My foray into the world of “natural beauty” has been like opening Pandora’s box. Once you learn about how toxic beauty products can be, you may be inclined like I was, to look at the impact you make on your body and beyond with other purchases, like food and fashion.

After reading books like “Skinny Bitch” and “ Overdressed” it seemed like a no-brainer that some introspection and change was in order.

Like Oprah says, “When you know better, you do better.” Right?

So if you’re on a path to cleaning up your act along with me, I recommend making the switch to style items that are sustainable, fair trade and cruelty-free.

Here are a few companies that I’ve discovered recently:

Fashioning Change

As a kid growing up in Texas with family and friends in the manufacturing industry, Adriana Herrera of Fashioning Change in San Diego had firsthand insight about the inner workings of fashion fabrication and followed a set of rules from her Dad before buying clothes. With her self-funded company, she set out on a mission to discover designers that respected aesthetics and ethics, and to redirect mass consumption to great companies as a way to create systematic change.

Brands on the site are selected based on style, quality of construction, protection of health, the earth and human rights. Look for their “Wear this, not that” features offering kinder alternatives to mainstream fashion, and essential basics for babies and ladies from the KCA by Fashioning Change collection.

Fashioning Change offers referral incentives for customers and online publishers, too. The friends you refer receive $10 off their first purchase, and you get $10 after their order ships.

Gunas

Like most ladies who enjoy good fashion, I can appreciate a well-made handbag. I’ve never splurged for a Kelly or Birkin bag, but I certainly can identify and appreciate one! You don’t need to spend thousands or use leather to show your love for a luxurious purse. Gunas – which means “attributes and qualities of nature” in Sanskrit – crafts stylish bags for men and women, designed by Sugandh Agrawal and manufactured using 100 percent vegan materials and sustainable production methods.

If you prefer setting the trends over following them, you’ll appreciate the exclusivity of this brand: No more than 250 pieces of each style of bag are produced per collection in the standard colors, worldwide. But you may see one on the arm of a celebrity fan like Anne Hathaway or Jenny McCarthy. I’m carrying a Sweetheart Bag in black that has a leather look with opulent gold detailing and a removable shoulder strap. It looks as good with denim as it does with a dress.

Disclosure: A review sample was provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy. Check out Agrawal’s interview with eco luxury style.

Pure Citizen

What began as a blog for activist and Chicagoan Amy Ludwigson four years ago has evolved into an online storefront of natural beauty and sustainable style for your home and body. “I struggled to find products that reflected this new inner beauty I had. I started seeking companies who were committed to positive social change at the heart of who they were,” Ludwigson explains on her site.

In each item’s listing you’ll find cruelty-free, eco-conscious, ethically-made, fair trade, US-made and vegan icons and details about the brand’s social outreach and charity projects, when applicable. If you are a blogger or have an online store of your own, apply for the Pure Citizen affiliate program on their website.

What sustainable style brands do you wear? Any to add to this list?