How to Choose Glasses for Your Face Shape

Finding glasses for your face shape isn't just about looking good (though that’s definitely an important part). The right frames can balance your features, add or soften angles, and make your whole look feel intentional rather than accidental. Even the most beautiful pair of glasses can look wrong when paired with the wrong face shape. 

Here's how to figure out your face shape, which frames flatter it, and how skin tone also plays into the mix.

Quick Answers

• There are five main face shapes: oval, round, square, heart, and oblong.
• The general rule: frames that contrast your face shape work best.
• To find your shape, pull your hair back and compare the widths of your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline.
• Skin tone (warm or cool) helps you pick the right frame colour.
• Not sure? An optometrist can help you narrow it down in person.

How to Work Out Your Face Shape

Pull your hair away from your face (or wet it down so it sits flat), stand in front of a mirror, and take a good look. You're comparing four things: the width of your forehead, your cheekbones, and your jawline, plus the overall length of your face.

• Oval: Forehead is slightly wider than the jaw, face is longer than it is wide, and everything tapers gently. This is considered the most balanced shape.
• Round: Face is roughly as wide as it is long, with full cheeks and a soft, curved jaw.
• Square: Strong, angular jawline that's about as wide as your forehead. Features are bold and defined.
• Heart: Wide forehead and prominent cheekbones, narrowing to a smaller chin.
• Oblong/Rectangle: Face is noticeably longer than it is wide, with a fairly uniform width from forehead to jaw.

Most people don't fit perfectly into one category, and that's fine. If you're on the fence between two shapes, try the recommended frames for both and see which resonates.

Glasses for Your Face Shape: What Works

The core principle when choosing eyeglass frames is contrast. Angular faces look great in softer, rounder frames. Softer, rounder faces balance out with more structured, angular ones.

Oval Face

You've got the most flexibility here. Almost any frame style will suit you. That said, frames that are as wide as (or slightly wider than) the broadest part of your face tend to look most proportionate. Avoid anything too oversized or too small.

Round Face

Go for frames that add structure. Rectangular, square, or geometric styles work really well. Wider frames that sit slightly higher on the nose help elongate the face. Avoid very round or small circular frames, as these amplify the roundness rather than balance it.

Square Face

Softer shapes are your friend. Round, oval, or even rimless frames help offset that strong jawline without competing with it. Thinner, lighter frames tend to work better than bold chunky ones.

Heart Face

Balance the wider upper face with frames that draw attention downward. Aviators, oval shapes, and lighter or rimless styles work well. Steer clear of heavily embellished tops or cat-eye frames that add even more visual weight to the forehead.

Oblong/Rectangle Face

You want to add width and break up the length. Wider frames, oversized styles, or frames with bold decorative detail do this well. Round or square shapes both work; just make sure the frame has some width.

How Skin Tone Affects Frame Colour

Once you've nailed the shape, colour is the next consideration when learning how to choose eyeglass frames.

Skin tones are typically categorised as either warm or cool, regardless of overall skin colour. A cool complexion has pink or blue undertones, while a warm complexion has a cream or yellow cast.

• Warm skin tones are complemented by warm, glowing shades like gold, brown, and red. Warm skin also tends to favour gold over silver. Tortoiseshell, caramel, olive green, and warm browns all work beautifully.
• Cool skin tones tend to look better in hues of purple, green, or blue and pair better with silver than with gold. If you want a bold colour like red or pink, look for shades with blue undertones rather than orange.
• Neutral skin tones are flexible. Most frame colours will work, so it really comes down to personal preference.

Frame colour applies just as much to sunglasses as prescription glasses. If you're browsing our sunglasses shop in Penrith, the same warm/cool principle applies.

A Few Extra Things Worth Knowing

• Frame size matters: The top of your frames should generally sit close to your brow line, and the frames shouldn't extend much wider than your face. If you wear strong prescriptions, your optometrist may recommend smaller frames to keep lens thickness manageable. If you're considering multifocal glasses, frame height matters too, since progressive lenses need adequate vertical space for all three vision zones.
• Rules aren't law. These are guidelines, not commandments. If you find a pair you love that technically breaks the "rules," wear them anyway. Confidence matters more than a formula.
• Try before you decide. It's one thing to read about glasses for face shape online; it's another to actually try them on. What looks great on paper doesn't always translate, and vice versa. If you want new prescription glasses fast, our one-day glasses service means you can walk out the same day (if lenses are in stock).

Let Us Help You Find the Right Pair

Choosing glasses doesn't have to be a guessing game. At City Optics, our team takes the time to help you find frames that suit your face shape, skin tone, and prescription without the pressure. Whether you're after everyday prescription glasses, Carrera sunglasses, or just want professional advice before you commit, visit City Optics and try on as many pairs as you like. We're here to help you find something you'll love wearing.