Project Pan is a movement that focuses on being mindful of consumption and appreciating the material items you already have. It blew up during the beginning of 2025 when everybody was busy making their New Year’s resolutions. It first became popular on TikTok, where people wanted to start being more mindful about how much they were consuming. The main objective was to hit “pan” on products before buying new ones, which stops you from spending money on beauty products that you don’t need. Although it was originally meant for makeup, it has since expanded to other beauty products too, including shampoo, lotion, and skincare. With strong overconsumption trends over the years, it’s no wonder that a movement like this has sprung up in resistance against spending unnecessary money. Project Pan allows participants to recognize the beauty products they already have and help them not splurge on new ones.Â
When I came across Project Pan, I realized just how much money I was pouring into these various beauty products that were just slightly altered versions of each other. One huge problem I had was buying multiple skincare products at once. I had everything from toners to retinol shot serums. They would cover the majority of my vanity which made it difficult to use the space for anything else.Â
I finally made a promise to stick with one skincare set until that set ran out—and this worked. Around four months into using only one set of skincare products, I had reached the bottom of all of them. Diligently using them everyday, morning and night, allowed me to run through these products like I hadn’t before. Once I finished the entire  set of skincare, I washed the empty containers and stashed them in a gift bag. I was proud that I used up all these products and that my money hadn’t gone to waste. This also meant it was time to rotate my skincare set. With my old set done, my new set consisted of products I bought a few months ago that were collecting dust on my vanity. As I pulled them out, I felt a sense of accomplishment and could see the clutter starting to disappear. Unboxing these products was a feeling that I hadn’t felt in months due to a halt in consumption. Every time I felt tempted to purchase something, I thought back to the mess on my vanity and questioned whether I really needed it. Sometimes I’d stand there for a few minutes staring at the product —either in store or online—before deciding against it and walking away, mostly in triumph. Since then, I’ve filled a whole gift bag full of empty bottles that I look at from time to time to remind myself of the achievements I’ve made throughout the year.Â
Project Pan can be the positive change that you’ve been looking for. I learned that I didn’t need to hop on every new skincare trend, and was able to mindfully allocate my money to other aspects of my life. This movement is not just about combating overconsumption, it can help you take control of your spending habits and thoughtfully spend while also appreciating what you already own. Project Pan offers a meaningful perspective on taking control of your urges to consume.Â