About
Essence² Aesthetics and Wellness
Discover refined beauty and personalized wellness in the heart of Mount Pleasant, SC.
At Essence² Aesthetics and Wellness, we fuse science and artistry to deliver elevated aesthetic experiences tailored to your unique goals.
All About Us
Co-Owner Katie Kelley, RN, a trusted aesthetic injector with over 17 years of clinical expertise, Essence² is built on a foundation of clinical excellence, compassion, and results-driven care. With a skilled nurse injector, a licensed aesthetician, and strategic operational leadership, we are committed to helping you look and feel your absolute best.
Every service is designed to restore confidence, enhance natural beauty, and support your overall well-being.
Our mission is simple: To help you feel empowered, refreshed, and radiant, from the inside out.
Meet the Team
Co-Owner & Lead Nurse Injector
Katie Kelley, RN
Katie brings over 17 years of expertise in aesthetic and wellness medicine, combining clinical precision with a personalized, whole-body approach to patient care. Katie specializes in advanced injectable treatments, laser therapies, and wellness services designed to help clients look and feel their best from the inside out.
Katie is extensively trained and certified in a wide range of treatments, including neurotoxins (Botox, Dysport, Jeuveau, Xeomin, and Daxxify), dermal fillers (Juvederm, Restylane, RHA Collection), PDO threads, PRP hair restoration, and EZ Gel. She is highly experienced with industry-leading laser systems such as BBL, Moxi, Halo, CO2RE, and Lumenis platforms.
Her background also includes medical-grade skincare, chemical peels, and sclerotherapy, further enhancing her ability to support clients' overall aesthetic journeys.
Katie delivers care rooted in both science and compassion. She is known for her warm demeanor, honest consultations, and commitment to natural-looking results. Whether you're beginning your aesthetic or wellness journey, Katie offers a safe, knowledgeable, and customized experience to help you achieve your goals and feel confident every step of the way.
Nurse Practitioner
Makayla Hartley, MSN, APRN, FNP
Makayla is a Nurse Practitioner with a background in neonatal critical care and a passion for aesthetic medicine.
Her experience in the NICU has shaped her commitment to providing thoughtful, safe, and compassionate care.
As a new mom to her daughter, Makayla understands the importance of feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin while balancing the many roles life brings.
She is passionate about creating personalized treatment plans that enhance each patient’s natural beauty and help them feel like the best version of themselves.
Esthetician
Jenna Huegel
Originally from a small town in western Pennsylvania, Jenna is thrilled to now call the Lowcountry home. Her passion for esthetics goes far beyond skincare—she loves creating a warm, welcoming environment where every client feels heard, valued, and confident in their skin.
Jenna received her esthetics training from The School Paul Mitchell Charleston and has a passion for combining skincare knowledge with personalized treatments designed around each client’s unique needs and goals. She believes that when you feel your best, you can be your best, and she loves helping clients achieve healthy, glowing skin while building confidence along the way.
From customized facials and chemical peels to advanced treatments like microneedling, Jenna takes the time to understand each client’s concerns and create a personalized approach to their skincare journey. Whether you’re looking to address specific skin concerns, maintain healthy skin, or simply enjoy some well-deserved self-care, Jenna wants every visit to leave you feeling refreshed, confident, and cared for.
One of Jenna’s favorite parts of being an esthetician is the relationships she builds with her clients. She’s excited to be your skincare partner, biggest cheerleader, and a trusted resource as you work toward your goals.
When she isn’t in the treatment room, Jenna enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Oscar, and their fur babies, searching the beach for shark teeth, and taking in beautiful Lowcountry sunsets.
Esthetician
Sarah Binder
Sarah, our new esthetician, comes to us with over 15 years of experience in the skin care industry. Originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Sarah came to the lowcountry in 2003 to attend the College of Charleston. She graduated with an International Business degree in 2007 with a plan to go into the makeup industry.
After deciding to attend the International Spa Institute in 2010, Sarah realized that while she still loved makeup artistry, facials and getting to the route cause of skin care concerns became her true passion. While Sarah offers a variety of customized facials to treat all skin types and concerns, she really has an affinity for treating clients with problematic and acneic skin, specializing in extractions and determining the root cause of the issue.
While not at work Sarah and her husband can be found enjoying time outside and sampling all the delicious cuisine the Charleston area has to offer. As an avid foodie and cook, Sarah has spent a lot of time researching that what we put in the body affects the skin just as much, if not more, than what we put on it.