if you start about 2wks out you should be good...i was told to apply in the morning & keep it on, then again b4 the tanning bed (works really well), & then apply again b4 bedtime...
i honestly only used it all the time b4 the tanning bed & when i could apply it without worrying about getting it all over my clothes...usually i would go to the tanning bed & go home & take a shower then apply it again after i got out of the shower...after a while it kinda rubs in so you can go to sleep without getting it all over you sheets...
as far as application, i would put it anywhere that i wanted to tighten up...abs, lower back, bi's & tri's, legs (mostly underneath my butt)...like the other guy said, you need to be really lean to see a difference from it but it does work...