Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Dennis.
Hi Valerie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I don’t think I became an esthetician because I loved skincare. I think I became an esthetician because I knew what it felt like to be uncomfortable in my own skin.
As a young girl in middle school up until my 30’s, I struggled with acne. I remember when I was in highschool, trying to cover it with makeup, only to be made fun of for wearing makeup too. It felt like I couldn’t win. Looking back, I realize it wasn’t just the acne that affected me, it was what it did to my confidence.
When I became an esthetician in 2013, I thought I was choosing a career. I had no idea it would become my purpose.
There’s nothing I love more than sitting across from someone during a consultation, hearing their story, and helping them realize they’re not alone. And the smiles on their faces when we have reached their skin goals will always warm my heart. Skin has never been “just skin” to me. Every breakout, scar, wrinkle, or condition belongs to a real person with insecurities, experiences, and emotions.
As my career grew, I started realizing I wanted to care for people differently than what I often experienced in the industry. I wanted clients to feel heard instead of rushed. I wanted to educate them, not just recommend products. Later, when I became an educator, I felt the same way about students. I wanted to mentor them and prepare them for a successful career, not simply teach them enough to pass a test.
Those experiences eventually led me to open Dermalessence Skin Care in 2019. Ironically, just months later, COVID shut everything down. Like many small business owners, I felt like I had to start all over again. I built my business with secondhand furniture, the smallest retail orders I could afford, and product samples that doubled as backbar. There were times I questioned everything, but giving up never felt like an option because I knew why I had started.
Education kept finding its way back into my life. Since 2015, I had taught on and off whenever opportunities arose, eventually becoming Director of a Master Esthetics program. Those experiences confirmed something I couldn’t ignore, I wasn’t just passionate about skincare; I was passionate about helping people grow.
Today, through both Dermalessence Skin Care and the Dermalessence Esthetics Institute, I get to do exactly that. Whether someone walks through my door as a client or as a student, my goal is the same: I want them to leave feeling more confident than when they arrived.
If there’s one thing my journey has taught me, it’s that some of the hardest seasons end up becoming the very things that prepare us for the work we’re meant to do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. There have been many moments throughout my journey where I questioned whether I should keep going.
Early in my career, one of my biggest struggles was learning my own worth. I poured everything I had into helping the businesses I worked for succeed. I became a lead esthetician, consistently ranked as the top retail seller, and always tried to go above and beyond. But there were times when I realized my dedication wasn’t being valued the way I had hoped. One moment that really stands out was receiving a ten-cent raise after years of hard work. It wasn’t about the money, it was realizing I was waiting for someone else to recognize my value instead of believing in it myself. That became the push I needed to finally pursue my own dream full force!!
I opened Dermalessence in 2019, and just a few months later, COVID shut everything down.
Like so many small business owners, I felt like I was starting over. I furnished my treatment room with secondhand furniture, ordered the smallest retail sizes I could afford, and even used product samples as backbar while I slowly built my inventory. There were days when I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and honestly had no idea what I was doing. I was learning as I went.
There were moments I sat at home or in my treatment room in tears, wondering if I should keep fighting or just call it quits. The stress felt overwhelming at times. I had poured everything into this dream, worked long days, worn every hat imaginable, and still questioned if it would ever be enough. But every time I thought about giving up, I remembered why I started in the first place.
Education brought its own challenges as well. I’ve been teaching on and off since 2015 and eventually became Director of a Master Esthetics program. While I was grateful for those opportunities, I also experienced environments that reinforced the kind of leader and educator I wanted to become. I wanted students to feel seen, supported, and genuinely prepared for successful careers, not simply treated as numbers.
Looking back now, I realize every obstacle taught me something I couldn’t have learned any other way. My struggles taught me resilience. My setbacks taught me humility. The difficult work environments taught me the kind of culture I wanted to build. And the moments when I questioned everything taught me that perseverance isn’t about never feeling like quitting, it’s about choosing to keep going anyway.
Those experiences are the reason Dermalessence Skin Care and the Dermalessence Esthetics Institute exist today. They’ve shaped not only the business I’ve built, but the person and leader I’ve become.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Dermalessence is more than a skincare practice, it’s built on the belief that every client and every student deserves someone who genuinely wants to understand them.
As a licensed master esthetician and educator, I specialize in corrective skincare, acne management, and treating a wide range of skin conditions such as pigmentation, sensitive/sensitized skin, mature skin, and acne across all skin tones. I’m known for taking a results-driven yet compassionate and progressive approach, combining science, education, and personalized care to help people truly understand their skin. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all treatments; I believe in meeting each person where they are and creating a plan that works for them.
One of the things I’m most passionate about is never becoming complacent. The skincare industry is constantly evolving, and I believe it’s my responsibility to continue learning so I can provide the best possible care. Whether I’m researching new ingredients, studying skin conditions across different skin tones, learning about the effects of medications and hormones, or exploring how overall wellness impacts the skin, I’m always asking one question: Why? Why is this happening, and how can I better help the person sitting in front of me?
I think that’s what sets Dermalessence apart. We don’t chase trends or promise miracle results. We focus on education, evidence-based treatments, and building trust. My clients know they’ll receive honest recommendations, and if I don’t know an answer, I’ll find it. I’d rather continue learning than pretend to know everything. Through services like customized facials, acne treatments, and advanced skin therapies, my goal is always to deliver real, lasting results while educating clients along the way.
That same philosophy is the foundation of the Dermalessence Esthetics Institute, where I oversee the Basic Esthetics, master Esthetics, and Wax Technician Programs. I don’t just want students to pass their licensing exam, I want them to become thoughtful, compassionate professionals who continue learning throughout their careers. Technical skills are important, but integrity, curiosity, and genuine care for people are what create exceptional estheticians.
More than anything, I’m proud of the culture we’re building. I truly love getting out into our community, connecting with people, and building relationships beyond the treatment room. I want Dermalessence to be known as a place where people feel safe asking questions, where they’re treated with honesty and respect, and where education is just as important as the treatment itself. If someone leaves with healthier skin or greater confidence, that’s wonderful. But if they also leave feeling understood, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’ve always loved the ancient Chinese proverb about the old farmer whose horse runs away. The lesson is often summarized as, “Good luck, bad luck…who knows?” I first heard it on Bluey, and it really stuck with me because it perfectly reflects how I’ve come to view my own journey.
Looking back, there were many moments that felt like bad luck at the time. Struggling with acne as a teenager, receiving a ten-cent raise after years of dedication, opening my business just before COVID, working in environments where I didn’t always feel valued, and wondering if I should just give up. In those moments, I couldn’t see the bigger picture.
But years later, I can honestly say those experiences became some of my greatest gifts. My struggles with acne gave me empathy for my clients. Feeling undervalued gave me the courage to build something of my own. COVID taught me resilience and resourcefulness. Difficult work environments showed me the kind of leader, business owner, and educator I wanted to become.
There were many nights I questioned myself. I remember sitting in my treatment room in tears, wondering if I should continue or call it quits. I was working long days, carrying the weight of a business on my shoulders, and, if I’m being honest, there were times I didn’t really know what I was doing. I was learning as I went. But I kept taking the next step.
Today, when I look back on those seasons, I don’t see bad luck anymore. I see preparation. Every obstacle shaped the person I became and the culture I’m building at Dermalessence and the Dermalessence Esthetics Institute.
So when something doesn’t go the way I hoped, I try to remind myself, “Good luck, bad luck…who knows?” Sometimes what feels like a setback is simply life preparing you for something you can’t see yet.
Pricing:
- Signature Facial Treatments: Starting at $110
- Advanced Corrective Treatments (Microcurrent, LED, Chemical Peels, SWiTCH™, etc.): Starting at $175
- Dermalessence Esthetics Institute: Basic Esthetics, Master Esthetics, and Wax Technician programs. Tuition and payment plans available upon request.
- Acne treatments starting at $100 (packages available)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.DermalessenceSkincare.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/DERMAL.ESSENCE
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/DermalessenceSkincare
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriedskincareexpert?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/dermalessence-fredericksburg
