We’re looking forward (with our fingers crossed!) to our sunny Summer continuing after the sultry heat of June. Most of us love the sunshine, but if you’re a spex wearer, the combination of hot sun and slick sunscreen lotion can lead to months of pushing your glasses back up your nose and suffering from sore ears. So can you do anything to help?
Firstly, metal frames are more comfortable in Summer than plastic, as the nose pads sit the frame away from the skin and allow some air flow behind it. This prevents misting up and the small contact area of the nose pads on your skin means you perspire less. So put your plastics away in the hottest temperatures and if you’re thinking of investing in new glasses at the moment, look for a metal pair. A small size will help too – small lens area means less weight and less slipping.
Your glasses might need to be fitted slightly tighter over the warm months, and if you’re up to any energetic sports you could invest in an elastic sport band which will hold them in place. Specialist frames like Oakley have end tips on the side arms which actually get slightly tacky as you get hot, holding them firmly in position.
We all know that we need at least an SPF factor of 15 on our skin, and the face is especially vulnerable to sun damage. Heavy lotions might make your specs slip, so experiment with different formulae and allow them to settle before putting your specs on. In the evening, wash your glasses in warm soapy water, and dry on a soft towel or tea towel. This prevents damage to the frame from the lotion and your perspiration. Wash them as soon as possible after wear – don’t leave them overnight or a build up of damaging deposits will start to eat into the frame material.
A few sensible precautions will ensure you are more comfortable and your specs stay in place, so enjoy the sun and don’t make any slip-ups!
