The Lipid Formulator's Inner Circle
A mentorship in oil-based and herbal skincare formulation—led by Susan M. Parker, designed to help you grow, create, and keep learning.
Find what you need when you need it...
Love working with botanical oils and plant butters—but frustrated by how hard it is to find trustworthy, accurate information?
One article says a polyunsaturated oil (PUFA) is toxic. Another says it’s the best choice for skin. Before you know it, you’ve spent hours researching… and still aren’t sure what to believe.
Working with oils doesn’t have to be complicated. But with all the conflicting information out there, it’s hard to move forward with clarity and confidence.
That’s where The Lipid Formulators comes in—a mentorship program built to give you the guidance, answers, and trusted information you need, exactly when you need it.
I love being able to log on and get whatever information I need when I need it. I don’t know how anyone who formulates with oils goes without being a part of the membership.
Mary Jane Poole
Our Mission & Commitment
Since 2017, we’ve been building a trusted library of research, tutorials, courses and formulation resources inside The Lipid Oils Academy—focused entirely on the rich, abundant world of carrier oils, lipids, and plant butters.
We created this space because we saw a growing need for accurate, science-backed information in a noisy, often misleading online world.
The Lipid Formulators Inner Circle is a continuation of that mission—a place where we cut through fear-based marketing, debunk persistent myths, and give you the tools to formulate with confidence and clarity.
Information you can trust...
As interest in carrier oils and botanical skincare grows, so does the noise—misinformation, marketing myths, and attention-grabbing headlines that leave you more confused than informed.
Some of it is well-intentioned.
Some of it is deliberately misleading.
Either way, it can derail your work, stall your confidence, and create unnecessary doubt in your formulation practice.
We’ve seen it happen again and again—good research twisted into myths, false claims passed around until they start to feel like fact.
That’s why we created The Lipid Formulators:
To offer you a clear, calm place to learn.
To guide you to the most accurate information available.
And to give you the tools to discern, apply, and keep creating.
When we don’t know something—we find out.
When claims need unpacking—we dig deeper.
When the information gets noisy—we help you focus on what matters.
Because your time, your projects, and your craft deserve that kind of support.
Wherever you are in your skincare journey...
Whether you're formulating products for clients, creating your own line, or simply making oils and balms at home for friends and family—The Lipid Formulators gives you the support, tools, and trusted information to keep growing.
You’ll find guidance on:
✔️ Choosing the best oils and butters for different skin needs
✔️ Making your own herbal infusions
✔️ Answering client questions with clarity and confidence
✔️ Creating oil-based products that shift with the seasons—and with life
✔️ Staying ahead of misinformation and marketing hype with real data and trusted research
You don’t need to do this alone.
Join a community of formulators, makers, growers, herbalists, and skincare professionals—all committed to creating effective, plant-based skincare with integrity and intention.
Glowing skin, confident formulating, and sustainable practice—for you, your clients, and your customers.
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Thank you Susan and Olivia for your constant new information on oils. Plants and oils, what a fascinating world. I’m looking forward to learning more and expanding my, so far limited, formulating fun.
Michelle Satchell
Imagine this...
The Learning Studio
Focused courses, deep-dive lessons, and masterclasses designed to build your confidence and knowledge as a formulator.
Whether you’re studying fatty acids, exploring skin barrier health, or learning to work with oils like pomegranate, camellia, or pracaxi, each lesson is designed to help you go deeper—one topic at a time.
New lessons added regularly—everything included with your membership
Live Masterclasses Every Month
Exclusive to the Lipid Formulator's Inner Circle Members
Live Calls
Each month, Susan leads a live masterclass on a focused topic in oil-based and botanical skincare formulation—ranging from lipid chemistry and skin function to formulation techniques and ingredient deep-dives.
Q&A
You’ll learn how to apply the latest research, explore formulation strategies, and ask your questions in real time.
Recordings
These live classes and recordings are only available inside The Lipid Formulators Inner Circle.
Archives
Your membership includes full access to the entire archive of past masterclasses—years' worth of sessions and hundreds of hours of recorded content you can watch anytime.
The Lipid Oils & Herbal Skincare Toolbox
Included with your membership
Your go-to reference library—designed to support your formulation work every step of the way.
Searchable Oils & Butters Database
Access data on 170+ plant oils and butters—searchable by dominant fatty acid, botanical family, INCI name, SAP value, iodine value, and more. Includes visual pie charts and full fatty acid profiles.
The Guidebook Library
Dive into practical, research-based guides covering whipped butters, salves, herbal skincare, aromatherapy carrier oils, cold-process soapmaking, and more.
Ingredient Guides & References
Explore focused references on melt points, herbal infusing oils, INCI names, shelf life, and storing and stocking oils and butters.
Recipes, Projects & Templates
Hands-on formulations designed to help you apply what you’re learning—facial oils, healing salves, seasonal body oils, solid serums, melts, and beyond.
Explore. Experiment. Create.
Inside this hands-on library, you’ll find everything you need to turn knowledge into real-world formulations.
From whipped body butters and herbal salves to infused massage oils and cold-processed soap, the Guidebook Library and Recipe Box offer the practical tools to explore, refine, and create with confidence. Whether you’re just starting out or evolving your personal skincare line, these resources are designed to help you make products that work—and deepen your understanding with every batch.
✨ Full access included with your Lipid Formulators membership.
Explore formulation projects and recipes designed to help you experiment, create, and refine your skills.
From herbal-infused oils and balms to massage and body oils, these hands-on resources give you the tools and confidence to start formulating right away.
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Thank you Susan and Olivia for your constant new information on oils. Plants and oils, what a fascinating world. I’m looking forward to learning more and expanding my, so far limited, formulating fun.
Michelle Satchell
Who it's for...
The Lipid Formulators is designed for formulators, skincare makers, herbalists, and curious learners who want to go deeper with oils, butters, and botanical ingredients.
This program is for you if:
Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, you’ll find depth, clarity, and community here.
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Susan's abundant knowledge and evident love of oils should be acknowledged and aspirational to prospective students. The program was terrific, and I'm constantly going back to it to reference something. I also love the membership; it's like my personal oil encyclopedia!
Naudia Lorraine
Spring 2025 Special Enrollment Bonuses
Formulating with Dry Oils
($149 value)
Discover how to work with lightweight, fast-absorbing lipids that tone, tighten, and refine the skin’s appearance—without heaviness.
In this focused mini-course, you’ll explore:
Plus how to create two targeted serums
- A Daytime Facial Oil Serum
- A Collagen-Supporting Serum
Carrier Oil Essentials
($197 value )
Your quick-start guide to working with carrier oils and plant butters—designed to give you a solid foundation, whether you're just starting or ready for a confident refresh. Inside, you’ll learn the core concepts behind successful formulation with lipids, including:
Whether you're making facial oils, balms, or body butters, this concise course helps you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Infusing in Oils Mini -Course & e-Book
($70 value )
The Mini Course:
Infusing in oils is an ancient art and an effective way to bring the healing power of plants into your all your skincare recipes and formulas, from facial serums to massage oils and healing topical salves. In this mini course you'll discover the best oils to use for infusing, plus tips, methods and techniques for success.
The E-Book:
Your extended guide to infusing in oils, when and how to use plant butters, the enfleurage process, tools, methods and troubleshooting, ideas for plants to infuse, plus a photo essay of a St Johns Wort Infusion
Will you join us?
The Lipid Formulators is the only membership of its kind dedicated 100% to oil-based and botanical skincare formulation.
Our members are formulators, herbalists, aromatherapists, skincare professionals, and makers who want to create natural products that truly support the health of the skin—and the planet.
We’re united by a shared commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing, ingredient transparency, and staying connected to the plants and people behind the materials we use.
In a world full of noise, fear-based marketing, and misinformation—we offer a clear, supportive space to keep learning, exploring, and creating.
We can’t wait to hear what you’re working on.
monthly
Monthly Membership
$
47/mo
Payment in USD
month-to-month cancel anytime
annual
Annual Membership
$
470/year
Payment in USD
7 day money back GUARANTEE + 2 months free
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Susan is THE teacher you want to study with if you really want to dive deep into the world of lipid oils and butters.
Angie Koenigsberg
Learn with Susan M. Parker
Susan has been working with, researching, writing, and teaching about lipid botanical oils for over two decades. She’s also the author of Power of the Seed, a foundational reference book on carrier oils used by formulators and educators around the world.
Inside The Lipid Formulators, Susan shares her ongoing research, experience, and formulation insights—helping you stay current and deepen your craft.
Whether you’re just beginning to formulate or running your own skincare business, this membership connects you to the guidance and resources you need to grow with clarity, confidence, and curiosity.
FAQ.
Not at all. You’ll find beginner-friendly materials alongside in-depth lessons. Whether you're just starting or already formulating, you’ll be supported every step of the way.
Yes. The Lipid Formulators is designed for ongoing learning—whether you're refining your formulations, exploring new ingredients, or deepening your understanding of lipid science. Our members include skincare professionals, formulators, and educators.
We’re constantly updating and expanding the database. You can always request a new oil—and if we don’t have the data yet, we’ll research it and add it in a future update.
Everything is available on-demand. You get immediate access to all current resources, mini-courses, and the searchable database as soon as you join.
Yes. If you're on the monthly plan, you can cancel at any time and won’t be billed again. Your access will continue until the end of your current billing cycle.
We offer a 7-day refund period on annual memberships only. If you join with the annual plan and realize it’s not a good fit, just contact us within the first 7 days and we’ll issue a full refund.
We don’t offer refunds on the monthly membership, but you can cancel anytime before your next billing cycle.
Meet Your Mentors
Susan & Olivia
Co-founders of The Lipid Oils Academy, Susan and Olivia are a mother-daughter team dedicated to teaching the science and soul of oil-based skincare.
Susan has spent over two decades researching and writing about lipid oils, plant butters, and botanical infusions. Olivia brings clarity, strategy, and deep curiosity to the learning experience—helping formulators stay connected to both tradition and innovation.
Together, they’ve built The Lipid Formulators to give you a trusted, ongoing resource for your work with oils, butters, and botanicals.