Pointers For Buying A Lighted Makeup Mirror 

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A useful lighted makeup mirror mimics natural light and lets you keep cool while applying your makeup.

Maybe you have had that experience where you’ve applied your makeup and thought ‘Daymn, I should be in a magazine somewhere…’ Only to leave the house, and catch the reflection of some hot mess you’ve never met before!

Who's that girl? Oh yes, It’s the lighting that made her...L

If you are applying makeup for daytime, the best light is the one that you’ll probably be exposed to the whole day. Day light! If you can’t use daylight, the next best option is the closest copycat.

The most important property for an efficient makeup mirror is the bulb. This is because of the type of light it emits. Then you should consider the size, magnification, and placement or portability.

The Best Bulb For Your Lighted Makeup Mirror…

Let's start with the color of the light you need.

White light comes closest to emulating natural light.

So when you buy the mirror, stay away from warm, yellow light bulbs.

They make you look good no matter what you’ve done to yourself.

That’s why candlelight is so romantic.

It’s way too forgiving and just makes everything look lovable…! 

So whether you’re lighting up your dimly lit vanity or using a smaller, surface or wall mounted mirror, opt for white light bulbs.

Then you are going to choose between three different kinds of bulbs. These are LED, flourescent, and incandescent bulbs. Only two of these have while light options. These are LED, and flourescent. Here are the pro's and con's of all three.

You can also look through the costs and fact chart for a full comparison.

LED White Bulbs Are The Best

This in terms  of running costs and lighting. LED bulbs save energy, and money in the long run. So say you have a 3 mirrors where everything is the same except for the bulbs.

• You'll pay twice or 3 times the amount to initially buy an LED Mirror, than you would for the other two types of lights for a comparable mirror.. 

• It will give you about 40 times the hours you'd get from an incandescent bulb, and cost you roughly 10 times less in electricity per year.

• It will give you roughly 6 times the hours you'd get from  a flourescent bulb, and cost you roughly 3 times less in electricity per year.

simplehuman Sensor Mirror - Sensor-Activated Lighted Makeup Mirror($186.39)

Conair Be51led Reflections LED Lighted Collection Mirror, Chrome($39.99)

Most Lighted Makeup Mirrors Use Fluorescent Lights

These are your usual office lights. In a mirror, the light works well at being bright and white.

They're cheaper to produce, so that's probably why most manufacturers use them in their mirrors. That though, sometimes doesn't make them any cheaper. When you compare the quality of lighting, fluorescent might give you stronger light.

So fluorescent light is second choice to LED if the price is right for a comparable mirror.  They'll give you marginally(not too much)less hours than an LED and cost  a little more to run.

Jerdon JGL9W Tabletop Tri-Fold Two-Sided Lighted Makeup Mirror with 5x Magnification and 4-Light Settings, White Finish($32.99)

Home Travel 9X/1X Folding Lighted Cosmetic Mirror($49.99)

Incandescent Lights Are Your Enemy !

These are normal, energy gulping, hot and warm bulbs.

When you see your flawless reflection in a mirror lighted with this yellowish bulb - run!

Or smash it and look forward to 7 years of looking good:)

They're only useful if you're a man who just needs a mirror for shaving. Definitely not for checking your makeup... 

The initial cost will be much less than the others, but much much more to run, for a shorter amount of time. 

Other Properties That You  Should Consider...

• Check if the mirror has magnification option (Double sided). This is great for eyebrow shaping, because then you don’t have to lean in close to see properly. 5x magnification is just right, while higher depends on preference.

            Personally, higher magnification makes my eyes feel a little cross eyed...

• Size: Make sure you have a good size especially if you’re buying online. You might buy a mirror and find that it’s a tiny little thing you can’t really use properly.

            If you buy a swivel mirror, ensure that the dimensions fit in your bathroom or makeup station.                     Also remember to check how tall the base is, because then you'll know whether it'll fit in a                         space with limited height.

• Placement: If you’ll be placing it on a surface, a smaller base, or an adjustable one takes up less space. For a wall mount, an adjustable arm will be better suited for whatever position you’ll be applying makeup from.

• Dimmability: A dimmable lighted makeup mirror lets you see your makeup in different settings. So if you’re preparing for a night out, you might dim the light to see if you still look good in the type of lighting you’ll be spending the night in…

• Portability: If you'd like to travel with your mirror, there is an assortment of handheld travel mirrors available. Otherwise you could carry it with you if your base is adjustable.