Dermatologists making skincare products is a no-brainer. The trajectory is simple. Become a doctor who specialises in skin, find out what your patients need after years of intense study, then capitalise on your knowledge by creating a line of products that will yield real results. It’s a business blueprint that works. But it is not an unheard-of idea exactly, is it? Wander into any pharmacy or department store and you’ll see shelves of products that promise to plump up your skin, fix up your face and knock a couple of decades off you. But who can you really trust with your skin? To help you sort the wheat from the quack-inspired chaff, we present the dermatologist brands you can trust, all of which are available on MR PORTER.

Perricone MD pegs its products as “cosmeceuticals”, cosmetics that have medicinal properties. Founded by Dr Nicholas Perricone, a doctor and dermatologist known for his studies into anti-ageing, Perricone MD has been around since 1997 and has, over two decades, evolved into a brand with a reputation for staving off the signs of ageing with formulations that keep skin looking young and healthy. “I wanted to create a brand that was solely based on science and efficacy as opposed to marketing, packaging and advertising,” says Dr Perricone. He holds a host of patents, especially for treatments that focus on preventing damage from ageing, the sun, the environment and hormonal changes. One of the brand’s most innovative products is Cold Plasma, which might sound a little like it belongs in the Alien franchise, but is one of a breed of high-in-antioxidants moisturisers that smother fine lines.

Dr Barbara Sturm is the woman behind the viral vampire facial phenomenon, which uses one’s own blood to jumpstart the skin’s regeneration process. She has amassed a cult following among celebrities and athletes. Add her Hyaluronic Serum to your regime to hike up the moisture in your skin. It contains hyaluronic acid, a chemical found naturally in the skin that holds in moisture. There is also a Skin Food Supplement that is anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing. It contains purslane, Japanese knotweed root extract and glucosamine, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and a whole host of antioxidants to make skin glow from the inside out.

New York dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross has a line of skincare stuffed full of active ingredients, such as retinol and hyaluronic acid, that can resurface skin, stimulate collagen production and unclog pores. The main focus of his products, but by no means the only one, is skincare for those with dry skin or breakouts. The Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel refines the texture of the skin in much the same way as heavy-duty exfoliator, but with none of the irritation.

111Skin takes its name from its address. Dr Yannis Alexandrides operates his dermatology clinic out of 111 Harley Street in London. “My first ever formula, the original Dramatic Healing Serum, was never intended to be sold,” he says, but demand was such that he had to move to full production. “I created the serum for my patients for post-surgical repair. It was only due to word of mouth that I was approached by Harrods, which wanted me to evolve it into a skincare line.” Now the brand has some of the most effective skincare products on the market, including the Y Theorem Repair Serum, which works to repair damaged skin.

All Dr. Jackson’s products are based on traditional botanicals and techniques, says chief scientific officer Dr Lori Bystrom, who develops products that combine medical-grade integrity with natural, ethical ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. Here’s another bit of science-grade grooming vocab for you: pharmacognosy. This is the main pillar of the UK brand and refers to “the study of natural medicines derived from plants and their traditional uses”, according to Dr Bystrom. Try the 02 Night Skin Cream, which contains baobab, a natural ingredient traditionally used to protect skin against the harsh conditions of the savannah, and kigelia, which prevents blemishes and will soothe sensitive or inflamed skin.

Dr Jean-Louis Sebagh’s eponymous brand is a grooming heavyweight. Its products focus on treating and preventing the visible signs of ageing, a pursuit that Dr Sebagh calls “ageing maintenance”. “For me, anti-ageing is the whole idea of skincare,” he says. “In order to prevent the ageing process of the skin, you need to feed your skin on a daily basis with different types of ingredients: moisturisers, hydrators, antioxidants, anti-ageing peptides, pollution filters and growth factors.” All his products are specifically engineered to make visible changes in the shortest possible time. What more could you want?