Was it hard to choose which beauty and personal care products to pack for school? Check out Project Pan! The term comes from hitting the pan of your makeup products, and the idea of the trend is to finish makeup, skincare and hair products before buying more. Many people online have decided to participate in this trend as a part of their New Year’s resolutions, Will you make it a part of yours?
Overconsumption
Project Pan isn’t just about decluttering your countertops, it’s also about not overconsuming products. Retail therapy is real, but it also has some real consequences. Impulsive purchases can fill up your closet and your cabinets with items you won’t end up using. It’s easy to want the latest lip balm or blush, but these can clutter your life and drain your wallet.

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What’s Worth Your Wallet?
Just like having a signature perfume, having a signature set of makeup and other care products can help you feel more put together. It’s natural to want a trendy product that’s being promoted online, but finding products that work for you and your lifestyle may be more beneficial. Cultivating products that make you feel and look good instead of following trends will also reduce the amount of products that sit in your cabinets and expire.
Try to follow influencers who have your skin type, hair type and makeup style. Different products work differently on everyone, so don’t feel the need to run out and get a product just because it’s the hot topic of the month. Spending a little bit of extra time researching products could end up saving you a lot of money.

Finding creators who don’t have brand deals or receive mountains of PR packages is hard to come by these days, but it’s important to think about their goals when they hit that ‘post’ button. Watch creators who are consistent in how they review products and who sound genuine. Even just taking five minutes to read the customer reviews of a product could remind you that the products you already have work just as well.
How to Participate
Put the ‘ex’ in expired and ditch any products that are too old to put on your face and body. It may be tempting to keep expired cosmetics, especially if they’re expensive, but it’s best to toss them. These products might not work as well as they once did and not only that items like mascara should be changed out regularly to avoid an infection. Having fewer products means that it’s easier to use up the products you love and not hoard them until they expire.

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The best part about Project Pan is that you can make it your own. There are no rules about how many eyeshadow palettes or shower products you can have; it’s about using what you own. Try to find even a few products that you want to finish before purchasing new ones.
Along with just using everyday products, try dusting off special occasion makeup. Have a fun makeover and photo session with your friends! If you wait to use certain products for special occasions, you’ll never get the full value out of them.

Remember, it’s okay to treat yourself to a new product or purchase makeup every once in a while, but if you resonate with Project Pan, try to finish your signature daily products before purchasing something new.
Will you be participating in project pan? Let us know how it pans out and tag @VALLEYmag on Instagram!
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