You may consider the installation of a mirror with lights in your bathroom for a lot of different reasons. These might include the energy-efficient LED lighting that such mirrors incorporate, and the usefulness of illumination for grooming, shaving, and other everyday tasks.

However, there is at least one more reason why people often think of having a lighted mirror fitted in their bathroom: because they want to be sure the image looking back at them is always a true and accurate reflection.

Yes, Your Current Bathroom Mirror May Be ‘Economical with The Truth’!

This might seem an odd claim to make. Surely, when you have any mirror in front of you, the reflection you see shows what you actually look like?

Well, no, that might not automatically be the case. A bathroom mirror – with light, or without light – doesn’t have opinions. However, the familiar face you see staring back each morning or evening may not be telling the whole truth, either.

Here are a few examples of what we mean.

  • Lighting Can Make an Even Bigger Difference Than You Think

You might expect a company that is trying to sell you a mirror with lights in your bathroom, to say the manner of your mirror’s illumination can have a big impact on your reflection. But bear with us here, because it’s true!

A major downside of not having a bathroom mirror with light bulbs incorporated into the unit itself, is that you may be at the mercy of a harsh, single ceiling light for illumination.

If that’s the case with your bathroom, head there now, and flick the light on. The chances are that it will be casting shadows under your eyes, nose, or chin. This could be exaggerating those wrinkles or scars you’re insecure about, or it could be simply making you look tired, compared to how you look when people walk past you in the street.

  • But Other Factors Can Alter How You Look, Too

There are several other things that can result in a deceptive reflection.

One of those is the quality of the actual mirror. Some especially cheap bathroom mirrors may have imperfections in the glass or uneven silvering (the reflective backing). This can lead to slight warping and colour shifts in the reflected image.

The mirror’s size may also play tricks. A particularly small mirror, for example, forces the user to stand closer. As a result, certain facial features can look exaggerated due to perspective distortion (think the “selfie camera” effect).

A tilted or improperly hung mirror can be problematic, too. If your mirror isn’t perfectly flat against the wall, a “funhouse” effect can occur, subtly stretching or compressing your reflection. 

Invest In a Mirror with Lights in Your Bathroom – And Get the Truth!

A big step you can take to ensure your bathroom mirror doesn’t lie to you, is making sure your face is evenly illuminated when you look at it.

One way to achieve this is by purchasing a lighted mirror for your bathroom that has its LED bulbs placed at either side of the mirror, ideally at eye level. This will help minimise the potential for any distorting shadows across your face.

Consider, too, the effects of light temperature. Warmer-toned lighting (around 2700K to 3000K) lends itself to flattering selfies, while colder light (approximately 4000K to 5000K) is brighter and more akin to daylight.

Cooler illumination gives more accurate colour in the reflection, which helps with makeup application. However, light that is particularly cold can make the face look paler and more “washed out” than the typical person sees when they look at you from across the street in daylight.

Does Either Warm or Cool Light Tell the Entire ‘Truth’ About Your Face?

The answer is: probably not, given that in any case, you will move through different lighting conditions over the course of your average day. So, your appearance will inevitably vary as you head into and out of various indoor and outdoor spaces.

Still, it is useful to know these distinctions, so that you understand there is not only one “true” you when you look back at your reflection on the morning or evening.

Purchase The Most ‘Truthful’ Mirror with Lights for Your Bathroom

All in all, while your bathroom mirror may be a regular companion of yours, you can’t always depend on it being an honest friend.

Invest in the right lighted mirror for your bathroom, though, and you can go a long way to ensuring your reflection tells the truth much more often than it lies. That, in turn, can provide a big boost to your self-confidence and lifestyle.