When: At night

Why: Check your labels. If you're using a retinoid product or any product containing vitamin A, you need to shift your routine from a.m to p.m. "Products with vitamin A derivatives should be applied in the evening because sunlight can lessen their efficacy," says dermatologist Dr. Jeanine Downie, director of Image Dermatology P.C. in Montclair, N.J. For best results, Downie recommends washing your face with a gentle cleanser, applying your retinoid and following with a moisturizer before hitting the hay.

When: Two weeks before your period, or one week after it

Why: Ever notice how much more sensitive your skin is during your period? According to Downie, the drop in estrogen levels causes your skin to lose water and become drier, which makes your skin more susceptible to irritation. To avoid extra pain on top of the aches and cramps you experience during your period, she suggests scheduling all hair removal procedures two weeks before you start. Downie also notes that hair grows faster during the hormonal surges after your cycle. To get more bang for your buck, schedule your appointments for the week after your period to get rid of more hair at once.

When: In the a.m.

Why: Your feet are smallest and truest to their genuine size first thing in the morning because, throughout the day, walking and standing causes your feet and ankles to swell to a bigger size. According to podiatrist Phillip Vasyli, chairman of Vionic shoes, it's important to buy shoes that fit this true size to avoid going up shoe sizes over time.

If you try on new shoes in the afternoon or evening, when your feet are most swollen from bearing your weight all day, you'll find they tend to slip the next morning. "This causes rotation in the ankles and poor distribution of weight, which further swells the feet in an attempt to fill that shoe," says Vasyli. "But when you wear a shoe that fits the foot at its proper size, the shoe actually helps pull or bind the foot together. If you keep the foot in a certain shape, it maintains that shape."

When: Half an hour after you eat

Why: Seems pretty obvious: You'd want to brush right after you bite into a burger or down extra garlic-y guac, right? Wrong. "You shouldn't brush directly after eating," says cosmetic dentist Dr. Timothy Chase, practicing partner at Smiles NY. "After you eat, the enamel coating of your teeth is in a weakened state due to the high acid content of food and the different enzymes your body releases in saliva to start the digestive process." Instead of heading immediately to the sink, which further strips your teeth of enamel, Chase recommends finishing a meal with a glass of water and waiting at least 30 minutes to allow the enamel to return to normal.

When: After you've waited half an hour to brush your teeth

Why: Reaching for some mouthwash in an attempt to freshen your breath as you wait for your enamel to relax? Not so fast. "When the enamel on your teeth is stripped and demineralized after eating, your teeth are also more susceptible to staining," Dr. Chase says. In this case, mouthwash can be more foe than friend. "If your mouthwash is tinted, put off gargling more than half an hour after you've eaten," Chase recommends.