One of these lights your face. The other lights the wall.
Illuminated mirrors are sold almost entirely on how they photograph, and the photographs are taken in the dark, where a backlit mirror looks spectacular. Then it arrives, and you discover you still can't see to shave.
Here is the distinction the category blurs.
Backlit
LEDs sit behind the mirror and throw light onto the wall around it. The mirror appears to float in a halo. Almost none of that light reaches your face — it is travelling away from you.
- Typical light at the face: 30–80 lux. That's roughly a corridor at night.
- Beautiful as mood and orientation lighting, and lovely at 3am.
- Not a task light. If it's your only mirror light, you will be disappointed.
Front lit
LEDs sit within the mirror face, usually as a frosted band or perimeter, aimed at you.
- Typical light at the face: 300–600 lux. Enough to shave, apply make-up, take out a contact lens or look at a mole properly.
- A vertical band each side is better than a single band across the top, because side lighting fills shadow rather than casting it downward.
- This is the one to buy if you are only buying one.
Both
Front lighting for the task, backlighting for the atmosphere, usually on separate touch controls so you can have either or both. It costs more and it is the right answer for a main bathroom.
Side by side
| Backlit | Front lit | Both | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light at the face | 30–80 lux | 300–600 lux | 300–600 lux, dimmable to 30 |
| Shaving and make-up | No | Yes | Yes |
| Night orientation | Excellent | Too bright unless dimmable | Excellent |
| Needs a separate task light | Yes | No | No |
Three other things worth deciding before you buy
- CRI. A mirror light at CRI 80 makes skin look grey and make-up look wrong in daylight. Insist on CRI 95 or above for anything lighting a face.
- Demister. A heated pad behind the glass keeps a patch clear after a shower. It is the single most appreciated feature on any mirror we sell, and it costs very little. Mirrors with a demister.
- Colour temperature. 3000K is the safe choice for a mirror. Tunable is better if the room is used for both getting ready in the morning and winding down at night.
Mirrors that light your face · Mirrors that light the wall · Illuminated mirror cabinets