How Losing Everything Led to a Skincare Business With 200+ Partners

Dr. Niklas Richter · 2026-09-22

### When Life Falls Apart, Some People Build Something New Inge Caes didn't plan to become an entrepreneur. After 18 years of marriage, her life changed overnight. Suddenly, she was on her own with her kids, trying to figure out what came next—both personally and professionally. But here's the thing about starting over: it forces you to get clear on what actually matters. For Inge, that meant going back to what she knew best. She'd spent years helping people with adult acne, trained as an esthetician, and worked with Babor Cosmetics. All that experience pointed to one idea: what if you could bring science-backed skin improvement into your own bathroom? That question became DermaLab. ### From Zero to 200+ Institutes in Under a Year Inge launched DermaLab in June 2024. At first, she aimed at everyday consumers. But something interesting happened—professional skin clinics started paying attention. They wanted what she was making. Today, more than 200 institutes use her products. The lineup keeps growing, from the Micro Infusion Treatment to solutions for acne and hair growth. And she's still figuring it out as she goes. "I didn't have a business plan that predicted any of this," Inge says. "I just knew I had to build something I believed in." That belief is what carried her through the early days. No safety net. No guarantee. Just a product she trusted and a problem she understood deeply. ### What Makes DermaLab Different Plenty of skincare brands talk about innovation. DermaLab actually delivers it—and here's how: - **Science-first formulas:** Every product is built on research, not trends. - **Professional-grade results at home:** You don't need a clinic visit to see real change. - **Targeted solutions:** Acne, hair growth, skin texture—specific concerns get specific answers. - **Trusted by experts:** When 200+ institutes put their name behind your product, that says something. Inge didn't set out to compete with big beauty brands. She set out to solve problems she'd seen up close for years. That focus is exactly why her products work. ### The Hardest Part of Starting Over Building a business from scratch isn't glamorous. It's late nights, tough calls, and moments where you wonder if you're crazy. Inge knows that feeling well. But she also knows something else: when you've already lost everything, you stop being afraid of failure. You start being afraid of not trying. That mindset shaped every decision she made. She didn't chase investors or try to scale too fast. She focused on making one thing work really well. Then another. Then another. The result? A brand that grew organically because the products actually delivered. ### What Other Entrepreneurs Can Learn Inge's story isn't just about skincare. It's about what happens when you stop waiting for the perfect moment and start building with what you have. A few takeaways: - Your past experience isn't wasted—it's your foundation. - You don't need to know everything upfront. You need to start. - Professional credibility comes from results, not marketing claims. - Sometimes the worst moments lead to the best ideas. If you're sitting on an idea but waiting for the right time, Inge's advice is simple: there is no right time. There's just now, and what you choose to do with it. ### Building Something You Actually Believe In DermaLab didn't happen because Inge had all the answers. It happened because she kept showing up, kept learning, and kept believing that what she was making could help people. That's the part no one tells you about entrepreneurship. It's not about having a flawless plan. It's about having a reason to keep going when things get hard. For Inge, that reason was simple: she'd already survived the hardest chapter of her life. Building a business was just the next one. And she's not done yet.