From Houston, Texas (tropical weather, everyone shows lots of skin), & have very light skin & HATE tanning, so have a lot of experience with this.
This is what I do ...
Buy the "light skinned" version of the tanning lotion - I use Coppertone from the drugstore; they're all good now & doesn't have to be an expensive one.
Prepare by exfoliating legs & then shaving them.
Put REGULAR lotion, not tanning lotion, on your elbows, knees, and around ankles. Then - Don't tan feet at first, just put tanning lotion on arms and legs, rub in well, and try to avoid knees, elbows and ankles. One coat may be all you need. You should see the effects in one hour. If you need another coat then, go for it.
Arms and legs should be the only places you really need tanning. But then again, if you want to try chest or even face (caution - mine looks terrible tanned) - again go for it.
Read that your lotion might be "too light" - but just keep putting coats on, should work. I would think that more subtle is better than overdoing it.
Good luck.