Scottish-born surgeon Dr David Jack is an award-winning skincare expert, with three London aesthetic clinics and a flagship in Edinburgh. He talks simplifying skincare, transformative treatments and growing a successful business

You studied medicine, with a background in plastic surgery. How has that informed the way you approach aesthetics?

I started out my career in plastic surgery and had a particular interest in hand and facial trauma, as well as burns and reconstruction, which is probably why my approach to aesthetics has always had a very anatomical foundation. This helped me to appreciate the interplay between anatomy and the skin, and how it ages in a way that’s far deeper than just injecting syringes of filler to create cheeks, or botox to reduce wrinkles. 

What spurred you on to develop a skincare line?

In clinic, we were treating the same core issues again and again – pigmentation, ageing, loss of elasticity, chronic low-level inflammation and compromised texture. The market was – and still is – a minefield of jargon, over-promising and over-selling. I wanted to create products that simplify things for patients in terms of routine, but still do what they say they will. When we formulate, we’re thinking not just about surface hydration or exfoliation, but how to modulate the cellular environment (including the skin’s microbiome) in a way that optimises the skin’s physiology over time as it ages. 

Dr David Jack

When it comes to injectables, how do you approach the nuances to a person’s face so they get a natural result?

I always start with structure – thinking about all of the layers of the face and how they are ageing. This includes everything from where volume has shifted due to bone and fat loss, to changes in the balance of muscle dynamics and UV-related skin changes. It’s never about chasing lines or proportional ‘ideals’ – more restoring anatomy and optimising the physiology of the skin. I take a very patient-centred view on restoration. The interventions should suit their faces and celebrate their individuality, not attempt to change who they are. 

What are the key products for optimised skin from age 40 upwards? 

For anyone 40 and over, the skin gets a bit more demanding due to a decline in estrogen levels and also the effect of sun damage earlier in life. You don’t necessarily need lots of steps to your routine, but you do need smart steps. A good cleanser that doesn’t strip the barrier. A robust antioxidant serum in the morning. Retinoids at night to accelerate cell turnover and stimulate collagen. And crucially, a replenishing moisturiser with a high level of sun protection to mitigate the number one cause of skin damage, pigmentation and ageing – UV light.

How should we be looking to tweak our skincare during perimenopause and menopause?

As oestrogen levels decline, skin becomes thinner, drier and more prone to pigmentation and inflammation. You’ll need richer lipids and ceramides, more support for the skin barrier and often a gentler approach to actives. Less glycolic, more PHAs and azelaic acid (my Good Night cream is an ideal active step). It’s also worth giving proper consideration to internal support around perimenopause, particularly antioxidant supplements and adaptogenic compounds that may help modulate the stress response by balancing cortisol levels. Fluctuating oestrogen and progesterone levels can disrupt cortisol regulation, which affects everything from inflammation to skin hydration and barrier repair.

What qualities do you feel have brought you entrepreneurial success?

A mix of strategy and pretty stubborn optimism. I’m quite meticulous by nature, but I’ve also had to learn to let go of being the only pair of hands working to scale my business.  Growing a business in aesthetics means building a team that shares your clinical values and design sensibility, and finding colleagues who care as much as you do. My background in surgery gave me structure and discipline, but it’s probably my love of interior design and branding that’s carried the business forward. From the start, I wanted to build clinics with considered, beautiful environments that felt as thoughtfully designed as the skincare we formulate.

You recently introduced the UltraClear laser to your Edinburgh clinic (and showcased the intense-looking healing journey first-hand on social media). Why do you see it as such a transformative treatment?

UltraClear has been a bit of a game changer in clinic. What sets it apart is that it uses a 2910nm wavelength, which allows for very precise fractional resurfacing and much shorter downtime than the traditional gold standard CO2 laser. Primarily a skin tightening laser, it can also treat pigmentation, texture, fine lines, and can be adjusted for all skin tones. It’s the first laser I’ve used that truly bridges the gap between aggressive results and relatively minimal recovery (albeit a good 1-2 weeks at the highest settings that I had for my sensitive Scottish skin), so I see it as part of the next wave of skin regeneration tools.

What new treatments are on the horizon that you’re most excited about?

Exosome-based treatments. We’re getting closer to topical and injectable delivery of cell-signalling molecules that can genuinely stimulate regeneration in a targeted way. The issue is that the studies are very early stage, so it’s difficult to justify as any more than a simple skin enhancer at the moment. I also think we’re going to see big leaps forward in AI-powered diagnostics and personalised skincare, particularly for pigmentation and inflammatory disorders.  As ever though, it’s the basics done consistently that make the biggest difference.