One tough part of making the switch to safe makeup: giving up my tried-and-true favorites. I’ve spent a lifetime (OK, two decades) finding products that work for me. While I’m always excited to try something new, I have a few go-tos that get me through mornings, when I’m a rush and don’t have time to experiment, or vacations, when I need to pack light. That’s the role previously played by this Mac Eye Shadow X 9: Amber Times Nine palette. With both matte and shimmery shades, I could create pretty much any look with it. But now that I’m committed to clean beauty, my search for the best eyeshadow palette begins again.

I recently stopped in my local Credo Beauty store in San Francisco. Credo sells only nontoxic cosmetics, and I hoped experts there could point me toward a clean eyeshadow swap. I’m happy to report that with Rikki from Credo’s help, I found a safe option I love. It’s Lily Lolo Pedal to the Metal palette, which gets a ranking of 1 on EWG.

Like my Mac palette, the Lily Lolo palette includes both shimmery and matte colors. For a natural, daytime look, I stick to the matte shades. I also like that I can use the light brown shade to define my brows. And I use both the mauve and gray colors as eyeliner. For a more dramatic look, I can also create a smokey eye, using the darker shades in my crease. To amp up the pigment for all the looks, I primed my lids with my cream foundation before applying. Paired with the Lily Lolo Natural Mascara, I get a soft, romantic look. 

Compared to the Mac amber palette, Lily Lolo’s includes less yellow and gold undertones. But the shades are still warm and beautiful overall.  See for yourself: