The Lipid Formulators Inner Circle
A behind-the-scenes studio where Susan shares new teachings, seasonal recipes, and early-stage material as it’s being developed.
Trusted guidance in a noisy world
The internet is full of bold claims and conflicting advice about oils. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed even when you already know a lot.
You don’t need more noise. You need a place to think, to make, and to return to whenever questions come up or inspiration strikes.
The Lipid Formulators is a working studio for skincare formulators who work with oils, butters, and botanical ingredients.
A space where the study of lipids and plant oils isn’t just included, it’s the focus.
Inside, Susan shares her ongoing research, seasonal projects, ingredient deep dives, and the early ideas that shape her future courses.
It’s where new work begins and where your work can deepen, season after season.
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
Wherever you are in your skincare journey
Whether you're making products for clients, refining a personal skincare line, or crafting oils and balms at home for friends and family, The Lipid Formulators gives you the tools, guidance, and support to keep growing.
Inside the studio, you’ll find help with:
You don’t have to do this alone. Join a community of formulators, makers, growers, herbalists, and skincare professionals—all creating with integrity, intention, and connection to the materials they work with.
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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...
This is what the studio makes possible. Clarity. Confidence. Creativity. Rooted in the deep study of oils, butters, plants, and the people who use them.
The Learning Studio
A growing collection of focused mini-courses to support your formulation work.
These lessons are designed to help you deepen your formulation skills and expand your working knowledge, one focused topic at a time.
Whether you’re exploring fatty acid structure, herbal infusions, or skin barrier health, each mini-course is practical, to the point, and ready when you need it.
New lessons added regularly, everything included with your membership
Some recent topics include
Monthly Studio Sessions
Live and in-depth, exclusive to Lipid Formulators members
Topic of the Month
Each month inside the studio, Susan chooses a single topic to explore, something she’s actively researching, revisiting, or refining in her own work.
Studio Posts & Updates
Throughout the month, Susan shares what she’s learning, lessons, insights, and strategies as they take shape in her ongoing research.
Live Session
At the end of the month, we gather for our live teaching session and open Q&A—bringing it all together and answering your questions in real time.
All Recordings Included
Every session is recorded and added to your archive so you can revisit anytime or catch up if you miss a live call.
Each month, we explore a new theme together, seasonal, focused, and deeply rooted in your formulation work.
This May, we're looking at Herbs for Skincare, how to choose, prepare, and work with botanicals that nourish and support the skin.
From infusions to energetics, we'll explore the herbal side of the oil-based formulator’s craft.
The Lipid Oils & Herbal Skincare Toolbox
A reference library built for working formulators — included with your membership
Inside the Toolbox, you’ll find the reference materials and formulation tools you reach for again and again—whether you're developing a new formula, researching an ingredient, or refining a finished product.
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.
"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, herbalists, makers, and skincare professionals who want to stay close to the craft—without getting lost in the noise.
The Curious Learner
You're fascinated by oils, plant butters, and botanical skincare and want to go deeper with your knowledge.
You’re not looking for surface-level advice. You want something rooted in experience, science, and tradition.
The Creative Formulator
You’re building a skincare business, refining your product line, or crafting custom formulas for clients.
You want guidance you can trust, and a place to return to as your work evolves.
The Herbal Maker
You’re making oils, balms, and body care at home, blending herbs and lipids with intention.
You care about sustainability, connection to ingredients, and making things that truly support the skin.
The Aromatherapist
You’re trained in essential oils and want to deepen your understanding of carrier oils, plant butters, and oil-based delivery systems.
You’re ready to explore how lipids can support and enhance your work through thoughtful formulation, seasonal care, and skin-focused blends.
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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
Specialty Courses & Workshops
Specialty Courses Included with Your Membership
Specialty Course
Work with lightweight, fast-absorbing oils that tone and refine the skin without leaving a heavy finish.
Specialty Course
Nourish and protect the skin through colder months with rich oils, skin barrier support strategies, and seasonal formulation tips.
Foundations Course
A quick-start course to help you understand, choose, and work with oils confidently, great for both beginners and refreshers.
Mini-course
A visual guide to choosing oils and techniques for infusing herbs into your skincare formulas.
Will you join us?
The Lipid Formulators is the only membership of its kind focused entirely on oil-based and botanical skincare formulation.
Our members are formulators, herbalists, aromatherapists, skincare professionals, and makers, people who care deeply about what they create and how they create it.
We’re connected by a shared respect for the raw materials we use, the plants they come from, and the people they serve.
In a world full of noise, fear-based marketing, and misinformation, this is a clear, grounded space to keep learning, exploring, and creating, season after season.
We’d love to have you in the studio.
Two ways to join the studio
Whether you want to explore month-to-month or go all in for the year, both options give you full access to everything inside.
Monthly Access
$
47/mo
Payment in USD
month-to-month cancel anytime
Annual Access
$
470/yr
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 brings over two decades of deep study into lipid oils, plant butters, and botanical infusions.
Olivia brings clarity, strategy, and a love of thoughtful learning, helping formulators connect traditional wisdom with modern formulation practices.
Together, they’ve created The Lipid Formulators as a trusted space to explore, question, and grow, rooted in craft, guided by research, and grounded in a love for oils and plants.
We’d love to welcome you into the studio.