21 best lighted makeup mirrors, plus tips from a makeup artist

Jul 11, 2023

Lighted mirrors are one of those genius inventions that are total game changers for makeup application. Because let's face it — no pun intended — even if you have the fanciest skin care formulas or the most exquisite foundations, you’ll need to make sure you can see clearly to look your best. Yes, a bathroom mirror can get the job done, but there are advantages to using makeup mirrors, according to celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney.

"They allow you to see more clearly the results of your makeup application," she says. "Your attention to detail will be enhanced and smaller details and blending will be easier under a light.

Henney likes to use makeup mirrors with a warmer or golden-toned light: "This light is more flattering and can replicate the sun," she says.

These days, there are numerous models of lighted mirrors with different light options, as well as key features such as magnification, size/compactness, rotation and energy source. We asked Henney to speak about each feature, and then we used her advice to narrow the many options down to this best-of list.

Use the links below to jump to your desired category, or keep scrolling to see Henney's advice, our selection process and all 21 of our top picks.

What to look for | How we chose | Best lighted makeup mirrors | Meet our expert

Size/compactness: This is another feature that depends on your personal preference and lifestyle. The size and compactness of a lighted makeup mirror can be greatly determined by where you’re using it. Are you looking for a large version to place on your vanity table or a small one to take with you on vacation? There are foldable ones, wall-mounted ones and freestanding ones — and they come in various shapes, too.

Energy source: This factor goes hand in hand with convenience. Lighted makeup mirrors come in a variety of energy source options, such as plug-in (which are great for usually staying in the same spot in your home) and battery-operated or rechargeable (which are ideal for travel).

Choice overload is a real thing, and we at Shop TODAY get you. That's why we narrowed down the best of the best lighted makeup mirrors for this roundup. How we chose: combing through five-star ratings and rave reviews for products spanning a range of diverse features, filtering products by top searches, personally testing some of the models ourselves and looking to makeup expert Henney for her recommendations.

From Hollywood-esque styles with unmissable light bulbs to compact ones you can take with you on the go, read on for the 21 top-rated lighted makeup mirrors to shop now.

With 250 minutes of use on one single charge, according to the brand, this top-selling makeup mirror is super convenient.

One reviewer notes, "This mirror is just the right size to sit on my countertop. It lights up with just a gentle touch. I love it! No idea why it took me so long to buy something like this!"

Adjustable angles make traveling with this portable mirror even easier — great for days when you need to apply concealer in the car on the way to work.

This makeup mirror remains a consistent favorite — and with such an affordable price tag, who can blame 7,000-plus verified shoppers who rated it five stars?

It's designed with features like 180-degree free rotation, a dual power supply and 21 natural and soft LED lights. Its 2X and 3X magnification also makes this choice perfect for "detail work and when your eyes aren't as good as they once were," according to one reviewer.

With over 17,600 verified five-star ratings, this makeup mirror just about does it all — it magnifies, rotates and features adjustable lighting. The foldable design means that you can prevent dust from coating the mirror while it's not in use, and you can also detach it from the button tray base to stow it away until you need it.

It uses 21 LED lights that can be brightened or dimmed with a smart touch button, and it can be powered up using batteries or charged with a USB port.

This ultra-slim makeup mirror folds down into the size of a tablet, so you can take it with you for a touch-up or neatly store it in your bathroom to save counter space. (It even comes with its own drawstring bag!)

The lights can be dimmed to three different settings that offer soft, warm and white lighting. "It's absolutely beautiful," one verified reviewer wrote. "It's super bright and lightweight, and I’m happy I can store it away in a drawer when not using."

This makeup mirror has amassed more than 7,200 verified five-star ratings. The large mirror is larger than most on the market, and it comes in 10 different styles, including some with halo lighting and some with individual bulbs that can be dimmed to your preference.

One reviewer called the mirror a game changer, claiming it was the "best purchase I ever made."

This tablet mirror gives off the effect of a portable ring light. Fittingly named "Halo," it casts a bright light that's adjustable with three settings.

With a 5X spot mirror (which can conveniently be stored on the back), you’ve got options with how zoomed-in you want to be when applying makeup. Its durable cover, long-lasting battery and USB cable also make it easy to travel with.

If your vanity is in dire need of some organizing, this makeup mirror's right up your alley.

The dual magnification (1X and 10X) and distortion-free mirror is mounted atop a cosmetic organizer base with five compartments — perfect for all of your daily makeup essentials. Charge it with the included USB cable or power it with four AA batteries. Plus, the energy-saving LED lights automatically turn off after 30 minutes.

There's a reason why Fascinate's makeup case with a lighted mirror has gone viral on TikTok. This lunchbox-sized pick is a compact home for your eye shadow palettes, lipsticks and more, keeping it organized to a tee. Between the sponge dividers, double zipper and three light settings (white, natural and warm), it's pretty much everything you could ever want in a travel makeup case.

One happy Amazon reviewer commented, "Love everything about it! Lighting is great, very sturdy and space is great ... even came with a charger cord; it's exactly how it says it would be. Definitely worth purchasing! Can't wait to bring my makeup with me anywhere now."

This rectangular-shaped mirror has curved edges with three dimmable light settings. It's small, portable, lightweight and folds flat, making it a breeze to pack in your luggage.

It also comes with a 10X magnifying mirror that attaches by suction cups. Charge it via the USB cable to give it energy before taking it on your next trip or setting it on your vanity — no batteries needed.

This tri-fold mirror offers four lighting options — day, home, office and evening — so you can make sure your look matches the lighting for whatever the day brings. It's functional but isn't an eye sore: It neatly folds flat for travel or storage.

In addition to the adjustable lighting, the base can also be adjusted to work at 11 different angles, so you don't have to hunch to make sure that you're applying your mascara evenly.

"It's perfect. The one I had that I used nearly every day for 50 years finally gave out, and I thought I would never be able to replace it, but the Jerdon Trifold is everything my old one was and much more — much brighter, much clearer and much easier to use," one five-star reviewer wrote.

With dual-sided capabilities, this bestseller offers 360-degree rotation and 10X magnification. The rose gold color is the perfect addition to any bathroom counter, and reviewers can't stop raving over how visually pleasing it is. It's the perfect pick for anyone who is more concerned with magnification than lighting.

"This mirror is so large, I can easily do my makeup and fix my eyebrows," one Ulta reviewer wrote. "Less eye strain is a great thing!"

This circular makeup mirror moonlights as a few other items: a chic piece of bedroom décor, a nightlight and a Bluetooth speaker, for starters.

It also features 5X magnification and duo-tone lighting to switch from natural lighting to cool or warm brightness.

Give your space a glam Hollywood touch with this vertical, rectangular smart vanity mirror. Its LED light bulbs can be adjusted to three levels of brightness and colors by simply touching the mirror sensor.

It even comes with a smaller, detachable mirror with 10X magnification to apply makeup that requires a delicate touch, like eyeliner and lipstick. Choose between a gold, rose gold, white or black finish.

This matte-black finish double-sided mirror from Conair offers three-way touch control and has amassed over 1,600 verified five-star ratings on Amazon, with many of them praising its lighting capabilities.

"The light is plenty bright and has three levels of brightness, and the magnification is perfect," one reviewer wrote. The mirror itself is fog- and glare-free, too, so you can complete your beauty routine without any interruptions.

Rather than relying on batteries to simulate natural sunlight, the mirror operates by plugging into a power source, using hidden base storage to conceal cords. It's double-sided, with one side for everyday maintenance and another with 10X magnification to help zoom in on problem areas.

A convenient storage tray can also keep your beauty products from rolling all over your counter.

Powerful and petite, this LED-lighted mirror doubles as a power bank and is the same size as an iPhone. You can tuck it in your purse for easy touch-ups throughout the day.

The scratch-resistant, shatterproof mirror has five brightness levels and comes with a sleek protective cover that also acts as a stand.

It's all about options with this smart mirror that features two adjustable LED lights. Slide it open to reveal an iPad-like screen where you can watch YouTube beauty tutorials, listen to your favorite Spotify tunes and virtually try on makeup looks with augmented reality (AR) technology.

What's more, HiMirror's technology lets you get a skin care summary so you know exactly what to focus on and monitor in your beauty routine, whether it's the appearance of dark circles, pores, fine lines and more. You can even use it to make video and voice calls with Google Duo.

While this slim and sleek mirror is also a bit of a splurge, it's earned glowing reviews from several shoppers on the brand's website.

The cordless gadget operates on rechargeable batteries that last up to 10 hours. Alone, the sleek mirror boasts 1X magnification, but you can purchase the 10X magnification attachment to home in on minor details. It boasts three temperature settings and additional brightness levels that can be adjusted with the touch button.

Even better? It features smart memory, so it will automatically use the brightness settings that you last used while you were getting ready, saving you the hassle during early mornings.

Feel like a 1920s starlet with this Hollywood-style lighted mirror that doubles as a classic décor piece.

"This is great for a vanity when you want to sit down and take your time with full glam or quickly get your glam on in the morning," says Henney.

It has three light modes and 15 dimmable light bulbs that last 50,000 hours, according to the brand. To use, mount it onto a wall or just sit it on top of a vanity. There's even a USB charging port on the side of the mirror so you can charge your phone while getting ready.

This Beautifect box not only looks luxurious, it's also smartly designed for functionality. Open up the aesthetically pleasing rose-gold case and you’ll find a lighted mirror with five brightness settings, as well as compartments to store your makeup goods.

There are designated spots to store your makeup brushes so you’ll never have to scramble to find them. Power it up using the provided USB-C cable — a single full charge can last up to four weeks. Ringing in at $295, it's an investment piece, but one that you can blissfully use over and over again.

Though the price of simplehuman's makeup mirror is on the higher end, reviewers rave about how well it works. It uses a color-rendering index of 95, which the brand states is similar to the full-color spectrum of natural sunlight.

This one's a combo of three mirrors: One side features 5X magnification, and the other side is 1X with a section that gives you a 10X view — making it easy to catch small details when tweezing or finishing up your makeup routine.

One reviewer wrote, "Love this mirror so much. Now that I'm in my 60s, I need more magnification when applying makeup, and this is wonderful. Expensive, but so worth it."

Wendy Sy is a writer, editor and content creator based in New York City.