I had the experience of having our bath fixture installed facing up, as I was not here when the guy installed it, and that is how it appeared on the box. Tried living with it for a week, and called him back to turn it the other way.

Just be sure whatever you choose has the direction you want, or can be used either way. Not all of them can.

If the ceiling is white and a lot of light bounces off the ceiling, it may actually be more diffuse (and better for makeup) than pointing it down. Downlight can actually cast shadows on your face, and makeup lighting is supposed to be ideally on each side of your face at face level. If the center light is too close to your face it could be a milder variant of shining a flashlight under your chin.

Les is right. Some sockets will eventually burn up if the heat of the bulb rises into(bulb down) it vs. the socket being below the bulb (bulb up).

If you face the light up it creates an indirect light source and while it provides general light and reflective light off of the ceiling it will not give you a focused light. Lights in bathrooms and kitchens need to be positioned and adjusted for tasks that require concentrated detail....same as with a desk lamp. But like palimpsest pointed out, you need be careful of overhead lighting creating shadows also.

No, I made this mistake. Point it down.

I think it depends on how much light you have (and what Les said about not all of them can be switched). In our kids' bath, there's a 3-light fixture that we have pointing down, and that puts out just the right amount of light. But in our master bath, we have 3, 2-light fixtures (one on each end of the vanity and one between the two sinks). With all 6 lights facing down, it was way too bright, so we switched it and like it much better.

We have ours facing up. I didnt like the shadows it cast when it was facing down.

We have one that's up because I didn't realize the medicine cabinet couldn't be opened when it is down. I use that bathroom for makeup and it is fine. It is just a half bath, though, only about 22 sq ft.

Thanks to all for your replies. I think I'll go with the "down" lights.

I have lights down and just visited my sister who has lights up. I noticed immediately that a lights up fixture gives a more flattering light than lights down (as palimpsest and vampiressrn noted). I may switch mine around and see what happens.

Three uplights would compensate for any loss of light going up instead of down.

I am going to join OP with a similar question.

My master bath is somewhat large and has those hollywood dressing lights, row of 8. Want to change out. Should I also do the downward lights? Currently the dressing lights brighten the entire space so I realize with the shades the room will not be as bright, but since what I have already lights up the room way too much, and with having 8 lights, I should still get good light in room?

Very interesting and timely. I prefer the looks of up-mounted lights and in my master bath remodel will be using lights that I think only can be mounted that way. These will replace the hollywood globes. There will be other lighting in the room- I will be curious to see how I enjoy or do not enjoy applying make up with the new ones.
What-evva, they are pretty lights!!