Its Me Chrissy J

You put on a new pair of eyeglasses and, all of a sudden, you think you got a full night’s sleep; your eyes appear more open, your skin appears smoother, and you look like you could conquer the morning. Try on another pair, and nothing happens. What is happening here?

Via Unsplash

What is actually happening is the frames are reflecting and enhancing light, color, and form in such a way that they are waking up your face. While some frames will also fade away at the same time, quietly draining the light from your face. Let us examine how frames work to either brighten or drain your skin.

Color That Compliments Your Undertone

The number one secret to finding frames that enhance the brightness of your skin is the frame color, not the style of the frame. Skin has an undertone that remains the same regardless of how tan or pale your skin may be. Those with warm undertones tend to have a peachy, golden, or olive tone. Those with cool undertones tend to have a rosy, pink, or slightly blue undertone. Those with neutral undertones fall somewhere in between.

Frames that complement your undertone will bring out the natural radiance of your skin. Warm undertones typically respond well to honey, tortoiseshell, soft brown, warm gold, or olive green colors. Cool undertones tend to respond well to charcoal, black, berry tones, gunmetal, silver, or icy pastel colors.

Shape That Lifts Instead of Pulls Down

Shape is also important. Any frame that creates the illusion of lifting the face gives the appearance of brighter, more radiant skin. Frames that sit slightly higher on the cheeks and mirror the natural arch of your eyebrow line create an upward movement that translates into looking more awake and refreshed. Soft cat-eye corners, subtle upswept edges, and slight angles can also achieve this effect.

Why Clean Lines Can Look “Bright”

Simple, clean frames give your face a chance to shine. Too many details, extremely large or thick rims, or extreme patterns can overwhelm your facial features and take light away from your face. That is why many people report that simple, clean rectangle glasses create a brighter appearance. The clean lines provide crisp framing around your eyes, without overwhelming distractions, and the clean edge allows your skin to appear clearer and uniform. When combined with a frame color that complements your skin tone, this creates an immediate “fresh-faced” look.

Magic Of Frame Finishing, Fit & Weight

Small details count big time. A shiny finish reflects more light onto your skin than a very matte finish does. Thin metal and translucent acetate allow your natural tones to shine through, creating an almost “soft focus” effect.

Just as important as finishing is how it fits. Frames that sit too low on the bridge of the nose can cause dark shadows to develop below the eyes. Frames that are too wide can cause your facial features to become lost in the frame. A good fit that centers your pupils in the lens allows light to hit where it needs to.

Next time you try on a new frame, ask yourself: Is my skin looking more alive? Are my eyes looking brighter? If the answer is yes, you aren’t imagining things. You’ve probably simply found a frame that enhances your skin tone, your facial shape, and the amount of light.