Five Reasons You Should Wear Sunglasses + Three Pairs I Love

Whether you’re a longtime reader or new to Veronika’s Blushing, you may have noticed that I (and my kids, for that matter) are rarely without sunglasses when outdoors. I developed a sensitivity to sunlight in young adulthood and even when it’s overcast, I find myself squinting if I don’t wear sunglasses (in fact, one of the reasons I wear sunglasses for my outfit photos is that if I don’t, you can hardly see my eyes because they’re so small from squinting from the sun). I remember my college graduation photos — my eyes were basically shut and I recall them watering up when we tried to take photos outside on a bright day.

For me, sunglasses are as essential as brushing my teeth every morning and I don’t leave my house without them. I keep a pair in my purse and two pairs in my car at all times. My kids have multiple pairs as well and I started to encourage wearing them from a young age. Harper took to it with ease. Part of that is probably because her red hair, pale skin and light eyes predispose her to sun sensitivity. She enjoys wearing them when outdoors — they make play and pool time more comfortable for her. Lincoln is getting more accustomed to sunglasses as well and he will usually wear them if we go out for a wagon ride or spend extended time outdoors.

Kevin has a pterygium (a tissue growth over the white part of the surface of the eye that can alter the curve of the eyeball, causing astigmatism) on his eye that developed in childhood due to not wearing eye protection outdoors. He’s always wearing sunglasses now. We get so much sun in Texas with our long summers, so sunglasses are a part of our day-to-day life here, which is why I don’t mind splurging on some of mine.

I’m partnering with Maui Jim today to share with you my top five reasons you should be wearing sunglasses + showing you my favorite styles from their collection. One thing that’s different about Maui Jim sunglasses is that they have a huge focus on the quality of their lenses (they’re polarized)— and now, they’ve come out with a line of trendy and performance styles so you don’t have to sacrifice quality to get the styles you love. You can check out their full range of styles here and read more about the technology behind their lenses here.

So, here’s why you should be wearing sunglasses…

O N E
They improve your ability to see when performing important tasks
There’s nothing worse than the sun glaring into your eyes while you’re driving, playing a sport or simply enjoying any outdoor activity. It’s difficult to feel comfortable and see clearly when the sun is beaming into your eyes and can sometimes pose a danger (for example, feeling blinded while you’re driving).

T W O
Wearing sunglasses = health benefits
I mentioned Kevin’s pterygium and wearing UV-protectant sunglasses is one way to avoid the risk of developing this condition. The National Eye Institute says that UV eye protection can help reduce the risk of cataracts (an estimated 20% of cases are caused by extended UV exposure) and can also help reduce macular degeneration, resulting from damage to the retina that destroys central vision. Here is a good article from the American Optometric Association on this topic. You only get one pair of eyes, so treat them right!

T H R E E
There are beauty benefits, too
When I see people outdoors not wearing eye protection on a sunny day, I often see them using their hand to shield the sun or squinting their eyes really hard. Over time, this will result in overuse of those muscles and…wrinkles! Though wrinkles are primarily cosmetic concerns, they’re easier to prevent when your eyes are protected.

F O U R
They’re a fun accessory
Sometimes things that improve your health aren’t necessarily cute or outfit-enhancing— but sunglasses are! There are so many stylish options to choose from— from cat eyes to aviators to oversized frames (a personal fave!) sunglasses make every outfit more chic. Plus, they also work on those days you need to run errands but didn’t get a great night’s sleep— they cover up enough of your face that you can feel put together without makeup and your hair in a topknot.

F I V E
They set a good example
My kids always saw me in sunglasses, so maybe they took to them because it was a normal part of our outdoor life. Or, maybe we just got lucky, but it’s a good habit to wear sunglasses outdoors so your kids follow suit. All the cool kids wear sunglasses, right?

Here are my three favorite Maui Jim styles, paired with a white off-the-shoulder dress.

C A T  E Y E  S T Y L E
There’s nothing I love more than a tortoise shell frame and these classic cat eye sunglasses are oversized, just the way I like em’. C O C O  P A L M S  S T Y L E
The coco palm frames are also an oversized style but the lenses are a little more squared out, which I adore. S U M M E R T I M E  S T Y L E
It’s hard to pick a favorite between these three… but this pair is so flattering with my face shape. I’m kind of picky about sunglasses because my face is on the rounder side, and these are just so balancing for my face shape. The frames are also tortoise shell, because, well, can you ever have too many?
(That was a rhetorical question). Do you wear sunglasses daily? Why or why not?