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For those with smaller faces, finding a pair of sunglasses that fits well and looks good can be a difficult task. Several styles that look good on others can drown out your features. Some frames won’t even stay on your face without slipping down your nose.
But don’t worry. With a little help you’ll be able to find the right sunglasses for your petite face. In this guide we’ll cover a few technical details that will help you understand what to look for. Then we’ll provide a list of the top sunglasses for small faces.
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Measuring your face will give you a better idea of what size sunglasses will work for you. It’s actually quite a simple process. All you’ll need is a flexible tape measure.
Then take these 5 measurements (be sure to write them down in millimeters):
1. Forehead Width. Measure the widest part of your forehead, from hairline to hairline.
2. Cheekbone Width. Measure the width of your cheekbones, starting from your hairline above your cheekbone to the same point on the opposite side.
3. Jawline Width. Start measuring just underneath your ears at the base of your jaw. Run the tape measure along the edge of your jaw until it reaches the middle of your chin. Then multiply this number by two for the full measurement.
4. Face Length. Hold the tape measure at the center of your hairline and stretch it to the tip of your chin.
5. Pupillary Distance. Find a hard ruler for this one and stand about 8 inches from a mirror. Hold the ruler across the bridge of your nose. With your right eye closed, line up the 0 line of the ruler in the center of your left pupil. Then, open your right eye and close your left eye. Without moving the ruler, check for the line that falls directly over the center of your right pupil. Most people will have a pupillary distance (PD) of 54-74 mm.
The widest part of your face will determine your face shape as well as your face size. Narrow faces typically range between 110 mm and 125 mm in their measurements. These are the people that typically have the most difficult time finding eyewear that fits.
A petite face may also be short from top to bottom. This may affect the frame style you decide to go with. But the most important measurements will be your face width and pupillary distance. This will help you find frames that fit your face measurements.
There are five measurements that sunglasses manufacturers may provide:
1. Frame Width. This measures from one corner of the frame to the other. Any extra hinge pieces or temple extensions are counted in this measurement.
2. Lens Width. Also called “eye size,” this is measured from one outermost edge of a single lens to the other.
3. Bridge Width. Bridge width, or bridge size, is the distance between the two lenses.
4. Lens Height. Sometimes referred to as “B size,” this is the vertical measurement of the lens at its tallest point.
5. Temple Length. Temple length, or temple arms, is the sum of two measurements. The first is from the temple where the arm connects to the frame to the arm bend. The second is from the bend to the tip of the arms. Add these together for the temple length.
Use these numbers as a guideline to find sunglasses that are should fit petite faces better:
Frame Width: 123 to 131 mm
Lens Width: 47 to 52 mm (Round frames: 45 to 48 mm)
Bridge Width: 16 to 20 mm (Round frames: 16 to 22 mm)
Lens Height: Rectangular: 28 to 32 mm; Square: 32 to 39 mm; Oval: 30 to 32 mm; Round: 35 to 41 mm
Temple Length: 130 to 145 mm
Rectangular, oval, and classic cat-eye sunglasses are top choices for small faces. Square and round sunglasses also can work, but sometimes the lens size is too big. Rimless and semi-rimless frames are also great, non-obtrusive options.
The advice usually given to people with small faces is to avoid:
Taller lenses can make your face seem even smaller than it is, and thicker frames can cover up too much of your face. However, there’s no reason you can’t experiment with these shapes and sizes.
The current fashion trends favor bigger, taller lenses. This means that many stores aren’t carrying as many short rectangular or oval frames. However, it also means that you can probably pull off slightly taller frames, since these are currently in fashion.
DU, Li-Li et al. [Measurement and analysis of human head-face dimensions], Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases vol. 26,5 (2008): 266-70.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18727867/#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20the%20mean%20values,49.3%2C%2017.7%20mm%20for%20female.
Backes, C., Religi, A., Moccozet, L. et al. Sun exposure to the eyes: predicted UV protection effectiveness of various sunglasses. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 29, 753–764 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-018-0087-0
Dain, Stephen J. “Sunglasses and Sunglass Standards.” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 9 June 2009, www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1444-0938.2003.tb03066.x.
Backes, C., Religi, A., Moccozet, L. et al. Sun exposure to the eyes: predicted UV protection effectiveness of various sunglasses. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 29, 753–764 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-018-0087-0
Lanca, Carla, et al. “The Effects of Different Outdoor Environments, Sunglasses and Hats on Light Levels: Implications for Myopia Prevention.” Translational Vision Science & Technology, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 1 July 2019, www.tvst.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2738326.
Oakley® Official Store: Sunglasses, Goggles & Apparel. www.oakley.com/en-us.
Ray-Ban® Official Store USA. www.ray-ban.com/usa.
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