by liz, founderThe most common self-tan mistake is not streaks — it is choosing a shade for the person you are on holiday, not the person you are on a Tuesday. Here is how the range actually maps to real life.
start one shade lighter than you think
Every shade in the range is buildable: a second application deepens the colour, and development time adds depth too. You can always go deeper tomorrow; you cannot go lighter tonight. If you are torn between two shades, take the lighter one.
the shades, honestly
Light is a soft, holiday-weekend glow for fair skin that usually burns rather than tans. Medium is the everyday bestseller — a believable "just got back from the coast" bronze on most skin tones. Dark is a statement tan for events and summer, best on skin that tans easily or already has base colour. Ultra Dark and Platinum Maximum are the deepest finishes we make — rich, salon-level colour for people who know exactly what they want.
guide colour or clear?
The original 1 Hour Express Mousse goes on with a bronze guide colour so you can see exactly where you have applied — the right choice for first-timers and anyone who tans occasionally. The Clear Mousse skips the guide colour entirely: nothing transfers to sheets or hoodies, but you are applying blind, so it suits repeat tanners with a practised hand.
Still unsure? Medium in the original guide-colour mousse is the range's safest first buy — visible enough to apply confidently, forgiving enough to wear anywhere.
quick answers
What self tan shade should a beginner choose?+
Medium in the original 1 Hour Express Mousse. The bronze guide colour shows exactly where you've applied, and Medium is buildable — a second coat takes you deeper if you want more.
What is the darkest Australian Glow shade?+
Platinum Maximum — the deepest, most professional finish in the range, followed by Ultra Dark in the 1 Hour Express Mousse.
