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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
While a lighted makeup mirror may seem a little, well, extra, the one simple product can truly make all the difference between makeup that looks amazing and makeup that looks... less than such. Sure, in an ideal world, you’d have the best natural lighting in which to apply your foundation and blush every day, but realistically, that’s probably not the case. Good lighting is imperative for helping you do a better job with your makeup, and a light-up mirror makes it easy to have just that, no matter where you are, says makeup and hair artist Tarryn Feldman. Plus, these days there are options for every budget, not to mention mirrors that are so chic you’ll happily display them on your vanity or bathroom counter.
Here, the best-lighted makeup mirrors to consider.
Best Overall: Riki Loves Riki Skinny Mirror
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Great lighting settings
Portable and compact design
Expensive
Mirror itself isn’t magnetic
Beauty editors, influences, and makeup pros alike rave about this option. Skinnier than your laptop, it also weighs in at just a pound and a half, great if you want to be able to tote it around or like to do your makeup in different rooms. The bright, HD daylight lighting has five stages of dimming, and the mirror itself is magnetic; you can easily attach the mini magnifying mirror it comes with or a phone clip for selfies.
What Our Editors Say
“This super slim mirror fits in even the shallowest of drawers, so it's never taking up space on my desk when I'm not using it. That, and those little lights are seriously powerful." —Holly Rhue, Senior Editor
Magnification: Up to 5x | Shape: Rectangular | Features: Slim design, cordless | Size: 9.5 x 13 x 3/8 inches
Best Budget: Conair Reflections Double-Sided Lighted Vanity Makeup Mirror
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Affordable
Plenty of magnification
Can’t be used cordless
Another great option that won’t break the bank is kind of like the mirror version of a ring light. The oval mirrored is bordered by incandescent bulbs and also can offer up to seven times magnification. It also looks super chic with a minimalistic, chrome design.
Magnification: Up to 7x | Shape: Oval | Features: 360 rotation, halo lighting | Size: 6.5 x 14.5 x 8.5 inches
Best Value: Koolorbs 10X Magnifying Makeup Mirror with Lights
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Plenty of magnification
Compact design
Affordable
Only three light settings
On the other end of the price tag spectrum, this is a great, very wallet-friendly pick. It boasts three light settings with adjustable brightness (and lights that shut off automatically after 30 minutes, a great battery-saving function), a 360-degree swivel, and a built-in suction cup to help it firmly adhere to any service. It also comes in both white and black.
Magnification: Up to 10x | Shape: Circular | Features: 360 rotation, halo lighting, suction cup | Size: 6.67 x 2.76 x 7.79 inches
Best Tri-Fold: Flymiro Tri-Fold Lighted Vanity Makeup Mirror
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Plenty of magnification
Tri-fold design
Only comes in rose gold
Lights only dim and brighten
Not only does this tri-fold offer the advantage of having three panels that let you see your face from every angle, it actually touts four mirrors with different magnification levels. The center and left mirror have no magnification, but the two mirrors on right come in at two and three times magnification, respectively. The 21 LED lights offer plenty of lighting, and they can be operated either via batteries or a USB cord. Bonus points for the recessed base, the best spot to store your favorite lipstick.
Magnification: Up to 3x | Shape: 4 rectangular mirrors | Features: Tri-fold, 180 rotation, cordless | Size: 11 x 6.3 x 3.4 inches
Best Multi-Tasking: iHome Hollywood Pro Vanity Stereo Speaker Detail Mirror
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Amazing lighting with various settings
Lots of extra features
Expensive
Mirror itself isn’t magnetic
This option gets Feldman’s vote if you’re looking for a permanent addition to your vanity. She says the lighting can’t be beaten, but it does so much more than just give you the good light. (Though on that note, it does offer three different light settings and four brightness levels.) It’s also a powerful speaker and is Bluetooth enabled and can be hooked up to your phone or smart home device via voice control. So yes, you can take calls or listen to music while you glam. While the mirror itself isn’t magnifying, it does come with a detailed mirror that you can stick on that offers 10 times magnification.
Magnification: Up to 10x | Shape: Rectangular | Features: Bluetooth, speaker, voice control | Size: 12 x 16 inches
Best Compact: Fancii LED Lighted Travel Makeup Mirror
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Compact and portable
Affordable
Dual sides with different magnification
Lights aren’t adjustable
If you’re always on the go, a compact mirror, like this one, can be a huge asset. (In other words, you’ll finally be able to do your makeup at night in the back of an Uber.) It doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, but it is the best portable size and has nice and bright LED halo lighting that mimics daylight well. Plus, one size offers ten times magnification.
Magnification: Up to 10x | Shape: Circular compact | Features: Cordless, daylight LED lighting | Size: 5.1 inch diameter
Best for Selfies: Glamcor Riki Skinny Makeup Mirror
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Added phone clip and Bluetooth functionality
Bright and dimmable lights
Expensive
Let’s be honest—sometimes you want good lighting not only to nail your bronzer placement but also to take a great selfie of said expertly applied bronzer. Enter this option, a favorite of Feldman’s, who says that all of the brand’s offerings are great. She’s a fan of this one in particular, largely for the slim and portable design (which also works via a rechargeable battery, a nice bonus). Per the selfie part of things, it comes with a built-in phone holder and is Bluetooth enabled so you can snap that selfie hands-free. The white LED lights also have five stages of dimming.
Magnification: Up to 10x | Shape: Rectangular | Features: Slim design, cordless, Bluetooth | Size: 9.5 x 13 x 3/8 inches
Best Portable: iHome Portable Lighted Vanity Mirror with Bluetooth
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Affordable
Bluetooth capabilities
No magnification
Light settings aren’t adjustable
“This is a great option that’s reasonably priced and works well for travel, not to mention it has Bluetooth capabilities,” says Feldman of another one of her recommendations. It has three hours of battery life, plenty of time to get your makeup done while listening to your favorite podcast. We also like that the kickstand on the back can be used to adjust the angle of the mirror.
Magnification: None | Shape: Rectangular | Features: Cordless, LED lighting, Bluetooth, battery-operated | Size: 6 x 8 inches
Best for Skincare Lovers: HiMirror Mini Premium
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Amazing lighting and various settings
Unique element of skincare analysis tool
Expensive
Could include higher magnification
Sure, lighted mirrors may seem more apropos for the makeup lover, but here’s an option that skincare aficionados will appreciate as well. It’s a great lighted makeup mirror for sure, with LED lights that can be set to four different presets or adjusted to your own color and brightness preferences. But what’s super unique is the built-in skin analysis tool that assesses your skin for fine lines, dark spots, pores, and more—and then makes personalized product recommendations for you. Plus, it has up to 64GB of storage, so you can store those photos and see how your skin progresses over time. We also like the built-in wireless charging pad that lets you juice up your phone while you use the mirror.
Magnification: Up to 3x | Shape: Rectangular | Features: Built-in skin analysis technology, Wifi-enabled, 64GB storage, wireless charging pad | Size: 9 x 6.7 x 13.3 inches
Final Verdict
When it comes to the best-lighted mirrors out there, our top pick would have to be the Riki Loves Riki Skinny Mirror (view at Ulta). Sure, it’s a bit of an investment (though not as costly as some others). Next up, we’re big fans of the budget-friendly Flymiro Tri-Fold Lighted Vanity Makeup Mirror (view at Amazon), which features 2x and 3x magnified panels for precise makeup application as well as 21 bright, adjustable LED lights. And finally, we’re pretty impressed by the iHome Hollywood Pro Vanity Stereo Speaker Detail Mirror (view at Amazon), a tricked-out mirror with Bluetooth technology that lets you stream music or fit in a phone call while you get ready and acts as a powerful speaker, too. Consider it a must for multitaskers.
What to Look for in a Lighted Makeup Mirror
Mimics Natural Light
To get as precise an application as possible, look for lighted mirrors that mimic natural light. Anything too bright or too dark won’t give you a proper portrayal of what your makeup looks like out in the wild. Bonus if you find a model with adjustable light, this way you can more accurately imitate the outdoor light, whether sunny or cloudy.
Rechargeable via USB
Could anything be worse than the batteries of your lighted mirror dying on your mid-makeup application—especially when you’re not stocked up on AAs? To avoid this scenario, we suggest looking for options that are rechargeable via USB and can be used while plugged in. This way, they’ll allow the same versatility and mobility as battery-powered options, but you won’t be stuck applying your makeup in the dark should you forget to charge beforehand.
Sleek Design
Not looking to display something clunky on your vanity? Thankfully, there are plenty of lighted mirrors out there that are much sleeker in design. For example, if you need angled side panels for precise winged eyeliner and false lash application, look for models that feature foldable panels to take up less space.
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Do lighted makeup mirrors work well?
Contemplating whether or not to purchase a lighted makeup mirror? According to Urban Decay’s Global Makeup Artist Steve Kassajikian, they’re totally worth it and make putting on makeup way less of a hassle. “I love them, especially in a room or area with dim or overhead lighting,” he says. “They help a lot with makeup application.”
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Are LED lights the best for a makeup mirror?
When it comes to lighting type, Kassajikian says that models with LED lights are the way to go. “LED lights will give you a more natural reflection without washing you out,” he says. The warm white light they emit is pretty much the closest you can get to the sun’s natural rays, which we all know is key for an amazing look.
Why Trust Byrdie?
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Full disclosure, she only started using a lighted mirror when she started researching this story. She is now totally hooked and can personally vouch for the fact that it’s a total game-changer.
Meet the Expert
Steve Kassajikian is Urban Decay’s Global Makeup Artist.
Tarryn Feldman is a hair and makeup artist who works in both Nashville and Los Angeles. Her celebrity clients include Kelsea Ballerini and Jennifer Nettles.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any lighted makeup mirrors from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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