June 12, 2026 · 5 min read
How to layer your skincare (and what order actually matters)
Thinnest to thickest is the old rule. Here's the version that respects your actives.
A good routine isn't about more products — it's about the right few, in the right order, used consistently. The general rule is thinnest to thickest, but the part that actually changes results is how you place your actives: vitamin C in the morning, retinoids at night, and never an exfoliating acid on the same night as a retinoid.
Morning
Cleanse, then an antioxidant serum like SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, a moisturizer, and — always last — a broad-spectrum SPF such as Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40. Sunscreen is the single highest-return step in any routine.
Evening
Cleanse again, then your treatment night: a gentle retinoid like The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% two to three nights a week, buffered with a barrier-supporting moisturizer such as CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. Ease in slowly — irritation sets you back further than starting low and going slow ever will.
The real secret
Tracking it. Knowing what you used, when you opened it, and what your skin did in response is how you learn your own face. That's the whole idea behind Cadence — a shelf that remembers for you.