Skincare Secrets: Dr David Jack on the science behind healthy, happy skin
By Michelle Johnson | 17 August 2026 | Lifestyle
Beauty is no longer just skin deep, as these all-star treatments prove. Dr David Jack guides us through the science behind his game changing treatments and shares his three-step routine for healthy, happy skin
“My approach to skin has always been grounded in optimising the physiology of the skin with a very rational approach,” says Dr David Jack. A former NHS surgeon specialising in plastic surgery and burns, who launched his eponymous skincare brand in 2018, Dr Jack’s aim was clear: to create a clinically led system to support skin health.
“If you start from a biological basis – tackling the negative factors influencing the skin and supporting the good repair mechanisms – the aesthetic outcome tends to follow naturally,” he says. “I am far more interested in strengthening barrier integrity, collagen production and pigment stability than in chasing trends or layering excessive products from a commercial sense.”
In addition to his flagship Harley Street clinic, Dr Jack has London clinics in Belgravia, the City (at the Royal Exchange), Liberty department store, and in Edinburgh. Offerings at all clinics include laser and technology-led treatments, aesthetic injectables, and clinically-led facials – including his new PDRN Salmon Sperm Reset Facial.
“This is a treatment that incorporates purified polydeoxyribonucleotides PDRN] derived from salmon DNA,” he says. “These have been studied in wound healing, and the treatment is particularly useful in stressed or depleted skin.”
Despite the rather visceral name, PDRN Salmon Sperm is a remarkable activator for skin health, used in medical contexts such as tissue repair. “Its relevance in aesthetics lies in its role as a cellular signalling molecule,” explains Dr Jack. “These bind to adenosine receptors in the skin and can promote angiogenesis (better blood supply), support collagen synthesis (thicker, more resilient skin) and reduce inflammation (reduced redness)”.
Another new treatment is The Mindful Facial, which combines gentle but intensely moisturising skin treatment with guided hypnotherapy by clinical practitioner Malminder Gill.
“There is increasing evidence linking chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels to impaired barrier function and accelerated collagen breakdown, Dr Jack says. “Many patients present with flare-ups of rosacea, eczema or inflammatory acne during periods of high stress. By incorporating guided hypnotherapy into the facial, we aim to reduce sympathetic nervous system activation during the treatment itself, allowing us to somewhat address the psychological stress that we so often see affecting this skin.”
INTELLIGENT INTERVENTION
When it comes to daily routines, Dr Jack’s range of effective and utterly pampering at-home skincare follow the same clinically-led principles. “The difference lies in delivery and intensity: at-home products must be safe, stable and tolerable for repeated use,” he says.
“Nobody needs a 12-step routine,” he says, adding that many in-clinic skin problems are exacerbated by at-home over-treatment (such as over-exfoliation) and poorly combined active ingredients. “Intelligent intervention with minimal fuss is the key for skincare products, both from a dermatological point of view and in relation to sustainability.”
Dr Jack’s skincare focuses on daily care, with products such as the Skin Cushion recovery cream, Blue Face Peel, and Daily Skin Trio – an antioxidant serum, SPF daily moisturiser and retinoid-powered overnight cream – forming the basis for a simple but effective routine.
“Healthy skin is typically well-hydrated, evenly pigmented and structurally sound,” he says, adding that the clinical evidence identifies a few core categories of ingredients. “An antioxidant such as vitamin C in the morning helps mitigate oxidative stress and supports collagen synthesis. Daily SPF is non-negotiable, particularly in preventing photodamage and pigment irregularity. A retinoid in the evening remains one of the most evidence-based tools for stimulating cell turnover and improving dermal quality.”
Alongside this, he recommends a weekly controlled exfoliation supported by barrier repair.
“When done consistently, these simple foundations provide the majority of visible improvement.”
