Hidden Gems: Meet Leeanne O’Neal of The Aesthetic Edge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leeanne O’Neal.

Hi Leeanne, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a Medical Aesthetician with 7 years of experience in the Aesthetics industry. When I was at Penrose Academy, I knew I wanted to be an Aesthetic Nurse because Aesthetics is a highly passionate art, and I naturally had a good eye for it. I started at Massage Envy right out of school, where they paid me less than minimum wage because I received cash tips, and shortly after, I picked up a second job at European Wax Center to try and supplement my income. After 2 years of juggling both jobs and my pre-requisite classes needed for nursing school, I left both jobs to work for a plastic surgeon hoping it would set me on the path I wanted to become an Aesthetic Injector. Unfortunately, It was horrendous, but it taught me what I didn’t want in my career. I continued my Aesthetic career working for other chain spas with toxic “work cultures.” While working part-time, entering my nursing program, and having a new baby at home, I leaped and decided to start my own business as a solo Aesthetician. After years of clients being happy with my service, I was confident that I would succeed on my own. I knew I needed to start branding myself in the area I wanted to end up. I always worked in Scottsdale, thinking that was where I needed to be to offer Medical Aesthetics. I saw a huge need for good Aesthetic Injectors and even Aesthetics in the West Valley and decided to open my business in Glendale, AZ, near my home. Since opening my business in 2022, I left the salon suite I rented and signed a lease in an office space 5x larger to offer all of the advanced services I am passionate about in a one-stop location.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In all of my Aesthetic careers, I’ve suffered from imposter syndrome. I have always worked for somebody else, thinking I wasn’t good enough to own my own business. I wasted a lot of time making other people money while trying to provide for my family and dealing with the constant stress of toxic work cultures. I sacrificed so many precious hours with my family while working and going to school to become successful in the hopes of one day making my hours and having a flexible schedule. While in nursing school, spending 35 hours a week with school and studying to pass was recommended. I spent 35 hours a week studying while raising a family and running a business. I think it is important to believe in yourself and your potential; with hard work, you can achieve almost anything. People are doing exactly what you do with less talent and less experience. Always back yourself.

We’ve been impressed with The Aesthetic Edge, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart?
I specialize in Medical Aesthetics, treating acne, anti-aging, and hyperpigmentation. I carry SkinBetter Science and SkinMedica skincare. My treatments include SkinPen Microneedling, facials, chemical peels, Hydrafacials, body treatments, and waxing. I recently graduated from nursing school with plans to take an injection training course later this month. My “Aesthetic Edge” over other injectors currently providing treatments will be my years of expertise in skincare. I plan to incorporate skincare with every client that sees me for Aesthetic Injections to boost results and provide glowing skin. I pride myself in delivering high-quality content consistently and marketing for myself on multiple social media platforms. One word I would use to describe myself is resilient because no matter what life throws at me, I always stay consistently driven to achieve my goals, even when quitting is easier.

What were you like growing up?
As an AZ native, I grew up as a “sun worshiper” I always loved to be outside or in the pool. My mom didn’t believe in sunscreen and instead would lather in baby oil to tan. I developed a passion for skincare in high school, where I would make face masks out of ingredients found in my kitchen and give myself facials weekly, and my family thought I was crazy. My favorite mask was lemon juice and an egg white to clear blackheads. Of course, I don’t recommend doing this now (lemon juice is way too acidic to apply to the skin directly), but there wasn’t a large market for skincare when I was growing up. While growing up, my skincare options included St Ives scrub and Clean and Clear- both damaging to the skin and stripping the skin barrier making your skin worse in the long run. I initially went to college for business but dropped out to pursue my love for skincare. I struggled with sun damage and pre-mature aging skin from all the years I spent tanning outside with no sunscreen and using over-the-counter skincare. On my first day of Aesthetic school, I saw my skin under a skin scope and realized the extent of my skin’s damage. From that day forward, I stopped tanning and worked towards treating my skin damage which led to my specialty in correcting hyperpigmentation and preventing anti-aging. I strive to provide result-driven corrective skincare for all my clients with education to help them achieve their skin goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://leeanneoneal.wixsite.com/theaestheticedge
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheAestheticEdge_
• Other: https://leeanneoneal.glossgenius.com/