Skincare Layering Guide

Your routine.
In the right order.

Build your personalized AM + PM skincare routine.

Good skincare is not only about what you use — it is about when and in what order you use it. Order, timing, and compatibility determine how well a routine actually works. Tell us what is on your shelf, and we will put it in order.

Portrait of Dr. Tina Alster
Tina Alster, MD

World-renowned dermatologist and founder of The A Method®. This builder follows her layering method — skincare that is intentional, not complicated.

The Method

Why order matters

Products are generally applied from thinnest to thickest, so lighter formulas can absorb before richer ones seal the skin. Tap each layer to see what belongs there — and why.

Real routines vary. Formulation, active ingredients, skin goals, and professional guidance can all shift the order — which is exactly what the builder below accounts for. The order also changes between morning and evening: mornings focus on antioxidant defense and sun protection, evenings on treatment and repair, when actives like retinol do their best work.