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Dec 11, 2023

8 Best Lighted Makeup Mirrors 2023

Whether you’re going for a natural daytime makeup look, applying fiddly false

Whether you’re going for a natural daytime makeup look, applying fiddly false lashes, or attacking the tiniest stray hairs with your tweezers, a lighted makeup mirror will help make sure you step outside looking like the very best version of you. With so many options currently on the market, we talked to makeup enthusiasts and professionals alike to find out which lighted makeup mirrors are the most likely to give you a flawless finish.

The intensely heated incandescent lightbulbs surrounding backstage dressing-room mirrors are mostly a thing of the past. The majority of lighted makeup mirrors today — including all of the mirrors on this list — use LED bulbs, which are more energy-efficient and offer more versatility. Some mirrors have lights built in under the glass, emitting a calmer, softer light that's ideal for natural daily makeup. They can also emit a range of light temperatures that serve different purposes: A warm light is best for applying makeup for a night out or candlelit dinner; a daylight setting is best for applying makeup for brunch or outdoor activities; and a cool light is best for a day spent in an office or classroom. Some makeup mirrors will allow you to toggle between light temperatures to suit a variety of looks and situations.

Lighted mirrors can be battery-operated, rechargeable, or plug-in, which affects how portable the mirror is. If you plan for your mirror to take up permanent residence on your vanity, one that needs to be connected to an outlet might not bother you. But if you intend to move your mirror around or travel with it, battery-operated or rechargeable options are your best bet.

Makeup mirrors can either be wall-mounted or freestanding, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including circular, oblong, rectangular, and trifold. The best one for you really depends on personal preference, but you should also keep in mind your available space and how much room you want the mirror to take up — from a small corner of your desk to the full span of your vanity.

Makeup mirrors come in different magnification levels, from 2x to more than 10x, to let you get up and close and personal and ensure that every aspect of your makeup is picture-perfect. Most mirrors provide a standard reflection with no magnification as well as an additional magnification between 2x and 5x, which is enough to offer a more precise and detailed view but not so much that your image becomes distorted. Mirrors with 10x magnification or above are best suited for extremely detailed work, such as intricate eyeliner art or brow tweezing.

Makeup mirrors have gotten pretty high-tech. There are some that feature integrated speakers, phone chargers, and phone stands, dim and brighten when you touch them or automatically light up when you approach, even some that can analyze your skin. But as with any electronic device, your lighted mirror could potentially break or stop working, so you may also want to consider whether a warranty policy is in place.

Type of light: Natural daylight, soft white, neutral white | Energy source: Rechargeable | Shape and size: Oblong, 9.5" | Magnification: 1x only | Additional features: Touch-control, 2-year warranty

Fancii's Vera mirror is a sleek, attractive makeup mirror that's budget-friendly and beloved on social media. In fact, Cortne Bonilla, branded content manager at Vox Media, first noticed the mirror in the background of a TikTok video and immediately messaged the creator to ask where it was from. "It's very minimal and chic and looks very nice on my counter," Bonilla says. "I love the light for doing eyeliner, brows, plucking hairs. It just makes everything so much easier." Though this mirror doesn't offer any magnification, it does come with three dimmable light temperatures: a soft warm white, a cool neutral white, and a natural daylight setting that Bonilla credits for helping her do her daytime makeup better and cover dark spots on her skin more effectively.

When testing this mirror myself, I found its elongated oval shape to be a distinct plus, as it allowed me to check out my entire profile from the chest up; while circular mirrors were better for providing tight close-ups of my face, the Vera's extended length reflected my entire head, neck, and shoulders, so I could use it to dust some highlighter on my décolletage or curl and straighten my hair as well.

Type of light: Natural daylight, candlelight | Energy source: Rechargeable | Shape and size: Circular, 8" | Magnifications: 1x, 5x, and 10x | Additional features: Automatic motion sensor, touch-control, 5-year warranty

Furnished with a host of features, this elegant (and expensive) Simplehuman mirror is the Tesla of lighted makeup mirrors. The double-sided design gives you three different magnification options: One side offers a true-size standard reflection as well as a small 10x-magnified window that I’ve found is perfect for detailed work like tweezing my brows. The other side offers 5x magnification that lets me to get up close and personal to ensure my cat-eye flick is drawn with utmost precision. It's also outfitted with a motion sensor, so there's no need to fumble for a switch or button — the light automatically flickers awake when I approach it, then dims and shuts off after a period of inactivity.

When it comes to the light itself, Simplehuman's "Tru-Lux" technology simulates sunlight's full color spectrum so closely that when it's on, it's "just like looking at yourself in the natural sunlight … And everyone knows, if you look good in the sunlight, you look good everywhere," says Strategist senior editor Crystal Martin, who owns a single-sided model of this mirror. In addition to the daylight temperature, you can also switch to a softer, warmer candlelight temperature if you’re doing your makeup for a night out. Lightly running a finger along the rim of the light allows you to dim and brighten the light output, so you can ensure your makeup is color-correct and appropriate for any and all occasions.

Type of light: Natural white, warm white, cool white | Energy source: Battery-operated or plug-in | Shape and size: Trifold, 7.7’" x 3.2" | Magnifications: 1x, 2x, 3x, and 10x | Additional features: 90-degree and 180-degree rotation

A trifold mirror, while typically bulkier than regular mirrors, lets you view your face from various side angles in addition to head-on. This Easehold mirror comes with four magnification levels (regular, 2x, 3x, and 10x) and holds the distinction of being the top-rated makeup mirror among Amazon reviewers, with over 8,500 five-star ratings and multiple reviews praising its rotational abilities and light settings. "The vanity design is very efficient; I can see all sides of my face so I won't miss a spot!" one reviewer enthuses. "[It's] a perfect size and it doesn't take up much space." Another agrees that viewing multiple angles of your face at once is very helpful: "The side mirrors work great for me in managing my piercings," they say. "I [also] wax my eyebrows with it. Tweeze the stray hairs. Apply makeup. The wings fold in so it's thin and easy to store." It comes with three dimmable light temperatures (daytime, office, and evening) that are "bright but not glaring, and they don't distort or filter skin tone or makeup coloration," according to a third reviewer.

Type of light: HD daylight | Energy source: Rechargeable | Shape and size: Rectangular, 9.5" x 13" | Magnifications: 1x and 5x or 10x | Additional features: Adjustable stand, magnetic phone clip, Bluetooth functionality, 1-year warranty

For jet-setters who are frequently doing their makeup away from home, the Riki skinny mirror is "so slim that it looks like an iPad," according to Monique Jayme, a prestige beauty adviser at Ulta Beauty — she even uses a laptop case to carry it around. "I like how sleek and skinny it is and how much space it saves." The Riki's lightweight, rectangular silhouette is also a plus for makeup artist and content creator Stefanie Fritz, who wanted a mirror that was "more modern and streamlined." She only needs to charge it for a few hours, and then she can "put it on the counter for a client or to film, and I don't have to carry around any cords with me."

Instead of a solid band of light, the Riki has dots of light all around its perimeter — but that doesn't mean that the light it emits isn't powerful. When Jayme takes photos or films videos, she uses this mirror as a de facto ring light. "Even the first setting itself is already bright," she says. "I usually don't go higher than that because it would be blinding!" Though the brightness can be adjusted between five different stages, it's only available in one color temperature: the slick, high-octane lighting often seen in vlogs and makeup tutorials. That may also explain why it comes with a magnetic phone holder and built-in Bluetooth connectivity for streaming and selfie-taking — rather than awkwardly maneuvering to press buttons on your phone, you can hold the mirror in front of your face for the most flattering angle, then press the "camera" button in the lower right-hand corner. I’m not planning to start a YouTube channel anytime soon, but I did use the mirror to take photos of my clothes for Depop; the mirror and stand adjusted easily, the phone holder was very convenient, and the photos came out bright and clear, almost as if they were taken in an actual studio. I think the Riki is a great choice for those who are frequently on the go or who have influencer aspirations.

Type of light: Cool, warm, blend | Energy source: Plug-in | Shape and size: Circular, 9" | Magnifications: 1x and 5x | Additional features: Phone holder, 1-year warranty

This makeup mirror from Ilios Lighting is equipped with a thick, ring-light-esque band that's ideal for those struggling with their eyesight. Sharon Brown, a director at an assisted-living facility, bought it after resorting to doing her makeup in the car in order to see better. "I don't mind saying it — I’m 51, I’m getting older and having eyesight issues," Brown says. "So having that extra light with the bigger surface area really helps to be able to see what you’re doing." In conjunction with the 5x-magnified mirror, she's able to get so up close and personal that she’ll notice "when my skin starts peeling" as a result of her anti-aging cream. But it's not just an older demographic that benefits from this mirror: Brown bought a second one for her 17-year-old daughter, who likes to pop out the mirror and replace it with the phone holder to take pictures and videos.

Although Brown does mention that the mirror is hefty, that hasn't posed a problem for Stephanie Antillon, a makeup artist and content creator who is disabled. Depending on whether she's on a video call or working with a client, she’ll often transition the mirror between a desk stand and a floor stand, so she had asked the Ilios team before buying it "for the weight on this, since my capacity to carry things isn't the best," Antillon says. Compared to other setups she's had, she find the Ilios mirror to be a breeze. "It's so easy to detach and attach," she reports. "It means a lot that even someone who has limited mobility is able to use this product."

Type of light: Natural daylight, warm white, cool white | Energy source: Plug-in | Shape and size: Rectangular, 29" x 19" | Magnifications: 1x and 5x | Additional features: Touch control, 1-year warranty

If you want to feel like a glamorous old-Hollywood movie star, this mirror from Impressions Vanity mimics the look of lighted dressing-room mirrors — with some contemporary touches. While the mirrors of yore were studded with incandescent bulbs, this one uses LED bulbs, saving energy and allowing you to switch between natural, cool, and warm lighting. The company also offers a multitude of sizes and designs, from $100 tabletop mirrors to over-$1,000 full-size vanity mirrors, so you can choose one that best fits your space and budget.

Makeup artist and content creator Liv Reese initially bought a smaller model that could fit in her makeup case, but loved it so much that she upgraded to this larger Tri-Tone Plus version. "It has feet, so it can sit on your vanity, or you can anchor it to your wall. There's also a button in the middle to dim the brightness," Reese explains. "Because I shoot content all day, every day, and at different times of the day, depending on what natural light I’m getting, I’ll adjust it."

Some larger vanity mirrors from this brand also come with features such as a digital thermostat, so that you can apply an extra blast of setting spray if it's a hot day out, and Bluetooth connectivity and speakers, so that you can listen to your favorite playlist or podcast while getting ready. Content creator Trinity Nicole sprang for her "dream vanity," Impression Vanity's nearly 45-inch-long Hollywood Premiere Pro Vanity Mirror, and "is absolutely in love" with it. She reports that the speakers "are loud and clear" when she's listening to music while doing her hair and makeup and that the mirror is so big that she can see nearly her entire outfit in it. "It gives off a very luxurious vibe to my bedroom," she adds. "I feel like a princess."

Type of light: Warm white, cool white | Energy source: Variable (outlet or hard-wiring) | Shape and size: Oval, 24" x 36" | Magnification: 1x | Additional features: RGB color option, dimmable switch, 5-year warranty

For those who want to skip squinting into a free-standing makeup mirror, there's also the option to splash out for a full-size, wall-mounted bathroom mirror equipped with a luminous perimeter. L.A.-based interior designer Jaqui Seerman loves installing illuminated mirrors in her clients’ bathrooms because they are both aesthetically pleasing and functional, casting "a warm and even glow that's flattering and precise." Seerman recommends the brand IBMirror, which offers bathroom mirrors in a cornucopia of sizes with both front and back illumination options — and since it has a plug-in version, installation is "effortless with no electrician required." The classic oval shape is an especially popular choice among Seerman's clients, but rectangular, oblong, and round shapes are also available, so you’re guaranteed to find one that's the perfect fit for your bathroom.

Type of light: Natural daylight | Energy source: Rechargeable | Shape and size: Compact, 4" | Magnifications: 1x and 10x | Additional features: Automatic shutoff, 2-year warranty

Maybe you don't need a full-blown makeup mirror, but you still want a lightweight and portable mirror that will help with touch-ups here and there. A lighted compact mirror, such as the Fancii Mila mirror, can be tucked into "literally anything," according to makeup artist and content creator Roxanne Latulippe. "It fits in my makeup bag, it fits in my smaller purses. I carry it everywhere with me." The top mirror has normal magnification while the bottom mirror has 10x magnification, and the light will automatically turn off when you snap it shut. It also comes with a velvet pouch to protect it from scratches. Latulippe has carried this compact mirror around with her for over two years, and it "still works amazing," she says. "If you really take care of it, it's going to last you a really long time." I tested the compact by bringing it along on a night out, and it was perfect for fixing my smudged eyeliner in a dark club bathroom. Though its longevity remains to be seen, it was bouncing around in my bag through several hours of dancing and emerged without a scratch.

• Cortne Bonilla, Vox Media branded-content editor• Crystal Martin, Strategist senior editor• Jaqui Seerman, interior designer• Liv Reese, makeup artist and content creator• Monique Jayme, prestige beauty adviser at Ulta Beauty• Roxanne Latulippe, makeup artist and content creator• Sharon Brown, assisted living facility director• Stefanie Fritz, makeup artist and content creator• Stephanie Antillon, makeup artist and content creator• Trinity Nicole, content creator

Thank you for subscribing and supporting our journalism. If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the January 16, 2023, issue of New York Magazine.

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