1) Exfoliate: This procedure breaks the bond between the active underlying skin and dead on surface skin by the process of exfoliation or sloughing off.
As with everything in life, moderation is key. Too much exfoliation will leave the skin dry, sensitive and bruised. Non exfoliation will leave the skin dull and struggling. As long as you don't roll on the floor, once, but not exceeding twice in a week is usually enough.

2) Go easy, it's only skin: There is nothing wrong in wanting to look your best but if looking your best gradually turns you into a product junkie, watch it. Having more than 2 products for any part of your skin is more than enough. You don't want to get to a point where your skin no longer responds or is over-responsive simply because it can't tell what exactly you're trying to achieve.

3) Find what works and stick: No matter the testimonials, no product can have 100% success rate on every skin for several reasons including the above. This should be a reason why you should be patient with each product and not be off it after just a week because it doesn't seem to be "working" with the exception of skin darkening as against brightening and/or breakouts.
Some products may build your skin before coming through with the desired result. Hence the need to exercise some degree of patience.

4) Avoid using cheap products on your skin, it will wreck: The words 'cheap' and 'expensive' are relative but think of it as a difference between wearing a "for-the-masses" powder foundation to a brand such as e.g MAC. If you understand the disparity you'll find your skin will be better for it.

5) Avoid the sun, it burns wherever it touches: If you have a career that takes you into the sun all the time you might want to consider getting off skin lightening, it will make uselessness of your every effort and burn wherever it touches.
Alternatively ask your therapist to recommend a brand that supplies day lotion apart from night lotion to minimize the risk of discoloration and/or burns.
Choose your going out times. Sun is strongest between 12 noon and 3pm on less sunny days and stronger from as early as 9am till 4pm on real sunny days.

6) Steer clear off products that causes discomfort, it's never worth it: Recently, a beautiful, young lady came for products making training. She had weeping burns. I call it weeping because it ran from under her eye skin down to below her cheeks. She thought she had sunburn and I refuted it asking her to use the first of her training project to heal herself and she healed good. She told me later that prior to then she was using a Made in France soap that sets her face on fire each time she baths with it and she thought it was OK, it had to be the product's way of working. Thus she found the burn culprit.
Discover yours and discard it.

7) Be mindful of skincare concoctions: Putting and leaving on things such as freshly plucked aloe vera, honey, cactus, potato, lemon, etc on your skin may jeorpadize your skin rather than heal it simply because the things you are leaving on are 100% raw ingredients. I can tell you for free that in Cosmetics even 0.5% of most raw ingredients are usually a big deal and could be more than enough depending on what's been formulated.
Those youtube.com videos shows what you wish to see, most of them never come back to report what happened to their skins after more than a singular application of the "naturals".
Product composition is huge work, leave the job to professionals and stop creating more mess for your skin to deal with in a bid to "avoid dangerous chemicals".

Want safety? Holla TYA Cosmetics on +2348022612295 for all your skin care needs.

Have a beautiful skin