Final Project Pan Update: 5 Things I’ve Learned

Last year, I started Project Pan, a challenge centered around using what you already have before buying something new. It’s a simple concept that can shift your perspective in a big way.

Rather than being pulled toward yet another trending product on social media, it helps you reconnect with what you already own. Little by little, your habits change and you feel satisfied using what you have rather than constantly chasing something new.

Final Project Pan Update: 5 Things I’ve Learned

1) Project Pan Beyond Beauty Project Pan is often associated with beauty products, but the mindset can extend to almost any area of your life. When you get used to using what you already have, you start to notice how this approach can apply to things like clothes, shoes, and accessories. Get creative by repurposing or up cycling what you have to better match what you need.

Did you know? Users online took this project as far as to reuse their product containers. They kept the smaller pots to use them for travel and to store small items like jewelry!

2) You’ll Make Better Choices Using what you have encourages you to be more mindful about future purchases. If you tend to buy things impulsively, spending time with the products you already own can help you understand your preferences better. If you avoid using something because of the scent, packaging, or texture, you’ll start paying closer attention to those details the next time you shop.

3) Shopping Where I Can Test Products My unused products are mostly from the drugstore, where I didn’t get a chance to test them beforehand. While the drugstore is more affordable, I’ve found it more worthwhile to shop at stores that allow you to see, feel, and smell a product. They also tend to have a better return policy, but being able to try something beforehand often reduces the need for a return.

I recommend… Lush Cosmetics, Rocky Mountain Soap, Saje Wellness, Sephora, WOW Beauty, and Beauty Boutique at Shoppers Drug Mart.

4) Creative Ways to Repurpose Get creative with products you don’t like or can’t give away because they’ve already been opened. Sometimes a product just works better in a different way and finding those alternatives is a great way to still get value of what you already have. Here are a few ways Reddit users repurpose their products…

• Chapstick as a cuticle balm
• Face cream as neck or body cream
• Conditioner as shaving cream
• Lipstick as cream blush
• Perfumes as room spray
• Body wash as makeup brush cleaners
• Nail polish for art projects

5) It’s Okay to Throw Things Out The purpose of Project Pan is to utilize what you have in a safe manner. If a product is expired or giving you an allergic reaction, it’s okay to toss them in the bin. You don’t need to get creative with products that don’t work for you. The point is to get your moneys worth from something you already have, rather than replacing it with something new and trending.

In today’s world of overconsumption, I’d highly recommend challenging yourself to see how Project Pan can help you live more mindfully. Rather than shopping impulsively and cluttering your space with things you don’t need, be mindful of what you have, how you use it, and the choices you make the next time you shop. Have you ever repurposed a product you didn’t like? What did you do with it? Let me know!

RELATED POST: What Project Pan? My 6 Month Update