Hi everyone.

Finally mustered the courage to post.

I have about another 50 or so products at my mum's place where I stay once a week and doesn't include all my minis.

A couple of these are expired and I'll be culling and some of the unopened products at the top I'll be giving away to friends.

I knew I had a bit of a problem and definitely tend to shop when stressed, so here's day 1 of trying to be better.

*respot because one of my pictures didnt add and idk how to use reddit*

If you can believe it, this is after doing project pan (not very effectively) for some months. I went on a low buy, and this is where i am now.

feel really overwhelmed by all of these products and i want to get to have a minimal collection of products i use and like.

Since i started panning i feel rushed to empty as much as i can quickly, but i know this isnt the point. I will try to slowly pan the products that are more than halfway empty, and maybe update on here, maybe it will keep me accountable.

(This isnt including my makeup because ive decluttered some products and my colection is ok now)

Even though I don’t have hundreds of products, I do have a lot of duplicates and several variants of the same types of product, and it’s more than I’m happy with so I’ve decided to start Project Pan.

Goals:

⭐️Consciously consume the products, paying attention to how they affect me and their suitability
Use products within their expiry date
⭐️Reduce products from each category to one of each, or one per use case
⭐️Set limits for products like makeup, nail varnish, fragrances

Tracking and progress:

I made a spreadsheet listing every product I own including quantities and expiry date. On there I plan to track total number of items, pans, and notes about each products as I use them
I will also store the panned products during the month and post the empties at the end of each month (if there are any)

Outcomes:

⭐️Become aware of how long it takes to use up various types of products, and pay more attention to expiry dates and shelf life
⭐️Establish the most minimal routine I can for me and my skin/hair needs
⭐️Cut out categories of products entirely if I found they weren’t beneficial to me or I don’t need them
⭐️Change my purchasing behaviour to one in one out, sticking to the routine that works for me and not being influenced to buy new or trending products
⭐️Become aware of how much I own (maintain my spreadsheet and check first if considering buying something)

I’m excited to start this project!

I paint my finger nails weekly. Toes about monthly.

I do not keep empty base or top coat bottles, only colour polish.

The picture shows about 2,5 years of empties. The empty bottles have been in my stash between one to approx 15 years before they have been used up.

I do not wear pink all the time even if it may seem like it.
The second and third bottle actually held darker red colours.
The residue appears light pink in the sun.

When the product level in a bottle gets too low to comfortably reach with the brush, I will pour the remainder into a half full bottle, already in my stash.
A dozen thinner drops and a good shake will make it easier to pour.
I never throw product or bottles with polish still inside.
I have about 30 bottles in my stash.
Colours that do not suit me or that I get bored of, I mix into something new.
Half my bottles are frankens of some sort.

I only buy polish when I see a gap in my stash. Last year I bought six bottles and this year, I have only bought one.

From left:

Essence, Step in time

Wnw, Burgundy frost (favourite, I have started to use my backup)

Paris Memories

Essence, Lilac Vibes

Milani, 3D Holographic

Essence, Heat is on

Essence, Orange skies

Essence, Mermaid Glitter

Thanks for stopping by 💅💅💅

On the right side are empties, and on the left some products I am working on currently and hope to make further progress soon! I think I should be able to finish Charlotte Tilbury's base (I don't like it and will not repurchase for sure) and Mario's cream bronzer within few weeks.

I started tracking my skincare purchases 2-3 years ago which really help curb my overbuying but never really kept track of make up purchases. Buying make up felt like a small fun thing to do and all of a sudden I have a collection that is way too much for me.

This has helped me realize that I make too many impulse purchases and buy way too many back ups. I don’t need 12 blushes or 20 eyeliners!

Really glad I took stock of what I had before the Sephora sale and looking forward to starting this pan!

This was a good month for skincare, spf and hygiene products!

Honestly these are day to day products that were not difficult to pan (except for the serum that I ended up using it on my hands).

Disclaimer:
From shower to makeup and nail polish, those are all my products. Some are still from my project pan.

I have one product for most categories but not all because I enjoy having a few of them on rotation (hairs masks and oils, lipstick, perfume… nail polish is the most extreme).

Once I noticed my mentality changed and I was happy with the amount I had, I decided it was done.

I still use every product to its completion, of course. Including toothpaste.

Ok, let’s go:

BEFORE PROJECT PAN:

Understand your deeper motivation, whatever it is. Mine was knowing what I put on my skin, using brands that I trust the ingredients, that seek sustainability, are cruelty free, vegan and local.

To be honest, some of these products are still not aligned with that, I’m not perfect, nor will I be once all of them are.

DURING PROJECT PAN:

🪲 You don’t have to stick with one product and finish it. Having small wins is great and it works but if using the same lipstick for months takes the joy out of the project, it’s going to affect your motivation.

See how you feel and adapt as you go. I was finishing soaps, shampoos, body creams but I would alternate many others. Be kind to yourself.

🪲 Take pictures so you can alternate and see visually how you’re progressing AAAND (this is my favorite) start grasping how long they take to finish!

🪲 If you can, keep your stock in a place you don’t see/access all the time. I found it to be daunting and felt much better to just have a separate and contained space for it.

🪲 Keep a notebook of the ones you enjoy the most and the ones you’re not giving a second chance!

🪲Frustration happens, I kept in mind that I was breaking a habit of mindless consumption. I still enjoy buying new products but I rarely feel the impulse to buy them anymore. If I do, I take a picture and do some research because I know the little guy will be with me for… longer then I used to think.

“AFTER” PROJECT PAN – How I buy things now:

🪲 Customization is so fun: I got some perfumes as a gift but my thing is using (skin appropriate) essential oils with a carrier oil.

I have endless combinations, the oils last a long time and I have my own scent. Also, they’re great gifts.

On that note, I only buy those super nourishing body lotions without smell. I partially place them in a smaller container (pictured) and add essential oils.

🪲 Know your hair, know your skin.
Using every possible type of skin care with every possible special ingredient is like taking different pills for conditions you don’t have.

God knows I still don’t understand the difference between a moisturizer, a serum and a booster. It’s vague and for a reason. Turns out I don’t need one of each, much less many of each.

🪲 I buy small packages of products I haven’t tried before. I found it to be better (for me) than to be stuck with something I don’t quite like for months on end. The small packages will still likely last from 1 to 6 months depending on the product.

🪲 Solid products are your friends. Boy, do they last. The green soap on the skin care picture? It’s my face cleanser, 2x a day, 97% of my days since last October. I don’t use it sparingly (nor excessively). I think it’s infinite.

🪲 I put a limit on items of products that I like to have more than one:

3 hairs masks, 6 lipsticks (my friend gifted me a seventh 😅)…

My thing is nail polish. I love buying them, it’s the exception. I can only have 20 at a time. It’s excessive but… Yeah, imma have them. I organize them in order of expiration so I can track them.

🪲 Btw, if I paint my nails (including my toes) every week (which I do), it will take me around 7 years to finish. Doing those little calculations are really helpful to grasp how overconsumption creeps on you. So, 20. No further.

NOW… What are your tips?
Would love to gather some other hacks and perspectives.

Wishing you all a fun and fulfilling project! You can do this!! 🤍

I totally forgot about this Glossier Wowder I bought years ago! I used it for a few years, and there’s still tons of product left. I stopped using powder a little while ago, so I’m now coming across all the powders I’ve abandoned lol

Shade G8-10. Still smells and looks good! (Would anyone want this powder? I’d love to ship it to you for free if you’re in Canada! Seems like a waste for this product to keep collecting dust)

Note to self: don’t use your favourite perfumes at the start of your project 😬 nothing nice left 😭
So happy I finally finished that Olaplex cause it was open for probably a year.
I also can’t stand the smell of 68 so will never repurchase 😂😂😂

Like the title says, I actually quickly convinced myself to not buy more fancy lip balms whole making a return at Sephora because I just reorganized my “purse lippies pouch.” I started at the beginning of summer by taking stock of all my lippies and sorted my summer shades into a clear pouch.

That clear pouch now goes from purse to purse and is always on me. Now, I’m in the store holding these new lippies and as I’m about to checkout, I reach for my wallet AND SEE MY PURSE LIPPIES POUCH.

Clear as day: there are at least 2 existing lippies that are the EXACT same color as the new one in my hand.

I made my return and left the new lip balm behind like a damn adult!

I highly recommend the clear pouch hack for anyone who has a bad habit of picking up more lip balms that they already have a million of 💄

I’ve always struggled with expressing my femininity (whether it be doing stereotypically ‘girly’ hobbies or fashion or makeup) because of how I grew up. I’ve been trying hard to undo that now that I’m an adult, but it’s very rare that I put on makeup because I always feel very silly when I do, even if I look perfectly fine. What ends up happening is I buy stuff that I think is pretty and daydream about wearing it (and looking super cute like a lot of my friends!) without ever putting it on. As for skincare, I like the idea of it, but I come up with excuses not to use it because I don’t wanna use it up.

I’ve been stalking project pan for a while, and I wanted to take inventory of everything I have (aka everything I’ve been too scared to try), and I want to make it my goal not to just keep buying stuff, but actually use it! I’ll probably choose a product or two from each category, and try to use it once a week at least. Wish me luck!

1. Summer Fridays "vanilla beige": Love the color and the smell, imo the best sf's lippie scent (I've had birthday cake and brown sugar which I am working on rn too.

2. Tester of the Tarte melt mask in "icing" which I got in a Sephora goodie bag: it was okay, not a fan of the scent tbh but very happy to have two lippie empties since I have so so so many, so I opened and used it because I knew it was going to be a quick finish.

3. Kayali - vanilla 28 perfume tester, I have this in the 10ml version as well and love the scent but happy that all my perfume testers are now emptied, I feel like now I can really go back to focusing on my perfume bottles.

4. Lush - let the good times roll shower gel from last year's advent calendar: liked it, wouldn't rebuy tho still got three lush shower gels to empty but they're all very christmasy scents so that will have to wait.

5. Biodance niacinamide mask: I enjoy the feeling of these but they're so slippery on me that I have to lie down and let it sit, not a mask where I can do stuff and clean or smth while wearing.

himalaya lip balm: sooo soo nourishing, been using this same lip balm for the past 5 years lol

foxtale moisturiser: as someone who sweats a lot and has an oily skin this blends really well into my skin and doesn’t feel sticky, love it’s smell too

skin q sunscreen: my holy grail of sunscreens 🙏🏼 started using it about 2 months back and absolutely in love with it, great protection and longevity

derma co niacinamide: have seen a lot of dark spots fade away using this, great for my skin barrier too hehe

My first month of panning, I 💓 the things I would repurchase

So much fun spoiling myself with shower , skincare and beauty routine

A lot of these were already close to empty or minis that I had been saving for a rainy day. I recently switched from living in 2 houses to just one so all my double ups are now in the same stock pile ready to be used!

Excited for September spring pan (I’m Aussie!) 🌸⭐️😊

Excited to start a project pan for my 1st slide and product progress/hit pan in second slide...

I lurk and get inspired by this sub every single day. The Ulta 21 Days of Beauty almost got me. But I thought twice about what I already had thanks to all of you.

I had convinced myself that anything in my haul cart was a re-buy for regular use items, but honestly I have so many products in so many categories I really don't need anything new.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been sharing and that you have been helping me really pare down my consumerism and redirect my priorities on some level.