Best lighting for makeup application in your bedroom

Coco Chanel said, "If you're feeling sad, add more lipstick and attack". For those of us who love wearing makeup, the process of getting ready in the morning can be a form of self-care. But who hasn't experienced catching sight of your makeup after you've left the house and having a shock? It didn't look like that in your makeup mirror at home! The reason for this is lighting. Getting the lighting wrong can mean that your makeup will look completely different once you are out and about in natural light. So let's take a look at the best makeup lighting solutions to help you showcase your looks at their very finest.

Lighting color

You might never have thought about the color of the light you see around you but it can vary by quite a lot. Of course, deliberately colored lighting makes this obvious. But even natural-looking artificial lighting can be completely different depending on the warmth.

Lighting warmth is measured using the Kelvin Scale (K). The higher the value, the colder the color temperature. Candlelight, one of the warmest types of light, sits at 2,000K and bright daylight is 5,500 - 6,000K. Most artificial lighting will lie somewhere between these two extremes.

Natural light

Natural daylight is widely accepted to be the best lighting for makeup application. This is because it provides clear, cold yet soft lighting that is evenly diffused. The way your makeup looks in natural lighting is its most accurate reflection. Because of this, applying makeup in natural lighting makes it easy to spot flaws and allows you to choose the correct amount of makeup to apply.

White light - 3,100 - 4,500K

If you aren't able to set up your decorative makeup table in front of a window to make the most of the natural light, your next best bet is white light. This is the closest artificial light to the sun and will provide an accurate representation of your makeup.

One benefit of white artificial light over natural light is that it allows you to customize the warmness exactly and to place the lighting exactly where you need it to ensure that the light evenly diffuses.

LED lights and LED striplights are usually your best bet for an artificial light source. They are energy efficient and don't heat up. For the perfect white light for your makeup routine, you should aim for LED light bulbs that are at least 3,1,00 and 4,500K, although it is possible to find daylight bulbs that take the whiteness up to 4,800 - 6,000K.

Lighting to avoid

Natural light and artificial options that mimic natural light (e.g. white light) are the best for makeup application. Now let's take a look at lighting that you should avoid. These can cause you to make errors with your makeup that will become obvious once you leave the house.

Yellow light (2,000 - 3,000K) - leads to over-application of concealer and foundation

Yellow light is too warm. Because of this, it can make your skin tone look sallow and wan. This can mean that you overuse concealer in an attempt to make your skin look healthier.

Fluorescent lighting (4,500 - 6,000K) - leads to over-application of foundation, blush, and bronzer

Fluorescent lighting is probably the most unflattering light around. No one looks good in fluorescent lighting. It is overly bright and overly light and it will make you look far paler and washed out than you truly are. This can lead you to over apply colors to your face, such as foundation, blush, and bronzer.

Even though fluorescent lights hit the same point on the Kelvin Scale as daylight bulbs, they aren't the same. This is because daylight includes all of the colors of the rainbow whereas fluorescent lights only include a small number of colors.

Red/rose/mood lighting (2,000 - 2,500K) - leads to under-application of makeup

This type of lighting is the most flattering by far, so definitely the best to take a photo or give yourself a confidence boost. Unfortunately, because it minimizes flaws and blemishes, it can lead you to underapply makeup where it is actually needed.

Light positioning

Creating the proper lighting for your makeup application isn't just about getting the color temperature right. Positioning can make a huge difference as well.

Best lighting position for applying makeup

The best lighting position for makeup application will always be a light source that is directly in front of you. Ideally, you would be able to position your dressing table in front of a window so that you can take advantage of the natural light streaming in.

A very popular artificial lighting option is to use integrated mirror lighting or a ring light. Both of these allow you to position your light source directly in front of you. Ring lights are the lighting solution of choice for many makeup artists for this reason. They are portable and perfect for applying makeup and for showcasing it perfectly.

It can also be a good idea to create cross-illumination by having lighting that comes in from both sides as well as from in front. Together, these multiple light sources will eliminate any shadows, allowing you to see every inch of your face evenly. A wall sconce or wall lights work well for this. Or you could even use carefully positioned antique table lamps.

Avoid overhead lighting/lighting coming from one direction

It is never a good idea to use bathroom lighting to do your makeup. Overhead lighting creates shadows on your face that can distort your features and lead you to apply makeup unevenly. The same is true if you have a single light source coming in from the side. For example, if you have your dressing table at a right angle to your window.

Makeup lights are a vital tool in any makeup artist's toolbox. And they should also be for anyone who does their makeup at home. Getting the best lighting for makeup application means that your makeup will look great in your vanity mirror and will look just as good once you leave the house. Natural daylight is the best lighting overall, but white light that comes from directly in front of you (e.g. a ring light) can be just as good. You can truly do your makeup skills justice when you choose the perfect makeup lighting.

Here are some other articles related to your search:

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• How to Have a Better Bathroom Experience