Loving Tan has been my go-to self-tanning brand for years now. I’ve probably gone through seven or eight bottles of the 2 HR Express Mousse formula in Dark over the years. The brand also sells an Ultra Dark version, and because I sometimes leave the Dark formula on for up to 6 hours to get a deeper tan, I was curios to see if Ultra Dark would work better for me.

To test both of these products, I applied them as directed and left them on for exactly two hours, prior to bedtime. I woke up to a little bit of a difference, but allowed the tan to develop for 24-hours before taking my “after” photos. For a full review, comparison, application tips, and tips for saving money on these products, keep reading.

loving tan 2 HR express mousse in dark before and after

loving tan 2 HR express mousse dark review and application tips

The Dark Loving Tan 2 HR Express Mousse is one of the easiest self-tanners to apply and use, and the color payoff is great. The foam is brown (known as a color-guard) so you know exactly where you are applying the tanner. Once fully dried, the tanner doesn’t transfer, but I recommend wearing dark sweats while you let the tan develop.

It’s also a really convenient product with little downtime, as you can wash this tanner off after 2 hours, and the tan will develop for up to 24 hours after. For the sake of this comparison post, I left it on for the two hours as directed but in general, I like to leave it on for about 5 hours to get a deeper tan since I am so pale.

Regarding results, the Dark formula gives you a natural looking tan. It doesn’t look orange, lasts a full week (even with daily workouts and hot showers), and I’ve never had a streaky or patchy application. It also fades nicely and is easy to remove in the shower after about a week.

tips for applying loving tan 2HR express mousse in dark

Use a mitt for a streak-free application that won’t stain your hands. I like to use a brush to buff in the product and help blend out trickier areas like elbows, wrists, knees and ankles.
I applied the product at 7pm, left it on for 2 hours, and then showered before bed. I didn’t notice much of a difference right away, but woke up noticeably tanner. I let the product continue to develop for 24 hours and took the photos at the same time the next day.
You only need to leave it on for two 2 hours to get results, so this isn’t an overnight tanner you sleep in. Even if you want to leave it on for longer, this tanner is a little more sensitive to sweat and clothing creases, so sleeping in it may cause uneven spots.

loving tan 2 HR express mousse in ultra dark before and after

loving tan 2 HR express mousse ultra dark review and application tips

Just like the Dark formula, the Ultra Dark 2 HR Express Mousse mousse has a brown color-guard, so you know exactly where you are applying the tanner. Even though this is meant to give you a deeper tan than the Dark formula, the color guard wasn’t noticeably darker. Loving Tan products can sometimes look a little streaky as you’re applying them, but tan develops completely even; I did notice the patchiness during application with Ultra Dark, but they evened out as expected.

Once fully dried, the tanner doesn’t transfer, but I recommend wearing dark sweats while you let the tan develop. As far as application time and results go, you can wash this tanner off after 2 hours, and the tan will develop for up to 24 hours after. For the sake of this comparison post, I left it on for the two hours as directed.

I was expecting more dramatic results, but was unimpressed with the Ultra Dark formula. I didn’t notice a particularly darker tan; if anything, it looked a little more orange as opposed to tan. I know that I start with a very pale base, but this tan definitely has more orange undertones than the Dark version.

Ultra Dark did not fade as nicely as the Dark formula. I started to notice it become a little patchy around my chest and forearms 3 days in, and the tan was very much ready to come off. On the bright side, it came off easily in the shower when I used my exfoliating mitt. After one shower, the tanner was completely gone.

tips for applying loving tan platinum 2 HR express mousse in ultra dark

Ultra Dark has essentially the same formula and applies virtually the same as the Dark version, so the same tips apply.
Use a mitt for a streak-free application that won’t stain your hands. For elbows, wrists, knees and ankles, use a brush to buff in the product and help blend it out.
For the sake of a consistent review, I applied the product at 7pm, left it on for 2 hours, and then showered before bed. I noticed a slight difference after I showered, but saw a more dramatic difference when I woke up the next day. I let the product continue to develop for 24 hours and took the photos at the same time the next day.
Because you only need to leave it on for two 2 hours to get noticeable results, I would recommend against sleeping in it or leaving it on overnight.

loving tan 2h express mousse in dark vs ultra dark results

is loving tan 2h express mousse in dark or ultra dark better?

Overall, I would recommend the original 2 HR Express Mousse formula in Dark instead of Ultra Dark. I am extremely pale with no base tan and while I sometimes get frustrated with the original Dark formula for not giving me as deep of results as I want, I found that the Ultra Dark formula looked a little orange on me, didn’t last as long, and got patchy within a few days… not worth it, especially since it costs more.

Comparing the two tanning products in regards to price, formula, application, and results:

The Dark formula is cheaper; it costs $40 per bottle, whereas Ultra Dark costs $45.
Both formulas seem virtually identical - minimal scent with a brown color guard to help you apply evenly.
Both also only require 2 hours of application time.
Something Loving Tan is known for is a patchier or streakier application that evens out as it develops. This is definitely true for both Dark and Ultra Dark, but once the tan fully developed, both tans had applied completely - no streaks, patches, or uneven spots - so this isn’t a major issue.
There is a slight “tanner” scent to all Loving Tan products; you start to smell it around the 2HR mark, and because I wash it off before bed, I do smell it a little bit the next day, but it isn’t noticeable to others. I didn’t notice a difference between Dark or Ultra Dark.
Loving Tan products take a full 24 hours to develop. I didn’t notice much of a difference at the 2 hour mark when I showered the tanner off, but saw the color had developed slightly when I woke up (6 hours later), with maximum results at about the 24 hour mark.
My results were similar; Ultra Dark didn’t make me that much tanner than Dark did.
Dark wears better and lasts longer - I get a full week of a tan, with results lasting a little longer on my legs and arms. Ultra Dark barely lasted a week.
The Dark formula also fades better; Ultra Dark got patchy after 3 days, whereas I don’t notice patchiness with the Dark formula until closer to 10 days in.
As I mentioned, I found the results of the Platinum formula to pull a little orange on me because I don’t have a base tan. The original Dark formula was a little more natural in tone, but the results were not as dramatic as the Platinum formula.

I recommend getting the original 2 HR Express Mousse formula in Dark and if you want a deeper tan, leave it on for longer. When it comes to special events or pre-vacation prep, I like to leave it on for around five hours, applying a second coat halfway through. That gives me the most natural tan similar to if I had been in the sun or on vacation. I follow the original two-hour application timeline as part of my weekly routine for maintaining a tan or during the cooler months.

where to buy loving tan express mousse

Loving Tan formulas are pricier; 2 HR Express Mousse retails from $40 to $60. I highly recommend subscribing on Amazon if you are a regular tanner; you’ll never run out and receive an automatic discount code of 5-10%, so you don’t have to wait for sales. Loving Tan is also sold directly on their website as well as at Ulta, Target, and Nordstrom, so if you belong to any of those loyalty programs, it may be worth it to earn (or use) your points there.

FAQs about loving tan 2 HR express mousse

what shade loving tan 2 HR express mousse should i get?

Get the Dark shade. Ultra Dark looked a little patchy in dry spots and didn’t fade as nicely over time. Even if you have fair skin, I still recommend Dark because you can always keep the product on for less time for a subtler shade, whereas there’s a limit to how dark you’ll get with Medium.

can you apply loving tan 2 HR express mousse to your face?

You can. I don’t because my skincare basically exfoliates the tan off each night. If you do apply it to your face, I recommend applying it with a brush and only applying it for half the time (one hour).

is loving tan 2 HR express mousse suitable for sensitive skin?

Yes. My skin is extremely sensitive and I did not get a reaction. This also didn’t dry my skin out as much as other formulas do.

does loving tan 2 HR express mousse break you out?

Not in my experience. My friends who are more acne-prone haven’t had a problem either, but I would consult with your dermatologist if you are concerned.

how long does it take for the tan to develop?

You apply the product for two hours, and you may notice a slight tan after washing it off. The tan will be fully developed about 24 hours after application (as seen in my photos).

how long does the tan last?

Dark lasts a full week; Ultra Dark lasted about 3 days before starting to get patchy. If you want a long-lasting tan, get the Dark formula.

is loving tan 2 HR express mousse easy to remove?

Yes, this is one of the easier self-tanners to remove in my opinion. I recommend using an exfoliating mitt at around the ten-day to two-week mark to lightly buff out the tan.