study & Learn with Susan M Parker
The Academy Immersion Program
Study the skin science, barrier care, lipid chemistry, herbal actives and the art of botanical formulation
Month-to-month cancel anytime
A Note from Susan
I’m often asked where someone should begin when they want to study plant lipids and botanical oils.
And the answer is rarely straightforward, because it depends on what you are drawn to and where you want to go with the work.
Some students want to learn herbal infusions and traditional plant preparations. Others want to formulate skincare, work with skin barrier support and repair, create facial oils, or eventually develop an entire product line.
As there are many different ways to approach this work, the Academy has grown in response to our students over the past decade.
What began as a single course, Lipids Decoded, has expanded into a much larger body of work covering plant oils, infused oils, formulation, skin science, lipid chemistry, botanical skincare.
And because of that, there is no longer one perfect “starting point.”
That’s what led me to create the Academy Immersion.
What it is
The Academy Immersion program is a founding membership for students who want to learn everything from formulating facial oils to the science of infused oils and access to the in depth lipid chemistry and lessons.
This program gives you access to all courses, the Lipid Lab and workshops and specialty classes going forward.
But it is not just a library card, it is a way to expand your studies, participate in student group discussions and live classes and get first access (included) to new courses.
Our Time Together
Each month, you'll be invited to live classes for all the topics I teach throughout the year. As a founding member you already have a seat in every single student cohort for all live class, discussion groups, and intensive live classes that you choose to participate in.
Come to as many or as few as you like.
I know studying online can feel disconnected sometimes and so with this program I want to create a space where you have access to everything so you can study at your own pace, and you have the live calls, discussions and email access so that you are connected and supported in your studies.
As always all of the live sessions are recorded, so you can come back to them whenever you need to.
I found the courses very well structured and incredibly insightful. They gave me a much deeper understanding of carrier oils at a structural level, especially how fatty acids and the arrangement of carbons and hydrogen influence an oil’s behavior.
This perspective was fascinating and invaluable for me as a formulator. I’ve always loved oils for both dietary and topical use, but after completing the course, I see them in a completely new light. My appreciation for oils has grown even more now that I understand them in such depth.
Daniela Mantica-Filippini
The lessons I enjoyed the most were the facial oils and the specialty oils. I really loved studying about oils designed specifically for the face. I also loved the module on cleansing oils - it was right up my alley since I had already been wondering why we couldn't cleanse with oils rather than soap. Working with the oils to target the face - both serums and cleansing - has been very rewarding and I've seen measurable results
Debbie Boggs
Working Together on Your Formulations
As an Immersion member, you’ll also have direct access to me for formulation guidance and product development support as you work through your projects and formulations.
You can email me questions about the lipids, carrier oils, plant butters and supporting ingredients you’re considering using in your formulas, and I’ll help you think through the direction you want to take.
I can help you evaluate different oils and lipids for a formulation, suggest alternatives that may be more functional, cost effective or better suited to the skin concern you’re working with, and help refine the overall therapeutic or sensory direction of a product.
For students already working on formulations or product ideas, I can help troubleshoot, refine and strengthen what you’re creating while helping you better understand why certain lipids and ingredients may work more effectively than others in a formula.
This is intended to be an ongoing mentorship-style exchange where I help guide and support your formulation work as it develops, rather than a done-for-you formulation service or custom product development from scratch.
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.
Naudia Lorraine
I'm Susan M Parker
And I want to welcome you to the wonderful world of herbs and plant oils. I have been studying herbalism, skincare formulation and the lipid plant oils since the early 1990's when I did my first herbal apprenticeship with Pam Montgomery.
From those early days in the herbal world to the publication of my book Power of the Seed: Your Guide to Oils for Beauty & Health I have been deep in the study of how these plant compounds found in both herbal infusions and lipid plant oils affect the skin. And over and over again I see people whose lifelong skin struggles resolve with the right plant oils.
Susan presents all course material in bite sized portions in accessible understandable methods helping you understand the chemistry of oils and brings their healing personalities to life. Susan taught me that Lipids therapy is invaluable in modern-day living.
The amazing vast informed information gives you a deep understanding of the ever-expanding range of Lipids today. These are vital courses for any Aromatherapists, Herbal enthusiasts, Bodyworkers, Reflexologists and any budding Formulators.
Chelan Beall
Our entire range is organic, cold-pressed oil-based and we have travelled so far since learning about different lipids and their myriad benefits.
We now have over 1,100 five-star product reviews and multiple gold and winner awards in the natural beauty/free-from space in the UK and you have helped us achieve this.
Kevin Troy - Coraline Organic Skincare
Join the Immersion Program as a Founding Member
The Academy Immersion is an ongoing way to study, with full access to the courses and materials for as long as you’re part of the monthly program.
The Founders rate is $197 per month and you lock this in for as long as you are a member.
When you join you'll get immediate access to everything in the Lipid Oils Academy including all courses, live classes with recordings and the complete Lipid Lab and database.
The trees or bushes, seeds, fruits and flowers That we could capture in a human therapy with lipid oils.
Let this sacred knowledge be shared and Susan your knowledge is vast on this subject. Great course to add to the holistic wheel of knowledge.
Janice Cyre
FAQ
No, there is no annual commitment.
The Academy Immersion program is offered as a month-to-month membership so you have flexibility in how you study and participate.
You’re welcome to cancel your membership at any time and all access will end at the end of your billing cycle.
Because you receive immediate access to all courses and materials, we do not offer refunds on membership payments. But you are welcome to cancel future payments.
The price will increase over time as the program continues to grow but as a founding member, your rate of $197/month is locked in for as long as this program continues and you remain an active member.
You’ll receive access to the current Lipid Oils Academy course library, along with new courses as they are added, for as long as you remain an Academy Immersion member.
Courses & Programs You'll Have Access To
Signature Programs
Lipids Decoded ($1497)
Botanical Science Programs
The Science of Facial Oils ($297)
Herbal Actives ($297)
Formulating Courses
Facial Oil Formulation ($497)
Oils Only Recipes & Methods ($197)
Carrier Oil Courses
Beyond the Drop ($297)
Success with Carrier Oils ($297)
The Carrier Oil Companion ($97)
Specialty Courses
Restoring Skin Resilience ($149)
The Dry Oil Advantage ($149)
Oils for Winter Skincare ($149)
Included Memberships & Resources
The Lipid Lab Subscription ($197/yr)
The Lipid Formulators Membership ($470/yr)
Workshops & Trainings
Oils & Skin Conditions Workshop ($97)
Making Herbal Infused Oils Workshop ($67)
Upcoming Releases Included
Cold Process Soap Making ($197)
Includes over $4,500worth of courses, training and resources when purchased separately.
*Courses you've purchased or choose to purchase outside of this program are yours to keep.
Each month, I teach one of the courses (or a new course as it’s released), and you are included in that live round.
You can join the live sessions, listen to the discussions, and learn alongside the group of students going through the material at that time.
These sessions are where I expand on the course content, answer questions, and go further into the material.
All sessions are recorded if you’re not able to attend live. But with exclusive access you can always email me about any course at any time.
You’re welcome to email me anytime as you work through the material, whether you’re developing formulas, working with ingredients, or trying to understand something more clearly. I typically get back to students within 3 business days though it is often faster.
Any courses you’ve purchased outside of the Academy Immersion remain yours with lifetime access, as before. Everything you get access to within Academy Immersion will be available to you for as long as your membership is active.
If there is a course you want to keep beyond your subscription you are welcome to purchase it.
No. The Academy Immersion already includes full access to the Lipid Lab and everything that came with Lipid Formulators, so you would not pay for both.
If you join the Immersion, your existing subscription is folded in and you can cancel the separate one. Just email us at susan@lipidoils.com and we'll make sure the switch is smooth and you're never double charged.
Your access to the Academy Immersion (including the course library, live sessions, and memberships) remains active for as long as your membership is active.
If you choose to discontinue, you’ll retain access only to any courses you purchased separately outside of the membership.
Yes, you can pause once a year for up to 3 months and retain your current membership rate.
After that you'll be welcome to re-join at the existing rate.
Email admin@lipidoils.com within 5 business days before your next billing cycle to pause your membership.
Pauses are applied to future billing cycles and are not prorated or applied retroactively.
