The Makeup Mirror App for Touch-Ups Anywhere

What makes a mirror good for makeup

• Front light, not overhead light. Overhead bulbs throw shadows under the eyes and nose, which is why bathroom makeup looks different outside. A light that surrounds the camera lights your face evenly.
• Adjustable colour. Warm bulbs make foundation look a shade too yellow. A ring light you can shift between warm and neutral lets you check both.
• Magnification for liner, lashes and brows — 1.5–2× is the sweet spot.
• Hands-free — you need both hands. Prop the phone against a bag, a monitor or a cup, and make sure the screen doesn't go to sleep on you.

Where it actually matters

The office bathroom with one fluorescent tube. The car before dinner. A plane. A festival tent. A hotel room where the only mirror is above a desk lamp. Anywhere you'd normally squint at a compact, a phone with a ring light does a better job.

Tips

• Hold the phone at eye level, not below — up-lighting exaggerates everything.
• Do liner and lashes at 2×, then drop back to 1× to judge the whole face.
• If you're going outdoors, check once more in daylight — no screen matches the sun.

How to do it in Mirrorly

Here's a touch-up in Mirrorly:

1. Open Mirrorly and prop the phone up at eye level. Turn on Keep screen awake in settings so it stays on while your hands are busy.
2. Tap the light-bulb. The screen edges become a soft ring light around the camera; adjust the warmth in settings.
3. Pinch or slide to zoom in for liner, lashes and brows; zoom back out to check balance.
4. Close the app. Nothing is photographed — it's a mirror, not a selfie.