What is Project Pan?

With the rising cost of living and the effects of inflation, many people are challenging themselves to participate in Project Pan. This concept encourages individuals to focus on using up the products they already own—whether cosmetics, skincare, or body care—until they “hit pan” (when the product hits the bottom of the container).

In a world filled with constant new product releases and the pressure to keep up with the latest trends, Project Pan offers a refreshing shift towards mindfulness, sustainability, and financial responsibility. If you’re ready to simplify and reduce your consumption, here’s how you can join the Project Pan challenge this year.

What is Project Pan?

Project Pan refers to finishing your beauty products before making new purchases. This includes makeup, skincare, body care, and hair care. It’s easy to overspend in these categories because of new product launches and social media trends. It can drive us to buy multiples of the same type of product, even when we haven’t fully used up what we already have.

This challenge helps you to gain a clearer understanding of what you’ve purchased, what you actually reach for, and how you can become more intentional with future purchases. Overtime, it helps you to break the cycle of impulsive shopping and overspending.

Where do I start?

Start by going through your collection and separating your products by category. If you have a large collection, start small so that it doesn’t become overwhelming.

Next, check the expiration date. Some products have a Period After Opening symbol which indicates 6M or 12M, meaning the product is safe and effective 6 or 12 months after opening.

Other products will have a batch code or lot number, which indicates when the product was produced and the expiration date. You can use websites like Check Fresh or Check Cosmetic.

If the information isn’t visible on the packaging or if you’re unsure how long a product has been sitting for, it’s safest to discard them. Trust your own judgement, especially when it comes to eye products such as eye creams, mascaras, and eyeshadows. 

Get creative and have fun

Once you’ve determined which products are safe to use, it’s time to get creative and decide how this challenge can work for you. Whether you have a large collection of lip products, hair care, or body lotions, your Project Pan can look like…

– Keeping it simple by sticking with your current routine and finishing what you have
– Focusing on one category such as facial cleanser, hair care, lip gloss, or perfume  
– Working through half-empty bottles first so nothing goes to waste

What my Project Pan will look like this year

Over the last 2 years, I’ve accumulated a fair amount of lip products, liquid blushes, and body lotions. Prior to starting this challenge, I’ve been pretty good at using up what I have, but I’m inspired to officially join Project Pan because we should be using the products that we buy. 

Let’s say goodbye to overconsumption because the norm shouldn’t be to spend money on new trends for products that’ll end up filling our homes with clutter. The norm should be to use what we’re paying for.

Project Pan encourages mindfulness, sustainability, and better shopping habits by helping you only buy products that you truly enjoy and use regularly. Remember to have fun! For more inspiration and tips, check out Project Pan’s reddit page. Will you be participating in Project Pan this year?