diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/citadel_defines.dm b/code/__DEFINES/citadel_defines.dm
index 58125b5497..0bdf27452b 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/citadel_defines.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/citadel_defines.dm
@@ -105,3 +105,6 @@
 
 //belly sound pref things
 #define NORMIE_HEARCHECK 4
+
+//special species definitions
+#define MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR	"#202020" //this is how dark players mutant parts and skin can be
diff --git a/code/game/objects/structures/mirror.dm b/code/game/objects/structures/mirror.dm
index 758685ede7..fa6bab0fcc 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/structures/mirror.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/structures/mirror.dm
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@
 						var/custom_tone = input(user, "Choose your custom skin tone:", "Race change", default) as color|null
 						if(custom_tone)
 							var/temp_hsv = RGBtoHSV(new_s_tone)
-							if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#202020")[3])
+							if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV(MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)[3])
 								to_chat(H,"<span class='danger'>Invalid color. Your color is not bright enough.</span>")
 							else
 								H.skin_tone = custom_tone
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@
 				if(new_mutantcolor)
 					var/temp_hsv = RGBtoHSV(new_mutantcolor)
 
-					if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#7F7F7F")[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright
+					if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV(MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright
 						H.dna.features["mcolor"] = sanitize_hexcolor(new_mutantcolor)
 
 					else
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
index 7a2c8156d4..1435e90193 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
@@ -1630,7 +1630,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 						var/temp_hsv = RGBtoHSV(new_mutantcolor)
 						if(new_mutantcolor == "#000000")
 							features["mcolor"] = pref_species.default_color
-						else if((MUTCOLORS_PARTSONLY in pref_species.species_traits) || ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#202020")[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright, but only if they affect the skin
+						else if((MUTCOLORS_PARTSONLY in pref_species.species_traits) || ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV(MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright, but only if they affect the skin
 							features["mcolor"] = sanitize_hexcolor(new_mutantcolor, 6)
 						else
 							to_chat(user, "<span class='danger'>Invalid color. Your color is not bright enough.</span>")
@@ -1641,7 +1641,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 						var/temp_hsv = RGBtoHSV(new_mutantcolor)
 						if(new_mutantcolor == "#000000")
 							features["mcolor2"] = pref_species.default_color
-						else if((MUTCOLORS_PARTSONLY in pref_species.species_traits) || ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#202020")[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright, but only if they affect the skin
+						else if((MUTCOLORS_PARTSONLY in pref_species.species_traits) || ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV(MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright, but only if they affect the skin
 							features["mcolor2"] = sanitize_hexcolor(new_mutantcolor, 6)
 						else
 							to_chat(user, "<span class='danger'>Invalid color. Your color is not bright enough.</span>")
@@ -1652,7 +1652,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 						var/temp_hsv = RGBtoHSV(new_mutantcolor)
 						if(new_mutantcolor == "#000000")
 							features["mcolor3"] = pref_species.default_color
-						else if((MUTCOLORS_PARTSONLY in pref_species.species_traits) || ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#202020")[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright, but only if they affect the skin
+						else if((MUTCOLORS_PARTSONLY in pref_species.species_traits) || ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV(MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright, but only if they affect the skin
 							features["mcolor3"] = sanitize_hexcolor(new_mutantcolor, 6)
 						else
 							to_chat(user, "<span class='danger'>Invalid color. Your color is not bright enough.</span>")
@@ -1968,7 +1968,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 						var/temp_hsv = RGBtoHSV(new_cockcolor)
 						if(new_cockcolor == "#000000")
 							features["cock_color"] = pref_species.default_color
-						else if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#202020")[3])
+						else if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV(MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)[3])
 							features["cock_color"] = sanitize_hexcolor(new_cockcolor, 6)
 						else
 							to_chat(user,"<span class='danger'>Invalid color. Your color is not bright enough.</span>")
@@ -2008,7 +2008,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 						var/temp_hsv = RGBtoHSV(new_ballscolor)
 						if(new_ballscolor == "#000000")
 							features["balls_color"] = pref_species.default_color
-						else if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#202020")[3])
+						else if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV(MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)[3])
 							features["balls_color"] = sanitize_hexcolor(new_ballscolor, 6)
 						else
 							to_chat(user,"<span class='danger'>Invalid color. Your color is not bright enough.</span>")
@@ -2035,7 +2035,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 						var/temp_hsv = RGBtoHSV(new_breasts_color)
 						if(new_breasts_color == "#000000")
 							features["breasts_color"] = pref_species.default_color
-						else if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#202020")[3])
+						else if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV(MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)[3])
 							features["breasts_color"] = sanitize_hexcolor(new_breasts_color, 6)
 						else
 							to_chat(user,"<span class='danger'>Invalid color. Your color is not bright enough.</span>")
@@ -2057,7 +2057,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 						var/temp_hsv = RGBtoHSV(new_vagcolor)
 						if(new_vagcolor == "#000000")
 							features["vag_color"] = pref_species.default_color
-						else if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#202020")[3])
+						else if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV(MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)[3])
 							features["vag_color"] = sanitize_hexcolor(new_vagcolor, 6)
 						else
 							to_chat(user,"<span class='danger'>Invalid color. Your color is not bright enough.</span>")
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/jellypeople.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/jellypeople.dm
index 38f3111a23..a32c521902 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/jellypeople.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/jellypeople.dm
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@
 		var/new_color = input(owner, "Choose your skin color:", "Race change","#"+H.dna.features["mcolor"]) as color|null
 		if(new_color)
 			var/temp_hsv = RGBtoHSV(new_color)
-			if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV("#7F7F7F")[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright
+			if(ReadHSV(temp_hsv)[3] >= ReadHSV(MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)[3]) // mutantcolors must be bright
 				H.dna.features["mcolor"] = sanitize_hexcolor(new_color, 6)
 				H.update_body()
 				H.update_hair()
diff --git a/code/modules/reagents/chemistry/reagents/other_reagents.dm b/code/modules/reagents/chemistry/reagents/other_reagents.dm
index 418062ce92..0d3e9a4139 100644
--- a/code/modules/reagents/chemistry/reagents/other_reagents.dm
+++ b/code/modules/reagents/chemistry/reagents/other_reagents.dm
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@
 					var/diff_len = length(GLOB.skin_tones - GLOB.nonstandard_skin_tones)
 					H.skin_tone = GLOB.skin_tones[min(diff_len, GLOB.skin_tones.Find(H.skin_tone) + 1)]
 				else
-					H.skin_tone = H.dna.skin_tone_override = tan_mutant_color(H.dna.skin_tone_override, "#202020")
+					H.skin_tone = H.dna.skin_tone_override = tan_mutant_color(H.dna.skin_tone_override, MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)
 			if(MUTCOLORS in H.dna.species.species_traits) //take current alien color and darken it slightly
 				H.dna.features["mcolor"] = tan_mutant_color(H.dna.features["mcolor"])
 			H.update_body()
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@
 
 	return ..()
 
-/datum/reagent/spraytan/proc/tan_mutant_color(color, limit = "#7F7F7F")
+/datum/reagent/spraytan/proc/tan_mutant_color(color, limit = MINIMUM_MUTANT_COLOR)
 	var/newcolor = ""
 	var/len = length(color)
 	var/char = ""