That's Fit

Sunglasses are important year round, but especially so during summer months when we tend to spend more time outdoors. When you shop for sunglasses, one of the things that makes a big difference in price is whether or not the lens is polarized, which might lead you to believe that polarized is better for your eyes. That's not entirely true.

You need to make sure that any sunglasses you purchase block UVA and UVB rays. Polarization has nothing to do with UV -- it simply prevents glare. And, while glare can cause you to squint (which can lead to eye strain and wrinkles), the glare itself isn't doing damage to your eyes.

Surfaces that tend to cause glare are pavement and water, so polarized is often preferred for driving and boating. Personally, I like polarized lenses for running outdoors, but I know other people who are bothered by the polarization, so if you're spending big bucks on glasses for running outdoors, make sure you're familiar with the return/exchange policy.

SELF magazine and Neutrogena are teaming up to spread the word about summer skin care. Choose from four e-card designs and send messages about sun safety to your friends and family. They're keeping a state-by-state tally of how many e-cards were sent -- more cards equals more donated money for skin cancer charities.

Stay in the shade when possible, but even when the day seems overcast, don't forget your sunscreen. Remember to wear sunglasses that block UV-A and UV-B rays as well. Wide-brimmed hats and clothing that protects your skin are also good options. Check out the gallery for more summer sun safety tips.

Are you hitting the beach during the holiday weekend? If so, don't forget to protect your eyes from the sun! While it's always important to lather on the sunscreen before heading out, it's equally important to protect your eyes from UV rays.

Numerous eye problems can result from sun damage. Young people especially need to remember to wear eye protection as they tend to be outdoors in the bright sunlight more than their adult counterparts. A good pair of UV-blocking sunglasses is you first line protection, but wide-brimmed hats can also provide some shade.

An American Optometric Association survey revealed that 40% of Americans don't consider UV protection an important criteria in sunglasses. It is important. Look for sunglasses that block out 99% of UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Oakley came out several years ago with the THUMP, a sunglass/mp3 player combo. It was a really cool idea, because, really, how much extra stuff do you to carry when you go running? And it's great to not have to worry about cords or earbud slippage. Plus, the earphones hover just outside your ear, so while you can hear the music, other noises aren't entirely blocked, which is a nice safety feature.

They've now come out with an improved version, the Oakley Split THUMP. The first improvement I noticed was the fact that the earphones are removable, so if you show up at a race and find out only then that you can't have earphones (not like that's ever happened to me or anyone I know), you've still got glasses. Plus, if you're out for a run and then head out to the beach or park to hang out with friends, you can remove the earphones.

Additionally, the sound quality has improved (though, I actually hadn't noticed it being all that bad to begin with). They come in two varieties, a 512MB for $249, and a 2GB for $399, so you should be able to fit enough music on there to last your entire workout. The battery life is estimated to be around seven hours, so that should hold out for you, too.

It's hard enough to find sunglass that look good and feel good -- it gets even more complicated when you throw sports into the mix. You need to make sure your sunglasses stay put, of course, but if you're doing something active, like running, you also want shades that don't weigh too heavily on your nose or cheekbones.

Oakley has always made a point of designing glasses that stay where they need to be, which is why they've been popular with professional baseball players, volleyball players, and golfers. Take a look through the gallery and see which ones suit you and your sport!

Step aside rose-colored glasses, you've got some competition. These blue-tinted sunglasses supposedly help you lose weight. If you wear them while eating, the glasses give your food an unappetizing shade of blue. Just like paint colors in a room can affect mood, certain colors supposedly stimulate appetite and blue is the low-man on the totem pole when it comes to appetizing colors. (I always knew I didn't like the blue M&Ms... I wonder if that's why.)

In my humble opinion, I can't imagine that these would take the place of good, old-fashioned will power. After all, if you want to eat that slice of cake really badly you can just slip the glasses off. And no sunglasses in the world can block the aroma of a juicy burger. For weight loss tips that really work, check out AOL Body.

When it comes to fashion, not every trend or style is for everyone. Part of being fashionable is knowing what looks good on you, being willing to wear the correct size and working what you've got with confidence. Having said that, there are some looks that really don't look good on anyone.

One fashion don't that I really can't stand is the "muffin top", which Martha Edwards recently talked about banishing forever. I think what bugs me so much about it is that most of the people I see rocking the muffin top do so needlessly. It's more about clothing size than weight, as even a tiny size 2 runs the risk of developing Dunlap Syndrome if they insist on squeezing into size 0 jeans and wearing a too-short t-shirt to finish off their ensemble.

Five other major don'ts include:

• Jean on Jean: Lovingly and hilariously referred to as the "Canadian Tuxedo" in my homeland, this fashion sin is especially terrible when the demin colors don't match.
• Sunglasses Indoors: It's unnecessary and makes you come across as either shady or pretentious. Or both.
• Sneakers with skirts: As the article points out, the only acceptable reason for this is if you're walking to work and are going to change when you get to the office. Otherwise, there are lots of more appropriate yet comfy options.
• Blatant Cleavage: There is a difference between sexy and sleazy and a time and place for everything (but in this case, never at work if at all possible). Every woman needs to figure out for herself how much boob is too much, although if your shirt is so low that you're running the risk of a nipple slip, you've probably gone too far.
• Panty Lines: Almost every woman has been guilty of this fashion sin. To avoid panty lines, wear clothes that fit (too-tight pants mean your undies will show through), try a thong or seamless underwear or, if you're comfortable with it, go commando.

Are there any fashion don'ts that you absolutely can't stand?

When I read about Nike Maxsight contacts today I thought it was especially interesting since I had just read this article on sunglasses versus UV contacts a few days ago. UV contacts are made to filter UV rays, but Nike Maxsight lenses take it one step further and throw a sunglasses-like tint into the lenses so you get all the benefits of wearing polarized shades but without the inconvenience of glasses that can fall off or get in the way during sports or athletic activities.

Available in two colors (grey/green for golf, running, training and amber for sports like tennis, baseball, football, and rugby), Fitsugar has some good pictures of what they look like compared to regular contacts if you're curious. And Nike is offering a free trial so you can see how big of a difference they make before committing -- I for one can't wait to try them!

I wear glasses and contacts, and I remember years ago thinking it was so awesome when I got my new box of contacts and noticed the little "UV blocking" logo on the corner. So do they work just as well as UV blocking sunglasses when it comes to protecting your eyes from harmful rays? The answer is NO, contact lenses don't provide enough protection to completely substitute them for sunglasses. In studies contacts were 10% less effective than sunglasses at blocking UV rays, and even that level of protection varied greatly from contact to contact. But contact lenses do have one thing that sunglasses don't: they cover your entire pupil and protect your eyes from light from all angles, including the sides.

Bottom line: Your best bet is to wear both -- combine UV blocking contact lenses with UV blocking sunglasses for the best protection.

Looking sexy throughout the summer is about more than just finding the trendiest new swimsuit, wearing it with confidence and looking great (not that there's anything wrong with that either!). According to this, looking good this summer isn't just about showing off your body, but rather it's all about following 6 trends that include everything from looking after your skin to finding the right accessories. Here are 6 picks for heading out in style:

• Don't forget the SPF. Even if you're not worried about skin cancer (and you should be!) sun damage ages your skin, fast. Slather on the sunscreen and keep your skin looking younger for years to come.
• Invest in some cute espadrilles (those sandals with the big, chunky, wedge heels). They look good with a range of outfits and make your legs look longer without being impossible to walk in.
• Find some sunglasses that not only look good on you (those giant, bug-glasses that are in right now don't suit every face shape) but that also protect your peepers against harmful UV rays.
• Forget about wintry brown, blacks and creams when you buy summer clothes. Go bright and you'll get noticed.
• Rather than haul all of your necessities around in a boring purse, throw everything into a big and fun beach bag. Just because you're not lazing on the sand, doesn't mean you can't find ways to pretend you are.
• Buy Bohemian. OK, I've never really gotten into this but what the article says makes sense. Boho clothes are not only chic right now, they're also flowy and comfortable, so they'll keep you cool on a hot summer day.

I think that I could get into pretty much every one of those, except for the Boho clothes (as I mentioned). But next time I go shopping, I may even give that a try. Do you have any different ideas for looking hot this summer?

This time of year we're all thinking about protecting our skin, but what about our eyes? Did you know you can easily burn your corneas? I didn't! Hadn't even thought about it. And there are other summer eye hazards lurking out there, like sports and home renovation projects. You only get one pair of eyes, so stick to these tips for keeping them safe:

• Wear sun protection -- good sun protection! Sunglasses that protect against both UVA and UVB rays is best, as is a pair that wraps around and fits closely to your face. Wearing a hat with a brim also will help during periods of extended exposure.
• Wear adequate eye protection during home projects, meaning professional quality goggles. Even routine projects like weed whacking, mowing, chopping or sawing wood, etc, can mean serious risk for you and those nearby.
• Wear eye protection during sports. A good rule of thumb is the bigger the ball the less likely it is to cause an eye injury, for example basketballs are not very dangerous. Golf balls, however, along with baseballs, paintballs, and even things like badminton shuttlecocks can cause serious injury if they catch you just right.
• Be watchful and aware of chemicals and other toxins getting into your eyes. If you're swimming in a pool and you're eyes sting, get out. And don't wear your contacts in the pool either -- not only are you likely to lose them (they'll float right off your eye) but bacteria can get caught between the lens and your eye and cause problems. Also, when outdoors be wary of rubbing poison ivy, oak, and sumac into your eyes, or bug repellent.
  
• Keep your eyes peeled for random hazards like fireworks gone awry, kids playing with pellet and dart guns, bungee cords on luggage snapping, and any number of other dangers.

Alright I can guess what you're thinking -- "Yeah right, sunglasses prevent jet lag my butt!" Having experienced some extreme and long-lasting jet lag recently, I too find it hard to believe that a simple pair of sunglasses could have helped me out. However, knowing how hard it was to drag myself to work in the morning while suffering from long -haul flight-related lack of sleep, I was curious about what this article had to say.

It claims that the results of a study conducted by the Edinburgh Sleep Centre suggests that fliers can adjust their internal body clocks (yes, there IS such a think according to the piece) by adjusting their amount of light intake. If you don't wear sunglasses, it takes 1 day to readjust to normal sleeping patterns for every hour of time zone flown toward the west and even more when flying east.

According to the study, the trick is to wear sunglasses during the last few hours of an overnight flight and to continue to do so for the first few hours after getting off the plane and this should help with jet lag. The piece also mentions that many make the mistake of resorting to drinking alcohol to help them sleep, which doesn't help in the long run. For more information and some tips on avoiding and dealing with jet lag, check out the article here.

Are you the kind of person who spends hours picking out a stylish pair of sunglasses that flatter your face and fashion sense, or do you pick up whatever looks good to you on a mad dash through the nearest store? Because I lose or break my glasses every summer (sometimes more than once a season), I tend to be the latter. Fortunately, cost isn't really a priority when it comes to choosing summer eye wear.

UV protection is a must when choosing eyeglasses. Fortunately for those of you who like the fancier models, expensive eyeglasses almost always offer full UV protection. But you can get also get good protection from a pair plucked from the rack at the drugstore as well. The key is to look for a sticker that says "100% UV Protection" or "UV 400." And if you aren't sure about your favorite pair, you can have your optometrist check the UV protection on them as well.

Want to learn more? Here's an article that debunks nine common myths about sunglasses, and will help you get set up with the perfect pair.