Vanity Mirrors & Makeup Mirrors

Magnification enlarges the reflection, but it shrinks the visible area and the focus distance by as much. A 5x suits everyday makeup: complexion, brows, lipstick. A 10x is for precision work: eyeliner, false lashes, tweezing. A 30x shows only a small area, with your face almost against the glass: it is a detail tool, for one precise spot, next to a regular mirror. A double-sided model, with one plain side and one magnifying side, like our gold round table mirror, covers both uses in one object.

Good makeup light comes from the front, evenly, and not only from above, which digs shadows under the eyes and nose. That is the whole point of the Hollywood mirror: its bulbs frame the face. Choose neutral light, around 4000 K, close to daylight: light that is too warm leads to heavier makeup that looks overdone outdoors. If you can, set the vanity near a window, facing it, and keep the lighted makeup mirror for evenings and winter.

On a vanity table 31 to 39 in (80 to 100 cm) wide, a Hollywood mirror or a medium table mirror leaves enough room for brushes and palettes. Avoid glass wider than the tabletop: it looks top-heavy and gets in the way. Seated, your eyes are about 45 to 49 in (115 to 125 cm) from the floor: that is where the center of the glass should be. On a small vanity, a round tabletop mirror is enough, with a magnifier you bring out when needed.

A tabletop mirror, like the gold round table mirror or the Hollywood, moves and stores away. The lighted 10x mirror with a flexible neck combines both: it stands on the tabletop or attaches with its suction cup. The 30x and lighted 10x suction-cup magnifiers hold on a smooth, non-porous surface such as glass or glazed tile. Clean and dry the surface before attaching them, and avoid painted or textured walls, where suction cups hold poorly.

Powder and hairspray build up quickly on the glass. A slightly damp microfiber with a drop of mild soap is enough, followed by a dry wipe. On gold and metal finishes, avoid abrasive products that scratch the finish. On a lighted model, unplug before cleaning, and let the bulbs of a Hollywood mirror cool down.