If you had told me three years ago that my entire makeup bag would be filled with clean products, I would have given you some major side eye. I know what you’re thinking: Do natural beauty products actually work as well as their not-as-eco-friendly counterparts?

Like many of you, I was skeptical that the formulas wouldn’t perform, the colors would be dull, and the experience would feel less luxe than I was used to. But, after months of testing (it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it!), I was proven way, way wrong. I’m now on year two of a totally clean makeup bag and cannot recommend the transition more—I’ve never gotten so many compliments on my skin before.

Curious about trying clean, natural makeup? You’re not alone. “When I transitioned to a clean makeup kit over 10 years ago, it was relatively unheard of,” says Christy Coleman, chief artistic officer at Beautycounter. “However, in recent years, I’ve seen more and more makeup artists as well as clients taking an interest in clean beauty. I also see more indie brands and retailers popping up, and many traditional retailers are even creating special clean beauty sections in stores, proving that clean beauty is resonating with consumers and is here to stay.”

One of the main reasons the world of natural makeup is confusing: “There is no government or third party-certified definition stating what qualifies as clean beauty,” says Tara Foley, founder and CEO of Follain, one of my favorite clean beauty shopping destinations. Learning that there was no FDA regulation on these terms was a real a-ha moment for me personally. “Unfortunately, some brands try to capitalize on the clean beauty movement by labeling their products with words like clean, non-toxic, and natural or by putting a leaf on the package, but when you take a closer look at the label, you’ll find some nasty ingredients,” adds Foley.

Speaking of nasty surprises in your products, here are a few scary ingredients you should be avoiding: “Since makeup sits on the skin for the day, it is important to select products that are free of chemicals that are questionable or contain irritants,” says dermatologist Ellen Marmur, M.D., founder of Marmur Medical and Marmur Metamorphosis Skincare. “Chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, PEGs, and synthetic fragrances are all linked to harmful health effects such as hormone disruption, cancer, and skin irritation.”

I love hitting up clean beauty stores like Follain, Credo, and The Detox Market, which have all done the vetting for me, making it easy to shop safe. I know that these stores have excluded all brands and products that contain controversial and harmful ingredients. Another great resource: the Environmental Working Group. “The EWG started the EWG Verified program as a way to help consumers recognize products that do not contain harmful ingredients, fully disclose ingredients, and are made with sustainable manufacturing practices,” says Carla Burns, EWG research analyst. “The best way to tell if a product contains chemicals of concern is by checking the label or by using resources like EWG’s Skin Deep database or Healthy Living app.”

And now for the fun part: shopping! Ahead, we break down each category of makeup and give you a list of the brands that really stand out in the clean makeup world. Everything in their lines is safe, so you can feel confident shopping and wearing these brands. Prepare to feel beautiful—naturally. —Marta Topran