More Than You Want To Know : The Truth About Magnifying Mirrors

A dear friend of mine in her late thirties was given a deluxe illuminating magnifying mirror as a gift. She immediately turned to me and asked me if I wanted it. I was never one to turn down a gift. Nonetheless, I wondered why she wouldn’t want such a nice gift. She explained that she didn’t need to see everything that was wrong with her face.

I thought about her reasoning, and it began to make sense. These mirrors are designed to amplify every pore, wrinkle, and stray hair, which can make applying makeup or plucking eyebrows more precise. However, In a society that emphasizes flawless beauty, some women find magnifying mirrors too harsh, preferring the gentle distance of a regular mirror.

Magnifying mirrors have a fascinating history. The earliest versions date back to ancient times when polished bronze or silver served as reflective surfaces. These rudimentary mirrors, while far from today’s high-tech models, were prized possessions and used by both men and women not only to enhance their appearance but also for scientific observation, military, religious, and mystical practices, art and craftsmanship, and surgical and medical use.

In the Renaissance era, scientists like Galileo used mirrors in their studies of optics and light reflection, which laid the groundwork for telescopes and magnifying lenses. In ancient Greece, the brilliant mathematician and astrologist Archimedes used mirrors to concentrate sunlight and set enemy ships on fire. During medieval and Renaissance times, magnifying mirrors were used in scrying (divination) to see visions into the future. Artists used magnifying mirrors during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries to create detailed miniature portraits and intricate designs. Jewelers used magnifying mirrors for detailed engraving and to set tiny stones as a tool that is still appreciated today. In the 19th century, surgeons discovered the usefulness of magnifying mirrors to perform delicate operations, particularly in ophthalmology and dentistry.

Despite their proven utility, some women find that these mirrors feed into their insecurities by providing hyper-detailed reflections of minor imperfections. Ultimately, whether to use a magnifying mirror is a personal choice. Some women embrace them as effective tools for self-care, while others steer clear to preserve their confidence and focus on their natural beauty. I’ll leave it up to each of you to decide whether beauty is not just about how we look but how we choose to see ourselves.