You know the bottle. It’s that sleek, intimidatingly matte black container sitting on the shelf at Sephora or Ulta, looking like it belongs in the kit of a professional bodybuilder or a celebrity spray tan artist. St Tropez Extra Dark Bronzing Mousse is basically the final boss of at-home tanning.
It’s not for the faint of heart. Honestly, most people reach for the "Self Tan Classic" and call it a day because the word "Extra" is terrifying when it comes to skin pigment. Nobody wants to wake up looking like a mahogany coffee table. But here’s the thing: if you have a wedding in two days, or if you’re naturally olive-toned and "Medium" just looks like you spent five minutes in the sun, this is the only product that actually delivers.
It’s deep. It’s dark. And if you mess it up, you’re going to be wearing long sleeves for a week.
What’s Actually Inside the St Tropez Extra Dark Mousse?
Let’s talk chemistry for a second without getting boring. Most self-tanners rely on Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). It’s a sugar molecule that reacts with the amino acids in your dead skin cells to turn them brown. Most standard formulas sit around 6% to 8% DHA. St Tropez Extra Dark kicks that up significantly, using a dual-tanning agent system that combines DHA with Erythrulose.
Erythrulose is the secret sauce. It develops slower than DHA, which prevents that frantic, "oh no, I’m turning orange" panic. Because it develops at a different rate, the fade is more natural. You don't get that weird lizard-skin cracking as much as you do with cheap drugstore brands.
The guide color is also different. Most mousses have a greenish tint to counteract redness—the "ashy" look that ensures you don't turn pumpkin-colored. The Extra Dark guide color is intense. When you pump it out, it looks like dark chocolate syrup. Don't freak out. That is not the final color; it’s just the map so you don't miss your elbows.
The Prep Work Most People Skip (And Why You’ll Regret It)
If you apply St Tropez Extra Dark to dry skin, you are going to have a bad time.
Seriously.
This isn't a "slap it on before bed" kind of product. Because the pigment concentration is so high, it will grab onto any dry patch like its life depends on it. If your ankles are dry, they will turn black. Not tan. Black.
You need to exfoliate 24 hours before. Not one hour before. Twenty-four. You want your skin's pH levels to neutralize after scrubbing. Use a physical exfoliant—something grainy—or an exfoliating mitt. Specifically, focus on the "bend points": knees, elbows, heels, and that weird spot on the back of your neck where your hair sits.
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Pro tip: Do not moisturize your whole body right before tanning. It creates a barrier that the DHA can't penetrate, leading to streaks. Only moisturize the "danger zones." I’m talking about the knuckles, the tiny bones on your ankles, the wrists, and the creases of your elbows. Use a water-based moisturizer, not an oil-based one. Oils are the enemy of self-tanner. They break down the formula instantly.
The Application: This Is Where the Magic (Or Disaster) Happens
You need a mitt. If you try to apply St Tropez Extra Dark with your bare hands, your palms will look like you’ve been digging in the dirt for a century.
Start from the bottom and work your way up. It sounds like a suggestion, but it’s a rule. If you start with your shoulders and then bend over to do your legs, you’re going to create "stomach rolls" in your wet tan. Those creases will be permanent for the next five days.
Use long, sweeping motions. Circular motions are okay for blending, but long strokes ensure even distribution.
The Time Management Factor
This is a "rinse-off" tan, but it’s not a "one hour" tan. While St Tropez markets their "Express" tan for quick rinses, the Extra Dark is designed for longevity and depth.
- 4 Hours: You'll get a solid, noticeable bronze. Good for fair skin types who want to look "vacation dark."
- 8 Hours: This is the sweet spot. Most people apply it at 10 PM and wash it off at 6 AM.
- Overnight: If you want to go as dark as humanly possible, leave it on for 8 to 12 hours.
Be warned: the guide color will transfer to your sheets. It’s water-soluble, so it usually washes out, but don't sleep on your white silk pillowcases. Wear loose, dark clothes. Oversized T-shirts are your best friend here. If you wear leggings, you’ll get "compression lines" on your calves. Basically, look like a slob for eight hours so you can look like a goddess for the next eight days.
Real Talk: The "Green" Undertone
A lot of people open the bottle, see a greenish-black foam, and think the product has expired. It hasn't.
Tanning brands use green or violet base colors to neutralize the orange tones that naturally occur during the DHA oxidation process. St Tropez Extra Dark uses a deep, muddy base. It looks terrifying on the skin while it’s developing. You will look a bit like Shrek’s cousin for a few hours. Trust the process. When you shower, all that green and mud washes down the drain, leaving the actual tan behind.
Why Does It Sometimes Go Patchy?
Patchiness usually happens for three reasons.
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First: Sweat. If you apply this and then go for a run or sit in a room without A/C, the sweat will create "river marks" in the guide color.
Second: Hormones. It sounds crazy, but your skin's pH changes throughout the month. If you're on your period, your tan might not take as well. Many professional spray tan artists will tell you that clients often see lighter results during certain times of their cycle.
Third: Product interference. If you have leftover perfume, deodorant, or residue from a "moisturizing" body wash (like Dove), the tan can't "grip" the skin. You want your skin to be a clean, blank, slightly acidic canvas.
Comparing Extra Dark to the Rest of the Line
People always ask: "Is it really that much darker than the Dark Mousse?"
Yes.
The standard "Dark" mousse is a staple. It’s reliable. But the St Tropez Extra Dark is significantly more opaque. It’s designed for people who have a hard time getting color to show up. If you are very pale (think Irish/Scots-Irish heritage), the Extra Dark might be too much for a first-timer. You’d be better off layering the Classic Mousse.
However, if you have olive skin, the Extra Dark finally provides that "just spent two weeks in Ibiza" look that "Medium" formulas simply can't touch. It’s also surprisingly good for covering up uneven skin tones or mild keratosis pilaris (those little red bumps on the back of arms), simply because the pigment is so dense.
The First Shower: Don't Use Soap
This is the golden rule of tanning that everyone breaks. When you jump in the shower to rinse off the guide color, do not use soap. Use lukewarm water—not hot—and just use your hands to gently rub the skin until the water runs clear. If you use a loofah or harsh body wash in that first shower, you’ll strip half the color before it has finished setting. The tan actually continues to develop for about 24 hours after the initial rinse. Pat yourself dry; do not rub with a towel.
The next day? Moisturize like your life depends on it. A tan is essentially a stained layer of dead skin. If that skin gets dry and flakes off, your tan goes with it. Using a daily body oil or a thick lotion will extend the life of an Extra Dark tan from 4 days to nearly 10.
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Correcting the "Opps" Moments
Say you wake up and your hands look like you’ve been eating Cheetos. Don't panic.
You can’t "scrub" it off immediately without making it look splotchy. Instead, use a bit of baby oil. Let it sit on the dark area for 10 minutes, then use a warm washcloth to gently lift the pigment. Alternatively, there are "tan removers" (St Tropez makes a great foam one) that use urea and enzymes to break down the DHA bonds without ruining your skin barrier.
If your face is too dark? Mix a little bit of your evening moisturizer with a physical face scrub. It’ll dial the intensity down a notch without removing it entirely.
Is It Worth the Price Tag?
Let's be real—St Tropez is expensive. You can buy a bottle of drugstore mousse for $12, while the Extra Dark usually retails around $45.
Is it worth the 4x price jump?
If you care about the "fade," yes. Cheap tanners tend to disappear in patches, leaving you looking like you have a skin condition by day five. St Tropez Extra Dark tends to fade evenly, almost like a real suntan would. It also lacks that heavy "biscuits and wet dog" smell. It still has a scent—all DHA does—but it’s masked with a mood-boosting fragrance that makes it tolerable.
How to Keep It Looking Fresh for a Full Week
- Avoid Chlorine: A swimming pool is basically a giant vat of tan stripper. If you must swim, coat your skin in a waterproof sunscreen or oil to create a barrier.
- Short Showers: Long, hot baths will hydrate the skin, but they also soften the top layer, making the tan rub off faster.
- Gradual Tan Extenders: About four days in, start using a gradual tan lotion. This "fills in the gaps" as your Extra Dark tan starts to naturally exfoliate.
- The Deodorant Trick: To avoid the "green armpit" look, apply a little translucent powder or cornstarch to your underarms after the tan has dried but before you put on clothes. It prevents the tan from reacting with the aluminum in your deodorant.
Actionable Steps for Your Best Tan Yet
To get the most out of St Tropez Extra Dark, follow this specific timeline:
- Wednesday Night: Shave and exfoliate your entire body. Do not apply heavy oils.
- Thursday Night: Apply the mousse. Start at the ankles, use a mitt, and have a friend do your back if you aren't a contortionist. Use the "leftover" product on the mitt for your face, hands, and feet—never a fresh pump.
- Friday Morning: Rinse with lukewarm water only. No soap. Pat dry.
- Saturday Morning: This is your "peak" color day. Now you can use soap and start your heavy moisturizing routine.
By following this rhythm, you avoid the "muddy" phase during your actual events and ensure the color is locked in. St Tropez Extra Dark is a tool—and like any high-end tool, it requires a bit of technique. Once you nail the application, you'll never go back to the "Medium" bottles again. Keep your skin hydrated, watch those elbows, and enjoy the glow.