Inside: Practical Project Pan tips to help you save money and reduce clutter.
While watching a few decluttering videos on YouTube a few weeks ago, I came across a content creator who was going through her skincare, makeup, and body care products. Wow, she had so many products! I was glad to see that she was participating in Project Pan, so I kept watching and was actually happy that this is a trend.
I’m a bit late to the Project Plan, but after watching a few YouTube videos on it, I decided to write this post as a minimalist and a professional organizer. These practical Project Pan tips will help you declutter, keep only the items you love, and save money.
What is Project Pan?
Project Pan became a social media trend from 2021 to 2025, driven by economic pressures and overconsumption. I don’t follow trends, but I really appreciate the idea of Project Pan to help reduce waste and save money.
This trend is quite simple: it involves finishing up makeup, skincare, and body care products before buying new ones. When you finish a product, you see the bottom, called a pan. You’re using the product until you reach the bottom. This approach aligns perfectly with anyone trying to save money, stay organized, and be more intentional about what they bring into their home.
The Cost of Unfinished Products
We often believe we need more space, like a bigger home, larger closets, and bigger bathroom cabinets. But actually, we only need fewer possessions. Having many unused items takes up a lot of space.
Keeping unfinished products causes decision fatigue when getting ready for the day because you have too many options. Instead, keep and use only your favorite products.
Unfinished products cause visual clutter in your home, which can lead to mental clutter.
Buying too many unnecessary products adds hidden clutter to your drawers, cabinets, and closets, which can cause stress. Even if you don’t always see the clutter, you know it’s there, and when you open these spaces, the clutter becomes visible.
Holding onto products wastes your money. You might buy new items without realizing you already have them at home. Having fewer products makes it easier to keep track of what you’ve got and helps you avoid duplicates or similar items, saving you money.
Why Start Project Pan
There are many reasons to start your own project plan, and one of my favorites is saving money.
When you finish products you already own, you save money by not buying new ones. You’ll be surprised at how long makeup and skincare items can last.
Project Pan encourages mindful shopping, helping you feel more confident and in control of what you bring into your home, which can be empowering.
As someone who prefers simplicity, I only have a few skincare and makeup products, so I truly appreciate what I own. Sticking with your favorites makes getting ready more pleasant, and you’ll value your products without feeling the urge to buy new ones.
Finishing products before buying new ones can give you a sense of achievement and contentment, making your space feel more organized and peaceful.
Lastly, participating in Project Pan and using up items before buying new ones helps reduce waste in landfills. Some containers are made of glass and can be recycled, but many people throw them away in the trash. Disposing of them this way adds to landfill waste.
How to Start a Simple Project Plan
Gather all similar items
Gather all your makeup, skincare, and body care items and organize them by category to get a clear view of everything you own, making decluttering and starting your Project Pan easier.
Separate used and unused products
Separate all your makeup products into used and unused categories. Do the same with your skincare and body care items. I recommend dividing them into open and closed categories, because once a product is opened, it will expire according to its expiration date.
Donate some of the unused products to a non-profit
While watching these YouTube videos and seeing how much unused product people have, I can’t help but think about donating some to a non-profit that can help someone in need right now. It can take years to get through unopened products before you finish your favorites. So why not donate them to a non-profit?
Store the rest for later use
Now that you’ve donated a few unopened products, it’s safe to store the rest for future use. Also, think about giving some of these items as gifts this year. Giving a few away will help you clear out your unopened supplies.
Keep your favorite used products (finish them up)
Review your open products to see which have expired. Products expire once they are opened. You might be surprised to find some last two years; most last six or twelve months after opening. Don’t hesitate to throw away these expired items — put them in the trash.
You will be left with open, unexpired products, and you should now enjoy using them until they are gone. Avoid buying new products until you actually need them.
Toss your used products that were not your favorite
If you find any open products that you didn’t like, throw them away immediately. There’s no reason to keep opened products just because you’ve paid for them. Keeping them will only add clutter and increase your decision fatigue.
No-buy during this period
It’s important not to buy new products until you’ve used up the ones you already have. Not purchasing extra items helps you make the most of what you currently own. If you feel the urge to buy something, consider trying a travel size first to see if you’ll like the product before investing in a full-size version.
Related posts.
Frugal Living Tips for Beginners: 11 Best Ways to Stretch Your Dollar
How to Help a Loved One Declutter Their Home
Project Pan Tips to Avoid
Holding on to products you dislike
I understand it can be difficult to let go of items you’ve purchased, even if you don’t use or like them, because you worked hard for your money. However, keeping these items won’t make you use them, because if that were the case, you would already be using them.
Buying “backups” too soon
This has happened to me before, when I think I need to buy a cleanser or eyeliner because it looks like I am almost out. I end up buying more, and after two to three weeks, I still have not finished the product I was using. Instead, wait a few days longer when you feel you are almost done with a product.
Purchasing items on sale
I used to feel tempted to buy items when they were on sale. You see a product you’ve considered buying before and rush to the store to get it. I strongly recommend avoiding buying products just because they are on sale, and if you want to try a new product, consider a travel-size version first to see if you like it. Items will always go on sale sooner or later.
Final thoughts
Project Pan isn’t about deprivation; it’s about intention. It promotes contentment and awareness. It makes it easier to save money, reduce clutter, and stay organized. As a certified professional organizer, I highly recommend donating unopened products to a non-profit to help you use up your favorites and prevent clutter in your space. I hope these Project Pan tips motivate you to finish up your products and help you make intentional purchases in the future.
Let me know if you have tried Project Pan or if you would like to try it.