Female Founded: Dara Levy, Founder of DERMAFLASH

by Amy Nicholson

Livsstil • 03 March 2020

In homage to International Women’s Day of the 8th March, we’ve dedicated an entire month to celebrating all things female. From brand founders and product innovators to industry leaders, we take a look at the work, life and secrets behind some of beauty’s most successful females.

Ex-broker turned beauty phenomenon, Dara Levy is a force to be reckoned with.

After the tragedy of losing her beloved husband in 1997, Dara decided to change the direction of her career and opened her first MedSpa where she trademarked her bespoke DERMAFLASH treatments.

Her treatments included the process of removing dead skin cells, built-up debris and peach fuzz from the surface of the female face. Fast-forward a few years and she’s honed her dermaplaning technique into an at-home beauty device that can be used anytime, anywhere.

We caught up with the brand founder to discuss life before DERMAFLASH, how can’t isn’t a word in her vocabulary, and why everyone should be shaving their face.

What did you do before creating Dermaflash?

Prior to creating DERMAFLASH, I was an institutional broker at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. With a staff of 15 men, I was only one of a handful of female members and ended up marrying a trader from the floor.

My husband was diagnosed with cancer in 1997 and while we waged a war, we ultimately lost the final battle after 4.5 years of fighting.

My husband was diagnosed with cancer in 1997 and while we waged a war, we ultimately lost the final battle after 4.5 years of fighting.

In 2009, I completely changed direction and opened a MedSpa, where the foundation of all my services were my trademarked DERMAFLASH Facial Treatment, a dermaplaning procedure that used a sterile, surgical scalpel to remove dead skin cells, built-up debris, and peach fuzz from the surface of women’s skin.

Talk us through the birth of DERMAFLASH. What’s the story behind the brand? How did you go about inventing it?

So, my MedSpa quickly became THE go-to spa for local and visiting celebs.

I have always been a skincare junkie and formulating a superior topical skincare line seemed like a natural evolution. I was struggling with exactly what the hero ingredient would be and one day the light bulb moment came to me.

I was taking a shower when out of nowhere I literally screamed, “OMG! It’s DERMAFLASH!” at the top of my lungs. I went running out of the shower soaking wet and immediately began making phone calls….the rest is history!

I was taking a shower when out of nowhere I literally screamed, “OMG! It’s DERMAFLASH!” at the top of my lungs. I went running out of the shower soaking wet and immediately began making phone calls….the rest is history!

What has been your biggest challenge you’ve faced at work? And how have you overcome it?

When we first launched in 2016 the device looked very different. There were certain attributes that we thought were intuitive that the end user found confusing. We made the decision to completely re-imagine the device, rather than simply changing the issues.

We sold through our existing inventory as we worked on creating what is now our iconic look and feel.

We took all of the learnings and applied them to our new design in order to make the DERMAFLASH not only more effective, but incredibly intuitive and user friendly.

I believe there is no such word as can’t. I am tenacious, passionate, and believe in my soul that what I have created truly is a magic wand.

In hindsight, it was the best decision we could have made and has won us countless loyal FLASHERS as well as many industry awards and accolades!

You’re obviously a really successful business woman, what do you think the secret to success is?

I believe there is no such word as can’t. I am tenacious, passionate, and believe in my soul that what I have created truly is a magic wand.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Don’t sweat the small stuff. The universe has a plan, and you are right where you are meant to be at any given point in time.

Where do you see Dermaflash in the next five years? Do you have plans for more products?

Over the next 5 years we hope to see DERMAFLASH proudly displayed on the countertops of women worldwide.

We are committed to empowering women all over the world to look and feel their best by bringing to market a range of ground-breaking, multi-tasking devices and skincare solutions that deliver INSTANT gratification and tangible results.

We are committed to all over the world to look and feel their best by bringing to market a range of ground-breaking, multi-tasking devices and skincare solutions that deliver instant gratification and tangible results.

We have recently launched our newest innovation, DERMAPORE, an ultrasonic pore cleansing device which has been a run-away success.

We will soon launch our first skin care solution, an incredible custom blended formulation of cell-regenerating ingredients found in nature that hydrates, protects, renews, and nourishes.

Discover Dermaflash >

share
Eksempel på post Female Founded: Ada Ooi, Founder of 001 Skincare London
Næste post Female Founded: Tania Boler, Founder and CEO of Elvie