What exactly is #projectpan?

What Exactly is #ProjectPan?

#ProjectPan is a small group of people within the makeup community that take part in what is known as either Project Pan or Pan That Palette.

Many makeup lovers will know the intense feeling of FOMO that can come with new makeup releases. It can feel like a new eyeshadow palette or foundation or lipstick collection comes out every day, and each one screams ‘BUY ME’. This incessant consumerism can lead to thousands of pounds or dollars spent and makeup collections so huge that it could never be used up in an entire lifetime. Pair the sheer quantity of makeup some people own with the fact that all makeup has an expiration date (most eyeshadow palettes expire within 24 months, for example), then you end up with a problem.

For a lot of bloggers and makeup lovers, Project Pan is the solution. ‘Panners’ as they are known, will pick a few products from their makeup stash, and set themselves the challenge to try to use them up completely in a certain amount of time. The products people choose can range from skincare items, haircare, makeup, perfume, and free samples. Alongside this, people will attempt to not open anything new of the same category, so if a foundation is in your project pan, you wouldn’t open up and start to use a new one! They also won’t buy anything new unless there is a very good and rare sale or deal that would save a lot of money.

I attempted a Project Pan for one month, and it was incredibly difficult. I did save a lot of money as I attempted it around Christmas - a time dreaded by makeup junkies like me. Endless Holiday and Christmas collections and limited edition releases dying to tempt me into buying them, but alas I stayed strong! It helped me to really see the value in the makeup that I had, and led to me realising that many of the items that were being released, were already in my collection just from a different brand. I didn’t need another brown-orange toned eyeshadow palette, because I already had one! I just wanted it.

If you need inspiration, just a quick google search of Project Pan will find you tons of bloggers who are taking part. Personally, I would recommend KitschSnitch and JustBuyTheMakeup on YouTube, they are two Aussie makeup lovers who co-own the Beauty News channel. They both have an ongoing series of Project Pan videos (or ‘Empties’) that are really helpful and fun to watch.


Kaitlyn