Introducing our new series with Dr. David Jack.
We have partnered with our Skincare expert Dr. David Jack, a leading London-based aesthetic doctor, who's busy Harley Street Clinic inspired him to create a simplified but effective skincare regime that treats skin health from the inside out.
1. INTRODUCE YOURSELF: YOUR NAME AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
Hello! I’m David Jack, and I’m from near Edinburgh in Scotland but now live in central London.
2. HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN SKINCARE?
My interest in skincare began when I was training in medicine up in Scotland. I took some time out of my medical degree to do a degree in anatomy, embryology and developmental biology and was fascinated by the molecular science of cell behaviour and tissues. After I left uni, my training in plastic surgery exposed me to the clinical side of skin health, in particular skin cancers and burns, as well as working in the private sector in aesthetic medicine. Throughout both sides of my career (NHS and private) I found that despite the abundance of information (and misinformation) about skin health out there, there was a lot of confusion about how to look after your skin well, which is actually pretty simple.
3. WHAT DOES THE CONCEPT OF ‘INTEGRATIVE BEAUTY’ MEAN?
When I started my skincare brand, I wanted to take some of the principles I learned in the NHS to skincare, namely - simplicity is best and that good health comes from within. Integrative medicine (or preventative medicine), which is a fascinating and growing field, taking into account person as a whole was of great interest to me. I’d trained in the traditional model of medicine, where issues were focused on, rather than prevention, so with my brand I wanted to develop a range that both treated past damage and also prevented future damage to the skin for today’s world.
4. WHY ARE SUPPLEMENTS IMPORTANT IN SKIN HEALTH?
The skin is our largest organ, by surface area, and as such gets it’s nutrition from it’s blood supply. It’s often forgotten that the skin is actually designed as a barrier to the outside, so there is only so much that topical skincare can actually do for the deeper levels of the skin. Optimised nutrition is sometimes difficult in today’s world so supplements can be a really easy way of getting what you need into your body, almost like a nutritional insurance policy! They should never be a substitute for a good diet but can certainly be a useful add on to ensure you’re getting all you need.
There is increasing evidence to support the use of certain supplements in skin health, including vitamins C and E, vitamin B7 (biotin), glutathione, forms of vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids. I’m not a believer in the hype around collagen supplementation (a good protein intake will do), and wherever possible I like to avoid animal derived ingredients. All of my supplements are in as natural forms as possible, without preservatives or bulking agents and I only use the very highest quality raw ingredients.
5. WHAT’S THE ONE SKINCARE PRODUCT YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT?
I often sound like a broken record when asked this question but the only product that I would never go without is a good SPF. UV damage is the number one cause of skin ageing, skin cancers and collagen damage in the skin, so protecting against this should always be the most important step in anyone’s skincare routine. Nowadays there are so many options and there are increasingly very advanced ‘all in one’ products that combine SPFs with other active ingredients and moisturising agents, making it really easy to
My All Day Long moisturiser contains a broad spectrum SPF 50, meaning it covers for both UVA and UVB light to a high level, and I’m adding in a blue light filter (to protect against the oxidative stress blue light from screens causes to the skin) later this year. I like lighter weight skincare as it feels like you’ve got nothing on your skin.
6. GO-TO WORKOUT?
Before lockdown, I was totally obsessed with Barry’s bootcamp and did a class every day for several years. Being forced to exercise at home, I got into lifting heavy weights again and really find this has improved my body shape and composition, as well as being much less stress on my joints compared to HIIT.
7. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE KEY TO A BALANCED LIFE?
Without a doubt this would be meditation and generally being mindful of how you spend your time and the people you surround yourself with. This is particularly so in business and I’m lucky (after a bit of a rocky road) to have some amazing people working with me these days.
9. WHAT ARE YOUR GUILTY PLEASURES?
My family heritage is Italian so I am a bit of a pasta addict. Any carbs actually!
12. WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON?
Im super excited about my new book ‘Vain Glorious’, which is published on 20th May 2021 - I wrote this with Jeremy Langmead, the ex editor-in-chief of Esquire, Wallpaper and Mr Porter - it’s a very personal take on aesthetics for men (my bit is the boring technical stuff). We also have some very exciting new products coming soon for my brand, and a whole new look!
