There’s just something about sitting down and applying your makeup that I find so satisfying. I use my desk as my vanity to be able to have all my daily items in one place. I also have little to no space in my bedroom to have a desk and separate makeup area so I’ve had to find storage and tools that don’t overpower my tiny worktop. The brushed nickel finish looks very nice against the frame of my desk and blends well with all of my makeup. I was fortunate enough to test out simplehuman’s Sensor Mirror and it kicks my cheap Ulta mirrors ass! It’s an 8″ magnified vanity mirror with LED lighting. They offer a smaller version which has a 5″ mirror or an 8″ wall mount (links below). I opted for the basic mirror just to be able to have a better view of my makeup application. The mirror has an automatic sensor that lights up as your face approaches so you never have to touch a button and shuts off once your presence isn’t detected in front of it. It also has a sturdy, nonslip base, and the mirror can be pulled up to adjust the height, as well as tilted fully back.

Other benefits of the mirror include: 
– The tru-lux light system provides 600 lux and a color rendering index (CRI) of 90—more than twice as bright as the next best and more similar to natural sunlight.
– The mirror features high-performance LEDs that are rated to perform like new after 40,000 hours—that’s an hour a day, every day, for more than 100 years so you never have to change a bulb.
– The light recharges using a standard USB port or wall outlet. (One charge lasts up to five weeks.) No alkaline batteries are required.
– There are no cords to clutter up your countertop and the mirror is easy to use anywhere.

Specs: 5.7”W x 4.5”D x 11.7”H, 1.2 lbs

There are pros and cons to everything but I do feel that the mirror is well designed. The light can be a little bothersome if you move away from it but it literally takes seconds for the light come back on. I love that its cord free so I can move it anywhere I’d like in the house. The power button is located on the bottom of the base which is brilliantly placed so it doesn’t take away from the sleek design. The mirror is able to tell you when its low or fully charged by the indicator ring light at the base, it will glow green or red which is pretty self explanatory. It comes with cleaning cloth that is small enough to be kept nearby for quick wipe downs.

As for the makeup application experience, it’s really something else! I can see every single thing on my face which isn’t a good thing all the time (there was hair in places I never noticed I had) but great for tweezing, eye makeup application, winged-liner,  etc. The light is so natural and illuminating, you don’t have to worry about it altering the appearance of pigmentation on the face (what you see is what you get). It’s a bit harder to see if you’ve applied blush/contour properly and I agree with Sabrina, you need to be able to step back to make sure things like that are evenly blended.

So is it worth the hefty tag price? In my opinion yes, I think it’s an investment type of item. It has a limited 5 year warranty which most mirrors don’t offer and I think it’s very well structured. If you are someone who invests in high-end foundations or brushes you can easily save up to purchase something that will help apply your makeup more efficiently. This mirror is also sold at Sephora and Bed Bath & Beyond so you can wait for F&F or use the BBB 20% coupon to save you a couple of bucks. I know $200 might not be reasonable for a lot of people but you wouldn’t have to worry about purchasing another mirror for a very long time. My friend and I played with it over the weekend and she couldn’t believe how clear everything looked.

You can watch it in action to get a better feel on how it works if you’re debating wether or not to take the plunge. Simplehuman are known for their amazing sleek products and are the best of the best. I’m very happy with the experience the sensor mirror has provided me and it has now become crucial that it’s charged at all times, I won’t look back.

*PR Samples