Every time I go to Sephora with my friends, I end up with at least one new product that I’m so excited to go home and try. But buying full size makeup items constantly and never actually finishing them is more than just a waste of money, it’s overconsumption and I’m tired of it being normalized in the makeup community. The pan project is the process of getting down to the pan of your makeup products in order to not waste and save money, also known as “hitting the pan” in your products.
“When you buy something, you get the instant gratification of the purchase. Then you use a product until you finish, mark it as being empty or panned, and celebrate with others in the community, “because they know that that takes consistency, hard work, and discipline,” Vogue says.
Personally, this has been something I have been meaning to start this for a while.
As high schoolers, it’s important to test out what you like and figure out what suits you. But that doesn’t excuse trying new products every time a trending brand launches. I admit it’s harder to not buy many things when it comes to lip colors, blushes and other products that come in many fun pigments, but the rewarding feel of getting the most of your product rivals the feeling of opening a fresh bottle of makeup. Riya Madhavi (’26), a makeup enthusiast, is starting the Pan Project this year and it’s been going good so far.
“I wanted to be more mindful of my own consumption of products and also want to save money by keeping myself in check,” Madhavi states.
From what I know there are no downsides to this project, and I think that when you really use up your products, you can gain appreciation for them instead of tearing through new products faster than brands can launch them. In our Robinson community, I think it would help everyone to be able to save money for college and the future instead of feeling pressured to buy every new product that comes out.
I think that part of this overconsumption specifically within makeup stems from makeup influencers. Receiving PR packages filled with 30 new blushes to try makes thousands of teenagers eager to go try them all. But as usual, we shouldn’t copy the behavior of influencers, and the average person cannot and shouldn’t live that kind of lifestyle. One example that comes to mind is Mikayla Nogueira, an influencer who often does giveaways with 50+ products that nobody needs. These types of giveaways are so unnecessary, nobody needs 10 new lipsticks or bronzers. It makes more sense to fully enjoy your products, and it makes it much more special when you get to go out and buy new things.
Whether you choose to start Project Pan this year or not, I hope a new appreciation can be gained for your makeup and learn more about the value of money.
