Are essential oils safe to use during pregnancy?
Which essential oils to avoid while you’re pregnant?
These are some crucial questions that come to mind of most expecting moms. Essential oils can help relieve pregnancy-related headaches and nausea, but not all essential oils are safe for pregnancy.
Some essential oils can have negative impacts both on your health and on the developing fetus. So it’s important to know which essential oils are safe to use during pregnancy and which aren’t.
In this post, you’ll learn about some of the best pregnancy-safe essential oils. Not just safe during pregnancy, some of these essential oils are also safe to use during breastfeeding.
Are essential oils safe during pregnancy?
It is still unknown whether or not essential oils are harmful to pregnant women. That being said, you should be careful when it comes to using essential oils during pregnancy.
Most wellness professionals advise against putting essential oil directly on your body during the first trimester of pregnancy. Instead, you can use them as aromatherapy. Aromatherapy 
is a safe option and can ease your anxiety, aches, and aid sleep during pregnancy.
However, some essential oils are likely safe to use during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy as long as they are properly diluted. These include:
- Lavender Oil
- Jasmine Oil
- Ylang-Ylang
- German and Roman Chamomile
- Rose Oil
Which essential oils to avoid while you’re pregnant?
Not all essential oil on the market is safe during pregnancy. Quality and chemical composition are the two major factors that influence the safety of essential oils for pregnant women. You should stay away from some essential oils with certain ingredients. These ingredients include:
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Rosemary
- Clary sage
Here is a list of essential oils that you should avoid while you’re expecting.
For best quality, it’s smart to buy products from well-known brands.
We have thoroughly researched and reviewed each product recommended below. If you still have concerns about a certain product, speak to your OB/GYN or family doctor.
Now, let’s review some of the best essential oils that are safe for pregnancy.
Top Pregnancy-Safe Essential Oils
ELEMIS Japanese Camellia Body Oil Blend
We have already talked about aromatherapy and how it could benefit pregnant women. If you are looking for a pregnancy-safe essential oil blend for aromatherapy, what could be a better choice than this Japanese Camellia Body Oil Blend from the luxury skincare brand Elemis?
This ultra-light oil has combined some of the finest grade carrier oils in a single product that easily absorbs into the skin. The most important thing is it contains ingredients that are safe in pregnancy, which include Vitamin E, Sweet Almond Oil, and Camellia Oil.
The magical Camellia oil blend has a very light, sweet scent that can positively impact both your mind and body during the early days of pregnancy. Apart from its lovely scent, this oil keeps dry skin hydrated all day. This is especially helpful in preventing the appearance of pregnancy stretch marks and scarring. However, it’s a little expensive, but we do think it’s worth the extra price.
Weleda Body Oil Essentials
Not sure what essential oils you wish to try during pregnancy? Check out this essential oil kit from Weleda!
Weleda is well-known for its high-quality beauty products. The pack comes with six different essential oil ingredients, which include Birch, Lavender, Buckhorn, Musk, Pomegranate, and Rose oil. One major drawback of this body oil is it contains Birch and Arnica Oil, which are best to avoid during pregnancy. Though the rest of the ingredients are likely safe for pregnancy, just be careful while putting them directly on your skin. Here is a pregnancy-safe option: use these essential oils to make an essential oil blend for aromatherapy.
These high-quality essential oils absorb well into the skin and work like magic to lock in moisture. The subtle plant-based scent can be soothing for pregnancy headaches and stress. In addition, the combination of wild rose and sweet almond oil can help keep your skin hydrated for quite some time.
These oils aren’t only lightweight, but also free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic preservatives, and fragrances. So you don’t have to worry about sensitivity issues even if you have sensitive skin. Overall, this kit would be a great gift for an expecting mom.
Bio-Oil Skincare Oil
Bio-Oil is one of the best-selling oil for pregnancy and stretch marks with over 30,000 positive reviews on Amazon. It is actually a powerful combination of some essential oils along with vitamin A and vitamin E.
Its key ingredients include lavender oil, rosemary oil, calendula oil, chamomile oil, and purcellin oil. It uses natural chamomile and calendula oil to reduce inflammation, lavender oil for soothing dry skin, rosemary oil to condition it, and purcellin to make the formula light.
Moreover, the formula contains Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Vitamin A helps to improve skin tone and promote healthy skin cell production, whereas Vitamin E has nourishing properties for the skin that helps maintain healthy-looking skin. The formula works on all skin types, including the sensitive one. You will also love the light scent of bio-oil.
As the product name contains the term “bio”, all of its ingredients are 100% organic. It is also a dermatologist-recommended skincare product, so you can feel safe while putting it on your skin during pregnancy. The formula has been clinically proven to help improve stretch marks from pregnancy, acne, C-section, and more. If you have already developed stretch marks, this oil is worth giving a try.
Plant Therapy Frankincense Serrata Organic Essential Oil
Frankincense Serrata Oil is highly praised by wellness experts for its healing properties. When applied to the skin, it can alleviate blemishes, wrinkles, stretch marks, and scars. The earthy smell can be calming and comforting during pregnancy when the occasional feelings of anxiety and nervousness are very common.
This Frankincense Serrata Oil from Plant Therapy is 100% organic, which is great for pregnancy skincare. Plant Therapy uses independent third-party lab testing to make sure its products maintain high standards. The formula works great with other essential oils and carrier oils, which is a recommended use of essential oils during pregnancy.
This oil is free of synthetics and preservatives. Its balanced formula nicely absorbs into the skin. It helps restore the natural balance of both oily and mature, dry skin. It is also safe and effective for children ages 2–10. It’s not only versatile but also a cost-effective option.
Their top-notch customer service is equipped with certified aromatherapists to answer all of your questions. This is a plus when you’re pregnant. However, it’s important to note that this oil has a strong woody, spicy, balsamic fragrance. So if you have issues with strong smells, check the other items from this list.
Relax Therapeutic Body Massage Oil
While there are plenty of body massage oils out there, you should be careful before putting any massage oil over your skin. Some can contain ingredients that might not be safe for pregnancy, while others can have unpleasant smells that you won’t be able to stand. That’s not the case for Relax Therapeutic Body Massage Oil.
This body massage oil contains Lavender, Peppermint, and Marjoram oil. Lavender and Peppermint oils are considered a good remedy for pregnancy nausea and vomiting, whereas Marjoram essential oil has natural elements that can promote relaxation before sleep.
Aside from these key ingredients, the formula also contains Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, and Jojoba Oil. Sweet almond oil helps rejuvenate the skin, which can be highly effective in preventing the formation of stretch marks. Along with the Sweet Almond oil, Grapeseed and Jojoba Oil work as a carrier oil in this formula.
The hypoallergenic formula contains no mineral oil, phthalate, or parabens. This made in the USA product is also cruelty-free.
Finally, it has no artificial fragrance. Even though it has a smooth, relaxing scent, it won’t irritate your sensitive skin.
Gya Labs Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense essential oil is one of those safe essential oils for pregnancy. Not just safe, it also has many benefits for pregnant women. The healing power of Frankincense oil can help expecting mothers to deal better with prenatal blues. Frankincense oil is also particularly good for aromatherapy.
Here is a premium quality essential oil from Gya Labs. It contains pure Frankincense oil, which is extracted from the Boswellia Serrata plant. What’s great? It is free of additives and other toxic chemicals that are harmful to pregnant women.
It is a great essential oil for aromatherapy. For other applications, the manufacturer recommends diluting the oil with a carrier oil, such as Coconut, Jojoba, or Almond oil. It provides a warm and woodsy aroma that lasts long.
This product is ideal for meditation aromatherapy during pregnancy. It can also help with inflammation, detox, aches, and pain. One major drawback of this body oil is it is not hypoallergenic, which means it might cause allergies or irritation for sensitive skin.
Handcraft Lavender Essential Oil
So if you are pregnant and thinking about what essential oils are safe, you can add Lavender essential oil to your daily skincare routine. To make it easier for you, we have reviewed this Lavender Essential Oil from Handcraft Blends.
The first thing we like about this essential oil is it is free of fillers, additives, and harsh chemicals. And it is very diluted, which is great for pregnant mamas. If you put it on a diffuser, you’ll love how sweet this smells. This natural and pure lavender oil has a soothing effect and can work as a pregnancy-safe sleep aid.
This lavender essential oil can also be very helpful for pregnancy anxiety. It is ideal for aromatherapy as it nicely blends with other essential oils and carrier oils. Handcraft makes sure its product maintains high-quality through testing and evaluation by independent laboratories.
It comes with a premium quality glass dropper, which helps to maintain a consistent amount every time you use it. Overall, the quality of the essential oil is great for the price point.
NOW Essential Oils
Though wellness experts advise against consuming and directly applying lemongrass on your skin during pregnancy, it is safe to use for aromatherapy. Even there are many health benefits of lemongrass while used in aromatherapy.
But you might struggle to find a quality lemongrass oil in the market. NOW Foods has one such high quality and 100% pure Lemongrass Essential Oil. You can use it in aromatherapy to reduce stress and soothe your mood.
Lemongrass oil is also rich in antibacterial properties, which can help freshen the air. This formula is 100% pure and free of synthetic ingredients, which is why it’s so popular.
You can easily dilute it with a carrier oil such as jojoba, coconut, or almond oil. Even though it has a strong fragrance, you will love it. Moreover, this oil is made in the U.S. The only downside is that it does not comes with a dropper.
Molivera Organics Sweet Almond Oil
Yes, Sweet Almond Oil isn’t particularly an essential oil, but you can use it as an essential oil carrier during pregnancy. If you don’t know the subtle difference between Sweet Almond Oil and Bitter Almond Oil, here is the difference- Sweet Almond Oil is a fixed oil, whereas the latter is an essential oil.
Sweet almond oil has been used over the years by pregnant women. This 100% pure and nontoxic oil has amazing healing properties to condition and nourish your skin’s appearance. The smooth texture of the oil allows it to get absorbed well into the skin. The deep penetration into the skin’s layer helps balance your skin moisture level.
It is very effective in preventing the formation of initial stretch marks. You can directly put it on your belly, thighs, and other areas that are prone to stretch marks during pregnancy. For pregnant women, it can even help you with stomach itchiness. In addition, it’s great for soothing dry, itchy skin in infants.
Though it is not organic, it is formulated with 100% pure and raw ingredients for maximum quality. The formula contains no additives, no synthetic ingredients, and no artificial fragrances. It does have a very light, slightly nutty scent, but it will not impact women who struggle with morning sickness.
H’ana Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile essential oil is one of the safe oil that you can use without much worry during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Check out this sweet-scented, FDA-registered natural formula from H’ana. It is made from 100% pure raw ingredients, which is important for pregnant women. It helps to relieve stress and anxiety during pregnancy, as well as inspires a sense of peace.
This essential oil contains no ingredients that are harmful to pregnant women. It is free from mineral oils, synthetics, or artificial fragrances. However, the undiluted form of this oil might cause allergic reactions or irritation to sensitive skin. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy advises diluting any essential oils with a carrier oil before applying to your skin.
It blends well with most carrier oils. It has a pleasant scent, but it’s not too strong. This chamomile oil can be a lifesaver during the stressful days of pregnancy. It costs less than $20, so it’s worth giving a try.
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