My name is Stephanie and I'm the founder of Kossma Beauty. For the past few years I have been researching essential oil safety. For years, essential oils have been touted as a natural way to improve overall health and overcome illness. Having suffered from poisoning and subsequent hospitalization and surgery caused by an essential oil, in addition to various adverse skin reactions, I eventually made the connection between essential oils and their risks. Today, I'm going to be delving into the potential risks associated with essential oils so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not you want to use them. A recurring fallacy that I frequently encounter from individuals who support EOs is the attempt to discredit my research and experience by asserting that my statements are based on impure EOs, despite the lack of evidence to support this claim. Essential oils possess antibacterial properties which have the potential to disrupt the beneficial microbiome that sustains healthy skin. Due to their caustic nature and ability to dissolve plastic, essential oils have to be packaged in glass (imagine what happens on your skin). The cytotoxic properties of essential oils can result in the destruction of living skin cells. Many popular essential oils are classified as a Class 3 flammable liquid. It is safe and healthy to consume whole foods that naturally contain essential oils, but consuming isolated essential oils from the same foods can be fatal (cinnamon, sage for example). Diffusing EOs pollutes the air with harmful VOCs. It seems illogical that some people can safely use essential oils while babies and pregnant women are advised against them. Toxicity is toxicity. The extraction of essential oils from plant material requires a significant amount of farming and resources, which can be considered an environmental disaster. Some argue that this process should be prohibited due to its impact on the environment. Essential oils exploit plants by discarding the plants medicinal medicines and only keeping the EO portions. Essential oils are controlled and operated by multi-billion dollar companies like Facebook, Amazon, Johnson and Johnson.