Recently I found myself in an online argument regarding ingredients that I’ve used for years to treat my skin and the skin of others. The discussion took place in a forum for natural beauty care and the individual seemed to believe natural ingredients really had no place in cosmetics. She went as far as to say the synthetic versions of such ingredients were the safer and therefore better option because certain studies suggest essential oils contain poisons and some other ridiculous list of irritants.

I’ve been furious about this whole thing all weekend because this idea that synthetic ingredients and harmful chemicals are better for you really makes me sad for humanity. The fact that so many people are comfortable using products that have been linked to everything from diabetes to cancer makes me want to cry for what the human race has become. That may sound dramatic but the…