bunch of little known facts about your pair of sunglasses!

    Colours affect how much light reaches your eyes. And that impacts what you see, eye fatigue, and colour perception.

    For example:

  • Grey/black sunglasses: the darkest colours, blacks and greys are the best at reducing glare, making them great for bright, sunny days at the beach
  • Brown sunglasses: a problem with grey/black sunnies is that on overcast days, they can make things too dark, causing eye strain. Brown lenses offer similar glare reduction, but without this problem
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    UV sunglasses

  • Red sunglasses: red light is the least damaging to your eyes (and can actually help them), making them a solid choice for long-term wear - not to mention, red UV sunglasses also heighten contrast
  • Green sunglasses: green lenses are fashion-friendly, offer the best colour accuracy and they have a calming effect on your eyes, reducing eye stress (after all, green’s literally one of the most soothing shades around)

  • Told you we’d blow your mind!

    Think about nose pads

    If you wear prescription lenses normally, you probably know that there are two main types of nose pads for glasses.

  • Separate nose pads: these types of pads are connected to the frames with wires. This has a couple of upsides - for instance, it makes them easier to adjust, and they allow air to pass through
  • Moulded nose pads: these pads are moulded directly into your sunnies. This makes them very stable and less likely to slip

  • Shop beach gear online and find everything you need for a great day at the beach!

    Check out our online beach shop

    You don’t need a lot of gear to make the most of a day at the beach - one thing that is essential however is a killer pair of sunnies.

    Whether it’s sunny or overcast, the UV index can be deceptive and tricky. So ensure you protect your eyes - and make a fashion statement while you’re at it!

    Our online beach shop stocks Luke Shades sunglasses, each of which is hand-made using wood from around the world, and combines form and function:

  • Offer 100% UV protection
    • Scratch-resistant lenses
    • Incredibly stylish and unique
    • Flexible, unisex, and designed to fit most heads

    It’s not just sunnies, either - we’ve got everything you need for a day at the beach, whether it’s the basics (towels, sunnies, matador droplet wet bag and sunscreen) or you’re also looking for the coolest beach toys, a chic beach umbrella, red paddle ride 10.8 or our eye-catching beach floats).

    Everything we stock at our online beach shop is carefully curated, with an eye towards reputable brands, environmentally friendly materials and quality construction.

    You won’t find any cheap gear that breaks after a single visit to the beach here!

    What are you waiting for? Click here to start shopping!