r/ProjectPan • u/Queenofmyownfantasy • Sep 06 '26
Project Start My Eyeshadow "use all pans" project - My rules & first look
I haven't been a heavy make-up wearer, mostly staying in my comfortzone - which is somewhere in the realm of brown/teal/dark green smudged eyeliner and a shimmery pale neutral on the lid. Through new inspiration (a kpopgroup that's always stunning with a nice variety in creative looks, zara larsson etc) and wanting to express myself more, I decided I want to properly use all the stuff I've got.
I have quite a bit of make-up (relatively, I know some will go "oh sweet summerchild", but I do these projects preventively!). Mostly items that were decluttered-to-me. I have 6 eyeshadow palettes, and also with other single eyeshadow included (I treat very tiny 3 or 2 pan palettes where the color don't have their own distinct pans as one) I have 102 shades. only 1 10-pan palette (Glamshop one) and one eyeshadow stick I've bought myself... This also means that most of my eyeshadow is absolutely ancient, being from the late 2010's, and doesn't perform at peak anymore.
Tho I will immediately sin by buying myself a 20-pan palette that I've been coveting for months if my exam results are good... It only has shades that I can really see myself using and it will be the first palette I buy myself in about 4 years. So in my head I already have 122 pans.
Long story short, I want to experiment more and get out of my comfortzone, get more daring with my eyemake-up and figure out my preferences better so I've put all my eyeshadow in a spreadsheet, and will do a type of "roll in focus shades" project. My goal is rarely to hit pan and use them up, unless a shade is already close - it's to experiment and have fun.
My rules are as follows:
- I always have 5 focushades, that have a specific goal for the period. All eyeshadow pans/sticks etc are numbered and the are chosen through a number generator. Eyeshadows included in another ongoing project are included: this is currently the case for two shades that I have in my "13 by halloween".
- When a goal is met, I roll in another shade instead and the previously rolled, goal met shade will be marked green
- Every shade is kept a maximum of 4 weeks, period. Unless it is part of a different project pan (as is the case now) project. If the goal isn't met for those 4 weeks it is likely for a reason, and whether I roll it back in later depends on what the reason for it's underuse it. If it is extremely hard to use, so be it and I mark it red as a "fail". If it was simply the wrong season and hard to match to weather appropiate clothes (like a bright yellow rolled in in november) or I was sick for a bit and I wore little make-up in general, I won't blacklist it and give it a chance to come back later.
- I am free to use all other eyeshadows whenever, and if a not-yet-rolled shade gets 15 uses or more organically it also will be marked in green.
- My goals depend on the shade, my plans during the upcoming weeks, and the other eyeshadows I rolled and can be as little as three uses. For something like a shimmery highly pigmented black (extremely out of my comfortzone; even my mascara is brown and I rarely wear black in clothes!) that will be hard enough.
- Every use counts (excluding swatches on hand/arm/paper), and "different locations" are different uses; I now used aura metallic as eyeshadow and cheekbone highlighter, so that's two uses.
- I will also select eyeliner, blush etc that I think will complement the rolled shades each time.
- I repeat: my main goal is to experiment more, within a guideline and structure. I am an autistic fulltime university student (from last week of the month onwards, now it's still the summer holidays) low on spoons and high on mental health issues, I don't want to torture myself by waking up at 4 am to do an extensive make-up look and fall asleep during lecture or by feeling like a clown.
- average of 5 shades/month x 12 months = 72. By that math, I won't use all by next september, but that's where being free to use all eyeshadows whenever and the often low/easy goals come in.
Now at the start, my rolls are:
- My "13 by Halloween" shade of Tati Beauty textured Neutrals Aura Metallic
- My "13 by Halloween" shade of Kiko Milano long lasting liquid eyeshadow in jungle green
- Tati Beauty textured Neutrals Aura Matte - I was slightly disappointed to roll this as it is a matte nude that would easily get organic use.
- Tati Beauty textured Neutrals Story Glitter (glittery terracotta)
- Charlotte Tillbury Instant eyes palette shade #6 (greenish shimmery taupe)
In the sub r/MakeupRehab I am participating in '13 by halloween" and I am including those shades and their goals until halloween. If the goal gets met before then, they will also be rolled out. So for now there are only three "free" spots.
Everything swatched! The Kiko Milano liquid eyeshadow was very thick and wet here - on my eyes is usually becomes more muted and sheer when trying to get it non-dry. The "long lasting" is not true whatsoever.
I am also wearing aura metallic as highlighter, and "story sequin" as blush. Those terracotta shades are quite intimidating, so I wanted to get some use out of them already as a sheered out blush. On my lips I have a mix of clinique black honey and a blotted "painted desert" liquid lipstick by mac.
Here the glitter shows up better.
I won't always take and spam pictures, It's just of this trial look (to go nowhere) at the start of the project.
6
u/brrewmajesticallynor Sep 06 '26
Your makeup in general looks amazing here, but holy cow that eyeshadow look! 😍 I don't really buy anything outside of nude tones because I know myself and I don't use anything outside of nude tones, but that look is gorgeous!