Simplehuman’s Lighted Travel Makeup Mirror Review
Picture this: It’s 7:15 a.m., and you just woke up from the world’s worst sleep wedged in the middle seat of a red-eye flight. It wasn’t comfortable, and it certainly wasn’t glamorous. Tossing and turning would be an understatement. You can physically feel the bags under your eyes, and you don’t even want to think about what kind of tangled nest has grown in your hair.
Every overnight traveler has been there, and each one of us knows just how crucial a mirror can be in a moment like this. That’s why we’re deeming the simplehuman Sensor Mirror Compact (nordstrom.com, $100) the best lighted travel makeup mirror out there.
It’s everything a travel mirror should be: durable, versatile, compact, and rechargeable (gone are the days you need to buy batteries for anything you travel with). Toss it in your trusty travel backpack, and the included sleeve will prevent any unwanted cracks. But if you want extra protection to ensure it won’t break, simplehuman also offers a chic zippered carrying case (nordstrom.com, $20), which fits the mirror like a glove and comes in five different colors.
After years of traveling with cheap, small, and unmagnified mirrors, I finally invested in simplehuman’s compact makeup mirror — and I’m so glad I did, because it really is genius. Apart from its stylish case, what I love most about this travel mirror is the sensor function. When you hold the mirror to your face (or simply take it out of the case), it immediately turns on. If it’s too bright for you after that long red-eye flight, you can adjust the brightness by toggling the top button through three different light settings. The mirror’s special “tru-lux” lighting system mimics natural sunlight, allowing you to see the true colors on your face (so you’ll never have to worry about uneven foundation lines again). And with 3X magnification, you’ll be able to cover those unwanted undereye bags in no time before your adventure begins.
But those aren’t even all of my favorite features. If you know the struggle of trying to apply mascara while gripping a handheld mirror without dropping it, you’ll love that this one includes a small fold-out ring handle on the back, which can also double as a stand. And if you forget to bring the included USB charger on your trip, don’t stress — the charge typically lasts up to one week, even if you use it daily.
The simplehuman Sensor Mirror Compact is like your go-to lip balm when you’re boarding a plane, bus, or train for your next bucket list adventure. At first, it doesn’t appear to be an essential — you may even consider leaving it at home. But when you need it, you really need it. At 4.1” x 4.1” x 0.4”, this mirror is super slim and will easily slip right into your favorite cross-body bag, taking up even less space than your e-reader does. And just like a good lip balm, it’ll help you fix any unfortunate beauty mishap in just a couple seconds.
simplehuman 4-Inch Sensor Mirror compact
To buy: nordstrom.com, $100
