How to Choose the Best Portable Mirrors for Your Needs
Mirrors are one of the things that we use daily yet don’t pay much attention to. They are just there and as far as we are concerned, they have always been there and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
It's only when we are out of our house/apartment and need a mirror that we realize how much we take them for granted. Thankfully, portable mirrors have largely solved that problem. However, just like with anything else, a new solution also brings its own set of challenges.
For portable mirrors that can relate to the degree of portability, lack of features, and even ease of use. Today, we are going to help you solve these problems by helping you choose the best portable mirror that suits your requirements.
Things to look out for When Selecting a Portable Mirror
There are various types of portable mirrors. However, not all of them have the same degree of portability or all the features you would expect from a good mirror. That’s why you need to research the best use case for each mirror and how well it suits your own situation.
To aid you in that endeavor, we have compiled and listed a few points to help you arrive at a good conclusion.
Size and Form Factor
The most important characteristic of a portable mirror is its form factor and size. Typically, a portable mirror is small in size and has some kind of gimmick to make it even smaller when not in use.
However, if you take a look at notable mirror brands like Lumina Pro, you will see that some mirrors don’t have the gimmick. Some of them even have stands to set up on a table.
This clearly means that not all portable mirrors are suitable for carrying around in your pocket or purse. Smaller mirrors that can fit in a travel bag are also classified as portable.
This brings us to our use case. Here’s what each type of mirror is suitable for.
Foldable mirrors are great for light makeup and touching up your face and hair when you are outside your house but expect to return soon. So, a foldable mirror is the most suitable option for office goers and errand runners who will likely commute on a bus, train, or car.
Small mirrors with stands are suitable for when you are going on a holiday or vacation. You can’t be sure that a vacation house or camp will have suitable mirrors, so these smaller yet feature-rich mirrors are great to take with you.
Now, let’s talk about other characteristics of portable mirrors.
Magnification Level
In a normal full-size mirror, magnification is not an issue. Because the mirror is so large, you can move as close or as far as you like. This allows you to look as closely at any part of your face or body without much trouble.
This is not the case with portable mirrors. Since they are so small, you can only see so much of your body and face. The solution is to use special types of mirrors that are either convex or concave.
Concave mirrors magnify your reflection. So, you can see “closer” but you can also only see a smaller part of your face. Conversely, convex mirrors make the reflection appear smaller or “farther”, so you can see more of yourself, but less closely.
Portable mirrors have different magnification levels. However, their magnification levels are limited depending on their size and form. For example, if you check the Lumina Pro portable mirrors, you will find that the smaller, foldable mirrors have 3X magnification, while the large ones can go up to 10X magnification.
Higher magnification is necessary for doing intricate makeup tasks like applying eyeliner. So, if you are going to be doing a lot of makeup, a higher magnification option would be suitable. If you just need to apply some lipstick or fix your hair, a lower magnification will be fine.
Lighting Options
Due to advances in LED technology, it is now possible to add high-power lighting to portable mirrors. If you haven’t already checked Lumina Pro portable mirrors, then you would know that almost all of their mirrors have LED-lit perimeters.
LED portable mirrors are useful for applying makeup because they can provide the right lighting with ease. They are quite common nowadays and available for cheap as well.
The only thing you need to consider when buying an LED portable mirror is its power source. Is it rechargeable? Or do you need to put in separate batteries?
If you use a small mirror routinely, then a chargeable one is better. You don’t need to worry about changing its batteries and you can charge it at night.
If you are going on a trip, then battery-powered LED mirrors are better because you don’t have to worry about finding a charging port. That’s about it for LED portable mirrors.
Build and Durability
One of the things you need to consider when buying a portable mirror is how sturdy it is. Since it is portable, it is going to be lugged around a lot in a pocket or a purse.
It stands to reason that a mirror would be prone to getting bumped and scratched by other things stored with it. This is where durability comes in. Sturdy mirrors can withstand a lot more brusque treatment, while a flimsy one may break inside your pockets without you even knowing.
All we can really say here is to invest in a good mirror and test it for yourself before committing to a purchase.
Price
Finally, the last thing to consider when buying a portable mirror is to check its price. No matter what, a portable mirror should not be an expensive purchase. You can expect to go through multiple mirrors over a year, so they need to be somewhat cheap.
Some affordable brands that you can try out are Lumina Pro, IKEA, Marks & Spencer. These brands provide quality mirrors at an affordable and reasonable price. They also have a large selection, so you can find the perfect mirror for yourself.
Conclusion
Portable mirrors are incredibly useful for every day tasks. That’s why it is important to be careful when trying to buy one. If you follow this guide on how to select the most suitable portable mirror, you won’t go wrong.
Just keep in mind two things: what you are going to use the mirror for and how heavy is your usage. This will help you decide on the best mirror automatically.
Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about interiors. She launched award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014 and the luxury interior design blog All The Pretty Homes in 2024.
When she is not chasing criminals out of the financial system (her day job), she gets creative by redecorating her own home.
