Do you spend hours in front of the mirror every day trying to look your best and stealing glances at windows, glass doors, or anything that has a reflective surface?
From applying full face makeup for that special event to retouching your lipstick after a meal or just checking if your hair and eyelashes are still in perfect condition after a windy drive, you need a makeup mirror.
That is why investing in a quality makeup mirror is important.
In this article, I'll be talking about the types of makeup mirrors, the benefits of a lighted and magnifying makeup mirror, and things to look out for before choosing a makeup mirror.
What is a Lighted Makeup Mirror?
Proper lighting is key to achieving a flawless makeup look.
You can easily find the right foundation shade, eyeshadows, and lip colors that perfectly match your skin tone.
This is where lighted makeup mirrors come in handy.
A lighted mirror, like the name suggests, is your regular makeup mirror but with light bulbs. It comes in different shapes, sizes, and colors.
From the traditional Hollywood mirror that can be found in celebrity dressing rooms or makeup studios to much smaller lighted mirrors that are ideal for traveling as they fit nicely into your baggage.
What's more? The lights in some of these mirrors have adjustable temperatures- cool, warm, and natural to mimick different hours of the day and to suit your different makeup needs whether you're getting ready for the day's work or a night out with bae.
In a nutshell, better lighting makes for lesser mistakes, better application, and overall better makeup. And if you're in search of quality makeup to complement your perfected lighting setup, you might want to try professional-grade makeup from Beautiful Brows and Lashes.
Benefits of Having a Lighted Makeup Mirror
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LED bulbs: Lighted makeup mirrors come with built-in LED bulbs that use 75% less energy compared to traditional incandescent lightbulbs so you don't have to worry about extra energy bills. In addition to that, LED bulbs are also very durable and require low maintenance. They can last for over 50,000 hours which is almost 6 years' worth of light. Some lighted mirror-like travel mirrors come with a rechargeable feature so you don't have to worry about finding a power source to plug into. This makes it the best long term beauty investment for makeup artists
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Better Lighting:the LED lights from these mirrors produce higher lumens which give off very bright lights and typically come in cooler temperatures that mimick the cool natural white light of the sun. This makes it the best type of lighting for applying makeup. White light also maintains the actual colors or makeup and even your clothes, enabling you to mix and match shades to give you that gorgeous natural finish. Also, the lights are built on all sides of the mirror to provide an even distribution of light so there are no shadows on your face.
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Get creative with new looks:another benefit that comes with a lighted makeup mirror is the magnifying effect that helps you spot and correct mistakes easily and even get creative with new looks. You can try out those crazy eyeshadow looks or better still if you are into special effects makeup then this should be your best buddy or make removal makeup easier.
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Health issues:the lights from these makeup mirrors are not harmful to the eyes u like traditional light bulbs or blue light from electronic devices plus lighted mirrors with magnification are very useful to those who have poor eyesight. The mirror helps you zoom in on your face so you don't have to strain your eyes or put on your glasses to do your makeup well because t
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Anti-fog:sometimes water can stick to the surface of our bathroom mirrors creating fog, especially after a hot shower, making your reflection look blurry. The good news is most LED lighted mirrors have a built-in anti-fog system meaning you can do your makeup immediately after you shower without wiping down your mirror or waiting for it to de-fog
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Aesthetics:lighted mirrors come in various shapes and sizes and designs which makes them easy to install. Smaller ones take up less space and of course, it does have to be stationary, the tabletop mirrors can be moved easily from your bedstand to your anywhere else in the room and not to forget that the lovely designs add a luxurious and modern appearance to your room's decor.
Types of Makeup Mirrors
Makeup mirrors are of different types. We'll be looking at the types from the point of functionality, mobility, and size
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Vanities or Hollywood Mirrors: These are big rectangular or square-shaped mirrors with lightbulbs on the edges that allow the user to have a clear view of her face and out. This type of mirror is mostly found in celebrity dressing rooms or makeup studios. They are installed on the wall and come with a full makeup desk with drawers that allows you to neatly organize your makeup products. They are quite expensive and take up a lot of space.
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Magnifying mirrors:This type of makeup mirror is made with a distortion glass that magnifies the image in front of the mirror. A magnifying makeup mirror helps you see portions of your face more clearly, and this aids in a more precise and detailed makeup application. Especially when putting on contact lenses, eyeliner, or false lashes, grooming your eyebrows, and concealing blemishes. Depending on your makeup needs, you can get a mirror that has 2× 5× or even 10× magnification
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Lighted Mirrors:applying makeup at any time whether day or night time is made easy with lighted mirrors. These makeup mirrors come with light bulbs that are fixed on the sides of the glass or inbuilt LED lighting that produce bright white lights that illuminate your face, eliminating any shadows and giving you a clearer view of yourself.
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Stationary mirrors: stationary mirrors may either be mounted on the wall or have a movable stand like a tabletop mirror. The idea of this type of mirror is that it allows you to apply your makeup hands-free and gives you a fuller view of your face and outfit.
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Accessories/Travel mirrors: Travel mirrors are the types of mirrors are small and portable. Examples are a trifold mirror and handheld mirrors. They are best for quick touch-ups during the day and also great travel companions
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Difference Between a Standard Mirror and a Magnifying Mirror
There are two major differences between a standard mirror and a magnifying mirror. One is their shape and the other is how they reflect images.
A standard mirror also called a plane mirror is the most common type of mirror you can find. It's the type you have in your bathroom or a clothing store. A standard or plane mirror is a piece of flat glass that reflects identical images of the object in front of it.
On the other hand, a magnifying mirror also called a concave mirror is a type of spherical glass that curves inwards just like a spoon. Its curved feature is used to focus light and create a magnifying effect, so the object in front of it looks bigger than it does. A magnifying or concave mirror is best for makeup application as it allows you to zoom in on your face to achieve a more detailed and flawless makeup.
What Magnification is Best for Makeup mirror
Everyone has different makeup needs so will require different levels of magnification. The magnifying mirror that's best for you will depend on certain factors like:
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Your style of makeup: if you're more into casual makeup that doesn't require much effort, then a mirror with less magnification say 2× or 3× will be perfect. But if you're the type that spends around 20 minutes every day going over every detail I'd suggest you go for a mirror with 5× magnification.
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The position of the mirror: have in mind that the higher the magnifying level, the bigger your features will look. It would be wise to consider the position of the mirror. If you're going to mount it on the wall then you will need a higher magnification because of the distance and less magnification for a tabletop or handheld mirror.
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Eyesight level: Mirrors with a magnification of above 7× and 10× are meant for people with poor eyesight, however, if your vision is good but you love the idea of getting a close view of your face, then a 3x or 5x magnification will work just fine.
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Lighting: The physics of magnification produces dimmer reflections so if you want clearer and sharp images, you should go for a magnifying mirror with bright lights.
What to Look for When Buying a Make-up Mirror
There are so many designs of makeup mirrors to choose from which can be a bit overwhelming.
Here are some important features to look out for in a good makeup mirror before you decide to buy
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Position or mounting style: the first thing you should consider when buying a makeup mirror for your home is where you want it to be installed. It could either be in the bathroom or bedroom and you can go for a wall-mounted mirror which is more permanent. You can have it installed on your table dresser, whichever is more convenient. You should be able to get a full view of your face and upper body without straining your neck.
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Lighting: proper lighting is key to achieving the perfect look. We can't always have sunlight in our rooms so there's the need to get a lighted makeup mirror, preferably one with built-in LED lights, that produces bright white light and saves energy. You should also consider getting a lighted mirror that has a rechargeable battery so you don't need to keep replacing bulbs which can be quite expensive.
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Magnification: A good makeup mirror should have at least 2x or 3x magnification, depending on your makeup needs and vision, you can opt for higher magnification levels. However you should not that magnifying mirrors cause distortions and you may not get to see your whole face, so it's best you go for mirrors that have a plain side and a magnifying side to give you a balanced view of your overall look.
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Mirror design: mirrors come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and designs and the one you choose will depend on your need. If you want a big vanity mirror, I suggest you go for a mirror with metal frames and strong shatter-free glass. For a tabletop mirror, the base should be strong and adjustable to enable you to have better views of yourself from different angles. If you want to get a travel mirror, then I recommend one with a plastic frame and foldable feature. Don't forget to go for colors that compliment your home decoration
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Price: Lastly, consider your budget, if you don't have the money for a big vanity mirror you can go for smaller options that are of good quality.
Summary
Makeup mirrors if properly selected can be the best beauty investment you ever make. With so many options ranging from vanities to travel mirrors, you can always look your best anytime anywhere. What's more? Modern technology has brought other special features like Bluetooth sound and USB charging. So there's never a dull makeup moment. You can connect and play your favorite jams and even charge your phone with your mirror! Say hello to the perfect selfie.
