A lighted mirror mimics the natural light and makes you see yourself crystal clear even in night time.

The main purpose of such bathroom or room accessory is to aid in clear visualization by means of natural light focused on the face. This is especially helpful for nighttime makeup application when brightness is insufficient. Nevertheless, makeup mirrors with light provide adequate illumination for women to carry out normal beautification routines before going out on a date at any time of the day.

If you are going to apply makeup for the day then of course the best light for doing it is the one that you will have to face the whole day and that’s day light. But since you don’t have natural light for applying makeup at night, this makes the LED bulb the most element for an efficient make over. And that’s definitely because of the light it emits. But since there are many types of LED mirrors available, you need to consider several other features such as the size, magnification and placement or portability of the mirror before purchasing.

Choosing the best lighting

The most important feature of all is the light emitting from the mirror. Sometimes some mirrors make you look good; in fact they make you look like super models. This is not a good feature of a vanity lighted mirrors because once outside, you will look like your true self no matter what. So if you apply a horrible makeup you’d still look fabulous in the mirror but not beyond that limit.

Color: The light closest to the natural light is the white light.  So keep appropriate distance from warm and yellow light bulbs because they will make you look good no matter what you have done to yourself. That’s why candle light dinner is so romantic. It’s very lenient and makes everything looks great no matter how bad it is.

Dimming ability: A dimmable lighted makeup mirror lets you see your makeup in different settings. A perfect imitation of daylight is not always what you need; sometimes you may want to go out at night and would wonder how you would look in that environment rather than the bright one which your LED lighted mirrors creates. So if you’re preparing for a night out, you might want to dim the light to see if you still look good in the type of lighting you’ll be spending the night in…

Color Rendering Index:  Also known as CRI, the Color Rendering Index of the light source is an important thing to consider when buying your vanity backlit mirrors. This is an expression of how well the light bulb reproduces colors. A CRI value between 60 and 75 is the best for makeup application and tweezing your eyebrows because it gives the best representation of daylight in its natural form. Having a CRI between 20 and 30 will make it harder to blend colors during makeup and will give your reflection a washed out appearance.

Other Properties That You Should Consider

While LED mirrors are generally all made the same way, there are differences in the way they are shaped as well as how and if they are framed.

Magnification: Check if the mirror has magnification option (Double sided). This is great for tasks like eyebrow shaping, because then you don’t have to lean in close to see properly. 5 x magnifications is just right, while higher depends on preference.

Personally, higher magnification makes my eyes feel a little cross eyed...

Size:  Make sure you have the mirror size you need worked out beforehand, especially if you’re buying the bathroom mirrors with lights online. You might buy a mirror and find that it’s a tiny little thing you can’t really use properly.

If you buy a swivel mirror, ensure that the dimensions fit in your bathroom or makeup station. Also remember to check how tall the base is, because then you'll know whether it'll fit in a space with limited height. If you want a portable mirror, don’t go for the large bulky ones and find a smart size that suites you.

Shape: After you have made your decision on the size of your LED mirrors, the next thing to consider is its shape. Shape is a feature that is more towards the aesthetic aspect of the mirror rather than its functionality. Mirrors after all are household equipment and therefore should match the existing design and feel of the room it’s kept in.

Being two dimensional, mirrors can be cut and made into many shapes. Most mirrors are rectangular but oval, round and even abstract mirrors are available for purchase. But rather than the mirror being the shape in discussion, in some mirrors the frame is what gives it shape. With these various shapes, decoration possibilities are endless.

Placement: One important factor you should consider when buying a vanity backlit mirror is where you are going to keep it. If you’ll be placing it on a surface, a mirror with a smaller base or an adjustable one takes up less space in your home.

If you need the mirror to be a wall mount, having an adjustable arm will be better suited for whatever position you’ll be applying makeup from.

Portability: If you'd like to travel with your mirror, there is an assortment of handheld travel mirrors with LED lighting available. Otherwise you could carry it with you if your base is adjustable.

Function: Although the main purpose of your lighted mirror is going to be for having a clear view of you while dressing up, for some of us need additional functionality for our mirrors. Some normal bathroom mirrors have a cupboard fixed to the back of the mirror to store your bathroom goods. These are called vanity mirrors. If you require a similar function from your vanity lighted mirror, don’t worry as many manufacturers have gone in to the business of building vanity mirrors. You can find many such products in stores today.

Consider the Room's Style: To have a fabulous finish, it’s always good to match your LED mirrors to your room or bathroom’s deco. So go with your heart and add some aesthetic value without going just for the function of the mirror. 

When shopping for a bathroom mirror, keep these helpful pieces of information in mind along with your personal preferences in terms of features to make the task a little bit easier.