April 15, 2024
Folks with small faces: We understand your predicament. It can be difficult to find sunglasses you like that are also perfectly proportioned for your face. You might shop for children’s sunglasses instead of adult ones. Or, you sacrifice size for style and get the frames that might not fit your face, but fit your aesthetic.
Well, sunnier days are ahead. We’re here with tips for finding the best sunglasses for small faces—the ones that fit you and your style.
What it means to have a small face is somewhat up for debate. To some, it means that your head is smaller than average. To others, it’s that your facial features are contained inside a small area of your face. And still others think it means that your features are simply small relative to the size of your head.
To us, having a small face simply means that the dimensions of your face overall, most likely including your head, are smaller compared to most adults.
We don’t want to get too caught up in numbers here, because “small” when it comes to faces is more a matter of perception than anything mathematical. And, depending on your face shape, measurements will vary a bit. But using your facial measurements can give you another guideline to reference as you shop for sunglasses for smaller faces.
To find out if you have a small face, grab a ruler or measuring tape, position yourself in front of a mirror, and measure across your face from temple to temple.
A small face will generally measure around 4.5–5.1 inches (or 114.3–129.5 millimeters) across. Regardless, precise measurements are usually available for quality sunglasses, so there’s little need to fret whether your face is small or medium. Instead, take the above measurement in millimeters (the standard unit for these measurements) and look for frames that approximately match that number.
Besides measurements, smaller faces typically have certain other facial qualities, too. Not all small faces will share all of these characteristics—in fact, some may not have any—but taking note of these qualities can help you determine whether your face could be considered small:
Try out sunglasses frames before you buy—at home or in the store.
When it comes to eyewear, a comfortable fit is key. Sunglass retailers (like yours truly) might offer different styles in a few sizes. This could include those labeled as narrow or extra-narrow. Other retailers may use labels like small, extra-small, or petite.
Narrow or extra-narrow frame sizes can fit well on people with small faces and people with narrow faces (as well as some oval faces). Sunglasses for narrow faces, sunglasses for petite faces, and sunglasses for small heads tend to be one and the same.
But putting labels aside, the best-fitting sunglasses for small faces often stay within these measurements:
Learn more about how to find your petite sunglasses size in our guide to glasses measurements.
Remember, the “best” sunglasses are the ones you think look great on you. But we have suggestions for sunglass shapes that tend to complement a small face. Consider these different frame styles as you shop for sunglasses:
Thicker frames can look clunky on a petite face. Thinner frames, on the other hand, add a flattering balance. Wireframe or semi-wireless sunglasses are great choices for this svelte silhouette. But other sunglasses frames, like those made from acetate, can have thinner eye rims as well.
Similar to frames with thin eye rims, sunglasses with translucent acetate frames look less bulky. While the frame may actually be thicker than a wireframe style, for instance, this style’s see-through quality gives the illusion of barely-there frames. The result is a subtle statement that won’t eclipse your features.
Round and oval sunglasses are a frame style that can work on a multitude of face shapes and sizes. For smaller faces, the softness of the round edges won’t look too harsh against petite features. Round glasses can also give a slight illusion of fullness to the face while not extending out too much horizontally.
Like round sunglasses, cat-eye sunglasses are almost universally flattering. The upswept “wings” of this style add emphasis and width to a smaller face’s typically narrow cheekbones. Small faces may want to steer toward cat-eye sunglasses that interpret the shape with more subtlety than frames with exaggerated wings, which might be too wide.
With their wider top and tapered bottom, aviators add flattering emphasis to a small forehead. At the same time, the soft, inverted-teardrop shape can enhance sometimes-elusive cheekbones. Aviator sunglasses are also typically designed with thinner eye rims, which, as discussed, tend to flatter smaller faces.
Square sunglasses let people with small faces be bold, but not in a way that overwhelms any facial features. A square frame’s sharp edges can counterbalance the typical softness of a small face. And the unconventional square shape draws the eye upward toward, well, the eyes. By extension, it often highlights and adds prominence to the forehead.
Big sunglasses can work on people with small faces. If you like the look, it’s an eye-catching and stylish choice.
But shop with caution. Oversized sunglasses can also overpower petite faces. Ideally, you want your face to be on an equal footing with your frames.
So, can someone with a small face wear “regular”-sized sunglasses as a way to achieve that oversized look? You might be able to. But remember that even if the sunglasses give you the lens size you’re looking for, your eyes may not be in the proper position behind them (which is especially important for prescription pairs). And the rest of the frame may not fit, either. If you want to try oversized sunglasses for a small face, pay special attention to their dimensions. Sunglasses that are the proper size will not only be more flattering, but will stay on better than sunglasses that slip and shift around.
Finding the best sunglasses for a small face isn’t an exact science. More than anything, it’s about what suits your taste and what you feel comfortable wearing. If you find a style of sunglasses you love, you can see if they come in a smaller size, or you can start out trying to find something that’s specially proportioned for petite faces.
But perhaps the best way to find that perfect pair of sunglasses (with the perfect fit) is to try them on and simply see what you like. The right pair of sunglasses should make you smile on sight.
Each pair is equipped with scratch-resistant lenses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
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