Most people think they can easily achieve perfectly finished make-up just like a Hollywood celebrity with the perfect foundation and a variety of brushes. If you are also one of them, it’s time to face the reality because they contribute only a small percentage to the end result you get. Daylight is the best condition for applying makeup, but it doesn’t imply when you have to get ready for an evening occasion. This is where vanity lights come in handy. They are designed to easily mimic daylight and offer the best lighting conditions to your room with one flick. These lights are also the perfect room decor because they can transform any ordinary room into an expensive glam room. However, purchasing the best mirror lights is not as easy as you might have presumed. That’s why we have crafted this buying guide to help you to purchase a suitable product.
Why Are LED Vanity Lights Better Than Regular Bulbs?
There are a number of reasons that LED vanity lights are considered better than regular incandescent lamps or CFL bulbs. Some of them are:
- LED vanity lights tend to have better luminous intensity and brightness than regular bulbs.
- The light emitted from LEDs won’t cause any harm to your eyes due to the absence of glares, reflections, and more.
- However, it’s not the same with regular bulbs.
If you choose LED vanity strip lights, you will have the flexibility to install them on a mirror with unique edges. - This won’t be possible with the bulbs.
How Can You Choose the Perfect Lights for Your Vanity?
Type
There are two types of vanity mirror lights you can find in the market— bulbs and strips. If you have a large mirror or spacious vanity room, you need more illumination. Therefore, go for the bulbs as their light viewing angle is more than 90 degrees. On the contrary, strip lights are ideal for a slender and sleek mirror or a small vanity room.
Length
As the vanity lights are designed to illuminate the mirror and help you easily get ready, you must ensure that the product you choose is long enough to cover the entire perimeter of the mirror. These lights usually have a length varying between 11.5 feet to 17 feet. So, make sure to measure the dimensions of your vanity mirror and calculate its perimeter to determine the length of the vanity light you need.
Number of bulbs/lamp beads
Different vanity lights have different numbers of bulbs or lamp beads. For example, in a bulb-type vanity light, you can have ten to twelve units that will be enough for illuminating the entire vanity. However, the number of lamp beads on LED strips can vary between 60 and 240. A strip with around 60 lights is ideal for small mirrors, while one having more than 200 lamp beads is perfect for providing full coverage to a large vanity.
Adhesive strength
Vanity lights have adhesives on their back. Usually, they are double-sided so that the illuminating units won’t come off the mirror’s surface. While choosing a product, make sure that the bulbs or LED bead strips have a strong and thick adhesive that allows the entire arrangement to stay in place. In some packs, you can even find additional or spare adhesive tapes so that you can change the placement of the lights conveniently.
Dimming modes
If you want to have the ultimate experience of a glam vanity, go for lights that come with different dimming modes. Usually, these products have three adjustable brightness levels— 30% brightness for low-light ambiance, 50% brightness for standard illumination with no glare, and 100% brightness to offer you an excellent illumination. You can adjust these modes by using the dimming switch, which usually comes separately, and you have to attach it to the main wire.
Light intensity
Light intensity is defined by the amount of light produced by the vanity lights. If you want a subtle glow around the mirror, go for a product having lesser light intensity. On the contrary, if you want more coverage in terms of illumination, the product should have a higher luminous flux density.
Brightness
The brightness of bulbs or LED lamp beads is measured in lumens. The higher the lumen's magnitude, the brighter the vanity light. For example, if you choose a LED strip with a 1200 lumens rating, its brightness will be less, and you might have to add another light source if the room is huge. Similarly, for brighter illumination, go for a product having a lumen rating of 4000K to 6000K.
Safety
No matter what kind of vanity light you choose, make sure it is safer to use. ETL-certified products are best suited because they are electrically safe, have proper insulation, and the wires used to meet the industry safety standards. Also, if you have a dimmer switch integrated within the wire, ensure that it is adequately insulated and doesn’t make any sparking sound when switched on.
What Is the Average Cost of Vanity Lights Available in the Market?
The cost of the vanity lights varies between $18 and $23 based on multiple factors like:
- Bulb lights are usually costlier than strips having LED lamp beads.
- Mirror lights having dimming modes are relatively costlier.
- The product's price may increase due to longer wire lengths or flexible strip structures.
- The luminous intensity and brightness of the vanity lights also contribute to their price significantly.
How to Install Vanity Lights on a Mirror?
One of the best things about the vanity lights is that installing them is not rocket science. You don’t need any professional’s help to attach them to the mirror. Simply clean the mirror’s surface properly and leave it for some time so that the surface can dry up.
Once done, you need to remove the adhesive from the first bulb/strip and attach it to the mirror along its edge. After that, move along its perimeter and continue to install the lights one at a time. Make sure not to stretch the wires too much as that can damage the product.
