The Whole Picture Approach to Formulating with Plant Oils

Lipids Decoded - Registration closed

Join the waitlist below

Become an expert in lipids, plant oils & whole oil formulation

Embark on a journey around the world and learn everything I know about plant oils from 20 + years of research, experimenting and hands on work product development and formulation.

The sheer number of plants that give us oils is staggering - check your grocery store next time and look for everything with a seed, from oatmeal to pomegranates.

Each plant imparts its own imprint on the oil pressed from its seeds, from the fatty acid makeup to antioxidants and other plant compounds.

Create naturally shelf-stable preservative-free skincare formulations with plant oils & butters

Lipids Decoded will give you the full range of skills you need to create anhydrous skincare formulas! Anhydrous skincare is growing in popularity and for good reason. When you work with just lipids and carrier oils your formulas are naturally shelf stable so you can make gentle, preservative free skincare. Anhydrous oil combinations are naturally shelf stable (it is water and oil mixed that creates the breeding ground for bacteria) but there are lipids and methods that will extend the shelf life of oil blends and formulas even further! We will go into this more in module 5.

Amy Lechner

Traditional Naturopath, Clinical Cert. Aromatherapist

I absolutely love the info in the courses, Susan starts you out with a solid foundation of information about the chemical make up of the oils and why you use oils based on that information. She uses visual aids such as pie charts to assist in the breakdown of the chemical composition. I have found the information to be valuable and have often referred to the information when formulating.

Module 1: Birds Eye View

Lesson 1: A peek at the chemistry we will be learning over the coming weeks plus a look at glycerine as a product of oils and as a skincare ingredient .
Lesson 2: Saturated (butters) and unsaturated (liquid oils) plus where the “acid” comes from in “fatty acid”. And, introduction to pie charts - your key to seeing oils at a glance - visual learning
Lesson 3: Introduction to geography and how climate influences plants that shape our oils, in this lesson, the saturated butters. Plus a look at FCO and MCT oils.
Lesson 4: Oils from the Mediterranean climates, and an introduction to the most common fatty acid found in all oils.

Module 2: Whole oils

Lesson 1: Highly absorbent oils, polyunsaturated oils and the Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) for skincare formulating.
Lesson 2: Oxygen and oxidation, the dry oils vs drying oils, how antioxidants protect oils from rancidity plus the four rules of shelf life and preserving.
Lesson 3: Whole oils vs refined oils, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other plant compounds in whole oils plus a short lesson on language around refining, bleaching, winterizing and deodorizing so that you know exactly what you are buying.
Lesson 4: The skin and oils, how and why oils are compatible with the skin, and the antioxidants naturally occurring in whole oils that help protect, feed and nourish the skin.

Module 3: The Healing Fraction

Lesson 1: Transforming oils through saponification (soap making) and emulsification (cream and lotion making). Plus a look at other lipid skincare ingredients, the useful lecithin, a phospholipid, and the waxes.
Lesson 2: New shapes of fatty acids, and fatty acids that twist, advanced carrier oil chemistry for beginners and non scientists (its more fun that you might think)
Lesson 3: Unsaponifiables part 1: Terpenes, terpenoids, vitamins, antioxidants, squalene, phytosterols and the role of pigments in the oils. Yellow, orange, green, blue, red and clear oils.
Lesson 4: Unsaponifiables part 2: Flavonoids, phenolic acid, tannins, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid to name just a few. This lesson goes deep into the new and emerging study on the healing fraction in oils.

Module 4: oils around the world

Lesson 1: GEOGRAPHY (I put that in caps because it is my favorite lesson to teach). Take a global tour of oils from the tropics to the temperate zones. Each shift in climate imprints on the oil producing plants grown in that region.
Lesson 2: Saturation and the plant butters, a more in-depth look at the benefits and challenges of working with saturated plant butters.
Lesson 3: Tropical butters (not palm) and the seven botanical families we find them in.
Lesson 4: Oils of the Palm family, a discussion on varieties of palms and the lipid products, sustainability, growing practices and the importance of responsible sourcing.

Module 5: oleic & the MEDITERRANEAN

Lesson 1: Oleic and monounsaturated fatty acids, the oils from the Mediterranean and temperate zones.
Lesson 2: Traveling north and south, toward the poles, to discover the polyunsaturated dominant oils like flax, meadowfoam and evening primrose oil.
Lesson 3: Meadowfoam and jojoba oils and the cabbage family that includes the oils with very-long chain fatty acids, (20+ carbon chains) and their role in stabilizing oils prone to rancidity.
Lesson 4: The Daisy family, sunflower and safflower are highly hybridized oils and an important lesson on INCI, non-natural butters and waxes how to find authentic whole oils and butters.

Module 6: The Botanical Families

Lesson 1: Botanical Families Part 1: The link between botanical families and similar oils within that family. In this lesson you will study the rose family (trees and shrubs), the melon and gourd family, and the Poaceae, the grasses family where we find the oils from grains.
Lesson 2: Botanical Families Part 2: in this lesson learn about oils from the Fabaceae legume family (fenugreek oil, peanut oil, pracaxi oil), Euphorbiaceae (examples are kukui, castor, cacay), Malvaceae (baobab, hibiscus).
Lesson 3: Small plant families of just two or three oils as we complete our lessons in botanical families.
Lesson 4: The oils by dominant fatty acid, the Essential Fatty Acids (LA, LNA, GLA) linoleic acid, α-linolenic and γ-linolenic acids.

Module 7: Heat & Warmth

Lesson 1: Omega 7 and Omega 5 fatty acid oils grouped, and a look at dry oils and butters, astringency and tannins, what makes an oil dry feeling.
Lesson 2: Dynamic nature of oils and fatty acids, how they change from saturated to unsaturated, and the carbon chains lengthen, plus the fatty acid that defines carrot family oils.
Lesson 3: Discovering brand new fatty acids including a highly unusual and rare fatty acid from sandalwood seed oil, then tips on sleuthing the internet for information on new oils.
Lesson 4: We wrap up the course with a discussion on warmth, the primary quality of the lipid oils, and how this warmth provides a bridge between the lipid oils of the plant world and the essential oils.

Course Hours, Structure & Ongoing Access

Core Lessons & Modules

You will get videos, clickable slide lessons and downloadable slides for offline study. Plus, 14 weeks of email support and live calls where you can get questions answered or just come to listen in. (The calls are recorded for all students).

Course Hours & Your Pace of Study

While I am often asked about course hours I hesitate to put a time stamp on the course! I encourage you instead to work at YOUR pace. Some people pick up the chemistry, others (my self included) need time to experience, experiment and study for the concepts to take root.

100 + Oil Profiles & Permanent Access

Lipids Decoded includes over 100 individual oil profiles and reference materials for ongoing study. When you enroll in Lipids Decoded you have permanent access to the course and all updated future updates and editions! (no upgrade fees).

Certificate of Completion

Once you complete the course modules and and turn in a 'final assignment' (it's fun I promise!) I'll have your Certificate of Completion ready for you.

Lipids Decoded Enrollment Closed

JOIN THE WAITLIST

Bonuses Included When You Register

Put knowledge straight to work with hands on courses in making and formulating. Whether you want to start building recipes from scratch or you just want to get in there and experiment and work with the oils, these bonus courses give you templates, ideas and methods for recipe building and formulating with oils, lipids and butters!

Bonus 1: oils only recipes & methods ($197 value)

Oils Only focuses on techniques and methods for working with the oils and developing body care recipes & formulas.
In this bonus course you will create herbal balms, body butters, whipped butters body and massage oils, scrubs and more.
Includes recipe booklet with recipe templates, recipes and and melt points for botanical waxes.

Bonus 2: Infusing in oils

mini-course

Learn the process of infusing herbs and other botanicals into oils to extract the plant extracts for future formulations and recipes.
Discover the best carrier oils to use for infusing and which to avoid.
Get ideas for a range of herbs and flower petals to use in your infusing.
Troubleshooting, tips and ideas for success.

Bonus 3: Edible oils

course

Learn which oils you can use in the kitchen beyond the staples like olive, avocado and grapeseed.
Smoke point: what does it mean and how to use it in deciding which oils to use for high heat cooking.
Discover which oils to use in high heat cooking and those that are best used as a post cooking dressing or drizzle.
Oils as supplements and how to store them for maximum benefit.

Bonus 4: Refined vs unrefined oils visual guide

Learn about supplier refining codes so that you know exactly what you are getting in your next order.
Is unrefined better than refined? Not always. In this bonus guide you will learn about the refining process of oils and what to look for.
Plus get a visual guide to a variety of oils in their unrefined, lightly refined and highly refined state.

Munira Khambata

One of the best courses I have ever taken to date! Very informative and Susan does not hold back any information. She tries to give 200 percent in the course materials and in her webinars. I would recommend this course to anyone making skincare products.

Will you define the next big thing in skincare?

Whether you are formulating skincare, developing your own anhydrous product line or you enjoy making skincare for your self and your friends, Lipids Decoded gives you the tools you need to be 100% confident in working with lipid oils, carrier oils and plant butters. And it's not all theory and chemistry, Lipids Decoded looks at the geography of oils, plant families, the healing fraction and so much more!

With this course you will be able to choose the best oils for a wide range of different skin types, pain and Inflammation, different types of infusing and so much more.

Pietra, London, U.K

"I completed the Lipids Decoded course in 2017. I found this course full of great information and in depth facts about many of the different carrier oils. I also bought the book 'Power of the Seed' which is great! With the course and book, it has inspired me to buy many carrier oils which I test and mix at home now. I just love them on my skin! I understand the fatty acid profiles and by looking at these can tell what the oil will feel like and how it will penetrate the skin. I just love this information and would one day love to work with the oils I make. I will always remain a part of the Lipids Decoded community! Thanks Susan!"

Christophe Vroylandt

I am a french pharmacist and have studied in several universities in France. Your (Susan's) knowledge about the lipid world is incredible. I have learned a lot with pleasure. I use your knowledge every day at work. I thank you a lot for all !!! Best regards from France.

4 Payments

Pay $297 today and then 3 more monthly payments

Payment is in USD

Save 15% when you pay in full

$297 X 4 Payments

100 + Individual oil profiles
Permanent access
14 weeks support & calls
Refining visual guide
Edible Oils Course
Infusing in Oils mini course
Oils Only: Recipes & Methods $197 Value

CLICK HERE

Questions: email support@susanmparker.com

100% Money Back Guarantee for 30-Days

If you get into the course and you find it's just not for you, you can get a full refund within the first 30 days after the course starts. No questions asked.

Angie Koenigsberg

Sign up for Lipids Decoded if you want to treat yourself to a lifetime of SUPER PHAT (Slang for highly attractive, gratifying and excellent) - good clean fun - with saponifiables and unsaponifiables, alike!

All joking aside, this course is such a magnificent work of art in its depth, breath, visual beauty, and top notch narration, that it was difficult for me to come up with the words to describe how impressed that I was and am with it. Susan is THE teacher you want to study with if you really want to dive deep into the world of lipid oils and butters. You will find a lifetime of wisdom and inspiration encoded in Lipids Decoded. Say yes, and the Great Creator of Seeds in the sky will shine down upon you, prompting you to sprout and flourish.

Liz zucco

I love studying with Susan. She has created groundbreaking material that is fun to learn. Her work has been critical to me to uncover my special passion using lipids in combination with other additions to a multitude of topical preparations.

If you’re serious about developing your skills with carrier oil selection or even more complex Lipid based products, Susan Parker’s workshops and materials can’t be beat!!!

Ken miller

Finished - I just finished the course, and I want to say thank you soooooo much, Susan. You've put together a stellar course. I read the book a while back and this course just added to the knowledge I obtained from that book. I have really enjoyed the course and will be taking some of your other courses in the future for sure.

Learning online doesn't mean learning alone

Not only will l be here to support you in your educational journey along with your fellow students, the oils are here for you too!

I learn from the oils every day and as you get to know them they become friends. With the oils at your fingertips, your options for creating, crafting and refining everything from luxurious facial oils to infused herbal balms, are limitless.

I invite you to join me,

Susan M Parker

author of Power of the Seed

PS: Since 2017 I have been partnering with my daughter Olivia to bring these courses, research projects and programs to you and the rest of the lipid world.

The picture here is Olivia and me in Spain in October 2018 when we were invited to Madrid to teach, and then to Jaen, Spain to visit the ancient, wild olive relative acebuche.