Buying sunglasses can be a minefield. Trust me, having searched unsuccessfully for a pair that looked good for years, I know all about the pitfalls of choosing between classic Ray-Bans and blingtastic Bvlgari. However, as I recently found out, the key to finding a great pair of sunglasses is to figure out which pairs are suited to your face type.

If you are blessed with an oval shaped face, then you are very lucky as this is the 'wear-what-you-like' face shape. Pretty much anything goes. This face shape has the most balanced proportions, allowing you to play with styles! Find your favourite sunglasses (like these Tiffany shades, €363) and you will look just like Jessica Alba and Charlize Theron.

For rounder faces, choose sunglass styles as wide as or slightly wider than the broadest part of your face. A rectangular frame will help add definition to your face. A round shaped face (think Cameron Diaz) needs straight lines to counteract the curves, so look out for rectangular or square frames. If you have a large face then you can pull off the large, bold sunglasses that give you that 'A-List' celebrity look. Best to avoid round sunglasses, as this will exaggerate the curves, and the frames should be wider than they are deep. Jackie O-esque retro frames look great on this face shape and add glamour like these sunglasses from Marc Jacobs (€180).

If, like Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, you have a heart shaped face, beware of 'too-wide' sunglasses that will make chins look pointy. Luckily, you can still probably get away with more styles than most. The best style we have found for this face shape is the aviator. Try something like these Raybans, €110.

If you have a square shaped face like Gwyneth Paltrow, you can look your best with rounded sunglasses, or curved sunglasses like many of Ray-Ban's collection. Angular sunglasses may emphasize a square jaw. We love these YSL shades, €245.

Once you have determined the shape you need, there are one or two final considerations. Skintone also has a huge bearing on what will suit you. For pale complexions, try lightweight frames or those with a touch of colour, such as rose or amber. Tortoiseshell frames will also suit fair complexions (avoid darker versions) but clear, blue or green tinged frames tend to drain colour from cheeks.

Dark complexions such as olive, Mediterranean, golden or Asian skin and dark hair can look stunning in silver, gold or clear frames, but avoid black, which can be too heavy. All metallic frames really suit black skins and amber often works well.

Last but most definitely not least, safety is most important when choosing a pair of sunglasses. Make sure your sunglasses have UVA and UVB protection to keep your eyes safe from harmful rays. UVB is a thick ray of light, which can blister the surface of the eye. UVA is a much finer ray of light, which penetrates into the eye and has a drying effect. Although this does not have an immediate effect, it is widely believed to cause a loss of visual faculty in old age.

All the featured sunglasses are available from Brown Thomas Galway and offer 100 per cent protection from UVB and UVA rays.

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