Makeup and vanity mirrors
Best Lighted Makeup Mirrors with Magnification
By Joan Bardot · Updated
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The best lighted makeup mirror does two jobs at once: it puts even, true-to-life light on your face, and it magnifies the fiddly parts (liner, brows, lashes) without making you squint. I use a lighted magnifying mirror every working day, and the six below are the ones I would happily buy again. They are led by a Zadro pedestal mirror that gets the basics more right than anything else I have used, and the list leans toward well-built mid-range and premium mirrors, with one budget pick at the end.
Want something bigger with a row of bulbs? That is a different kind of mirror, and it has its own page: Hollywood-style lighted vanity mirrors. Shopping on a tight budget? Go straight to my cheap lighted makeup mirrors.
My top picks
- Editor's choice
Best Overall
Zadro 17.5" Tall Lighted Mirror 10x/1x
- Mid-range
- 17.5 in tall, 7.75 in glass
- 1x, 10x
- Fluorescent, 6400K
Keep in mind: Fluorescent light, with no warm or cool modes
Check price on Amazon -
Best Premium Sensor Mirror
simplehuman Sensor Mirror 8" 5x
- Mid-range
- 8 in round
- 5x
Keep in mind: 5x only, with no 1x side
Check price on Amazon -
Best Corded Double-Sided
Conair Double-Sided LED Mirror 1x/10x
- Mid-range
- 8.5 in, 16 in tall
- 1x, 10x
Keep in mind: Needs an outlet within its 5 ft cord
Check price on Amazon
| Mirror | Zadro 17.5 in 10x/1x Editor's Choice | simplehuman Sensor 8 in | Conair 1x/10x | VESAUR 1x/5x/10x | Zadro Lexington | Fancii 10x Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirror |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Size | 17.5 in tall, 7.75 in glass | 8 in round | 8.5 in, 16 in tall | 11.8 x 17 in | 12 x 20 in, 7.5 in glass | 6.5 in square |
| Magnification | 1x, 10x | 5x | 1x, 10x | 1x, 5x, 10x | 1x, 10x | 10x |
| Light | Fluorescent, 6400K | LED, 600 lux, CRI 95 | LED, 3 colors, 3 levels | 96 LEDs, CRI 97, dimmable | LED ring, dimmable | 16 daylight LEDs |
| Standout | Tall pedestal, base tray | Motion sensor, cordless | Weighted base, 5 ft cord | Plug-in or 4 AA | Touch dimmer with memory | Locking suction cup |
| Best for | Full makeup, seated | True color, no cord | Color modes at a vanity | The biggest view | Dimmable ring light | Adding 10x to any mirror |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ | $$ | $$ | $$ | $ |
| Buy | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
Editor's Choice
Zadro 17.5 in 10x/1x
- Best for
- Full makeup, seated
Show specifications
- Size
- 17.5 in tall, 7.75 in glass
- Magnification
- 1x, 10x
- Light
- Fluorescent, 6400K
- Standout
- Tall pedestal, base tray
- Price tier
- $$
simplehuman Sensor 8 in
- Best for
- True color, no cord
Show specifications
- Size
- 8 in round
- Magnification
- 5x
- Light
- LED, 600 lux, CRI 95
- Standout
- Motion sensor, cordless
- Price tier
- $$
Conair 1x/10x
- Best for
- Color modes at a vanity
Show specifications
- Size
- 8.5 in, 16 in tall
- Magnification
- 1x, 10x
- Light
- LED, 3 colors, 3 levels
- Standout
- Weighted base, 5 ft cord
- Price tier
- $$
VESAUR 1x/5x/10x
- Best for
- The biggest view
Show specifications
- Size
- 11.8 x 17 in
- Magnification
- 1x, 5x, 10x
- Light
- 96 LEDs, CRI 97, dimmable
- Standout
- Plug-in or 4 AA
- Price tier
- $$
Zadro Lexington
- Best for
- Dimmable ring light
Show specifications
- Size
- 12 x 20 in, 7.5 in glass
- Magnification
- 1x, 10x
- Light
- LED ring, dimmable
- Standout
- Touch dimmer with memory
- Price tier
- $$
Fancii 10x Daylight
- Best for
- Adding 10x to any mirror
Show specifications
- Size
- 6.5 in square
- Magnification
- 10x
- Light
- 16 daylight LEDs
- Standout
- Locking suction cup
- Price tier
- $
The Best Lighted Makeup Mirrors, Reviewed
I ranked these by how well they do the whole job in front of a face: the light, the magnification, how steady they are and how easy they are to live with every morning. The Editor's Choice comes first and the budget pick comes last.
Editor's choice · Best Overall
Zadro 17.5" Tall Lighted Mirror 10x/1x
- Mid-range
- Size 17.5 in tall, 7.75 in glass
- Magnification 1x, 10x
- Light Fluorescent, 6400K
- Standout Tall pedestal, base tray
This is the lighted makeup mirror I would put on my own vanity, and the one I recommend first. It is a two-sided Zadro on a 17.5-inch pedestal: 1x on one side for your whole face, 10x on the other for detail, set in a 9-inch head with a 7.75-inch mirror. A tray in the base holds the tweezers, brushes and lash glue you reach for most.
It is the best overall because it gets right the three things I care about most. The height lifts the glass to eye level when you sit at a vanity, so you are not hunched over a squat stand. The 10x side is big enough to show a whole eye and brow at once, where many 10x mirrors give you a coin-sized spot. And the soft white fluorescent light, at 6400K, is the cool daylight tone I want when I match foundation, spread evenly across the face rather than in bright dots.
Zadro specializes in magnifying mirrors, and it shows in daily use: the image on the 10x side is clear right to the edge of the glass, and the pedestal stays put while you work.
It suits anyone who does a full face of makeup seated at a vanity or desk and wants one mirror for both the overview and the close work. If you want light you can tint warm and cool, look at the Conair or the VESAUR below.
What I like
- Tall 17.5 in pedestal brings the glass to eye level
- Large 7.75 in mirror on the 10x side
- Soft, daylight-white 6400K fluorescent light
- Built-in tray keeps tweezers and brushes close
Keep in mind
- Fluorescent light, with no warm or cool modes
- No middle step between 1x and 10x
Best Premium Sensor Mirror
simplehuman Sensor Mirror 8" 5x
- Mid-range
- Size 8 in round
- Magnification 5x
- Light LED, 600 lux, CRI 95
- Standout Motion sensor, cordless
simplehuman's 8-inch sensor mirror is the most polished mirror on this page: a stainless steel stand, a round 5x mirror and the brand's Tru-lux light, rated at 600 lux with a color rendering index of 95. That CRI figure is why skin tones, blush and concealer look the way they will outdoors.
The sensor is the part you fall for. Lean in and the light comes on, with no button to find with a damp hand or a loaded brush. It is cordless and rechargeable, simplehuman quotes up to 5 weeks per charge, and the head tilts all the way back so it still works when you stand at the sink. The LEDs are rated to perform like new for 40,000 hours.
5x is the magnification I use for my own everyday makeup: strong enough for liner and brows while still showing your whole face, and the curvature keeps the edges free of distortion. The trade-off is the missing 1x side, so you check the finished look in your main mirror.
What I like
- 600 lux light at CRI 95 for honest color
- Lights up as your face comes close
- Cordless; one charge lasts up to 5 weeks
- Tilts fully back for use while standing
Keep in mind
- 5x only, with no 1x side
- Needs a recharge every few weeks
Best Corded Double-Sided
Conair Double-Sided LED Mirror 1x/10x
- Mid-range
- Size 8.5 in, 16 in tall
- Magnification 1x, 10x
- Light LED, 3 colors, 3 levels
- Standout Weighted base, 5 ft cord
A two-sided Conair in satin nickel: 1x on one side, 10x on the other, on a 16-inch stand with a weighted 6-inch base. The 8.5-inch mirror rotates a full 360 degrees, so flipping from the overview to the close-up is one turn of the hand.
I like it for a fixed vanity where you want light you can tune. White for grooming, warm for evening, natural for daytime makeup, each at three brightness levels. Because it plugs in with a 5-foot cord, the light is at full strength every time, which is the honest advantage of a corded mirror over a rechargeable one.
It suits anyone who does makeup in the same spot every day and wants color modes without ever thinking about batteries.
What I like
- Three light colors and three brightness levels
- Weighted 6 in base keeps it steady
- Corded, so the light never fades mid-routine
- 8.5 in mirror swivels a full 360 degrees
Keep in mind
- Needs an outlet within its 5 ft cord
- Three brightness steps rather than a smooth dimmer
Best Large Mirror
VESAUR 11.8" Tri-Panel Mirror 1x/5x/10x
- Mid-range
- Size 11.8 x 17 in
- Magnification 1x, 5x, 10x
- Light 96 LEDs, CRI 97, dimmable
- Standout Plug-in or 4 AA
The VESAUR is the biggest mirror here: an 11.8 by 17 inch three-panel design that gives you 1x, 5x and 10x in one piece, in a pearl nickel frame that swivels 360 degrees.
Its light is the most adjustable on the page. Ninety-six LEDs with a stated CRI of 97, three color ranges (cool 6000 to 6500K, natural 4500 to 5500K, warm 3000 to 4000K) and a mechanical knob that dims from 1 to 100 percent. I find a real knob quicker than tapping a touch button through its steps.
It runs on the AC adapter or on 4 AA batteries and switches between them on its own. VESAUR also gives the clearest distances I have seen on a listing: about 5.9 inches from the 5x and 4.5 inches from the 10x. It suits the person who wants one mirror that does everything, and has the counter for it.
What I like
- Big 11.8 x 17 in surface with 1x, 5x and 10x
- 96 LEDs with a stated CRI of 97
- Dimming knob from about 200 to 1800 lux
- Plug-in or 4 AA batteries; 3-year warranty
Keep in mind
- Takes more counter space than a round mirror
- AA batteries add up if you go cordless often
Best LED Ring Light
Zadro Lexington LED Mirror 10x/1x
- Mid-range
- Size 12 x 20 in, 7.5 in glass
- Magnification 1x, 10x
- Light LED ring, dimmable
- Standout Touch dimmer with memory
Zadro's second mirror on this page is the LED version: a 12 by 20 inch pedestal with a two-sided 10-inch head (1x and 10x) and a 7.5-inch glass, circled by a 22-watt, 9-inch LED ring light.
The ring dims from soft white up to cool white, at most 6400K, using a touch pad set flush in the front of the base, and it remembers the level you used last. The head swivels endlessly, and Zadro built it with no internal wires to twist, which is where many rotating lighted mirrors fail.
Choose it over the Editor's Choice if you prefer LED and want to set the brightness yourself. It runs from the included AC adapter, weighs 5.7 pounds and sits best on a smooth vanity top.
What I like
- 9 in LED ring, dims from soft to cool white
- Touch dimmer remembers your last brightness
- Endless rotation with no internal wires to break
- Tall 20 in pedestal with a 10 in head
Keep in mind
- 7.5 in glass inside the 10 in head
- Plug-in only; made for a smooth countertop
Best Budget
Fancii 10x Daylight LED Mirror
- Budget
- Size 6.5 in square
- Magnification 10x
- Light 16 daylight LEDs
- Standout Locking suction cup
A 6.5-inch square 10x mirror ringed with 16 daylight LEDs, on a locking suction cup that holds to your bathroom mirror, tile or glass. It rotates 360 degrees, runs on batteries and folds into the travel pouch that comes with it.
It is my budget pick because it solves the most common problem I see: a decent bathroom mirror with no magnification and poor light right where you do your eyes. Stick this next to it and you have a lit 10x view for brows and liner without buying a whole new setup.
It is 10x only, so it adds to your main mirror rather than replacing it. For more budget mirrors with a 1x side, see my best lighted makeup mirrors under budget.
What I like
- Locking suction cup holds to mirror, tile or glass
- 16 daylight LEDs rated for 50,000 hours
- Cordless, with a travel pouch
- Swivels 360 degrees
Keep in mind
- 10x only, no 1x side
- Runs on batteries rather than a rechargeable cell
How I Chose These Mirrors
I start the way I would with a client: what will you use the mirror for, and where? Then every mirror goes through my own routine, judged on the things that matter in front of a face, not on a box.
- Light first. Even light that shows real color matters more than anything else. I favor a stated CRI, a daylight tone or adjustable color modes.
- A sensible magnification pair. A 1x view for the whole face plus a stronger view for detail, or a clear reason when a mirror only has one.
- Stability and height. A mirror that wobbles or sits too low turns a five-minute job into a chore.
- Power that fits the room. Plug-in for a fixed vanity, rechargeable or battery for desks without an outlet and for travel.
- Build and backing. Metal frames, wiring that survives rotation, and a stated warranty where the maker offers one.
I left out mirrors that sell huge magnification without telling you how close you need to be, and mirrors whose light looked bright but turned skin gray or yellow.
What to Look For in a Lighted Magnifying Makeup Mirror
Magnification: how much do you need?
For everyday makeup, 1x plus 5x covers most people. Step up to 10x for tweezing, fine liner or if your close vision is not what it was. Above 10x (20x, 30x) is for very specific jobs like contact lenses or single brow hairs. My guide on what magnification a makeup mirror should be goes through each level.
Working distance
Magnifying mirrors are concave, and the stronger they are, the closer you have to be. VESAUR, for example, quotes about 5.9 inches for its 5x side and 4.5 inches for its 10x side. Further back, your face blurs or even flips upside down. If you like to sit back from the mirror, choose a lower power.
Light quality, not just brightness
Bright light that turns your skin yellow or blue is worse than dim, honest light. Look for a daylight setting, a stated CRI of 90 or more (simplehuman states 95, VESAUR 97), or several color modes so you can check your makeup in warm and cool light. I explain color temperature and CRI in my guide to the best lighting for makeup.
Power: plug-in, battery or rechargeable
A plug-in mirror stays at full brightness forever but needs an outlet nearby. Rechargeable mirrors are cordless and easy to move; check how long a charge lasts. AA battery mirrors are the most portable but dim as the batteries run down. Dual-power mirrors, like the VESAUR, give you both.
Pedestal, compact, suction or wall
A tall pedestal brings the glass to your eyes when you sit. A large panel gives the widest one-piece view. Suction mirrors add magnification to the mirror you already have, and compact mirrors go in a bag; if travel is your main use, my best travel makeup mirrors page goes further. If counter space is the problem, a lighted mirror on a swing arm is the answer: see my best wall-mounted makeup mirrors. And if you want magnification without the light, the best magnifying mirrors page covers 10x to 20x mirrors and picks for weaker eyesight.
Related: Cheap lighted makeup mirrors · Hollywood-style lighted vanity mirrors · Wall-mounted makeup mirrors · Magnifying mirrors · Travel makeup mirrors · Best lighting for makeup · What magnification should a makeup mirror be?
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New mirror picks, sizing and lighting tips from Joan, about once a month.