Make Up Mirrors Buying Guide
A good make-up mirror is defined by its light more than its glass. This collection holds wall-mounted LED mirrors sized for the bathroom vanity, including Ingrain frontlit mirrors, Remer Sphere, Eclipse and Gatsby mirrors, and lit ranges from Otti and Radiant. They suit anyone who does their make-up, skincare or grooming at the bathroom basin and wants even, shadow-free light every day.
What makes a mirror good for applying make-up?
Even light that falls on your face from the front or sides. A single downlight overhead or behind you throws shadows under the eyes, nose and chin. A lit wall mirror puts the light around the edge of the glass and towards your face, which is why the frontlit Ingrain round, arch and pill mirrors are described for make-up and shaving. Look for a demister or anti-fog glass too, so the mirror is usable straight after a shower.
What colour light is best for make-up?
Daylight white, around 5000K to 6500K, is closest to natural light and best for matching foundation and checking skin tone. Warm light of 2700K to 3000K is flattering but can hide redness and make shades look warmer than they are. The Ingrain frontlit mirrors are fixed at 6500K daylight. The Otti LED Noosa and Newport mirrors switch between 3000K, 4000K and 6000K, and the Radiant mirrors offer warm, natural daylight and bright white settings, which suits a shared bathroom or evening routines.
Can I dim a make-up mirror?
Most mirrors here dim, but in different ways. The Ingrain frontlit mirrors have a touch sensor with stepless dimming, so you can set any level. The Radiant mirrors have four brightness levels. The Otti mirrors use a motion sensor and a button, and the Newport adds a memory function that recalls your preferred settings. A low setting is easier on the eyes at night, while full brightness helps with fine detail.
Do these mirrors magnify?
No. The mirrors in this collection show a true 1x reflection, which is best for blending and checking balance across the whole face. For eyeliner, brows and tweezing, pair your wall mirror with a separate 5x or 10x magnifying mirror. Higher magnification shows a smaller area of your face and needs you to stand closer to the glass.
What size make-up mirror do I need?
Choose a mirror tall enough to cover the eye line of everyone who uses it, centred at about 1500mm to 1600mm from the floor. The range runs from compact 500 x 850mm Ingrain pills and 600mm Remer Eclipse rounds to Otti mirrors up to 1500 x 750mm. A tall portrait mirror suits one user at a single basin, while a wide landscape mirror suits two people side by side at a double vanity.
Do make-up mirrors need an electrician?
It depends on the model. The Ingrain and Radiant mirrors are hardwired and must be installed by a licensed electrician. The Otti mirrors are listed as plug-in, with some sizes also able to be hardwired, so they need a power point within reach. All mirrors here are IP44 rated for use at the vanity. To clean, switch off, then wipe with a soft cloth dampened in warm water and dry it. Avoid glass and window cleaners, which can damage the silver backing.
Completing the room
For close detail work, add a mirror from magnifying mirrors or shaving mirrors. Browse by range in Ingrain LED mirrors, Otti mirrors and Radiant LED mirrors, or keep a plain mirror fog-free with mirror demisters from The Blue Space.
