Pan It! - 2026 Challenge

[ElleElleG]

2026 has arrived and so has YEAR NINE (9) of the Pan It! Challenge 🍾

2026

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:

Spoiler

Pan It! - 2024 Challenge
Pan It! - 2023 Challenge

Pan It! - 2022 Challenge

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

[caitbird]

@ElleElleG  thank you for starting this year's Pan It! thread!

This year, I am only a little late in getting started with my Pan It! project (instead of several months late).😅 Here's hoping I can stick with it throughout the year and actually make some progress! 🤞

For 2026, I was inspired to try @itsfi 's approach and choose 10 items to work on for my project (although some of my 10 items are actually a whole category of items...but, close enough 😅 ). Unlike in previous years, at least for now, I'm also planning on only including panning-related goals, not use-related goals (so "do nails" or "do makeup look" or "light candle" however often, etc. will still be general beauty collection goals of mine, but I won't be including them in this project).

My 2026 Pan It! project items:

Glossier Milky Jelly Gentle Gel Face Cleanser 6 oz/177 mL (mini) (carryover from 2025 project) - goal: finish

COSRX ABC Toner (mini) (carryover from 2025 project) - goal: finish

Since these are close to being done and are mini size, hopefully I'll be able to finish both of these fairly soon; I have backup items picked out to replace each of them once they're finished.

lip balms (~105) - goal: finish at least 12, or one per month? (I may reevaluate this goal depending on how quickly I'm able to get through these)

Yes, I have waaaay too many lip balms 😬 I was actually shocked by how many I had when I did my inventory 🙈 so I'm hoping to use up as many as I can this year!

hand creams (45 + 1 foil) - goal: finish at least 8-12? (I may reevaluate this goal, depending on how quickly I'm able to get through these)

I have way too many hand creams also...

Function of Beauty Hair Mask (carryover from 2025 project) - goal: finish

I made a tiny bit of progress on this last year, but I mostly forgot to use it - I don't use hair masks as often as I'd like. I'm hoping I can remember to use it regularly this year and finally finish it off.

Glossier Stretch Concealer for Dewy Buildable Coverage (G12 - discontinued/old shade) (carryover from 2025 project) - goal: finish

I can't find this at the moment, so this progress pic is from last year. It should be fairly accurate though, since I don't think I made that much progress after taking this photo. Hopefully I can finally finish this one off this year, too.

fragrance samples I already have full size and/or travel sizes of (15) - goal: finish

One of the areas of my beauty collection that is most out of control is my fragrance samples - I literally have hundreds 😵 and somehow, I keep accumulating more 😅 I'm hoping to use all of these up and free up a bit of space in my collection. If I manage to finish all of these before the end of the year (which I hope I will), I'll decide which of my samples to prioritize using up next.

candles - goal: get current collection down to one box instead of two

I didn't inventory my candles, so I'm not sure of the exact number, but I have quite a lot - two big boxes full right now. I have been keeping them separated by seasons - spring + summer scents in one box, fall + winter scents in the other - and the current season's box is kept in my room, while the other stays in the basement. My goal is to use up at least half of my current stash, so that I can consolidate my remaining candles into just one box.

foils - goal: use 5-10 per month? (I may reevaluate this goal once I've had a chance to see how many I typically get through in a month)

I was too lazy to gather and inventory all of my foils (I currently have them stored separately according to category of product), so I'm not sure of the exact number, but I have quite a few - mostly skincare, with some hair + body care and a few makeup as well.

deluxe samples - goal: use 2-5 per month? (I may reevaluate this goal once I've had a chance to see how many I typically get through in a month)

Again, I didn't inventory these either, as they are all scattered in with the rest of my beauty collection, but I have quite a few. I feel like with both foils and deluxe samples, I kind of forget about them most of the time, so I'm hoping to use + finish more of them this year.

That's all for now - I'll be back in a month or so, hopefully with some progress to report! 💜

[itsfi]

Wow, you’ve really been working your way through that Glossier concealer @caitbird; impressive! You’ll have a good variety of lip balms and hand creams to keep you from getting bored with your pan it! challenge. 

[haleyvvvv]

@caitbird Nice selections with your project pan items this year!! You're so close on the cleanser and toner, they'll be used up in no time. I really like how you pulled out your perfume samples you have a full size of, I should do that. I should also separate out my foils by product type. Good luck!!

[Samtian]

@caitbird How exciting! Beautiful collections. 

[missjeanie]

@caitbird I love the photo of all your lip balms.  I may copy you and pull them all out for inventory and see how bad my situation has gotten.  So.... how do you like the Glossier Balm Dotcom Lip Balm and Skin Salve ? lol

[lmaster]

Seeing your lip balms is so satisfying!! @caitbird 

[lmaster]

@ElleElleG thank you for the 2026 thread 🫶

DIOR Lip Glow Oil Hydrating High-Shine Gloss 041 Peachy 

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm Treatment for Hydration + Nourishing Shine Birthday Cake 

Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum Travel Spray with Vanilla & Jasmine 0.33oz/10mL 

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum Over Red Travel Spray with Cherry & Coffee 0.33 oz eau ... 

BBW vanilla mocha Cafe

Tower 28 Beauty SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation 10 Larchmont 

Supergoop cc screen

LAWLESS Mini The Glam One Talc-Free Eyeshadow Palette 8 x 0.03 oz/ 1 g 

Dominique cosmetics Skin gloss

Spoiler

I want to get through all these products! The Lawless palette I'm still trying to get pan on one shade and the DC i want to use up at least half of what's left

 

 

 

[haleyvvvv]

Oooh, a great collection of products, @lmaster !! The Dominique Cosmetics will go quick, it's already got a pan!! You got this. Good luck!!

[lmaster]

Thank you sweets! @haleyvvvv 

[caitbird]

@lmaster  great collection of items to work on! You've got this! 💪

[lmaster]

Thank you!! @caitbird 

[itsfi]

@lmaster, these will be fun to go through; that DC skin gloss looks like it could be fully panned before the year is up. 

[lmaster]

Thank you!! @itsfi i use it for under painting and it works very well 😌 

[danielledanielle]

I looooooove seeing pan @lmaster , and @Samtian 

🙌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽

[Samtian]

@danielledanielle @lmaster It is a beautiful sight indeed!

[lmaster]

@danielledanielle @Samtian literally had no idea i used it that much 🤣 but it's great for under painting!

[danielledanielle]

That's even better, the realization @lmaster 

[missjeanie]

All of those fragrances sound so nice @lmaster !

[lmaster]

@missjeanie they are! They just need some more love ❤️ 

[missjeanie]

Big thanks to @ElleElleG for starting up this years tread again!  And big thanks to everyone for posting, which pushed me to get my project in order!

So I start a project pan most years.  And most years I loose all motivation by spring/summer (that's usually when I start using less products for the summer months and am out and about more often so not at home thinking about using things). I'm trying again though!!  

I have 11 products that are all lovely.  But none are holy grails. I'm going to try to use these items up completely and then add in a new product as I use one up.  Some will be more gimmie products, some will be more challenging. 

1. Ulta Beauty shadow trio.  I think I bought this with the intention of trying some of the UB line and thinking that it could be good for travel.  All three shades are ones that I would use, but seeing as I don't wear a lot of shadow to start, this one will be quite the challenge.  I'm hoping to use the darker purple mostly as a liner.  Yes, I'm that boring with my shadow. 

2. Farmacy Lip Smoothie.  This is very nearly full. I have panned a full Leneige Lip Mask in the past and that took me just over a year.  I prefer the Farmacy product to the Leneige and just emptied out a mango version.  I know I can do this in the year if I stay focused on it and don't get distracted by the other unopened lip masks I have.  I'll keep this on my bedside table and try to use it nightly. 

3. Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Soufflé.  We aren't even going to talk about how old this is.  I don't wear highlighter and most of my blushes don't even have shimmer in them.  This will be a challenge, but I'll feel good about having it done and out of my collection. I frankly forgot it was in there, so one less taking up room would be great. 

4. Sephora Collection Colour Enhancing Lip Scrub.  Again, we aren't talking about how old this is....  Or why a lip scrub needs to leave a stain.  I found this when moving and remember having liked this.  I really haven't even used a lip scrub in a minute, but I feel like I can get this done in a few months if I remember to use it.  

5. Farmacy Honey Potion Mask.  This is a mask that I really enjoy.  I like that it kind of heats up when I put it on.  I just forget to use face masks so much.  I'm making it a goal to shower earlier in the evening when I get home rather than right before bed and I'm hoping a new routine will help me to use this.  

6.  Tower 28 Sunny Days in Fairfax.  Okay.... I counted out 38 open foundation type products in my stash.  Just the open ones.  Several of which contain SPF.  I never use the SPF as my primary SPF, however I'd rather use these products when the SPF is still good.  A goal for this year is to get that stash of products down to a much better number.  This is going to be one of those 'gimmie' products as a way to start off with a bang.  I should have this done before January is up and be able to rotate in another.  I'm thinking of trying to use up anything that has SPF in it and or is very close to empty first to get the numbers down a bit.  

7. Peach and Lily Eye Cream.  I just don't use eye cream.  I use my regular serums and moisturizers and that's worked out fine, except that I buy eye cream.  So I need to learn to use it.  

8. JVN Complete Air Dry Cream.  I don't hate this and I've used these types of products in the past with success.I wash my hair every night before bed and usually let it air dry over night and then style in the morning without using any products at all.  I'm going to try using this a bit more and since it's a DS size, I should be able to use this up and move in another hair product in it's place. Going to try to use up more of the styling/outside of the shower hair products this year!

9. Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Oil Fragrance.  This must have come in a kit at some point.  I do like this line from B&B, I just don't usually think to use a hair fragrance separate from my daily spritz of fragrance. 

10. Skylar Fall Cashmere mini rollerball.  This isn't a favourite and came in a kit at one point.  I really am not a fan of rollerballs so I'd like to use this up and then rotate in other rollerballs. 

11.  Thayers Hydrating Milky Toner.  I only got this in 2025, and I've been enjoying milky toners, but I find this one a bit too liquidy for my preference.  If it was in a spray bottle... I'd love it as an extra hydrating step.  I'm going to try and focus on this bottle and if it's not going well it may go into an empty spray bottle. 

[haleyvvvv]

Oooh, @missjeanie , yes to solidly going through products!! I love that Farmacy mask, it's perfect for the colder weather (but I also agree that it's so hard to devote time to masking! I also need to alter my evening routine a bit to get through more masks). I'm excited to see all of your progress this year!!