I have too much stuff. Too many moisturisers, too many scented candles, too many packs of novelty post-it notes – you name it, I’ve got it stockpiled in a cupboard somewhere. To try to cut down on my embarrassing mass of junk, I’ve challenged myself to a no buy year for 2020. But I also want to try out the project pan challenge to help me declutter my mountainous makeup collection that much quicker.
Despite apparently being a really popular and well-known challenge, I’d never heard of project pan before I started doing research for my no buy year. So if you (like me) live under a rock, here’s a quick overview. The challenge is designed to help you use up products that would otherwise sit collecting dust at the back of a drawer. You pick a selection of products you want to work through and spend the year trying to ‘hit pan’ on them.
Since I have more cosmetics than I know what to do with, I like the idea of adopting a strategy like this. It has a divide and conquer feel to it.
So here are the products that I’ve added to my project pan list and that I’ll be working on using up in 2020:
1. Rimmel Kate Sculpting Cosmetic Set
I got this set as a gift with purchase roughly 350 years ago. I actually really do like the blush colour and the highlight has a real pop, but I just never find myself reaching for it. Now that I’m a cruelty-free shopper, I’m ready to cycle this out of my collection once and for all.
2. L’oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in 632
I spent a long time searching for the perfect nude lipstick. Spoiler alert – this wasn’t it. It’s fine for work or a ‘no makeup’ makeup look, but it’s a little on the pale side and something about the texture just bothers me. On the other hand, I don’t hate it enough to purge it so I’m going to pan it instead.
3. Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Pink Spice
This is ancient. In fact, I think the pyramids were still under construction when I first got this. It’s a nice lipstick in a really wearable colour, but the staying power is seriously lacking. It’s time to use this up and move on with my life.
4. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Heather Shimmer
Before I went cruelty free, this was a staple of mine. It’s just dark enough to give a pale girl like me a little hint of va va voom while still falling under the category of an everyday lipstick. I’ll be sad to see it go, but I’m also excited to find a cruelty free alternative.
5. Too Face Born This Way Foundation in Swan
This foundation looks absolutely stunning on my skin…for the first 90 minutes. Then it disintegrates into an oily mess on my face. It was pretty pricey so I’m determined to use it up, but I’ll have to do so strategically. Like, I’ll only be able to wear it to events that are shorter than 2 hours long. Challenge accepted.
6. No 7 Stay Perfect Foundation in Beige Ivory
This was my go-to foundation for a while, but my skin has changed as I’ve gotten older and it just doesn’t have the wow factor for me anymore. It’s definitely about 5 shades too dark for me right now so I’ll have to get my tan on before I can crack this one open.
7. Wet n’ Wild Mega Length Mascara
No matter what I do, this mascara gives me raccoon eyes. The bristles on the wand are so short that the product always gets over applied and then ends up all over my face. But I’m still determined to use it up. Some might call that crazy…and they’re probably right.
8. Urban Decay Primer Potion
Recently I’ve started to realise that there really is no need to buy absolutely every single thing that’s advertised to you. And this is a great example. Realistically, I have no need for an eyeshadow primer in my life. I have regular primer than I can just apply to my eyelids. And that’s what I do…every single day. As a result, this has been forgotten about in the back of a drawer for a good while. Time to finally get some use out of it.
9. Revolution Fine Line Correcting Serum
I’ve yet to find a night serum I loved as much as the Estee Lauder one I used to use. My reaction to that was to keep purchasing more and more night serums in the hopes of finding a new favourite and suddenly, I was essentially overrun with them. I still haven’t found one I love yet, but I’m determined to use up what I have before I test out any more.
10. Wild Mint Green Tea Clay Mask
This is a product that I do actually love (finally!) and I’ll really enjoy using this up over the course of the year. Even better, once I’m done, the packaging is recyclable.
A big goal in all of this is to get through a lot of my old products that were tested on animals. Ever since I went cruelty free, I just don’t want to have those products in my life anymore. The funny thing is, I thought that after 6 months of being cruelty free I would have cycled all of my animal tested products out of my collection. But it’s been a year and a half at this point and I’m still not even close to seeing the back of some of them.
But project pan is hopefully going to give me the focus I need to get through these products and reduce down my cosmetics collection as quickly as possible. I’d really love to reach the end of 2020 feeling less cluttered and overrun by products.
So, let’s see how this all pans out…get it?
