diff --git a/src/k_hud.c b/src/k_hud.c
index db4ae0793..42c7fd7c2 100644
--- a/src/k_hud.c
+++ b/src/k_hud.c
@@ -888,7 +888,7 @@ static void K_drawKartItem(void)
 	INT32 itembar = 0;
 	INT32 maxl = 0; // itembar's normal highest value
 	const INT32 barlength = (r_splitscreen > 1 ? 12 : 26);
-	UINT8 localcolor = SKINCOLOR_NONE;
+	UINT16 localcolor = SKINCOLOR_NONE;
 	SINT8 colormode = TC_RAINBOW;
 	UINT8 *colmap = NULL;
 	boolean flipamount = false;	// Used for 3P/4P splitscreen to flip item amount stuff
@@ -1101,7 +1101,7 @@ static void K_drawKartItem(void)
 			switch (stplyr->karthud[khud_itemblinkmode])
 			{
 				case 2:
-					localcolor = (UINT8)(1 + (leveltime % (MAXSKINCOLORS-1)));
+					localcolor = K_RainbowColor(leveltime);
 					break;
 				case 1:
 					localcolor = SKINCOLOR_RED;
@@ -2811,7 +2811,7 @@ static void K_drawKartMinimap(void)
 			const INT32 prevsplitflags = splitflags;
 			splitflags &= ~V_HUDTRANSHALF;
 			splitflags |= V_HUDTRANS;
-			colormap = R_GetTranslationColormap(TC_RAINBOW, (UINT8)(1 + (leveltime % (MAXSKINCOLORS-1))), GTC_CACHE);
+			colormap = R_GetTranslationColormap(TC_RAINBOW, K_RainbowColor(leveltime), GTC_CACHE);
 			K_drawKartMinimapIcon(battleovertime.x, battleovertime.y, x, y, splitflags, kp_itemminimap, colormap, AutomapPic);
 			splitflags = prevsplitflags;
 		}
diff --git a/src/p_mobj.c b/src/p_mobj.c
index 47405f89f..43b758328 100644
--- a/src/p_mobj.c
+++ b/src/p_mobj.c
@@ -6436,7 +6436,10 @@ static boolean P_MobjRegularThink(mobj_t *mobj)
 		else if (mobj->fuse <= 32)
 			mobj->color = SKINCOLOR_SAPPHIRE;
 		else if (mobj->fuse > 32)
-			mobj->color = (UINT8)(1 + (leveltime % (MAXSKINCOLORS-1)));
+			mobj->color = K_RainbowColor(
+				(SKINCOLOR_PURPLE - SKINCOLOR_PINK) // Smoothly transition into the other state
+				+ ((mobj->fuse - 32) * 2) // Make the color flashing slow down while it runs out
+			); 
 
 		switch (mobj->extravalue1)
 		{
@@ -7686,7 +7689,7 @@ static boolean P_MobjRegularThink(mobj_t *mobj)
 		if (mobj->flags2 & MF2_AMBUSH)
 		{
 			mobj->colorized = true;
-			mobj->color = (1 + (leveltime % (MAXSKINCOLORS-1)));
+			mobj->color = K_RainbowColor(leveltime);
 			mobj->frame |= FF_FULLBRIGHT;
 		}
 		else
@@ -8136,7 +8139,7 @@ static boolean P_MobjRegularThink(mobj_t *mobj)
 	case MT_RANDOMITEM:
 		if (gametype == GT_BATTLE && mobj->threshold == 70)
 		{
-			mobj->color = (UINT8)(1 + (leveltime % (MAXSKINCOLORS-1)));
+			mobj->color = K_RainbowColor(leveltime);
 			mobj->colorized = true;
 
 			if (battleovertime.enabled)