It’s no surprise that Dr David Jack, one of London’s leading aesthetic doctors, is pretty spoilt when it comes to accessing top quality treatments and high-performance skincare. Not only does he have his own line of antioxidant-rich products and superfood-based supplements, but he also has a dedicated and extremely knowledgable team working alongside him at his Harley Street clinic.
“I have the most amazing aesthetician – Izabela who regularly does a targeted facial for me to keep my skin healthy. I’ve got a bit of pigmentation here and there from sun damage but generally speaking my skin is normal to dry,” Dr David tells us. Read on to discover how he maintains his skin outside of the clinic, why he advises using complementary ingredients and supercharging the use of your masks and peels and some of his other top tips and favourite products…
In-House Treatments…
Every six weeks or so, Izabela will do a slightly stronger, clinical-grade peel combined with extractions, facial massage and either a gentle laser, IPL or mesotherapy. Product-wise, she will use my range but often adds in some extras. Votary’s Super Boost Night Drops contain CBD so are fantastic for calming the skin post-laster.
A Lab-Like Bathroom…
I’m definitely more of a minimalist when it comes to products. I like to find products that work and stick to them as most skincare products with active ingredients need a while to deliver their full results. I’m currently testing some new products for my own brand so my bathroom cabinet resembles more of a laboratory than a stylish beauty emporium.
Morning Routine…
Overuse of products is one of my pet hates so I try to stick to a simple routine. Usually I will use a light gel cleanser in the morning – I like La Mer’s Cleansing Gel. Then I use my Good Morning! Vitamin C Serum as an antioxidant base followed by my All Day Long SPF50 Moisturiser. These are the two most important steps of any regime for optimum skin health. Antioxidants will repair damage and a broad spectrum SPF will protect.
Using Complementary Products…
Before I do a peel, I like to use a cleanser with active ingredients that complement those in the peel. For example, if you are using a retinol-based peel, I would use a cleanser with glycolic or salicylic acid. Likewise, I always follow a peel with a complementary product as the freshly peeled skin will be nicely exfoliated and at a lower pH so any active skincare will penetrate better. For oily skin, use a weaker retinol-based product with something hydrating like hyaluronic acid.
Multi-Masking…
Another top tip of mine is to consider using peels on other areas of your body – not just the skin on your face as they too can benefit. I often use a mask or peel on my neck, décolletage and the backs of my hands. These areas are exposed to the sun as frequently as the face and we often forget about them when it comes to SPF – particularly on dull days so they may in fact have more sun damage and pigmentation. For these areas, I suggest the Yellow Face Paint Peel as it contains a number of synergistic active ingredients that can help reduce pigmentation such as kojic acid, retinol, vitamin C and ferulic acid. To boost this even further, I use a vitamin C serum and retinol once the peel is done. Try this once a week for 6-8 weeks to really see results.
A Note On Acids…
The main skincare tip I would give is to stop overusing strong acids on the skin everyday. I am often asked about using ingredients like glycolic acid and high-strength retinol and always suggest a gentle approach. They are brilliant ingredients to target specific concerns but daily use can be particularly drying and can irritate the skin. I see this a lot in clinic with red, dry and sensitive skin. Be kind and sensible with your routine.
Pre-Bed Skincare…
In the evening, I’ll cleanse again but usually with something slightly thicker such as Blue Moon by Sunday Riley. I then use my Good Night Active Night Cream. Occasionally I will also add in an extra hydrating step such as RéVive’s Intensité Complete Anti-Aging Serum which contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Once a week I will also do a 15-20 minute peel with one of my face paints. I usually combine the blue (for hydration) and yellow (for pigmentation).
Supplementing Sleep…
Getting to sleep and staying asleep has always been a challenge for me – even as a child. I would love to say that I spend evenings off having an early night and catching up on sleep but this is rarely the case. To help me get off to sleep, I usually use a combination of my Sweet Dreams supplement (which contains magnesium) and some melatonin which I get from the US. I usually do a guided meditation to calm my mind from my friend Lidia Frederico who is a well-known energy therapist and then use white noise to help me zone out.
