Make-up lighting: tips for the right light

At home in front of the bathroom mirror, your foundation looks perfect. Outside, in daylight, you suddenly see a line along your jawline or a blush that is brighter than you thought. Sound familiar? Usually it is not your make-up or your technique, but the light in which you apply it. In this article you will read why good light is so important, what light colours do and how to use an illuminated mirror smartly.

Why good light makes the difference

Light determines what you see. A ceiling light shines from above and casts shadows under your eyes, your nose and your chin. As a result, you often apply too much concealer in those places. Light from the side makes one side of your face look darker, which makes your make-up uneven.

The best light for make-up comes straight from the front and falls evenly over your whole face. That is why make-up artists have lights all around the mirror. A Hollywood mirror brings that principle to your own dressing table. The square 30 × 30 cm Chantally, for example, has LED light on four sides, so your make-up goes on without shadows.

Light colour: warm, neutral or cool

Light has a colour, the colour temperature. It is expressed in Kelvin (K). The lower the number, the warmer and yellower the light. The higher, the cooler and bluer. The LED make-up mirror XL, for example, has 3 light colours from 3000 to 6000K.

Light colour	Effect	Use it for
Warm	Soft, yellowish light, like in a restaurant or by candlelight	An evening look or a dinner out
Neutral or natural	Between warm and cool	Your daily routine and skincare
Cool	Fresh, bright light that resembles daylight	Make-up for daytime, outdoors or at the office

The tip: apply your make-up in the light in which you will wear it. The product description of the Hollywood mirror Camille puts it briefly: cool daylight for your make-up, warm light for the evening and everything in between. All OMNIEXA Hollywood mirrors have 3 light colours, so you switch with one touch.

Dimming: not too bright, not too weak

Light that is too bright flattens your skin and makes your make-up look lighter than it is. Too little light and you miss details. With a dimmable mirror you adjust the brightness to the moment. The 40 × 30 cm Chantally and the LED strip mirrors are steplessly dimmable. On the white 58 cm and the 58 × 46 cm LED make-up mirror, a memory function remembers your favourite setting, so your light is immediately right.

Bulbs or an LED strip?

Separate LED bulbs: the classic Hollywood look. The 58 × 46 cm models have 15 bulbs, the 80 × 60 cm Celine XL has 18.
LED strip all around: one line of light around the glass, for soft, even light without visible bulbs and a modern, calm look.

Details: the detail mirror

For eyeliner, eyebrows and skincare you want to look up close. The 58 and 80 cm mirrors have a 10x detail mirror. On the black Hollywood mirror, the Celine XL and the LED strip mirrors it is magnetic: you click it onto the glass wherever you need it. The 40 × 30 cm Chantally has a 5x magnifying mirror.

Daylight as a check

Even with a good mirror, daylight remains the strictest test. Once you have done your make-up, walk over to the window and check with a hand mirror whether everything is well blended. If you see a line or a patch there that you did not see at your dressing table, choose the cool setting of your mirror more often from now on. The same applies the other way round: if you are going out for dinner by candlelight, a look that is just right in cool light can sometimes look a little dull. Then set your mirror to warm and add some extra colour or shine.

How to use your illuminated mirror smartly

Straight in front of you: place or hang the mirror straight in front of your face, so the light falls evenly. If you are unsure about the spot, read Hanging or standing a Hollywood mirror.
Switch light colour: finished? Briefly switch to another setting and check whether your make-up still looks right.
Test foundation on your jawline: choose a shade that blends into your neck in neutral and cool light.
Blend in cool light: you see hard edges of blush and contour best in cool light.
View your whole look: with a full-length mirror like the 160 × 40 cm Calyndor, with LED light on four sides, you also see your outfit in good light.
On the go: the Claíre round LED mirror and the make-up bag with LED mirror also have 3 light colours and run on a rechargeable battery.

Make it a permanent beauty spot

Good light works best in a fixed place, with all your things within reach. A dressing table with an LED mirror, such as the Auralyn dressing table with touch control, combines storage space and light. View all dressing tables or read Choosing a dressing table. Want to see all mirrors side by side? On Buy a Hollywood mirror you will find a complete comparison.

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View all mirrors. Ordered on a working day before 15:00, shipped today, shipping is free and you get free 30-day returns.

Make-up lighting: how to get your make-up right every time