Hidden Gems: Meet Stephanie Opper of Skinsational Esthetics

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Opper.

Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always had a personal and professional passion for helping others. After spending 15 years working in a Corporate America Business Management profession, I knew I needed to do something more to fulfill my passions. I wanted to have a direct impact on people. While taking time for my self-care, I realized that Esthetics was an area that intrigued me. I loved what I learned as I researched, which is how my journey was re-ignited. I say re-ignited because in my original undergrad “plan,” I was going to be a Geriatric nurse to help others with the aging process. I had also dabbled in Direct Marketing as an Arbonne (skincare products) consultant. Fast forward seven years to today. I am a Licensed Esthetician and successful business owner. I established Skinsational Esthetics in 2019 with three clients and have grown my business to a place I did not think was possible. And this is just the beginning!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course not! My biggest struggle was having to start from scratch in another state. I went to Esthetics School and earned my Master Esthetics license to practice in Virginia; I had my dream job at a Medical Spa and was eager to start; my husband was then offered a great opportunity in North Carolina. So, we relocated. Fortunately, the VA licensing requirements were higher than NC, so that I could get reciprocity. To my surprise, I did not recognize the extra 600 hours of education and clinical that I took in VA for the advanced license in NC. I was excited to find a local Medspa to hire me, but after six months, they decided to close their doors. I did not want to leave the area because there was a need for this service in Wake Forest. So, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and never looked back! And that is how Skinsational Esthetics was established. There have been other struggles along the way, but I feel good about how I navigated through them. Operating as an independent provider can be challenging if you do not have a support network. I find that to be a struggle in itself. I have been very blessed to find other providers in the Raleigh/Wake Forest area and Northern Virginia that support each other. There are plenty of clients in this area for all of us to be successful.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Skinsational Esthetics is a woman-owned small business. I started it on the fly with a business plan in my head. Fast forward three years, and it has become an actual brand for me and others. I think setting the right expectations for clients is so important. It’s okay to say that you cannot meet a client’s expectations and refer them out. I think that sets me apart from others. I am interested in the overall outcome and well-being of my client’s skin health. I cannot provide every service on the market, so I try to offer the ones that provide the most results. I only offer services and products to my clients that I would use on myself or my family. Educating clients on the importance of skin health is one of my favorite services that I provide to all of my clients. Once the green light turns on, they are more committed to following their home and in-office regimen. You would be surprised how many people spend money to improve their skin but do not cleanse or protect it. If the canvas isn’t any good, then who cares if you have wrinkles?

There isn’t a one size fits all protocol. My services are custom to each client. I find this to work well because most clients are not struggling with one type of skin concern.

What are your plans for the future?
This industry has exploded since I started my journey. It can be very overwhelming for providers and clients. I want to take all my knowledge and experience and offer the best esthetic treatments and wellness services in one spot. I look forward to growing my brand and adding services that embrace wellness and the whole body.

Pricing:

• Custom Facials
• HydraFacial™
• Microchanneling
• Chemical Peels
• Ellebana Eyelash Lifts

Contact Info:

• Website: www.myskinsationalesthetics.com
• Instagram: @skinsational_esthetics
• Facebook: @myskinsationalesthetics

Image Credits
J.P. Lord Photography