The 9 best makeup mirrors to indulge in at home (2023)

FAQs

How do I choose a good makeup mirror? ›

What magnification should a makeup mirror be? For daily makeup application, a makeup mirror with a magnification of 2x to 3x, or up to 5x is best. A 2x or 3x magnification will give you a closer look at your face — for applying eyeliner and mascara, for example — without misrepresenting your appearance.

Concave mirrors magnify objects in focus. They're used for shaving or applying makeup because they reflect 'real,' almost 3-dimensional images. Concave mirrors are curved, and as light hits the upper and lower portions of the mirror, the image is focused at a central point, projected outward from the mirror itself.

A high-quality mirror will have a thick coating of silvering and a sealer to prevent the silver from tarnishing. The best way to determine the excellence of mirror silvering is to work with an expert glass company.

Mirror prices range anywhere from $10 to $3,000 or more, but you can find a basic 36-inch square mirror with a seamed edge for around $80 to $100. You'll then need to pay for any customizations you want, such as custom cuts, framing, or beveling. The more customizations, the higher your costs.

They can also be dimmed to make it more comfortable to apply, whereas fluorescent light is often too bright even at the lowest setting. This means that LED lights may work better for you if your goal is applying makeup in a room with less natural sunlight or just need something softer on your eyes.

They're An Even Source Of Lighting

Backlit mirrors won't cast shadows on you because they emit an even amount of light all around you. This makes them great for applying makeup, shaving, or styling your hair because it allows you to see yourself clearly without the shadows cast by traditional overhead lighting.

10x Magnification

A 10x cosmetic mirror is hands-down the best magnifying mirror for tweezing and detailed eye makeup.

Curved glass is what's flattering your figure. Regular mirrors have the panes straight up and down, but if they're curved slightly inward, your figure instantly appears slimmer. Conversely, glass that's bowed out makes you look bigger (think of the whacky mirrors in fun houses).

How do I choose a vanity mirror? ›

Width of Mirror is Dependent on the Width of Your Countertop

The most common way to determine your mirror size is choose a mirror that is 1-2 inches shorter than the width of the countertop of your bathroom vanity. Many also prefer to keep the mirror flush with the vanity, which is a matter of preference.

Geologists often like to have 5X to 10X magnification; however, anything higher than 10X is difficult to use in the field because the lenses are too small. 5X and 6X Lenses are the most popular choices for an average user as it offers higher magnification without sacrificing the field of vision (diameter of the lens).

Brightness: A too-bright bulb may be worse than a dim one. You are looking directly into the direction of the light source, so it should be bright enough to see without hurting your eyes. Color: Soft white light, just at the start of turning cool, is ideal for makeup.

As you apply your makeup, your makeup mirror will give you the better lighting and focus you need to see all the details of your beauty routine. You also don't have to worry about fogging up your mirror with your breath like you would with a regular mirror.

Different types of glass offer different levels of quality which translates to how clear and accurate the reflected image appears. Mirrors made with cheaper materials and aluminum backing (often referred to as second surface mirrors) will result in a less-than-accurate image.

Bevelled mirrors have a more polished and sophisticated finish compared to regular mirrors because of the way they catch the light. Bevelled mirrors also don't require a frame because of their slanted edges. Your bevelled mirror from Jim's Glass will stand out.

A simple rule of thumb is the thicker the glass the better the quality reflection. In cheaper mirrors you could find 2 or 3mm mirror glass and sometimes even plastic. This becomes a problem when it distorts your reflection.

Acrylic mirrors are lightweight and cheap to manufacture, making them very affordable mirrors.

Because a mirror is designed to reflect all wavelengths on the visible spectrum, a perfect mirror would be white — the reflection of all colors.

What are the design trends for 2023? ›

People tend to look the best when illuminated by light bulbs that measure around 2700 kelvins. Most bulbs, whether incandescent, LED, compact fluorescent or halogen, are labeled “soft white/warm white” (2,700-3,000 kelvins), “bright white/cool white” (3,500-4,100 kelvins) or “daylight” (5,000-6,500 kelvins).

Natural light is the best lighting for makeup application because it's evenly dispersed and clear, making it easier to see if something isn't blending right. Pure sunlight has a 5000K color temperature, making it clear and good at rendering color.

White light ranging from soft to bright is the best option when choosing the right lighting to do your makeup. This is because it is the closest to natural light. Here's how you can differentiate between soft white light and bright white light: Soft white light has a 2700K to 3000K range.

LED Bathroom mirrors are well worth the investment. LED lights are used in the mirrors, which are long-lasting and sturdy. In addition, they provide illumination in the bathroom, making your daily tasks easier.

The best condition for applying makeup is a warm or natural light source.

The Riki Skinny was the best option we tried overall. Powered by a rechargeable battery, this portable vanity mirror boasts a feature-rich design with magnetic attachments, Bluetooth connectivity, and daylight-mimicking LED bulbs.

Dielectric mirrors are glass or other substrates on which one or more layers of dielectric material are deposited, to form an optical coating. A very complex dielectric mirror can reflect up to 99.999% of the light incident upon it, for a narrow range of wavelengths and angles.

Using a magnifying mirror only hurts your skin in the long run. Like I mentioned earlier, all of the problems we might have with our skin are amplified, which means you might start picking at your skin or using a more harsh treatment than your skin needs.

Thickness Different mirrors have different glass thicknesses, which can easily make you look different. If your proportions look out of whack in one mirror but not another, it's likely that the glass is just too thin. Glass is heavy, so a thin mirror will often buckle under its own weight and warp.

Can mirrors make your nose look bigger? ›

“If you put your nose up to the mirror, your nose will look bigger,” he says. We just haven't developed the kind of mental correction we make to an image in a mirror when it comes to photographs we take of ourselves. And so we take it for truth.

We have spent our lives seeing our faces in the mirror, and we have become used to seeing our face that way round. So when we reverse that image, it doesn't look right. No one has a perfectly symmetrical face. Most people part their hair on one side rather than the other.

A mirror placed over a bathroom vanity should be the width of the vanity or 2 to 4 inches smaller. A mirror over a bathroom vanity should be no wider than the vanity itself. Additionally, it should be no more than four inches narrower than the width of the vanity.

As a general rule, a vanity mirror should measure several inches fewer than your vanity sink area. For example a 30 in. wide vanity should be paired with a 26-28 in. wide mirror.

If you are hanging a vanity light of your mirror, the light fixture should be around a third of the width of your mirror. It shouldn't be any longer than the mirror's width. For vanities with a wider countertop or that have two sinks, you can explore a multi-light vanity fixture.

At 1000x magnification you will be able to see 0.180mm, or 180 microns.

20x Magnification can be very useful for seeing things up close from greater distances – and are often used for long-range viewing, basic astronomical observing, boats out at sea and spotting objects from afar!

The 10x magnification provides the user with a wider field of view compared to the 12x magnification. This also means that you get a more detailed image with the 12x and less handshaking when observing for longer periods of time with the 10x.

For instance, if it's a space where you will be applying makeup, it is preferable to choose a color that is complimentary to your skin tone. Consider “peach, terra cotta, and pink tones” while veering away from “gray and deeper yellow-greens.”

Using Mirrors to Brighten a Room

To increase the amount of natural light cast around a room, simply place a mirror opposite or beside a window; no matter how gloomy the sky is outside, it will harness any available daylight. The bigger the mirror, the brighter and larger the space will feel.

Are ring lights good for doing makeup? ›

Ring lights are ideal for both applying your makeup and taking photos of the finished product. If you're a beauty blogger to vlogger, a ring light is worth its weight in gold. Because they evenly spread light, ring lights get rid of sneaky shadows and highlight your features perfectly.

HOVET mirror can hang either on a wall or be placed on the floor anchored and tilted against a wall. Can be hung horizontally or vertically.

Asymmetric shapes

In all aspects of the home, as well as the mirror shapes, we're embracing irregular shapes, uneven and asymmetric forms. 'Asymmetrical mirrors are on the rise and have quickly become the latest must-have home accessory,' says Jen and Mar of Interior Fox (opens in new tab).