8 Best Light Bulbs for Makeup Vanity Mirror (Reviews)

The good news is that I’ve done all the research for you!

Read my guide where I list my favorite options out there so you can find what will work best for you.

This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

READ MORE: Wall Mounted Magnifying Mirror

Best Light Bulbs for Makeup Vanity Mirror Top Picks at a Glance

Before going into an in-detail discussion, let’s have a look at our top-picked bulbs for makeup vanity mirror for a quick overview.

• Waneway Hollywood Mirror Light Kit​
• Vansky Upgraded Vanity Mirror Lights Kit​
• Sunco Lighting for Vanity Mirror
• Ecosmart 60W Equivalent Soft White A19 Energy Star and Dimmable LED Light Bulb
• HOME-X Bathroom Mirror LED Light

Don’t have time? Here is a quick comparison of our favorites!

8 Top Light Bulbs for Makeup Vanity Mirror

Lighted vanity makeup mirrors are the best type of mirrors.

They not only enhance the aesthetic beauty of any space but also illuminate your face with a bright light so that you can see every detail of your face clearly in the mirror.

However, because of their convenience and quality, best makeup mirror with integrated lights are quite expensive and might not fit in your budget.

So, should you leave the idea of your perfect Hollywood lighted makeup mirror? 

Of course Not!

With separately sold light bulbs you can always make your own lighted mirror without cutting deep into your pocket.

But with hundreds of bulb models available in the market, you might get confused about which is suitable for makeup mirror and which are not.

To make your buying process easy and fuss-free, in this article, I have listed and discussed the best light bulbs for makeup vanity mirrors so that you know about them and buy the perfect one according to your needs.

However, before discussing them in detail, let’s first contrast and compare our initial picks so that you understand why we picked 8 and dropped the others.

#1 Waneway Hollywood Mirror Light Kit​

Check: The Best Lighted Tri Fold Mirror

Ranking Position: 1

Our Opinion: Comes with Multiple Color Temperature for Versatile Luminosity

The Waneway Mirror lights kit scored the top position on our list.

Not only because it comes with all the “must-have” features we look for in light bulbs for vanity mirrors but also because of its other amazing factors that are committed to making your lightening experience even more delightful.

To start with, this kit includes 10 LED bulbs that are 2 watts each and hence, top on energy efficiency [1].

Even though these light bulbs are energy-efficient, Waneway didn’t compromise the light output.

With a maximum lumen of 1200LM, these bulbs are super bright and help you to see every little detail of your face perfectly.

In addition to the phenomenal brightness, the LEDs of this kit also incorporate a color rendering index of 90+ CRI.

Producing the most natural, realistic reflection of you on the mirror so that you are never deceived and know how you actually look.

Waneway also incorporated a dimming feature to them paired with a standard size memory sensor touchpad.

Enabling you to increase or decrease the brightness of the bulbs effortlessly according to your comfort level and face viewing demands.

The bulbs come in various color temperatures of 4000K, 5000K, and 6000K; these bulbs can emit 3 different types of lights to match your every luminosity needs and viewing demand.

From a cool white to natural white and daylight, they provide you the flexibility to choose your favorite lighting color that best suits your vibe.

Another great aspect of these bulbs is that they don’t flicker and cause any type of disturbance.

These LEDs produce consistent illumination so that you can view your face as long as you want with the lights on without causing any harm to your eyes.

Waneway installation process is super easy and effortless.

The industrial-grade sticky pad to the back of each low-watt LED light bulb that you just need to peel off before attaching to the mirror.

Additional Features

• At 7 ounces of weight each, these bulbs are lightweight and don’t weigh the mirror
• Comes with a CE certified power cable for safe and consistent lighting service
• The LEDs work over 50000 hours to ensure durability and uncompromised lighting
• The dual voltage feature makes these bulbs suitable for international use also
• Comes with 6 extra stickers to provide additional convenience
• Waneway provides a 3 Year Warranty Period to ensure the longevity of the bulbs

Check: The Best Lighted Tri Fold Mirror

#2 Vansky Upgraded Vanity Mirror Lights Kit​

Ranking Position: 2

Our Opinion: Wear-resistant and Durable

The Upgraded Version of the Vansky Vanity Lights is another of our favorite lighting sets that comes with several of the features I look for in bathroom light bulbs.

From energy-saving features to producing extraordinary luminosity, these blub provide you the best lighting experience at a very affordable price range.

However, even after having such amazing features, they scored 2nd position rather than the top because of their energy usage.

The flicker-free bulbs of this set are 6 watts of energy each and consume a little bit more electricity than the Waneway ones.

With a maximum luminosity of 1000 lumens, the 10 LED bulbs of this lighting kit are capable of producing super bright light.

You can also adjust the brightness of the LEDs with the dimming feature incorporated in the bulbs. 

Vansky paired the dimmable LED bulbs with a fully labeled switch so that you can control the ambiance of your vanity.

Vansky incorporated 3 different color temperatures in these bulbs so that you can enjoy daylight, natural white light, and warm light in your vanity area. 

These vanity lighting fixture paired with the high luminosity lighten up your face perfectly so that you can see a bright reflection of yourself in the mirror with every little detail and flaw.

The installation process of these light bulbs is super easy. You just need to peel off the sticker and paste it directly to the bathroom vanity mirror and voila!

Additional Features

• The bulbs are CE and RoHS Certified and hence, extremely safe and durable
• The length of the wire between the bulbs can be adjusted according to your needs
• The extra bulbs can be cut off if they are not required
• These bulbs are also suitable for bathroom mirrors
• Backed up by a Lifetime Warranty Period to ensure 100% Satisfaction

Check: Makeup Mirror Light Bulb Replacement

#3 Sunco Lighting for Vanity Mirror

Ranking Position: 3

Our Opinion: UL Certified for Maximum Safety

If you want the safest bulbs in the market for your vanity area at the most reasonable price range, then this Vanity Mirror light set from Sunco is your best allay.

These lights are UL certified which means that they undergo rigorous tests a minimum of four times a year to make sure that they are extremely safe.

Additionally, these lights are also FCC and RoHS certified to ensure the highest quality as well as safety.

These vanity mirror lights still ended up being in the 3rd place because they don’t incorporate numerous color temperatures in one single light like the Waneway ones.

These bulbs come with a single-color temperature of either 2700 K, 3000K, 4000K, 5000K or 6000K in each set.

Other than this minor glitch, the numerous extraordinary features of these lights make your face viewing experience in the mirror phenomenal.

Let’s begin with the light type. Sunco added 10 pieces of global LED lights to this lighting Kit to not only save energy by up to 85% but also to cut costs by several notches.

These bulbs are 6 watts each which mean that they consume very little energy and hence, don’t bother you with hefty household energy costs.

These lights have a maximum lumen of 4500 LM, which makes them one of the brightest lights for makeup mirrors available in the market right now.

With this dimmable bulb, you have the flexibility to set the brightness of the bulbs between 10%-100%.

They are capable of producing consistent flicker-free lighting services so that you don’t face any annoyance during your morning routine.

Additional Features

• Aside from the vanity mirror, these lights are also suitable for chandeliers or bathrooms
• Bulbs are shock resistant to provide maximum safety to the users
• 25000 hours lifespan ensure the durability of the LEDs
• These LEDs are backed up by a 5 Year Warranty period to assure phenomenal service

#4 Ecosmart 60W Equivalent Soft White A19 Energy Star and Dimmable LED Light Bulb

This light bulb uses 8.5 watts, which is similar to the 60W of an incandescent light bulb.

And despite the energy-conserving feature, the brightness of this Ecosmart LED light bulb is no less than a good 800-lumens. 

However, if the brightness is too excessive for your eyes, Ecosmart has integrated a dimmable feature so you can tune the brightness according to your needs and preferences. 

Ecosmart has an omnidirectional feature that allows the light to be given off in all directions in this LED bulb. With 2500K color temperature, it provides a warm and comfortable light to the surroundings.

In addition to the warm perfect brightness, these makeup light bulbs don’t cause any disruptive flickering.

Talking about long, the lifespan of each bulb is 15000 hours. That’s basically almost 2 years of energy-efficient usage plus the energy cost is $1.02/year, which saves almost up to $84!

These long-lasting bulbs are suitable for chandeliers, kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms as well. Each bulb only weighs 6.7 ounces.

All of these are shatter-resistant. Vouched by a lifetime warranty with 100% satisfaction, these could be your best buy!

Additional Features

• Long lifespan
• Lightweight
• 2-year warranty

Check: How to Make Makeup Mirror With Light Bulbs at Home

#5 HOME-X Bathroom Mirror LED Light, Make-Up Accessory, Wireless Portable Vanity Lighting

If you are someone who doesn’t want a little too much or less, then these 4 round bulbs on a shiny silver base can be your ultimate pick!

You don’t need any hardware to install it and plus it is powered by 4AA batteries.

One of the best parts about this LED light bulbs strip is that you don’t require any wiring! The suction cups are one of its best features as you can easily adjust them anywhere without much effort.

The switch ON/OFF button allows easy control of the lighting.

In short, you will love this professionally designed lighting solution, it’s just so hassle-free! No need to pay a fortune for professional DIY lighting solutions.

Additional Features

• Easy on and off switch
• Suction cups

#6 Dbmoon LED Vanity Mirror Lights with 10 Dimmable Bulbs 3 Color Modes, Hollywood Style Makeup Lights for Dressing Table Mirror

Looking for something more viable and safe? Take a look at these plastic vanity lights! 

The 10 levels of brightness feature is a drool-worthy feature! This makes the application of makeup, skincare, or any scrutinizing activity effortless for you at a very affordable price range.

Moreover, aside from dressing mirrors, they can be used as bathroom mirrors, bedroom decorations, barbershops, cabinets, and even stuck on walls!

Talking about preference, the 10 LED lights contain a dimmable feature so you can alter the brightness.

The Daylight white, warm white, and Natural light; 3 light color options fit perfectly according to your lightning requirements anytime.

Don’t sweat about the unclean appearance of tangled wires on your mirror. These wires can be easily adjusted and hidden by the simple rotation of the bulb.

These are the most ideal replacement bulbs.

Additional Features

• Adjustable wires
• Power supply USB, 5V 2A
• 10 levels of brightness adjustable

#7 Chende Hollywood Style LED Vanity Mirror Lights Kit with Dimmable Light Bulbs, Lighting Fixture Strip for Makeup Vanity Table Set in Dressing Room

Chende Hollywood Style LED Vanity Mirror Light Kit is perfect for making your space lightened up and aesthetic.

These bulbs are energy-efficient with a power of 3W per bulb and extremely safe to use with a 12-V safety adapter.

The lumens, as mentioned are 4000 Kelvins, which provide more than enough brightness in the dark for you to apply makeup professionally.

The light is soft and white, which won’t hurt your eyes so you can work on yourself for longer periods of time.

It’s anti-glare and completely radiation-free so it won’t burn or heat up your skin when you stand too close to the LED bulbs.

An amazing aspect of all vanity bulbs is the brightness adjusting feature which lets you easily change the lighting from high to moderate to low with a smart on and off touch dimmer switch. 

The 10 dimmable LED light bulb fixture strip is 11.3 ft long, excluding the adapter and dimmer. This length can be fixated freely onto your mirror from all of its 4 sides.

Installment is easy as well with a simple stick-on to your preferred area.

Just plug it in and for a Hollywood makeup mirror experience.

Additional Features

• Safety adapter
• Upgraded 2 Color light modes
• Stick-on glue
• Radiation-free light

#8 Selfila Hollywood LED Vanity Lights Upgraded 5 Color Modes for Full Body Length Makeup Mirror & Bathroom Wall Mirror

If you want to gift your decor-oriented loved one or close friend something special for their home or vanity set, the upgraded version of Selfila Hollywood LED Vanity Lights is one to choose from.

It is perfect for a wide range of styles including Vanity sets, bathrooms, windowsills, and cabinets

These LED bulbs have 5 different brightness level settings for you to choose from. 

Each level is relaxing and comfortable and easy to the sensitivity of your eyes. The brightness ranges from 3500K to 6000K lumens.

Another great aspect about these LED bulbs is that it comes with  5 different modes for the light setting; warm, warm white, natural light, daylight, and cold light.

The surface of these bulbs is PC soft, which makes them anti-glare and anti-radiating. 

Selfila saves you time and tools by adding the Easy install feature into their vanity set under a few minutes by marking the spots and sticking them on your mirror, wall, or frames. 

Check out this video on how to install the lights

The extra wiring supposedly protruding out of the strip can be easily adjusted into the base of the bulb by the rotation for a neat wire-free look to your setting.

The length of the wire is 20ft, which would be perfect for long large mirrors.

Selfila offers 100% customer satisfaction, one year warranty, and free lifetime technical support. 

Additional Features

• Lengthy wire
• Several different light modes
• Several different brightness levels

Reasons We Didn’t Prefer Some Models

Sunlite Globe Light Bulbs

The Sunlite Globe lights include some amazing features. But we don’t consider them to be the most suitable option for your vanity mirror because:

• The FLILED G25 lights are incandescent bulbs which are a big No, No for vanity mirrors.
• These lights are not energy-saving and are also not cost-effective. Each of these bulbs is 25 Watt which means that they consume way more energy than any other bulbs in the list.
• If you want to enjoy a different color temperature, you have to buy another set separately. The lights of this set don’t have numerous temperatures incorporated in one bulb.

Aooshine G25 LED Bulb

The reasons we don’t think these Aooshine G25 bulbs are the best choice for your vanity makeup mirror are:

• These bulbs do not have a dimming feature which is a must-have aspect we look for in a vanity mirror.
• The lights are not flicker-free and have the potential to cause eye problems in the long run.
• These lights do not incorporate different color temperatures in one bulb; you have to buy separate sets to enjoy different light colors.

Light Bulbs Buying Guide for Makeup Vanity Mirror

How to Choose the Right Lights Your Makeup Vanity Mirror?

It is a well-known fact that the market is full of different light bulbs to adorn your house or vanity area or bathroom. But are all these bulbs suitable for your makeup mirror?

The answer is No. The bulbs that are used in the vanity mirrors must meet some basic requirements before you can attach them to your viewing panels.

And, in this part, we will discuss the factors and features you must keep in mind when shopping for makeup mirror lights so that you end up buying the best ones for your vanity.

1. Check on the Light Type

The most crucial aspect you must consider before buying lights for your vanity mirror is its type.

This is because of how you will look in the mirror and how much you have to pay at the end of the month as the electricity bill greatly depends on the type of light bulb. 

There are 3 different types of lights available in the market.

While some provide excellent illumination others are not as great.

Let’s discuss them in detail to know more.

Incandescent Bulbs

Incandescent is the most traditional and commonly used light bulb.

These bulbs are usually filled with nitrogen gas and use a tangent filament that glows and produces a warm light when the current passes through them.

Even though incandescent bulbs are cheap and hugely available, they only work for 700–1000 hours and are not energy-efficient at all.

We do not recommend using incandescent bulbs in your vanity area because they are not only expensive in the long run but they also emit an extremely high amount of heat.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)

The CFL bulbs were introduced to replace the incandescent bulbs. These bulbs have a spiral shape and are filled with mercury and other gases.

When the electric current passes through the cathodes, they radiate the bulb to emit light energy.

Although these light bulbs are more energy-saving than the incandescent ones and are also long-lasting (lasts up to 10000 hours).

Experts still don’t recommend these bulbs for makeup mirrors because they have a longer warm-up time and don’t have various color temperatures to offer options.

Moreover, these bulbs do not dim smoothly and hence, won’t provide variations in the luminosity.

Check: How to Make a Mirror With Light Bulbs

Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lights

LEDs are the most popular light bulbs in modern times.

These bulbs incorporate a semiconductor device and a negatively charged diode to emit bright light and illuminate their surroundings.

I recommend LED lights for your makeup mirror as these are the most energy-efficient bulb available in the market right now.

They not only save energy but also come with a high lifespan so that you don’t have to change the bulbs every now and then and save maintenance costs.

These light bulbs used modern technology, and therefore, there is no UV or heat emission, which has the potential to harm your skin.

And as the LEDs are cool [3], they are safe for the skin and hence, the most suitable for vanity make-up mirrors.

READ MORE: Best Light Temperature for Makeup

2. Find Out if It is Energy Saving

Another most important thing you must find out when buying bulbs for your vanity mirror is whether your favorite bulbs are energy-saving or not.

If the lights are not energy-efficient, then they are a big No, No for your vanity area.

That is because these bulbs not only consume a high amount of energy and increase your electricity bill but also are bad for the environment.

One way to determine if your vanity bulbs are energy-saving or not is by knowing their wattage.

The higher the watt of a bulb, the more energy it consumes, and the lower the wattage, the more energy-saving it is.

Experts suggest looking for LEDs that are not more than 8 watts. This watt range will consume very little energy but will produce luminosity as bright as high wattage bulbs.

3. Remember the Dimming Feature

Even though dimmable lights might seem not necessary for your vanity at first thought, this feature is an important aspect to consider before making your purchase.

Aside from helping you to find out how your makeup will look in different lighting settings, dimmable lights also have some other amazing features. 

To start with, many of the vanity mirror lights come with a high lumen range for extreme brightness. Such brightness might be dazzling to the users’ eyes causing uncomfortableness.

When the bulbs have a dimming feature, you can always increase or decrease the brightness of the light and pick the right luminosity that is soothing to the eyes.

Another advantage of the dimming feature is that it adds to the longevity of the light. When the bulbs are dimmed, they don’t work as hard and hence, don’t run out of life quickly.

4. Consider the Color Temperature of the Lights

The color temperature is a way to describe the color of the light a bulb illuminates. From soft white to cool white, warm yellow, and natural daylight, all these colors are represented by the color temperature of the lights and are measured in degrees of Kelvin (K) on a scale from 1,000 to 10,000.

The color temperature of the lights is also an important factor to consider when buying bulbs for makeup mirror because the greater the number of color temperature of the lights, the more varieties of illumination you will enjoy when viewing your face in the mirror panel.

We would suggest you buy light bulbs that come with preferably more than one temperature level so that you can enjoy different color lights according to your makeup needs and your mood.

5. Check Whether the Bulbs are Flicker-free

How would you feel when you are applying your winged eyeliner and the lights of your vanity mirror start flickering? Well, I know the feeling.

Aside from causing a disturbance in your makeup application, flickering bulbs can also contribute to headaches [2], eye strain, and migraines and cause permanent eye damage.

And that’s why we always suggest picking lights for your vanity mirror that do not flicker.

Flicker-free lights not only assist you to apply makeup flawlessly but are also comfortable for your eyes.

The Must-Have Features- In a Nutshell

Let’s have a quick look at the “must-have” features to refresh our memory.

• Light Type: LED Lights
• Energy-saving: Maximum 8 Watts
• Dimmable: Must
• Color Temperature: Preferably more than 1
• Flicker-free: Must

FAQs

• What size are vanity bulbs?

–  Vanity bulbs come in various sizes. You can measure the size of a vanity bulb by the maximum overall diameter (MOD) of the shell.

• What light bulb do I need for my vanity?

–  It is recommended to choose bulbs that emit light as close to white as possible. The CRI should be high, about 90 to 100. Pick bulbs with soft white range i.e. 2700K – 3000K.

Key Takeaway

It is super important for you to choose just the right bulbs for your vanity mirror because the perfect lighting can completely change the way you look in the mirror.

With the flawless lighting, you can not only enjoy a brighter reflection of yourself but can also see every detail, every imperfection of your face so that it’s easier for you to apply makeup and hide them completely.

The makeup mirror lights that we have listed and talked about above are undoubtedly the bests in the market.

Resources

1. Sustainability and Energy Efficiency | Watts [Internet]. www.watts.com. [cited 2022 Jan 12]. Available from: https://www.watts.com/solutions/solutions-by-need/energy-efficiency

2. Flickering Lights In Vision, Headache And Pain Or Discomfort [Internet]. MedicineNet. [cited 2022 Jan 12]. Available from: https://www.medicinenet.com/flickering_lights_in_vision_headache_and_pain_or_discomfort/multisymptoms.htm

3. Separating Myth From Fact on CFL and LED Light Bulbs: Five Concerns Addressed [Internet]. Environment. 2014 [cited 2022 Jan 12]. Available from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/separating-myth-from-fact-on-cfls-and-leds-five-concerns-addressed

What are your favorite light bulbs for a makeup vanity mirror? Please share below!

Last update on 2022-12-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API