Pan It! - 2023 Challenge

[ElleElleG]

Hey all you cool cats and kittens, welcome to YEAR 6 of the Pan It Challenge!

**Join us in the 2024 thread available here: Pan It! - 2024 Challenge

The "Rules"

To accommodate a variety of interests, you all are encouraged to pick items to pan that are most suitable to your collections.  For some, this might mean focusing on a particular type of product (like lipstick) and for others this may include a larger variety spanning your entire makeup or skincare routine.

Getting Started (please share the following)

• Which item(s) you would like to work on
• How long you will work on said item
• Goal: explore a new item, revisit an old item, decide whether to keep pass or trash, and/or completely finish item, etc.
• Starting photo of item

Please Use This Thread To...

• share what item(s) you are working on,
• provide comparative progress photos of your item(s) monthly (at the beginning of the month when possible),
• ask questions,
• encourage others,
• motivate others with the looks you create with your item(s)

Tips and Tricks to Panning/Getting Some Use Out of Your Stash:

Spoiler

• Take photos!!  When you think you aren’t making a dent in anything look back at those photos, I’m certain you’ll see some changes 😃 *this is the number one recommendation for everyone, regardless of how long you’ve been panning! Those photos add up and can help you realize progress you might otherwise overlook.
• If you goal is to hit pan or use something up entirely, try concentrating your brush/applicator in the same area each time you use it
• Multitask your products: eyeshadows as highlighter, lipstick as blush, eyeshadow as brow powder, etc. 
• Layer eyeshadow to create different colors (this is especially helpful to get use out of shades you’re not fond of).
• Have shadows with a ton of fall out?  Use water
• Watching the progress of others’ can be fun but try not compare your progress to theirs.  We all use our makeup differently and have different goals.
• Don’t restrict yourself to only using the item(s) you are working on.  It’s more than OK to incorporate other items or take a break!
• Makeup should be fun….if you begin to dread doing your makeup because you made a commitment to use a product that you now hate, TOSS IT!  Do not force yourself to use up something you don’t like.  Move on to something else!  (This includes excluding particular shades from your goals if focusing on palettes, etc.)

Ideas to Help You Pan Those Items:

Spoiler

• Roll the dice: number your items and use a random number generator to pick what you will use each (day/week/month/etc.) 
• Layer/Mask: items you are less fond of under things you like
• Pan a Look: at the beginning of the week pick a look that you can wear everyday
• Recreate: a look worn by a fellow BICer, celebrity, etc.
• Spice up an "everyday" look by adding subtle pops of color (in the crease or on the lower lash line, mix lip products to make shades wearable, etc.)

Past Panning Challenges:

Pan It! - 2021 Challenge 🏆
Pan It! - 2020 Challenge
Pan It! - 2019 Challenge!
Pan It! - 2018 Challenge!
Pan It! - 2017 Challenge! 

[itsfi]

November 2023 Project Pan Update

MONTHLY SUMMARY: No new pan for November. It was just business as usual, chipping away at product. Slow and steady.

NOVEMBER ALL STAR: Both the JVN and WA lip suede saw some good progress this month. I won't be able to fully pan the lightest shade on the WA by the end of December, but I think there's a good chance I can get through the JVN oil drops before the year is over.

NEEDS SOME TLC: I need to use more of the two shadows in ND Biba that I've yet to hit pan - prairie and tone. I won't accomplish that next month but I want to make some progress towards it. Neither of these shades are ones I would usually gravitate towards, but I do want to make an effort to use them and hit pan on both, if I can. My plan is to use one of those two shadows every day in December, probably alternating between them to keep me from tiring of them. Let's see if I can get back into the discipline of using a shadow from this palette every day, and finding a combination of shades that will make me want to use either or both those colors daily.

[Samtian]

@itsfi Amazing! Slow and Steady wins the race they say. 

[itsfi]

Thank you @Samtian! I got the "slow" down; the "steady" doesn't always happen as consistently as I like 🤣, but working on it. I can't believe we are almost halfway through December!

[lmaster]

You've done so well! @itsfi 

[itsfi]

@lmaster, thank you. Just keeping my head down and chipping away at it. Folks here have been good inspiration and support.

[caitbird]

@itsfi  great job keeping at it! I have to do another project pan update myself as well, it's been over a month now since the last one. I have been struggling to keep up with my skincare lately, but I have at least made a bit of progress with some of my makeup & fragrance goals. But I think many of my 2023 goals are going to be carrying over into 2024 😅

For the WA lip palette, do you apply that with your fingers or a brush? I've never tried a lip palette like that before.

[itsfi]

@caitbird, I find that it ebbs and flows when it comes to being consistent with use of products and with meeting our panning goals. With your skincare, do you think changing out some products would be helpful, especially with the change in weather? I feel like skincare can be one of those areas when it comes to panning where it could be very helpful to rotate products. 

For the Westman Atelier lip product, I've been using a lip brush. I need to go in for more than once to cover my lip so the brush makes me feel it's more hygienic and it gives me better control for depositing color onto my lips. I feel like lip palettes like this were more widespread in the 80s and 90s so maybe they'll be coming back soon? 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  I've never really tried changing my skincare routine for different weather/times of year, but I think it's probably a good idea. I definitely need to make some kind of change so that I'll be more consistent with keeping up with my skincare routine! Re: the lip palette, that's interesting that they used to be more popular in the past. I wouldn't be surprised if they cycle back into popularity in the future, that seems to happen with a lot of products/types of products from what I've seen.

[itsfi]

@caitbird, if your skincare routine is working for you, no need to change it up. For me, my skin changes (very noticeably) usually in the summer. It gets a lot more oily, but I still have dehydration issues under the surface. I usually go with a lighter skincare routine, both in terms of number of steps and products with a lighter consistency. Then for the rest of the year, it's really the same types of products, for the most part, but I may rotate in and out a different cleanser or moisturizer based on what is going on with my skin and the consistency of the products - spring and fall is usually the same, but in the winter months, I'll usually add a face oil and go with a thicker moisturizer. Also, I ted to breakout more from late spring to early fall so I reach for my acne treatments with more frequency - once per week vs. 2-4 times per week, as needed.

I know some of BIC folks here have seasonal pan projects - it's so fun to see. I have occasionally pulled in a product for my project pan for 3-4 month period and that's been a good way to work in product into my existing routine(s). You could always give it a try for a few months to see how you like it and decide if it's something you'd like to do more regularly vs. occasionally vs. not at all.

[missjeanie]

My last update was Mid October... It seems mid month is just a better time for me to do updates so I'm going to roll with it!

I actually finished up two of my 10 products over the last month and have at least another 4 I should be able to finish off.  I'm VERY pleased with this so far.  I found this year of more consistent panning has given me some insights into my beauty product consumption.  I'm not great at routines that require a ton of steps.  And man... some eyeliner can really last!  I found that having everything in one spot out on my bathroom counter has helped so much!  I finally feel like I've had a successful panning year, and can't wait to finish up a few more products and the year.  

These were the two products that I finished off. The May Coop Raw Sauce is fine, but I don't think it really adds anything to my skincare efficacy. Naturally I have another full bottle. The Mac Fix + is also ... fine. I started off with a full size that had a pearl in it. I swapped into a smaller bottle in order to "back to mac" the larger container, then also added in some UD All Nighter. The pearl wasn't for me. And the mister on the MAC bottles... is just meh.These are the four products that I feel I'll have used up before years end. The Origins is one that I love the scent on, but I find feels greasy on my face and leaves a film. I've used it every now and again on my face, but it's really now an elbow cream. The Clinique Happy is a bottle I found that I'm 90% sure I had in University... over 20 years ago. Someone mentioned here using a fragrance as a room refresher and I've taken that to heart. The scent is okay, but it doesn't work on my skin anymore, or my tastes have changed. Either way, whenever I vaccume, I give a few spritz's of this on my rugs. The Smashbox will be a push, but I enjoy the scent and the spray is nice enough that I'm pretty sure I can get it finished before year end by using it both before and after I do my make up. The PTR mask kinda makes me roll my eyes. In no way do I think my skin is rolling off with the mask, however the acids in it are exfoliating so I'm thinking one, maybe two more weekly uses.This may not seem like much body lotion, but I'm not drawn to this product at all and have to force myself to use it. Nothing wrong with it... but it bores me. The MAC lip oil is one that if I use over and over through a day dries my lips and leave a NEON stain. It's nice in smaller quantities. I don't think I'll get it finished, but I'm not mad at rolling it into 2024.My last two items are ones that surprised me for different reasons. The MAC bronzer is warm for my liking... and I'm not much of a bronzer gal. I'm surprised I managed to hit pan on it this year at all. It SHOULD be retired due to age... but... we'll see. It's nice to use as a one and done quick shadow. The eyeliner... I thought was gonna be a gimmie product, but has been used probably 5 times a week since January... Now, I do only line my upper lash line, but still... How does one liner last this long???

[itsfi]

Oh wow! You’re doing incredible things with all your project pan products @missjeanie! 😍 Brava!! 

Seeing your update reminds me of the fabulous variety of items you included in your panning this year. And whoa, look at you go with that Clinique fragrance! 👀 👀 

So, there was a year when I included a value size of a Kiehl’s body lotion - oh good grief, I thought I’d have to start including it into my meals to get through it 😆 Then, I decided to decant some into a jar and mix it with a highlighter that was also in my project pan but moving slowly (it was a beautiful highlighter; I just don’t wear highlighter a lot), for a body highlighter. If you’re getting tired of the body lotion, that might be an option? 

[missjeanie]

@itsfi Lol.... Oh my.... I have two more of these jugs of Vaseline lotion! lol. While I love the idea of body shimmer... I am currently living in a place where it's already below freezing, and I'm trying to expose the least amount of skin possible to that.  But I mean... it is unseasonably warm and we've only had a bit of snow yet...

I think I'm just so 'meh' on the unscented lotion... Especially when I have fun scented ones to use instead!  I might need to try dumping a fragrance sample in... 

[itsfi]

Below freezing already? Oh dear. 😳😱 Maybe sparkly lotion will be a warm weather project @missjeanie. I like the sound of adding some fragrance samples to your lotion. If you decide to give that a go, let us know how it works out for you.

I was on a body lotion / body cream no buy for a couple of years - yeah, i had a few extra 😂🤣😂 The no buy was no longer necessary last year but ummm... we're gonna hit "pause" on any more purchases for the time being; maybe do an inventory count before the spring sale to see where we stand as far as supply goes. lol

[missjeanie]

Oh yes ... very freezing @itsfi lol.  I am however keeping that idea on deck for the warmer weather!  

I'm contemplating a new system for my unopened products... the boxes I keep them in now aren't keeping things front of mind.  Everything is however still very much in contemplation mode.  It's hard to try and figure out what I have and what I need for sale season with the boxes...  So... buy more incase??

[itsfi]

hahahahahaha! "So... buy more incase??" I love your logic here @missjeanie 😅 I feel like it's what I subscribe to, sometimes subconsciously. lol. Let me know what system you come up with for your unopened products; I'm very interested. 

[QueenMarceline]

@missjeanie Wow that's some awesome progress and great job on hitting pan on that bronzer! 

[missjeanie]

@QueenMarceline Thanks!  I was shocked to hit pan on it, and now I'm wavering on weather I keep it to try and kill the whole pan next year?

[QueenMarceline]

@missjeanie I definitely think you could get it done! 🙂 How fun would that be to see next year?

[missjeanie]

@QueenMarceline Might need to keep a spot open for 2025 too.... lol

[caitbird]

@missjeanie  awesome progress! I really like the idea to use products in different ways to help get through them and need to try to do this myself more!

[missjeanie]

Thanks @caitbird .  I've only learned to use products in these ways because of these threads!