For the past week, we’ve all looked outside only to see a big, blue sky and bright, sunny weather. With the constant rainy days we’ve been having it may seem a little too good to be true, but we should still take advantage of this good weather and enjoy the warmth on our faces.

So since the sun has decided to grace us with its presence, one thing that we should all start looking into (if you haven’t already) is protecting ourselves from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Of course, using the proper SPF is a must and figuring out exactly what kind mainly depends on your skin type and how often you’re exposed to the sun, according to loreal.com.

Besides using sunscreen, dressing in the proper attire is a good way to help prevent any skin damage. This means wearing hats and most importantly, sunglasses.

Sunglasses block 99 percent of harmful UV rays and protect the eyes from any damage or sensitivity due to the sun’s light according to sunglasshut.com.

Besides being a source of protection, sunglasses are also a fashion favorite.

Karen Tubbs, a sales associate at Sunglass Hut in Downtown Plaza, gives an inside look at some of the most popular picks for this season so far.

“Pretty much anything big,” Tubbs said.

For men, big metal squares are the favorite while women seek big plastic square frames instead. Aviators are a popular pick among the two as well.

Keeping up with this spring’s theme, it should come as no surprise that colors like pinks, purples, blues and whites are all the rage.

“People are looking for a lot of white,” Tubbs said. “White glasses are really popular.”

Girls mainly choose color frames because for guys “it’s harder to get them in a color. They usually stick to black or silver,” Tubbs said.

With that, the most popular shades for women would have to be a pink Versace pair, priced at $209.95 (click here to view.)

“We actually can’t keep it in stock right now,” Tubbs said.

For men, a similar pair of grey Versace shades, $199.95, are the favorite (click here to view.)

Big and bold may not be the way that some people want to go when it comes to picking their personal pair of shades, but Tubbs points out that anyone can find a good pair.

They’re so modified, anyone can find one they like. They come in the squares, round, oval… you can find different versions that will fit.”

With so many shapes and styles, it may be difficult to figure out where to start, but there is a way to go about choosing the right frames.

“”Face shape is most important,” Tubbs said. “If you have an oval or round face, then you’d want to do like a square [shape].”

Tubbs explained that people should pick a frame that is the opposite of their face shape to deemphasize the round or square shape of their face.

“Also, if you don’t have much of a bridge, you have to go with the adjustable nose pieces,” Tubbs added.

Although it’s great to have such a huge selection when it comes to picking out a pair of sunglasses, their ability to provide UV protection is most important. Always wear your shades when you’re outside and don’t forget to protect your skin by putting on some SPF.

Taking part in these safety procedures should be done regardless of whether it’s sunny or not.

With that, slip on those shades, slab on that sunscreen, and enjoy the fact that Mr. Sun has finally decided to shine down on us once again. After all, who knows how long it’s going to last?

Aleesa Camagong can be reached at [email protected].