Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Veurink.
Hi Ashley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi, Voyage KC! I am an esthetician with a skincare studio in Brookside, but my career began in marketing. After a post-college move to Kansas City, I spent 12 years in marketing and business development in the architecture industry. I loved the work and never really planned to leave. And this is where you can insert every cliché about all of life’s twists and turns.
I had my last day in “corporate life” in September 2023 and moved into full-time freelance work before adding esthetics to the mix. I finished esthetics school and sat for my state licensing exam the following June, and launched my business in February 2025.
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?
Absolutely not, haha. But it’s also not supposed to be, right? The things that feel ‘worth it’ rarely come easy.
I love being part of a team and starting this business is super isolating. Especially this sort of business, where I have to market myself as much as the services I’m providing. And some would think putting myself out there comes easy because of my marketing background, but the cringe levels of it all could not be higher!
Being a business owner is also as hard as everyone says it is. At multiple moments I’ve wondered if I’m trying to force something I shouldn’t. But I genuinely love the work and feel motivated by the ‘doing’. The days ebb and flow, and I struggle with imposter syndrome. Some days I’m fully booked, others I worry I’ll never be consistently busy enough to make this business “my thing.” Talking with other business owners, though, is a good reminder these feelings are so normal (and sort of constant). And when I scroll through my client list, the gratitude takes over. People I first met as clients have become friends whose support has gone so far beyond their time on my treatment table. The business and money of it all is stressful, but loving the work you do, and the people you do it for, feels like the best place to begin.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about AV Esthetics?
AV Esthetics is my avenue for helping clients develop skincare practices that feel effortless and fit into their lives. The best routines are easy to keep and my goal when working with clients is to make caring for their skin feel like a little act of self love, not a chore.
My specialty is personalized skincare services, including chemical peels, acne treatments and microneedling. But I also enjoy when a client just wants to relax and leave with a glow. There’s a lot of vulnerability naturally built into self-care services, too. A visit to my studio is sometimes the last interpersonal interaction someone has in their day. And for a lot of my friends, it’s 60-90 minutes just for them when they spend their days thinking about anyone else. When someone is choosing to spend their money on a moment for themselves, I feel really beholden to providing an experience that’s as relaxing as it is results-driven.
I also have a newsletter called ‘Esthetically’ on Substack, where I cover topics from ingredients in our skincare, affordable products I’ve used and recommend, and interviews with other skincare professionals. Esthetically is meant to feel like an extension of conversations I’m having with clients in the treatment room, and it’s a fun medium for merging two things I love doing – esthetics, and writing.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I think people are generally surprised to learn I was raised on a farm in rural South Dakota, and very much lived the ‘farm kid’ life. I’m really grateful for how that upbringing shaped me. My dad still lives on and operates the farm, and it will always be ‘home.’
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleyveurink.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyveurink
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-veurink/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleyrveurink
