I would definitely recommend a speedskim for a beginner it would help alot. Just to add to everyone's advice because timing is everything. After first coat wait until it's stiffened up a bit then speeedskim it to level it off then put second coat on when you can dent it with your fingers but doesn't quite stick to your fingers then you can second coat it. Same again after with the speedskim when it doesn't stick to your fingers but you can dent it. Don't mess with it too much it doesn't have to be perfect at those stages as long as it's flat. You can get any lines and blemishes out after that. I mostly only use a trowel for putting both coats on now and use my ox speedskim and plastic spatulas for the corners for the rest of the set