Eyeglass frames for face types and skin tone

Best eyeglass style for your face shape

Finding the best eyeglasses for your face shape can make a big difference in how your frames look and feel. The right pair of glasses does more than correct vision. It can enhance your natural features, create balance and reflect your personal style. 

Once you know your face shape, you can choose frame styles that flatter your proportions and highlight your favorite features.

Face shapes

To determine your face shape and which eyeglass styles will look best, pull your hair away from your face and look directly into a mirror. Take a close look at the overall shape and contours of your face and head.

If you want to take exact measurements to find your face shape, use a measuring tape to find the length and width of your face, from hairline to chin and from cheek to cheek. Then measure the width of your forehead and the width of your jawline. Comparing these numbers can help you see whether your face is more round, square, oval, heart-shaped or like another shape.

Here are the seven primary face shapes and the type of eyeglass frames that look best on each one:

Round face shape

A round face shape has curved lines with the width and length in the same proportions and no angles.

To make a round face appear thinner and longer, try angular narrow eyeglass frames to lengthen the face.

Wide rectangular frames may also be a good choice.

Square face shape

A square face shape has a strong jaw, high cheekbones and a broad forehead, and the width and length of the face have roughly the same proportions.

To make a square face look longer and soften its angles, try narrow frame styles, frames that have more width than depth, and narrow ovals.

Oval face shape

An oval face shape combines the soft curves of a round face with the structure of a square face. It features a slightly narrower forehead and a rounded jawline. 

To maintain the natural balance of an oval face shape, look for eyeglass frames that are as wide as (or wider than) the broadest part of your face.

Walnut-shaped frames that are not too deep or narrow are a very good choice, but almost any frame style is flattering to an oval face shape.

Heart-shaped face

A heart-shaped face has a wide top third and a narrow bottom third.

To reduce the apparent width of the top of the face, choose frame shapes that are wider at the bottom. Thin, light-colored frames and rimless frames that have a light, airy appearance are also good choices.

Oblong face shape

An oblong face shape is longer than it is wide, with a long, straight cheek line.

To make an oblong face appear shorter and more balanced, try frames that have more depth than width. Frames with decorative or contrasting temples also add width to the face.

Diamond face shape

Diamond-shaped faces are narrow at the forehead and chin, and have broad cheekbones that may be high and dramatic. This is often considered the rarest face shape.

To highlight the eyes and soften the cheekbones, try frames that have detailing or distinctive brow lines. Clubmaster eyeglasses and frames with oval or cat-eye shapes can be good choices for this face shape.

Base-down triangle

A base-down triangular face shape has a narrow forehead and widens at the cheek and chin areas.

To add width and emphasize the narrow upper third of the face, try frames that are heavily accented with color and detailing on the top half (brow) of the frame.

Aviators and frames with cat-eye shapes tend to look good on a base-down triangle face shape.

Infographic: Best Eyeglasses for your Face Shape

Skin tone, eye color and hair color

When choosing eyeglasses, face shape isn't the only factor that determines which frames will look best on you — your skin tone, eye color and hair color also play important roles.

The best eyeglasses will complement the coloration of your face, eyes and hair.

Skin tone

Regardless of the color of your skin, skin tones are categorized as either "cool" or "warm."

A cool complexion has blue or pink undertones, and a warm complexion has a "peaches and cream" or yellow cast. Olive skin is considered cool because it is a mixture of blue and yellow.

Eye color

Eye colors are usually a secondary element in determining your coloring because of the many variations of eye color.

For example, blue eyes can range from a cool, almost-violet to a pale blue-gray. Brown eyes can vary from a warm light cider shade through a medium-brown to an almost-black neutral.

Hair color

Hair colors are also considered warm or cool.

"Cool" hair colors include:

• Platinum blond
• Blue-black
• White
• Salt-and-pepper
• Ashy brown

Warm hair colors include:

• Golden blond
• Brownish black
• Chocolate brown
• Auburn
• Strawberry blond

Eyeglass frame colors

Once you have determined if your hair and skin tone are "warm" or "cool," then you can find the eyeglass frame colors that will suit you the best.

Best color glasses for warm skin tones

Warmer skin tones look best in warm, glowing shades of gold, brown and red. They also favor gold over silver. When looking for glasses that suit your warm-toned skin, try to stay away from light, muted yellows or blue-toned pinks to avoid looking washed out. 

Examples of frame colors best for warm coloring are:

• Camel
• Khaki
• Gold
• Copper
• Peach
• Orange
• Coral
• Off-white
• Fire-engine red
• Blond tortoise

Best color glasses for cool skin tones

When choosing colors to match a cool skin tone, look for hues of purple, green or blue. If choosing a more bold color for your glasses, such as pink or red, look for shades that have blue undertones instead of orange. Cool-toned skin tones also tend to look better in silver instead of gold. 

For cool coloring, the best eyeglass frame hues are:

• Black
• Silver
• Rose
• Blue-gray
• Plum
• Pink
• Jade
• Blue
• Gray tortoise

Get an expert opinion

To help you find the perfect glasses for your face shape and complexion, first get your eyeglass prescription updated. Schedule a comprehensive eye exam with an eye doctor near you.

Then, visit an experienced optician to help you choose your glasses.

READ NEXT: Types and styles of glasses and sunglasses

Liz Segre also contributed to this article.