You open your blush drawer to find a color to wear and count seven that look nearly the same, none of them close to empty. Then a new launch appears in your feed. Telling yourself to “use what you have” rarely works, because it isn’t a plan. Project Pan gives you one: a short list of products to finish.
There is no official rulebook, so treat everything below as a starting point. Here is a first-month setup you can copy, followed by the questions people usually run into.
It is written by the developer of MakeupStash, an iPhone app with a Pan tab for logging levels and a yearly goal (view on the App Store).
A first-month setup to copy
Start smaller than you think you should, and add more once it feels easy. Here is one simple setup:
| Setting | Starter example |
|---|---|
| Products | 3 to 5 |
| Focus | One category, such as blush or lip products, or a mix |
| Check-in | Once a month |
| When you finish one | Add one new product |
| Goal | Finish it, or hit pan |
You can add a yearly goal later, such as 12 empties. A number makes monthly check-ins more satisfying.
What is Project Pan?
Project Pan is a beauty trend that encourages people to use up their existing makeup before buying new products. The name comes from “hitting pan”: using a product such as an eyeshadow until its metal base shows. Many people pair it with a no-buy or low-buy challenge [1].
What should you do first?
Pull everything out first. A quick makeup inventory shows how many near-identical shades you have and makes picking much easier.
Which products should you pan?
Work through this order:
- What expires soonest. Use the day you opened it and a PAO chart
- What is nearly done. An early win helps
- What you can use every day. More uses means visible progress sooner
- What is too good to throw away. An eyeshadow palette with one worn shade, or skincare that is still more than half full, are typical examples [2]
Leave out anything you dread using. A pan should not turn into a chore.
How do you track progress?
Daily changes are invisible, so a monthly note is enough:
| Date | Product | Level | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1 | Peach blush | 3/4 | Optional |
| Dec 1 | Peach blush | Half | Optional |
| Jan 1 | Peach blush | 1/4 | Optional |
Take photos from the same angle so they can be compared.
Two data points also tell you your pace. If a product went from full to half in three months, the rest will probably take another three. Compare that with its expiry date, and you know whether you’ll finish in time. If you won’t, use it more often, or accept that some will be left over.
What if you get stuck?
- Too many products. Cut the list. You’re allowed to change it
- A product won’t shrink. Powders can take a very long time. Swap it for something else
- You finish something and buy two more. Add a buying rule (below)
- A product passes its date. Let it go. There is no prize for using something that has turned
Do you have to stop buying?
You don’t need a strict no-buy. One rule is often enough:
- One in, one out for each category
- Wait 30 days before buying anything on your wishlist
- Check for similar shades you own before you buy
Tracking Project Pan in MakeupStash
MakeupStash’s Pan tab holds the products you’re panning and your yearly pan goal. Levels go from Full to Hit pan in five steps, and from 14 days after opening, the pace check shows “On track to finish” or “Won’t finish in time” based on your opened date and latest log.
Emptied products stay in your history, with how long each lasted and what it cost per month. You can make Empties and Project Pan share cards, and the wishlist shows similar shades you already own.
Every feature is free for up to 30 products. Only In stock and Open products count, so finishing one frees a slot. Pro is a one-time purchase that removes the limit and the watermark on share cards (view on the App Store).
Key takeaways
- Project Pan means picking a few products to finish, not “use everything”
- Choose by expiry first, then what is nearly done, then what you use daily
- Start with 3 to 5 and check in once a month
- Two level logs give you a pace you can compare with the expiry date
- Dropping a product you dislike is fine
Sources
- The Free Press Journal, “What Is Viral Project Pan Trend? The ‘No Buy Or Low Buy’ New Year 2026 Challenge That Every Make-Up Lover Plans On Taking” https://www.freepressjournal.in/amp/viral/what-is-viral-project-pan-trend-the-no-buy-or-low-buy-new-year-2026-challenge-that-every-make-up-lover-plans-on-taking
- All About (Japan), guide to using up cosmetics (Japanese) https://allabout.co.jp/gm/gc/19490/2/
(All checked November 5, 2026)
About the sources for this article This article is based on information from public agencies, official sites and specialist media, reorganized by the editors from a recording and organizing perspective. Figures and statements about specifications or safety were checked against primary sources where possible.
This article organizes information from a recording and organizing perspective. For skin problems, please consult a medical professional. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us. Last verified: November 2026
