There are few more basic joys than clicking on a lighted makeup mirror when you’re getting ready in the morning—except for maybe coffee. Sure, you can do your makeup just fine under the fluorescent lights in your bathroom or using the selfie camera of your phone, but why would you want to? Not to mention, having a back-up mirror all to yourself comes in incredibly handy on days when you’re scrambling to get to work but your partner or roommate calls first dibs on the bathroom.
Nowadays there’s no shortage of options if you’re looking to find the best lighted makeup mirror—no matter how technologically advanced you want to get. There are mirrors with built-in phone chargers and USB ports, ones that’ll tell you the weather (yes, really), and others that’ll let you easily check emails so you can do the most before leaving the house. We tested lighted makeup mirrors with all these bells and whistles and more.
Whether you’re looking for a tabletop vanity mirror with big light fixtures or one to get up close and personal with thanks to 10x magnification (useful when applying lashes, but maybe a little dangerous when you start trying to squeeze out blackheads), you don’t need to be a pro to have one. Ahead, Glamour editors weigh in on the best lighted makeup mirror in their arsenal.
Don’t worry: The skinny in this mirror’s name refers to how thin it is, not to some misguided ability to make you look slimmer. It’s also an influencer’s dream—in addition to five stages of LED light dimming, it comes with customized HD daylight lighting, a magnetic magnifying mirror, and a magnetic phone clip for—wait for it—the custom Bluetooth selfie function. In all honesty, I haven't snapped any pics of myself yet, but I’ve used this mirror daily for makeup application, especially in my dim work office, and find it to be a really useful tool in accurate foundation matching. Granted, it’s a bit of a splurge, but if you’re looking for a mirror that’ll make you look better on Instagram or YouTube, this is it. —Perrie Samotin, digital director
I never thought I needed a lighted mirror…until I did. Not only does it do all these fancy things like charge my phone and play music while I’m applying mascara, but when you live in a studio with a partner who likes to take their time getting ready in the morning (and of course, always leaves the sink wet), having a vanity mirror makes a world of difference. —Talia Abbas, commerce writer
This beauty is basically the Cadillac of lighted makeup mirrors—and it comes with the price tag to confirm it. But what it sets you back financially, it more than makes up for with its high-tech capabilities and one-year warranty. First, let’s talk about its magnification. It comes 10x magnifying glass that’s particularly great for seeing every single lash as you put on mascara. Its lighting capabilities are also unreal. You can run Long press on touch button to make the lighting dimmer or brighter. And it automatically lights up whenever you look into it. My favorite part, though, is that it’s cordless. You charge it with a regular USB plug, and it holds its juice for up to five weeks. My colleagues can confirm I use it an obscene amount at my desk. I don’t know what I'd do without it. —Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor
I attend a lot of events and working dinners, so it’s not uncommon to find me doing my makeup at my desk. But when the days get darker earlier and I don’t have natural sunlight to help me out, I rely on the Beautme. It looks like an TV, and that’s because it kind of is. It gives me everything from the weather to the news. It can also analyze how skin care products are working on my skin. As high-tech is it is, I’m most obsessed with the lighting, which actually makes me enjoy applying makeup instead of it feeling like a chore. It says it will give you “your most empowered beauty routine yet,” and it certainly delivers. —Jessica Radloff, west coast editor
