Summer is finally here! Woohoo!

Are you enjoying this heat wave as much as we are? I’m sure the rest of you are joining us in slapping on that sunscreen, catching those warm rays whilst they last (this is England, who knows when the rain could arrive) and of course having as many barbecues as humanly possible in a week.

Did you know however, that just like your skin, your eyes also need proper protection from the sun? And if your chosen summer sunnies were purchased from a high street store it's more than likely they are doing absolutely nothing to protect you from those sunny rays.

Read on to find out more about what you can be doing to protect your eyes from the sun this summer…

Upcycled RayBans with new mirrored UV-protective lenses

Whilst hopefully now everyone seems to be well informed of the dangers that much sun exposure to our skin can do, we thought it also important to talk about the dangers of the sun on the eyes. Apart from helping us look utterly glamorous, sunglasses are primarily used to help protect our eyes from the damage of UVA, but unfortunately many high street sunglasses offer little or no protection whatsoever.

Emily in some upcycled Retrospecs

We've put together some top tips for when you're shopping for a pair of stylish sunglasses with substance. Most importantly, always look for a pair that is specifically designed for UV eye protection. To provide proper protection your sunglasses should:

• block out 99% to 100% of both UV-A and UV-B light radiation
• screen out 75% to 90% of visible light
• have lenses that are perfectly matched in color
• have lenses that are free of distortion and imperfection
• have lenses that are grey or dark green for proper recognition

So why not chose a pair of (upcycled) sunglasses this summer that not only look great, but also give your eyes the protection they deserve? If your next pair are upcycled Retrospecs, then you are also supporting an ethical, sustainable fashion movement and making a substantial donation to a very worthwhile charity!

Text by Paris Richardson for Retrospecced.