Meet Leigha Somma | Owner of Leigha Somma Skin, Licensed Esthetician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leigha Somma and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leigha, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks has always been a daunting and scary thought when it comes to decisions in my personal and professional life. What if I make a mistake? What if I fail? Those two questions, and many more doubts, flooded my mind and kept me in places, environments, and relationships far longer than I should’ve stayed. The biggest risk I took involved me, a naive, inexperienced aesthetician, working for a medical spa that was extremely toxic, growth-stunting, and left me miserable. This was my first job in the industry, and I did not want to make any mistakes that I would regret. But then it clicked in my head – would my ideal work environment make me feel upset every day? Would my ideal managers stunt my growth? I started writing a list of things I wanted to feel and gain from working as an aesthetician, and quickly realized that that environment wasn’t for me. Sure, I didn’t have as much experience or clientele as other aesthetician’s did, but I knew what I deserved and made a choice to put in my notice, in search for something better, something that actually served me and my purpose. The anxiety was real when I put in my notice, but looking back, it was one of the best decisions I could’ve made for myself. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith, trust in the unknown, and have faith in the universe that it has your back & you will land back on your feet. This risk has led to more self-trust, and not settling for anything less than what I deserve. It was a snowball effect, which led me to other businesses, and eventually the start of my own skincare business. I truly do believe that sometimes things need to crumble before the best things fall into place.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My passion of skincare and helping others led me to the career path of a licensed esthetician, and more currently, a business owner! I began my esthetics journey by taking a leap of faith and moving to Denver, CO from Wyoming in 2018, at the age of 22. I knew one person in Colorado (my then roommate), and I knew I wanted something more than what Wyoming could offer. I got my foot in the aesthetics door by working at a plastic surgery center in Golden, Colorado and working my way up the ladder. I did reception work, ran numbers, and other back of house tasks before becoming a licensed provider at their med spa, serving clients with medical aesthetic services. I learned so much about the industry, different skincare brands and procedures, and took away valuable information. Once that door closed, I went to different med spas, trying to find my way and find a company that fell in line with my values and purpose. I quickly realized that didn’t exist, and I had to start my own business to feel fulfilled with my career. My mission is to help others feel good, and look good. Being genuine and authentic are how I show up, and I wanted my ideal clients to find me, because my ideal clients are also genuine and authentic. I feel like that’s a hard task in the aesthetics industry, as it can be tainted with superficiality and cruelness. None of this has been easy, but it has been so worth it. I am so grateful every single day for each experience that has led me to today, and nothing has been a mistake. I want others to know that if I can do it, so can they. The only limit you have is your own mind. Do not let others place ceilings on your growth, or on what you can achieve.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My very best friend visited me a couple years ago, and it was so fun to show her around, do activities, and just be in each other’s company. One of the reasons we get along so great is because of shared interests. If she was here for a week starting tomorrow, I would take her to St. Mary’s Glacier and do a hike there, and follow it up with dinner at Smokin’ Yards BBQ. After that, we would go check out the Golden Mill and grab a drink from their self-serve alcohol wall & enjoy the dog-friendly patio. The next day, we would catch a rock concert at Red Rocks, and sing our hearts out. I would also show her my business in Wheat Ridge, which is a cute space that I do facials out of. One of my favorite things to do in Downtown Denver is Puttshack, which is a mini-golf place with yummy food and drinks. I hope she can make it out here soon so we can actually do these things!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Cat Mackinely – she is a gem of a human that I met in esthetics school. She jumped right into the workforce after school, following her passion, and became someone I look up to for so many reasons. She is so emotionally sound and helped me in ways that others couldn’t.

Website: https://leighasommaskin.com

Instagram: leighasommaskin

Yelp: leigha somma skin

Image Credits
Sarah Eliz Photography