Small Business Spotlights are a new feature sharing the stories of our Small Business Council members and highlighting the role small businesses play in North Carolina’s economy. Employing more than 1.7 million people statewide and comprising 99% of all businesses, small businesses are the lifeblood of our state’s entrepreneurial spirit. If you are a member who would like to be featured, email smallbusiness@ncchamber.com. Not a member yet? Join on our website.

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but the visionaries behind ILŪMRA Skin are focused on giving their clients a glow that starts from within.

Co-Founders Elizabeth Smith, Diala Price, and Judy Doo have a combined 30+ years of experience in the medical aesthetics industry. Together with Owner and Medical Director Dr. Philip Deibel, they wanted to create a practice that bridged the gap between functional medicine and aesthetics.

“Beauty can sometimes be so superficial, but at the end of the day, how you feel on the inside affects your outside appearance,” said Smith, who serves as the company’s CEO. “If you feel good on the inside, whether that’s addressing gut health or other wellness opportunities, that translates outward, and vice versa.”

Smith has more than 12 years of medical aesthetics leadership under her belt, most recently as chief marketing officer of a major esthetic device company.

In addition to traditional medspa offerings such as injectables, facials, and microneedling, ILŪMRA’s clients can take advantage of wellness services like food sensitivity and gut testing, vitamin shots, and overall wellness and longevity consultations.

A Seat at the Table

When deciding where to open their practice, ILŪMRA’s founders saw North Carolina as a natural fit due to its pro-small-business climate.

With community as a core value, they immediately began looking for ways to get plugged in and decided to join the NC Chamber’s Small Business Council to stay on top of state-level discussions about healthcare.

“What better way to understand the community and get involved than by joining the Chamber,” Smith said. “We felt that joining the Chamber would provide us an opportunity to meet with some of the bigger players and get our voice out.”

That voice matters. Like many small business leaders, the ILŪMRA team is navigating rising costs and a complex web of healthcare regulations. Smith said she’d like to see a middle ground that protects patients while letting small businesses flourish.

“We all have the same goal,” she said. “We want to treat our patients appropriately and correctly and give patients the opportunity to choose their provider.”

‘Take the Leap’

Smith has one simple tip for aspiring entrepreneurs: you just have to take the leap.

“It’s nerve-racking to say, ‘I’m going to leave my six-figure, stable job,’” she said. “But it’s been so rewarding to start something and see it grow.”

Her second lesson is to be open to change – the only constant in running a business.

“Go in with a vision and a pathway to get there, but if that pathway changes, it’s okay,” Smith said. “There are going to be ups and downs. Just keep going. Trust your gut. Trust each other.”

For Smith, the biggest reward has been watching her team of nine thrive in an environment where they are set up to succeed.

“If you’re a patient coming to see us, we hope you feel that culture,” she said. “That we’re happy to be here, that our team is empowered to give you the best result possible, not just visually but how you feel inside. We’re creating a community.”

That community is growing. ILŪMRA is looking to expand its wellness offerings and planning to scale, possibly with additional locations or a consumer product line.

“There are gaps in aesthetics. There are products people need that don’t exist,” Smith said. “We’re just getting started.”

Follow ILŪMRA Skin

Website | Instagram | Facebook