12 best sunglasses for women based on your face shape

Summer is here, which means sand, sandals, SPF and sunglasses. But don’t be blinded by prices — because the cost of shades has nothing to do with their efficiency.

“They do not have to cost a lot of money to work well. Less expensive sunglasses marked as 100% UV blocking can be just as effective at protecting the eyes as other pricier options,” said Dr. Stephanie Erwin, an optometrist at the Cleveland Clinic.

So if you want to go fancy, by all means, grab a pair of Tom Fords. But don’t let labels fool you. Instead, pay attention to the key words that mean sunglasses are effective at what they’re meant to do.

“The most important function of sunglasses is to protect the eyes from UV rays. You want your sunglasses to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Always choose sunglasses that are marked as blocking 100 percent of UV rays. Some manufacture labels say ‘UV absorption up to 400nm.’ which is the same as 100 percent UV protection,” said Erwin.

The takeaway: Everyone should slip on a pair of shades.

“Sunglasses are vital to protect the eye and the skin around the eye from damaging UV rays, which can cause eye diseases like cataracts, macular degeneration, keratitis or even cancer around the eyes," Erwin said.

Take a peek at some of the season’s best sunglasses, all featuring the recommended level of UV protection. TODAY Style Squad member Jill Martin also offered up a few easy tricks to find your face shape, and suggestions for which types of frames will look most stunning on you.