Here's the scenario: You wake up after hitting snooze one too many times and bolt to your vanity. With your dim bedroom light flicked on, you empty your cosmetic bag and begin to layer foundation and highlighter onto your tired complexion, only to be topped off with perfectly filled-in brows. By the time you reach work you've caught one too many odd glances and have begun to wonder if there's something in your teeth. That's when you slip into the bathroom before heading to your office, only to realize that it wasn't your teeth that people were looking at, but rather your highly noticeable, unnatural-looking makeup. And we're not talking unnatural as in bold, vibrant colors. No, we're talking the dreaded foundation-smeared jawline, clearly dividing your real complexion, and that which you made up with foundation.
Look, we've all been there. The real question is, how do we fix this little beauty faux pas? Well, with the Internet we have the ability to purchase the answer to most of our problems. In this case, it will come in the form of a lighted mirror for makeup.
While you may have (once upon a time) thought lighted makeup mirrors were totally vain, now that you've become familiar with how easy it is to blindly succumb to a line of makeup demarcation, chances are you will have changed your mind. And good thing, because we're about to dive head first into the best lighted mirrors for makeup. Whether you're looking for something high-end or low-key, mounted or freestanding, we've got you covered.
Too much magnification at once setting your eyes out of whack? We feel you. If you love the idea of a tri-fold mirror but want to see your face in the same view from all three angles, this is the mirror for you. The same way a tri-fold mirror in a dressing room shows the angles that need extra attention, this touch-screen light-up mirror will do the same for your face. And, if you do crave a little extra magnification for your weekly brow maintenance, a small round attachment mirror is included. To top it off, there's also a slot in the bottom to easily prop up your phone to make mimicking your favorite beauty YouTuber easier than ever.
When you first think of a lighted mirror for makeup, large bulbs surrounding an equally-as-vast mirror probably comes to mind. That's what Hollywood, New York Fashion Week and Instagram have taught us to believe are the very best-of-the-best. So, if you're absolutely attached to the idea of feeling like a gorgeous movie star/model/famous beauty blogger (#goals, amiright?), this is the real deal. It's pricy, but it comes equipped with professional-quality, dimming light bulbs that project clean, soft white light perfect for applying a natural-looking face of makeup. What's more, the base features a dual power outlet, meaning you can plug your phone in to charge while attempting to recreate all those makeup tutorials you saved for later.
P.S. - #RealTalk, this is the makeup mirror a lot of celebs swear by.
If you're not ready to drop hundreds on a Hollywood-esque mirror, this rectangular tri-fold option is your next best bet. With a middle mirror surrounded in miniature digital lights meant to give off the same Hollywood vibe, there are also four miniature mirrors on the door panels. Each miniature mirror offers 3X, 5X, 7X and 10X magnification, making this the perfect option for anyone who loves to get up close and personal.
Zadro Dual-Sided Surround Light Swivel Wall Mount Mirror, $139.99
No room on your vanity for a lighted mirror? No worries! With this mounted must-have you'll be able to attach your lighted makeup mirror to the wall, extend it for use and push it back when you're done. Easy-peasy. And, if that's not enough of a selling-point, the dual-sided design definitely will be. On one side you'll find a normal 1X magnification; flip it over for 10X. At last, all of your makeup dreams will be within reach (or pushed out of the way in the meantime).
