Dara Levy, Founder, DERMAFLASH
Dara Levy is the founder of DERMAFLASH, the award-winning at-home dermaplaning device that transformed a luxury medspa treatment into a global beauty ritual. What began as one signature tool has grown into a full line of high-performance skincare and devices, trusted by derms, editors, and thousands of women who want to feel confident in their own skin. But Dara’s story is anything but typical. She didn’t launch her company in her twenties with a pitch deck and a startup fund. She built it later in life, in the wake of profound personal loss, with no background in beauty but a clear vision, relentless tenacity, and the belief that self-care is not just about skincare. It’s about reclaiming your power, one layer at a time.
Before beauty, Dara spent fifteen years as an institutional broker at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, leading a team of fifteen men in a space where women were few and far between. She was tough, driven, and sharp—and she had to be. But life has a way of rerouting us, especially when we least expect it. After the heartbreaking loss of her first husband, Dara entered a period of deep grief and quiet transformation. It was during this time that she began prioritizing self-care in a real way. A simple monthly dermaplaning facial became her anchor—one of the few things that made her feel like herself again. She eventually opened a luxury medspa, trademarked the signature facial she had come to love, and after years of treating thousands of women, realized there was no safe and effective way to get those same results at home. So she created it herself. With no background in product development, Dara designed, patented, and launched what would become DERMAFLASH, creating not just a device but an entirely new category in the beauty industry.
In this conversation, Dara shares what it really looks like to start over, age boldly, and bet on yourself when no one hands you the blueprint. She opens up about self-care as a survival tool, why optimism is a choice she makes every day, and how women can stop waiting for the right moment and create it instead. Her journey is proof that beauty is powerful, reinvention is possible, and timing is whatever you decide it to be.
What does a vibrant and fully aligned life look like to you? What are the little or big things you do daily to make that vision a reality?
One little thing I do every day, no matter my state of mind at any given moment, is to practice gratitude. When I wake up in the morning I always say “today is going to be a great day” and I thank the universe for my amazing life. And every night before I go to sleep, I thank the universe for the health and happiness of my children, my husband, and myself. It’s such a small ritual, but it makes a huge difference. What you put out into the universe really impacts what you get back. Our brains believe what we tell them. I make a conscious effort to put positivity into the universe, and that brings positivity back into my life.
With everything you are juggling—from running a business to taking care of yourself and living a full life—what is your secret to staying grounded while still going after big dreams?
Self-care is a pillar of my life and my brand. I believe it’s essential to keeping yourself grounded. I think as women we are so conditioned to think of ourselves last, but to be our best, we need to make time and space for ourselves too. And self-care can mean different things to different people. For me, it’s exercise, eating healthy, getting grounded in nature—meaning feet in the grass or sand, whatever connects you to the natural world. I’m pescatarian and I try to eat as healthfully as possible, and I just built an organic garden at home which is giving me more joy than I ever expected. I’m fully obsessed.
Taking care of yourself—in whatever ways that work for you—helps you feel more grounded and more confident. And to achieve big dreams you need a sense of confidence. You need to believe in yourself.
Is there a Woo Woo Working Woman, in your field or beyond, whose passion, purpose, and presence inspire you? What have you learned from her?
There are so many, but I do love Oprah, the queen. I’m inspired by how she’s fought tooth and nail for everything she has. She’s an amazing role model, and the more powerful role models we have out there, the more empowered younger women will become. Spanx founder Sarah Blakely is another example of a strong, successful female entrepreneur who helps young women realize “I too can achieve this.”
Was there a defining moment that set you on the path to becoming the woman you are today? How did it change the way you saw yourself and your future?
I’ve had several defining moments in my life, both in my career and in my personal life. Before I founded DERMAFLASH, I worked as an institutional broker at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. I led a team of 15 men and I was one of only a handful of women leaders in a very male-dominated business. It was an uphill battle and I had to let a lot roll off my back. But it taught me that there's nothing you can't do, if you decide to do it!
I worked there for 15 years, and then, my husband (my first husband) was diagnosed with colon cancer. If anything defines you, it’s how you deal with adversity. We battled for four and a half years, and when my kids were 9 and 11, we lost the battle Quite honestly, after my husband died, it was hard to get out of bed for a long time, but I had no choice but to move forward. Yoga helped, friends helped, therapy helped and time helped.
I’ve also had a more recent challenge. I had an unexpected and unwanted visitor last year…. stage one breast cancer, which was no fun. I dealt with it head on, had surgery and a month of radiation, and then I was good to glow again. I believe positivity is the only answer to keep you moving forward in the best way. It was a nuisance, I got rid of it. That chapter just made me feel more grateful for my life than I already was.
Your path from working in finance to launching a medspa and building DERMAFLASH has taken a lot of courage, reinvention, and growth. What is one lesson you’ve learned through it all that still guides you today?
The industry has changed a lot since I started DERMAFLASH in 2016, but one lesson that still holds true is that when women support each other, we all win. Shortly after I founded DERMAFLASH, I remember walking into a meeting at Sephora with a 3D image of my soon-to-be device and receiving a standing ovation from the very seasoned (and normally very stoic) women around the table. They believed in DERMAFLASH and that validation helped give me wings! Mentorship and advocacy are essential. I love seeing women uplift and empower each other. I insist on this culture in my company and I have instilled these values in my own daughters from a young age.
You launched a globally recognized beauty brand without a background in product development or the beauty industry. How did you learn what you needed to bring DERMAFLASH to life and what gave you the confidence to figure it out along the way?
I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but I had a vision, and my tenacity has always been my strongest trait and sometimes my worst. I’m like a dog with a bone—when I put my mind to something, nothing can stop me! One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you’re not always going to get everything right the first time, and that every mistake is an opportunity to change and grow. Here’s an example: When we first launched the DERMAFLASH device, it looked very different. There were certain features that we thought were intuitive, but our customers found them confusing. I made the tough call to completely reimagine the device rather than making tiny tweaks. We took all the learnings and applied them to our new design, which ended up being the award-winning version you see now.
And going back to what I mentioned earlier, self-care is truly the key to giving yourself the confidence you need—not just in your career, but in your entire life. I believe the universe has a plan, and when I was dealing with my husband’s illness, the one thing I consistently did to make me feel better about myself was to get a dermaplaning treatment every month. The confidence it gave me made me feel better in my own skin, and that helped me face whatever challenges I had to face. That was ultimately the impetus for me to open my own Med Spa and, from there, to create my company.
I got tired of going to a spa for facials and to a dermatologist for Botox and to a plastic surgeon's office for dermaplaning, and since I have an entrepreneurial mindset, I decided to open my own Med Spa and put the best-of-the-best under one roof. I trademarked my dermaplaning facial DERMAFLASH, because that was the foundation of everything we did at the spa. One day a lightbulb went off, and I realized an at-home dermaplaning solution did not exist. Five years and 6,000 treatments later, I invented the DERMAFLASH sonic dermaplaning and peach fuzz removal device—along with an entirely new category in beauty.
As women, we need to decide what dreams we want to pursue rather than allowing our aspirations to be defined for us. We have to dance to our own beat and stay open to what the universe is putting out there for us.
So many women have big ideas but feel overwhelmed by where to begin. What would you say to someone who is passionate about creating something of her own but is unsure how to take the first step?
To take an idea and turn it into reality requires passion, drive, and tenacity. Those are the top attributes you see in a founder. You can’t take “no” for an answer. If you’re pitching an idea and someone tells you why it won’t work, go find someone who tells you why it will work. Find people who believe in your vision and think that it’s real until it becomes real! I fully believe that we are able to manifest our wishes and desires.
There’s so much pressure to figure everything out in your 20s, especially when it comes to career and success. What has building a business later on taught you about growth, confidence, and owning your own timeline?
The universe has a plan, and you are right where you’re meant to be at any given point in time. I encourage all young women to give themselves grace and embrace their journey. Your path might not look the same as someone else’s, and that’s one hundred percent okay. I was in my 50s when I invented DERMAFLASH. We have no limits except the limits we put on ourselves.
How has your relationship with aging and beauty evolved over time, both personally and as the founder of a brand that’s all about helping women feel radiant in their own skin?
The older I get, the more I realize my essential need to nurture myself. I try to walk every day in nature and of course I’m committed to my self-care and skincare rituals. I am a skincare junkie, so the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is layer on an essence and multiple serums, moisturizer and of course sunblock. If anything is important, it is protecting your skin! I always set aside time on Sunday to do a complete facial at home. First, I flash with our DERMAFLASH LUXE+ device to get rid of all the dead skin cells and peach fuzz. When you remove all of this build-up, your skincare can fully absorb and do its job. Next, I’ll use our DERMAPORE+ to deep clean and get rid of any clogged pores. After that, I apply our Botanical Ketoacid Toner, which is an amazing resurfacing formula that’s safe for sensitive skin. Then I’ll finish with our HYDRAFLASH Active Cocooning Serum along with a multitude of other products. I’m currently obsessed with Korean skincare!
What do you wake up looking forward to in your day and work?
When I had my Med Spa, I would watch women come in with their shoulders slumped and in a bad mood and not feeling like themselves. And literally 30 minutes later, they would walk out standing straighter, feeling better in their own skin and glowing. I never got tired of that, and now, I wake up every day looking forward to the comments we get from our customers about how DERMAFLASH has transformed their skin and given them the confidence they need. Another thing I look forward to every day is coming up with ideas for new products and devices. I’m not one to rest on my laurels. I’m always creating and getting inspired.
What is the greatest gift you can give yourself?
I touched on this a little already, but I think the greatest gift you can give yourself is gratitude. The more grateful you are, the better things turn out for you—and that’s because we manifest our reality. If you are positive and feel like things are going to be good, that's what you bring into your life. If you're negative and have negative thoughts, then that's what the universe is going to bring to you. It’s really all about harnessing the energy you want to see in your life.
Absolute favorite leaders and experts to follow for beauty, health, and wellness?
The older I get, the more spiritual I get. I love Gabby Bernstein and Mel Robbins on the health and diet side. I’m obsessed with Tim Spector and his cookbook Food for Life, and of course, Oprah, the queen.
When you look back on everything it took to bring DERMAFLASH into the world, what is the one message you hope other women take from your story? If your journey could spark something in someone else, what would you want that to be?
Lead from a place of grace and love. Empathy and kindness always win the race.
To explore the full DERMAFLASH collection and skincare rituals, follow @dermaflash and visit dermaflash.com.
