The Best Vanity Lighting For Makeup

Buying Guide

“Magic mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest one of all?” The Evil Queen from Snow White had a magic mirror to tell her how great she looked, but the rest of us have to rely on our mirror’s vanity lighting. Bad lighting will alter your approach to everything from foundation to shimmer shadow, so you’ve got to invest in something decent if you want to look your best.

You have a few different options when it comes to makeup lighting. You can go for lighting that hangs from the wall above your bathroom vanity or lighting that attaches to a mirror you already own.

Overhead lighting can add style to your bathroom or powder room. It comes in a wide array of designs, usually in strips of three or more bulbs with small shades over each bulb. These lights work well if you own your home and can add lighting without losing your security deposit. They also help illuminate your entire bathroom instead of just the mirror. However, they might not provide all the light you’ll need if you’re regularly applying a full face of makeup, or if your bathroom is very dark.

Lighting that attaches to mirrors has a lot of benefits. It usually comes in strips that you can cut up or it comes as individual bulbs you can stick on. This affords you a level of customization that you won’t find with other lighting. You can use as many or as few lights as you wish, and you might be able to add lights to multiple mirrors with attachable lighting.

Now that you know your basic vanity lighting options, check out our Tips & Advice for more info on getting your makeup just right with great lights.

• Always measure your space before you buy any type of lighting. For larger spaces, you’ll need overhead lighting with more than two bulbs or lots of attachable lights. Smaller spaces can get away with fewer.
• Consider how much natural light you’ve already got in your room before you buy your vanity lighting. Rooms with plenty of sunlight won’t need the investment that larger or darker rooms will.
• If your vanity lighting allows you to purchase separate bulbs (like wall-mounted overhead lighting), make sure you purchase bulbs that mimic natural lighting. The more your bulbs resemble natural lighting, the better your makeup will turn out.
• Individual bulbs or strips of lights require a steady hand and a careful eye. Measure out and mark the desired placement of your bulbs before you apply them. This way you’ll get an even distribution of light all the way around your mirror.