The Best Light for Reels: 7 Top Selfie Ring Light for Instagram and TikTok 2023

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Want to look your best and take your Instagram Reels or in TikTok videos to the next level? Then you need a ring light.

Whether you are a casual content creator or a wannabe pro, a ring selfie light is essential to give your videos a professional look.

The halo shape of a ring light spreads the light over a wide area to reduce shadows and harsh lines, and makes for a more flattering image.

Whether you want to film vlogs, make-up tutorials or selfie videos, a ring light is a must-have accessory for Reels, TikTok videos and YouTube Shorts.

Here are my 7 recommendations for the best lights for Instagram Reels and TikTok videos.

I chose these based on reliability, maximum brightness, features like dimming and color control, price, and customer recommendations.

Short on time? Overview and my top pick Reels light

Keep reading for a full breakdown of the best lights for Reels, or check out the table below for a brief overview - click the names for more info and to buy on Amazon.

Name and Size Top Feature Worst Feature Best For Price
Ubeesize 12" Ring Light
(TOP PICK - Best for Most People)
 Amazing Value, thousands of
5* Amazon Reviews		 No remote shutter All videos
 $20
Sensyne 10" Ring Light Remote Shutter No portable charging All video $40
Aureday 12" Ring Light Touch pad controls No portable charging All video $35
Switti 18" Ring Light Holds 2 portable batteries No instructions included All video $110
Herrflik 18" Ring Light Color changes in time to music Tripod could be sturdier Music videos $50
Inkeltech 21" Ring Light Huge ring and 400+ LEDs Not the cheapest All video $110
IVISII 19" Ring Light LCD screen controls Pricey All video $110

Best Cheap Ring Light for Reels: Ubeesize 12” Ring Light With Tripod

The Ubeesize 12” ring light with tripod is arguably the most popular ring light out there - and for good reason. It’s my top pick!

This budget ring light (under $20 at the time of writing) punches above its weight for the price: a beefy 12-inch ring light with 240 LEDs.

Its bright enough to work as a key light for portrait shots in Reels and on TikTok, and is also ideal for video calls on Zoom.

The Ubeesize 12” ring light’s 5 color temperatures and 10 level brightness easily softens shadows and evens out light, making it perfect for beauty and make-up tutorials as well.

Its versatile too, with a tripod that doubles up as a selfie stick - whether you’re shooting alone or vlogging in a group.

The tripod works in portrait and landscape mode and is compatible with all cell phones (iPhone, Android), as well as iPads, webcams and GoPros.

Reasons to Buy

  • Portable size

  • Amazing value

  • Plenty of brightness settings

  • USB powered

Reasons to Avoid

  • Phone clip can be a bit tight.

What Customers Say

“This light will light up the most darkest room ! Great light at all levels . You can set it in sunset mode almost to where it’s on but you can’t tell or you can set it to the brightest setting and when you take a picture it seems like it’s a professional $300 light being used. 10 outta 10!”

Best Ring Light for YouTube: Sensyne 10” Ring Light

The Senyne 10” ring light is a super popular lower-end option for content creators on Instagram Reels and TikTok, thanks in part to its 3 color lighting modes (warm light, daylight, and cool white).

Each mode offers 10 brightness levels and is adjustable from 0% to 100%, making it perfect for video recording, live streams, and online conference calls. A smart little touch panel is used to switch between modes.

But it’s the remote shutter that helps this budget ring light stand out - allowing you to shoot video or take photos from up to 30 feet away. No app is required and it’s compatible with iOS and Android.

The lightweight tripod has a maximum height of 51 inches, and its phone holder of the Sensyne ring light is compatible with any cell phone.

Reasons to Buy

  • Remote shutter

  • Touch controls

  • 3 color modes

  • 10 brightness levels

Reasons to Avoid

  • Not chargeable, needs a power outlet

What Customers Say

“This light ring kit is amazing. Holds my iPhone 11 with a super thick Otterbox defender, no problem. Different color/ brightness settings, tripod height is great too.”

Best Ring Light for Streaming: Aureday 12 inch LED ring light

Aureday’s 12-inch ring light comes in at a budget price, but has everything you need to shoot great Reels and TikTok videos.

It offers 240 LEDs, 5 color temperatures and 10 levels of brightness. It is compatible with all smartphones and lightweight DSLR cameras.

Its 62-inch extendable tripod is made of sturdy aluminum alloy, and can be folded up easily for hassle-free use whether indoors or out on the go.

The Aureday ring light comes with a pocket-size remote control that works from up to 33ft away.

Reasons to Buy

  • Great ring light for a budget price

  • Remote control to start and stop video

  • Touch pad controls

  • Easy to adjust

Reasons to Avoid

  • Not bright enough for some customers’ tastes.

What Customers Say

“I was looking for a ring light and came across this one being highly recommended. Shipping was super fast. The light is great, it's exactly what I was looking for. I love that it has multiple settings and that it can be used on a table top or set on the floor and extended much taller. The remote it great too!”

Best Ring Light for makeup: Switti 18” Ring Light With Stand

This Switti ring light is a step up in quality from the budget options above - offering a bigger 18” ring made up of 288 LEDs - it’s big enough to hold an iPad.

It can run from mains power, but is also compatible with Sony NP-F series rechargable batteries. Two of them (sold separately) can attach to the tripod for hours of portable use.

Two color modes and high color rendering make the Switti ring light ideal for any Reels or TikTok videos, especially make-up tutorials and video chatting.

The tripod can reach up to 74 inches (188cm tall) and is simple to fold away into the carry case, which is included.

Reasons to Buy

  • Holds two batteries for ultimate portability

  • Not complicated to use

  • Sturdy enough to hold an iPad

  • Bigger than budget ring lights

Reasons to Avoid

  • No instructions included (available online).

What Customers Say

“This is a great light to purchase if you need some sort of soft lighting for your studio, stream, or just makeup. It creates a wonderful warm tone on your face and has an adjustable wheel that lets you decide how bright the light you want it to be”

Best Ring Light for Musicians: Herrflik 13” Selfie Ring Light

The Herrflik 13” selfie ring light is a color changing ring light that holds up to three phones or tablets - perfect if you want to record Instagram Reels and TikTok videos at a time.

The color changing mode is what really helps it stand out against others in the same price bracket. In the Music Follow mode, the ring lights will flash, fade and breathe in time to the music - great for singing and family parties.

The Herrflik ring light has two options for controlling its light settings - either buttons on the power cord, or with its separate Bluetooth remote control.

With a maximum height of 63 inches, the tripod isn’t the tallest around, but should be more than adequate for most uses.

Reasons to Buy

  • Color changing ring light in time to music

  • Holds multiple phones at once

  • Bluetooth remote control

  • Competitively priced

Reasons to Avoid

  • Tripod not as sturdy as some competitors.

What Customers Say

“So I just want to say the light is amazing! It’s very tall very sturdy yet lightweight the color options are amazing it’s super bright! The music setting that controls the light is perfection!”

Best Ring Light for Photographers: Inkeltech 21-inch Ring Light

The Inkeltech ring light is a huge 21 inches, the biggest on this list. That means more room for LEDs, and you get a whopping 416 in total.

Ever run out of phone battery on an outside shoot? No worries, you can charge your phone through the USB port on the back of the ring while you are taking videos.

Each Inkeltech Ring Light has a 360 degree phone holder and a retractable tripod that ranges in length from 20 inches to 75 inches.

Reasons to Buy

  • Super lightweight at just 1.3lbs

  • Huge 21 inch ring light

  • Bluetooth remote control

  • Easy and quick assembly

Reasons to Avoid

  • Pricier than other options.

What Customers Say

“Seen this ring light at my friends and instantly came to purchase. By far one of my best investments 💕 great for anyone who needs high quality lighting for their videos or pictures!”

Best Ring Light for Strreaming IVISII 19-inch Ring Light

The IVISII 19-inch ring light’s LCD display is what makes it stand out from its competitors.

Positioned on the back of the ring light, it shows battery life, brightness level, and gives access to everything you need to optimize the 240 LCDs included.

The IVISII ring light features 10 levels or brightness and a convex lens design that helps to ensure optimum light distribution (and also helps to protect your eyes).

The ring light is adjustable by 180 degrees and includes a heat dissipation system so that it won’t overheat - letting you film for as long as you need!

This ring light also comes with a light filter and a white softening filter, which snaps snuggly around the ring light when required.

Reasons to Buy

  • LCD screen for easy customization

  • Strong and sturdy tripod

  • 180 degrees of adjustment

  • Heat dissapation

Reasons to Avoid

  • Not the cheapest.

What Customers Say

“While many times the only option is to purchase high quality items a la cart or buy a lesser quality as a set I was so pleased with this set. Every piece in this set is constructed from high quality components and performs beautifully.”

Selfie Ring Lights: Frequently Asked Questions

Why use a ring light for Reels and TikTok videos?

Ring lights help to improve your appearance by reducing shadows and providing a more uniform glow.

Ring lights are also brilliant Zoom calls and remote conferences, giving a much brighter and more professional look than room lights and natural window light.

The secret to a good ring light is its size and shape. The best ring lights produce a consistent, wide, circular glow that illuminates your face from all directions at once – and the bigger the ring, the softer the lighting.

The best ring lights for Reels and TikTok :

  • Are the right size for illuminating your face

  • Come with multiple color temperature options

  • Have adjustable brightness settings

What should I look for in a good ring selfie light?

Before you rush into buying a ring light for Instagram or TikTok on the way to becoming the next big social media star, here are some of the most important things to think about.

Check the ring light’s brightness settings:

Most ring lights offer different lighting settings, which means you easily adjust how bright or dim you’d like the light to be.

Choose a ring light that’s compatible with your phone or camera:

If your ring light comes with a stand, make sure it can take the weight and size of your particular camera, otherwise you’ll need to buy a separate tripod or mount.

Think about where you’ll be using light for your Reels most:

If you're outside, you'll want a ring light that is easy to carry around, set up, and can be powered by batteries.

If you’re shooting by yourself or filming at a distance, a remote control will save time and energy.

Are ring selfie lights bad for your eyes?

There is no research to show that the top brightness setting of ring lights is unsafe for ordinary use, but LED lights have been known to cause eye strain and headaches after prolonged use.

If you have light sensitivity, you are best to experiment with which ring light setting works best for you - soft and warm, for example;.

How to use a ring selfie light

Setting up a ring selfie light is super easy. Clip your phone (either in portrait or landscape mode) to the center of the ring light stand or tripod so that it's entirely encircled by the light.

bustle.com/life/best-ring-lights-for-tiktok

What ring size light do I need?

Ring selfie lights come in a variety of sizes, but the best size for Instagram Reels and TikTok videos is between 14-18 inches.

For whole body or long-distance live streaming, a ring selfie light between 18-22 inches is preferable.

For Zoom calls, a small ring light between 8-10 inches should be fine.

How much does a selfie ring light cost?

Ring lights come in at a wide variety of price points, from budget options under $30 up to $100 and above for large ring lights which offer greater control in brightness, color temperature and color filters.

For most content creators on Instagram and TikTok, a budget or mid-range selfie ring light costing between $20 and $50 should be fine.

Over to you

Which ring light do you like the best for Reels and TikTok? Which do you use for your business? Let me know in the comments below!

Andrew Macarthy is a social media consultant and the author of the #1 Amazon Web Marketing Bestseller, 500 Social Media Marketing Tips.

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