Don't use your bare hands where there is the thickest skin on your body. It's wasted. Apply with nitrile or latex gloves. Then use rubbing alcohol on them to get the rest onto your body. Most bang for your buck.
OP, search you tube and see Dr. Crisler method to apply gels, he says to apply on the underneath of your forearms, I did this when I was on gels. Although I can't tell if if was better than any other application, but it does protect against wasting the product.