Back in January, I kicked off my Project Pan journey with a clear goal in mind: to use and appreciate the beauty products I already own before making any new purchases. In this update, I’m sharing the products I’ve managed to finish, what I’ve learned, and some of the items that stuck into my collection despite my best intentions.
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Over the past six months, I’ve become much more intentional with my purchases. Rather than falling for the latest trend, I now consider whether an item has the potential to become a lasting staple or if it’s more likely to sit unused and eventually expire in my collection. Here’s a breakdown of my Project Pan progress since January.
Empties
• Clinique Moisture Surge
• Pantene Daily Moisture Shampoo
• Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion
• Blistex Lip Balm
• Rare Beauty Find Comfort Mist
• Rocky Lemongrass Body Butter
Almost Empty
• Jane Iredale PurePressed Powder
• Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer
• Armani Prisma Glass Lip Gloss
• NYX Fat Lip Oil
Still on the List
• Laneige Bouncy & Plump Lip Treatment
• Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
• JVN Air Dry Styling Cream
• L’Oréal Vitamin C Serum
New Purchases
• Elf Squeeze Me Lip Balm
• Rare Beauty Liquid Contour
• Dae Styling Cream
The great thing about Project Pan is that instead of rummaging through 4 or 5 of the same type of product, I’ve narrowed it down to just 2 or 3. Things feel much more manageable and it makes getting ready in the morning or packing for a trip that much easier.
Come fall and winter, I will have a separate range of products that I will be adding to this list. Many of which include darker lipsticks and rich gourmand body creams that will be perfect for the colder months.
Project Pan continues to be a work in progress, one that’s just as much about mindful consumption as it is about hitting pan. Remember, it’s not realistic or necessary to keep up with new product launches, even if social media tells you otherwise. If you’re on your own Project Pan journey, I’d love to hear about your 6 month update.
RELATED POST: What is Project Pan?
Thank you for reminding me to focus on what I have now instead of buying more products! I love skincare so much that I’m always watching reviews, but that just leads me to buy more products, which ends up breaking my skin barrier. I really needed this reminder!
https://embracethepandemonium.wordpress.com/
I agree, I’m glad I discovered that as well because more product can actually be damaging to our skin and to our wallets haha. Thank you for reading Roxanne!
Great tips. I loved your methodology for narrowing down products and getting rid of the clutter. Also, only buying what we need is a must. This can save so much money!
I agree, it definitely makes you a better and more mindful shopper. Thank you for reading Heidi!
I love project panning! It’s such a great way to use what you have without focusing on always buying new products. You’re making great progress! Thanks for sharing 🙂
https://melissakacar.com
Thank you for reading Melissa!
Nice work! I need to do this but with my books TBR (lol).
Oh same! I agree hahaha. Thank you for reading ER!
It was great to read about your progress with project pan. That’s awesome you finished a good amount of products and a few are almost empty. I’m not doing project pan, but I have definitely cut back on purchasing new makeup. Instead, I’ve been using what I have, and when it’s empty, I’ll buy a new product. Just yesterday I bought a new primer because I’m almost out of the one primer I have.
That’s great to hear, Karalee! Thank you for reading.
That seems like a fun project. I think I should try it.
Absolutely! Thank you for reading Lux.
A great update, and it shows that progress can and will be made. I love the idea of this type of challenge/personal project and feel like I need to give this a dedicated try. Thanks for this!
I’d recommend giving it a try! It’s best to start small and then it gets easier from there. Thank you for reading Molly!
What a fantastic Project Pan update! It’s inspiring to see how much progress you’ve made since January, especially by becoming more intentional with your purchases. You’ve clearly made great strides in using up your products.
It’s awesome that you’ve narrowed down your product categories; that feeling of less clutter and more manageability is truly a game-changer for daily routines and packing.
Thank you for reading Benita!
I’m very minimalistic in my skin care and cosmetics use somewhat in part to having sensitive skin. I like your idea of hitting the pan before trying the next great thing. I look forward to reading your next update.
I’m excited to see how the next update’s going to look like too. Thank you for reading Jodie!