How to Choose the Right Naked Tan Mousse Shade: A Complete Guide 

Choosing a tanning mousse shade can feel overwhelming, especially if you are new to tanning or unsure what kind of result you want. Naked Tan’s mousse range includes three versatile shades that suit every skin tone: Medium, Dark and Ultra Dark. Unlike traditional “skin tone rules,” all three shades can be used on any complexion. Some of our fairest clients love Ultra Dark, while some deeper skin tones prefer the softness of Medium.

This guide exists simply to help you find a starting point if you are feeling unsure. Your perfect shade always comes down to your personal style, your tanning confidence and the depth of colour you enjoy seeing on your skin.

 

1. Why Your Shade Choice Is Personal

Tanning is not one-size-fits-all. The exact same shade will look different depending on your undertone, natural skin depth and how long you leave the mousse on. More importantly, your ideal shade is based on how you want to look and feel once your tan develops.

Your chosen shade should:

• suit your personal taste

• make you feel confident

• blend naturally with your undertones

• provide the depth you enjoy

• work for the occasion

This blog provides guidance, not rules. All skin tones can wear Medium, Dark or Ultra Dark.

 

2. Naked Tan’s Mousse Range Explained

The Naked Tan mousse lineup includes:

1. Medium

2. Dark

3. Ultra Dark

Every shade:

• dries quickly

• applies smoothly

• hydrates the skin

• develops evenly

• produces a natural-looking finish

The only difference is the depth each one develops into.

 

3. Customising Your Tan Depth: The 2 to 5 Hour Rinse Window

One of the best features of Naked Tan mousse is that you control the depth by choosing how long you leave it on before rinsing.

2 hour rinse

Soft, natural finish. Perfect for fair complexions, work days, first-time tanning and subtle colour.

3 to 4 hour rinse

Medium-depth bronze. Ideal for everyday tanning and the most popular rinse window across customers.

5 hour rinse (maximum)

Deep, rich colour. Recommended for Dark and Ultra Dark users who want strong definition.

Avoid leaving mousse on longer than 5 hours

Anything beyond 5 hours can lead to overdevelopment, resulting in:

• muddy or too-dark colour

• uneven undertones

• patchy fade

• shorter wear time

For the cleanest, most beautiful development, always rinse between 2 and 5 hours.

 

4. Medium Mousse: Your Soft, Sun-Kissed Glow

Ideal for

• first-time tanners

• everyday natural colour

• fair to medium skin

• subtle warmth

How it looks

Medium creates a gentle, sun-kissed glow that lifts and evens the skin tone. It is subtle, flattering and very forgiving.

Rinse guide

• 2 hours: barely-there glow

• 3 hours: soft, natural tan

Who uses it

All skin tones. Many deeper skin tones wear Medium for a natural-bronze smoothing effect.

 

5. Dark Mousse: The Classic Buildable Bronze

Ideal for

• a noticeable bronze

• medium to olive undertones

• regular tanners

• event and weekend tanning

How it looks

Dark gives a balanced bronze that enhances the skin without looking overpowering.

Rinse guide

• 2 hours: soft-medium glow

• 3 to 4 hours: rich, classic bronze

Who uses it

All skin tones. Fair clients who want a step up from Medium often choose Dark with a shorter rinse time.

 

6. Ultra Dark Mousse: Bold, Confident, High-Impact Colour

Ideal for

• deep, dramatic colour

• photo-ready tanning

• holiday and summer glow

• experienced tanners

How it looks

Ultra Dark delivers deep, defined colour. It is bold, bronzy and long-wearing.

Rinse guide

• 3 hours: medium-depth bronze

• 5 hours: maximum depth

Who uses it

All skin tones. This includes many of our fairest clients who prefer a strong, noticeable contrast and love the final result.

 

7. A Shade Guide to Help You Start (Optional, Not Restrictive)

This guide is here only for those who feel unsure. All shades work on all skin tones, and your personal taste is ultimately the most important factor.

Very fair skin

Can use: Medium, Dark, Ultra Dark
If unsure: start with Medium
For deep results: Ultra Dark with a 2 to 4 hour rinse

Fair to light skin

Can use: all shades
If unsure: Medium or Dark
For strong depth: Ultra Dark with a shorter rinse

Light to medium skin

Can use: all shades
If unsure: Dark
For maximum colour: Ultra Dark

Medium to olive skin

Can use: all shades
If unsure: Dark
For deeper warmth: Ultra Dark

Deep skin tones

Can use: all shades
If unsure: Ultra Dark
For subtle radiance: Medium or Dark

 

8. Undertones and Shade Choice

Your undertone can influence how the colour reads on your skin, but it does not limit which shade you can use.

Cool undertones (pink or red)

Best starting point if unsure: Medium or Dark
Ultra Dark still works beautifully with a 2 to 3 hour rinse

Warm undertones (golden, olive)

Best starting point if unsure: Dark or Ultra Dark
These tones hold deeper colour very well

Neutral undertones

All three shades suit neutral undertones
Choose depending on desired intensity

 

9. Choosing a Shade Based on the Occasion

Everyday natural glow

Medium, 2 or 3 hour rinse

Work-friendly bronze

Medium or Dark, 2 to 4 hour rinse

Event tan

Dark with a 3 to 4 hour rinse

Holiday or photo-ready colour

Ultra Dark with a 4 to 5 hour rinse

Low-maintenance weekly tan

Medium

 

10. Application Depth vs Shade Depth

Your final colour is influenced by:

1. The mousse shade you choose

2. How long you leave it on

This flexibility makes it easy to customise your results. For example:

• If a fair-skinned person wants strong depth, they can use Ultra Dark and rinse at 3 hours

• If a medium skin tone wants a natural finish, they can use Medium and rinse at 2 hours

• If olive skin wants a balanced bronze, Dark at 4 hours is ideal

You are in control of the final finish.

 

11. Development Expectations

Medium

• 2 hours: subtle glow

• 3 hours: natural bronze

Dark

• 2 hours: soft bronze

• 4 hours: full-depth classic tan

Ultra Dark

• 3 hours: medium bronze

• 5 hours: deepest result

Never leave it on longer than 5 hours.

 

12. Final Tips for Choosing Your Shade

• All skin tones can wear any shade

• Your preference matters most

• Use the 2 to 5 hour development window to customise the depth

• Start lighter if you are unsure; you can always build

• For a flawless finish, apply moisturiser to elbows, knees and wrists

Choosing the right Naked Tan mousse shade is about finding the result that makes you feel confident. Whether you love soft and subtle or rich and dramatic, all three mousse shades can work for every skin tone. The 2 to 5 hour development window allows you to customise your depth, making shade selection even easier.

Medium offers a gentle, everyday glow.
Dark provides a balanced, versatile bronze.
Ultra Dark gives a bold, high-impact finish.

All three are suitable for every skin tone, every body and every type of tanner.