No More Patchy Make-Up Applications With These Lit Up Make-Up Mirrors (2025)

Make-up artists often recommend applying your make-up in natural sunshine for a seamless application, but given the English weather and dark winter mornings, the advice is a tricky one to follow. Plus, we have it on good authority that even the best professional artists rely on a lit-up make-up mirror backstage at fashion week and photoshoots. Next to skincare gadgets, a make-up mirror with lights is arguably the most useful beauty investment you can have in your arsenal.

Best Make-Up Mirrors With Lights

    Why You Should Get A Make-Up Mirror With Lights

    Additional lighting from a make-up mirror is one of the best ways to ensure a perfect application every time. It allows you to see the colours more accurately and helps to make sure you don’t miss any areas of foundation or blush that require blending.

    Forget versions of old, where subpar lights had a lifespan of approximately two minutes; now, a new generation of bright and sleek mirrors offer everything from built-in sensors to state-of-the-art lighting technology.

    Whether it's a generously-sized version for your dressing table or a portable one for your handbag, there's a light up mirror out there for every need.

    What To Look For In A Make-Up Mirror

    Before splurging on one, consider the area where you usually do your make-up. Are you on a spacious dressing table or does your work desk double as a make-up station? Do you prefer to do you make-up in the bathroom?

    Next, think about portability. If you tend to do your make-up at work or on your commute, a lightweight, small design is ideal. If your job or lifestyle requires multiple make-up touch-ups throughout the day, a bigger but foldable mirror will work brilliantly. Additional magnifying benefits are great for detail work (this editor needs it for her poor eyesight), and many now come with multiple light settings. When shopping for your make-up mirror with lights, do bear in mind the power source; whether that’s rechargeable or battery-operated.

    How We Test

    Thankfully, the ELLE beauty team have varying approaches to everyday make-up application. Beauty writer Katie Withington often does hers en route to the office (with stellar results) while I prefer to take my time in my dimly-lit bedroom. My go-to is the Beautifect Glow Mirror which sits nicely on my desk. We also test the convenience of each mirror – how seamless it is to charge and turn on, and how flattering the light settings are.

    The Best Light-up Mirrors To Invest In

    Best design

    Beautifect Glow Mirror

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    The Beautifect mirror makes applying your make-up a breeze, and it looks good doing it with a sleek nude or gold base, crystal clear 10” mirror with a magnetic magnifying mirror on top, and precision control dial for adjustable LED lighting.

    Product specifications

    Size10" diameter mirror
    Light settings3 light settings with brightness control
    Magnifications5x magnification
    Power sourceRechargeable

    Best for special occasions

    Fancii Large Makeup Mirror with Natural LED Lights

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    This sleek make-up mirror wins points for practicality as it not only features dimmable LED bulbs to mimic natural sunlight and two magnifying mirrors, but also has a little storage area in the base (which, might we add, is detachable for easy transport). Plus, it can work using either batteries or a USB cable charger. A winner all-round.

    Product specifications

    Size32 cm L x 35 cm W
    Light settingsTrue daylight dimmable lights
    Magnifications5x and 7x magnification
    Power sourceBatteries or rechargeable through USB cable

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    Best compact mirror

    Fancii LED Light Travel Makeup Mirror

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    This is one of those unexpectedly brilliant buys that you'll find yourself relying on. The petite, bag-sized compact features a mirror surrounded by LEDs that mimic natural daylight, meaning you can touch-up your make-up in low lighting – think bars, dimly lit restaurants, and even the back of a cab.

    Product specifications

    Size127mm
    Light settingsNatural daylight
    Magnifications10x magnifications
    Power sourceRechargeable

    Best lighting

    Simplehuman Sensor Mirror

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    Not only does this mirror have a sensor built in which turns on when you're sitting in front of it, but you can wave goodbye to harsh fake lighting because Simplehuman uses 'tru lux' technology to imitate sunlight, allowing you to apply your make-up as easily and accurately as you would in natural light.

    Product specifications

    Size38.4cm L x 23.1cm W
    Light settingsDual light settings with light control
    Magnifications5x magnification
    Power sourceRechargeable

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    Best for small spaces

    HoMedics LED Two-Sided Mirror

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    HoMedics’ no-fuss mirror is brilliant for space savers – it’s battery-powered with a small base, so it's perfect for storing on a smaller surface. Plus, the rotating mirror offers 1x and 7x magnification for getting up close and personal with your reflection.

    Product specifications

    Size16.5cm L x 25cm W
    Light settingsDimmable light
    Magnifications7x magnification
    Power sourceBatteries

    Best for detail work

    Fascinate Makeup Mirror with Lights

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    Now 23% Off

    With 21 LED lights controlled by a touch sensor, you can adjust the brightness as much or as little as you like. It has a high-sensitivity touch screen sensor to easily turn it on and off, while the small – detachable – 10x magnification mirror makes it easy to see up close.

    Product specifications

    Size16.5cm L x 26.9cm W
    Light settingsLight control
    MagnificationsDetachable 10x magnifiying mirror
    Power sourceBatteries

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    Best for on-the-go

    Tweezerman Led 15x Mini Mirror

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    This sleek, battery-operated light-up magnifying mirror has suction cups on the back so you can use it both as a handheld compact or attach it your mirror or a flat surface. It offers 15x magnification so you can tweeze stray brow hairs and spot conceal with ease.

    Product specifications

    Size42mm L x 8mm W
    Light settingsOne
    Magnifications15x magnification
    Power sourceBatteries

    Best for in the bathroom

    StylPro Heated Anti-fog Bathroom Mirror

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    This rechargeable make-up mirror features LED lights to make the prettifying process effortless, plus its heated mechanisms mean it resists fog and steam build-up post-shower.

    Product specifications

    Size15cm L x 9cm W
    Light settingsOne
    MagnificationsNone
    Power sourceRechargeable

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    Medina Azaldin

    Beauty Editor, ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK

    Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.

    No More Patchy Make-Up Applications With These Lit Up Make-Up Mirrors (2025)
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