UGLY BEAUTY NEWS. Project Pan: Sustainability or Trend? Miss England’s Bare Face Round BANNED & More

[@108ladylena]

It's so weird for me to see this as a trend. For money reasons I've been doing this "project" all my life. It's just normal to use something until it's gone...

[@luciferr-_]

I dont even think this is a ‘money’ thing, using something fully feels obvious

[@AgataKu]

Yeah, I don't understand this 'trend' either. It is normal to use what you have.

[@kecollyer]

Same…? Like, if you enjoy a product and it hasn’t expired, why would you not use the whole thing?

[@Mad-Moiselle]

Couldn't agree more! I don't even buy new skincare products etc until I'm almost finished with the one I already have.

[@yara-um6tx]

Let me explain from my perspective. Sometimes you have this one lipstick sitting in your drawer for a very long time, it’s a shade that might’ve been gifted to you and you might somewhat like it but don’t quite like LOVE it as much as another lipstick you have. So it sits there, while you keep repurchasing the one that you REALLY love. Same with eyeshadow palettes, I had a Naked palette for almost 10 years, I used some shades that I like but most of them were left in the drawer untouched. I pulled it out and experimented with the other shades and tried to find a way to use them up.

[@1015SaturdayNight]

Project Pan has been around foreverrrrrrr, we used to do this on MakeupAlley message boards back in the 00s. Forcing yourself to use something up was called hate panning LOL

[@LadyTigerLily]

This gave me war flashbacks, haha

[@sapphirelady2]

So miss Makeup Alley, I was addicted to that site!

[@phonicfrog]

It’s still pretty popular on reddit too.

[@anoisano275]

Just hearing the phrase "message boards" brings nostalgia lol

[@EmbalmerEmi]

The term hate panning is still being used on the project pan subreddit!

[@AntisocialAuntie]

As an older lady that grew up before online ordering, I remember the girls at school bragging about using things until it was gone. "Trend" is a fascinating term every time being less wasteful is talked about

[@VtheHAPPYLURKER]

Yeah, same here. As a teen in the 90s & 00s, options were limited in what you could get so if you had something good like Clinque or finally got hold of Urban Decay lipstick, you used it all. Though I will admit as one of the few girls in my extended family, I ended up with piles of Avon chapstick. In fact, a lot of eyeshadow palettes I first owned were Avon since my mom had friends selling it.

[@AntisocialAuntie]

@VtheHAPPYLURKER Avon! My sister sold that in the 80s so I got a ton of tester lipsticks. When Urban Decay came out that was an investment, but worth it.

[@anoisano275]

Lol I love your username 😂

[@AntisocialAuntie]

@anoisano275 Thank you! I was shocked no one had already taken it! Lol!

[@jegrinde]

I was indifferent on the no-makeup pageant round until you quoted Ralph, ‘showing the many dimensions of a woman’. This. This forever. I would have been amazed seeing beauty queens with no makeup when I was younger. I didnt know about makeup. Show me a ‘natural’ looking woman with ‘natural’ makeup and I thought that’s what she looked like, I didnt know better! Powerful

[@Beebee192-j7i]

I have been on project pan groups since about 2014. I was really into hauls and buying stupid things. I'm glad I didn't follow influencers back then to influence my purchases lol. Starting project pan has completely changed what I use and what I choose/skip over instore. I still photograph what I use every month, this helps me figure out trends of my purchases and remember products I liked or didn't like.

[@macavargasdelcampo8931]

I participated in the project pan around 2020-2021 after seeing some videos on youtube and it really helped me realize how long it takes to actually use up a product, I got into a hyper-consumerism phase in 2018 after getting into the 2016-17 beauty side of youtube and thought I needed to buy a lot of stuff to learn to do makeup like the beauty gurus, it helped me hit pan on 2 blushes and a LOT of eyeshadows (my main problem lmao I have way too many) and I've barely bought stuff since then so I guess it helped to get into a low buy state of mind too :))

[@d.on.in.a]

By the way this "trend" has been around on KZbin and instagram since at least 2018, I remember joining in and even doing a no-buy throughout 2019. It brings back vintage memories so it's weird that people are talking about it as the latest trend 😅

[@denisha8596]

Yes. I know it via Kimberly Clark, Hannah Louise Poston, etc

[@d.on.in.a]

@denisha8596 HLP is the one that I used to watch the most

[@JamesWelsh]

Yeah I feel like that’s a given with TikTok trends. If it’s a trend or viral product….its about 3-5 years after it was first a trend on KZbin 😂

[@mariethatsme6731]

@@denisha8596yes! These people were my favourites back then

[@salemdianne]

@@JamesWelshoh my god - TikTok is the instagram to KZbin with trend cycle 🤣

[@d.on.in.a]

The no makeup rule is a double edged sword. On one hand, it can certainly feel empowering to feel confident in your own skin. On the other hand, I feel like people who can afford expensive surgeries and procedures have an unfair disadvantage when it comes to looking good without makeup. But I guess the whole idea of competition based on looks is unfair, so...

[@acalicocat3172]

Debating whether a no-makeup round is empowering or not in a competition that is centered on women's appearances is more than a bit ironic.

[@adoration20]

Is it a competition tho? Not in my world ❤️🥰

[@cleolilleo]

I guess it's new to go viral on tiktok but panning is so oldschool to me

[@jaqsre]

yeah same! it’s been a thing for the longest time

[@Frx0289]

I loved watching panning videos a few years back and I think it's part of a wider cycle of Get interested in makeup > get super excited by makeup and buy loads of stuff > realise you have wayy too much stuff and get a bit overwhelmed > find out about project pan and feel inspired by makeup again > learn to have a healthy relationship with using and buying makeup

[@gabriellecas8308]

James I really appreciate you bringing up tariffs in this beauty news

[@13realmusic]

As someone who was forbidden from wearing makeup as a young girl, I don’t see a problem with having a makeup free round. The reasonings people give for wanting to wear makeup sound a little bit sad to me. I can enjoy makeup, but I also grew up getting compliments on my skin while never using it, so I have a lot of confidence in my bare face. I don’t think “pretty privilege” exist, but I think it’s important to reinforce the way our human faces look without extra manipulation or added artistry are levels as they are.

[@adafihj6439]

While project pan feels like common sense to me, in the age of influencer marketing, hyper consumption and hauls, i can see the necessity of it.

[@dinasilva9263]

People should do what they think it's better for them, and not what someone tells them to do on social media. I'm tired of the word trend. Our head is not only for having a great hairstyle. Love your videos James💜

[@abigailsara]

Tik tok basically just repackages trends that were created on KZbin years ago and pretend they invented it 😂😂😂 'Project Pan' has been going around since KZbin beauty influencers ruled the internet 😂😂

[@zoe_avery]

Literally. I’m feeling old seeing people saying this is a new thing 😂😭

[@AntisocialAuntie]

I live in the Seattle area and have done a more natural look for over a decade (no powder, no blush, occasionally tinted sunscreen, etc) and just started getting back into playing with hair and makeup. As the prices keep going up and supplies go down (many times I went to stores and a lot of shelves/pegs were the same shade because most were sold out) it's been frustrating. And now it might get worse. Sigh.

[@froggirl96]

i wish every brand would do all their packaging like the new lisa eldridge lipstick, sustainability should be everyone's top priority because the planet and everything on it deserves all our effort.

[@undertowel]

This project pan thing is something we had in Poland for at least 14 years. Beauty influencers were always showing the things they used

[@beebes1]

This is also about the economy in general. Ever since Covid hit people have used less because they weren’t going out and then the economy had a downturn. Inflation and the upcoming economic legislature, at least in my country the US, it doesn’t look like we will be having as much extra money to spend.

[@cleolilleo]

Both sides on the makeup free round make good points but tbh, do we still consider a beauty pageant empowering? I could do without them just fine

[@gimmeurkidney]

lol true, i definitely dont believe lining up a bunch of women and picking which one looks the best is "empowering"

[@susanmcf1]

For environmental reasons, I use products up and I try to buy locally to avoid the environmental impact of shipping. Also, women going makeup free is very courageous.

[@aleigha9141]

Hi James! I really enjoy this series that you do every so often on beauty news around the world. Or “when beauty turns ugly”. Very interesting! I’m not doing a project pan, I’m trying a no buy in 2025 since I have enough make up and skincare to last me the year. A lot of unopened and unexpired of both. I’m going to do a declutter as well of things that I just don’t use or like or things that are expired. As far as the “no makeup” entry pics for Miss England (I think I got that right) I think that is a great thing to have in place. Or maybe the contestant can submit a makeup free AND a photo with makeup at the same time 🤷‍♀️ I think so many women just don’t realize how naturally beautiful they really are. I live in New York State and I just wanted to share that the NYS Dept of Labor has a law that says if an employee (any kind of employee) works over 6 hours then they are entitled to a 30 minute lunch break. This is unpaid. There are also nuances to this rule depending when you start your shift etc but it is in the employee’s favor. The trouble is, not all employers follow this 😕 Hope you have a great weekend! ❤

[@loveit7484]

The pan trend hopefully cuts waste/ hate the tarrifs! Thrillef about the new labor law for model industry. Way over due! Good idea by Mecca - badly exacuted. Another great video!

[@brendafletcher8960]

One girls "panning" is another girls "broke". ;-) I'm all for utilizing what you have rather than adding more clutter.

[@PurplePenny13]

Even when I wore make-up every day, and had only the few products I actually used, I rarely if ever used a cosmetic up before it was years old.

[@MyLadyGodiva]

As much as a paradoxe as it may be, really glad it's trending. Perhaps it's the only way for people to potentially become conscious about the Planet and Life on Earth. Hopefully it will also inspire brands to focus on innovation rather than dropping versions of whatever on a monthly basis...

[@betterforthisthingweliveon]

I Love what u said ❤

[@amygadola1177]

I think there's a connection between the consumerism we've been seeing in the beauty/skincare sectors and the body optimization obsession seen in the wider fitness and wellness spheres. Even if you're perfectly happy with your skincare routine, there's a huge pressure imposed on people that there could possibly be something better. Never mind if the actual difference is so minuscule that it's invisible to the naked eye, but you need to try it because good god, what if your skincare routine isn't completely 100% optimized to be the best it possibly could be!? Do this exercise to add a day to your life; use this cream to make one wrinkle slightly more shallow (in your mind, anyway). Who cares about actually living a fulfilled life? You need to optimize everything! Best skincare, best fitness routine, best home appliances (can't have the suboptimal rice cooker, afterall)! You must consider every tiny nuance rather than just picking something and getting on with it. I truly hope people are able to break out of this cycle. Use what you have, what you like, and don't worry about the background noise. None of it matters anyway.

[@colorswordsandlearning]

That's Capitalism ! Materialism ! More , more , more thinking .

[@bribro23]

This is the reason I started just buying travel sizes of a lot of things like skincare sets…etc ..I kinda have to use them all because they’re small it’s easier to fully finish esp if I don’t like it😅same with mini makeup products, I actually just love tiny things in the first place😂

[@greenjello187]

As someone in the US - I’m stocking up on whatever I can (within reason) and trying to figure out how to leave…

[@gingertunstall7739]

I am in the US and as far as skincare there are several independent brands that have skincare far superior to any Asian products I have tried. The one glitch for me is sunscreens so I will just bite the bullet to get the better, more protective products. I totally agree with your desire to just leave.

[@obi_like_kenobi]

I definitely think project panning is a natural stage in beauty spaces. I loved watching project pans on KZbin back in 2018, and it's a great reminder of how long it takes to use up blush, so maybe you don't need a bunch of blushes (flashbacks to everyone trying to pan the tarte Amazonian clay blush they got as a birthday gift from sephora).

[@pk_kenzie]

ive seen project pan videos since like 2014- it was a niche on youtube that never really grew mainstream, so while these tiktokers might be doing it fleetingly as a trend, the idea definitely isnt

[@nicoledijkstra7168]

Well if is still triving as a niche on youtube. I just stumbled on it some day in 2022 and I figured out I was late to the party comparing to the hay day of it on youtube

[@malikagirl]

I started using up my stuff and stop buying a few months ago because I realized the amount of stuff I got is ridiculous for just 1 person. And I have backups for what? So I stopped buying beauty related things and trying to use up what I got until I'm down to 1 or 2 of each category.

[@anglerfish4161]

As a personal policy, I never assume pure intentions from big companies. A lot of people had to sit down, look at this nonsense and approve it. It's deliberate obfuscation, my guys.

[@geoxm6384]

It's so bizarre about project pan. 10 years ago people did use their products up (even when they were a beauty guru). But since then, probably around 2020 people ended up buying and buying like crazy and never using up all of a product. Particularly beauty gurus. I genuinely thought it was common or normal to use a product up before getting a new one but seeing project pan (which actually first came from the Korean term hit-pan) really put the hyperconsumerism issue into perspective for me within the costmetics industry.

[@cocoline5692]

Mecca has been known to not be customer-friendly with prices, which some of us have already accepted since they seem to have exclusive rights to a lot of brands in Australia and NZ, and they *never* have any sales as far as I can remember. Just surprised they'd also try to be deceptive about their own brand, which is already some of the cheapest in their selection. 😑😑😑

[@i.s.urmama]

forget the no make up round, the entire premise of a competition like miss england is outdated lol what r we still doing with that?

[@HighAsHeckPriestess]

I cant stress enough about the tariffs: its products for consumers INCLUDING building materials for housing and the machinery for goods that we produce. Cosmetic brands in the US will suffer, especially growing companies, and so will we on top of a cost of living crisis that keeps getting worse

[@jazcc]

As someone who works with tariffs I agree

[@Ajb259]

Also electronics, clothing, food. It’s going to be bad.

[@AgataKu]

Following 'project pan' is not a problem if you don't have money, or... Hear me out, it's gonna be shocking, brace yourself: if you're a regular person who buys a product to fully use it. I love skincare and makeup, but once I've found what works for me i don't need anything more.

[@rabbitwolf6521]

I always finish products I buy, I find it wasteful to throw something away for a newer trend

[@salemdianne]

I’ve been playing this game since I started ballet when I was 4. Ballet clothes are expensive so I mentally account that I’m saving money on makeup for clothes and shoes to be “discounted” according to girl maths (crazy that we are gendering a budget method - aka price per use)

[@xChinky123x]

I cant believe people are talking about project pan again like its a new trend. Project pan used to be HUGE in the beauty enthusiast community in response to the overconsumption in rhe youtube beauty guru phase. New platform, same lifecyle of trends i guess

[@gwhite002]

16:49 I already bought two backup sunscreens from my local japanese store since everything else I buy is technically domestic (not accounting for packaging or ingredients)

[@kirameki]

I'm shocked this is trending now. I have been following the project pan sub reddit since sometime during the pandemic, or shortly before. So as a concept it's been around for ages. I guess it just finally started making rounds on social media so it's catching on in a wider net.

[@mizzymo64]

The "cost per usage" or "cost per day" is an age old sales technique and as such should always be treated with a certain amount of scepticism.

[@d.on.in.a]

I had to close a JW video to open this JW video 😂

[@Neutralneuu]

I did the same!😂

[@BABYAGAMES]

So where are the ppl who said that when trump is going to be a president everything is going to be cheaper? 💀 lol

[@caramelcreamcat]

It's 4am here and I'm up watching your videos .... !

[@Sullivanandfamily]

Ahh! Ive never caught a video this soon, I was just perusing your channel and BOOM!

[@mug1996]

I've alaways done the pan challenge before tiktok! You better believe I will use a palette for 3/4 years until I hit the pan and have to buy more. makeup is EXPENSIVE

[@mrs.johnwinchester420]

Don’t people usually use the whole product before buying another? Is it because I grew up in poverty that I scraped the pan literally with a butter knife? No? Okay.😅

[@QueenQuyen]

Thank you James for the breakdown of upcoming Trump’s tariffs! That has been in my mind for awhile but I didn’t know where to look so I really appreciate your recap

[@Whiskin87]

Always interesting!

[@tracy5938]

To me it’s not project pan it’s just using things normally but I cannot with all of this !! IT IS NORMAL

[@feelthejoy]

Imagine if people treated food and groceries like they treated makeup. Hmm, I only used half these eggs, but I’m gonna go out and buy soup instead. I’m bored of walnuts but I have 2 bags… oh well, gonna go buy pecans. (I get it’s not a one to one correlation as makeup and skincare doesn’t generally expire as fast as food, but still.)

[@HighAsHeckPriestess]

People actually do do that. Theres about a bunch of reasons why, from neurodivergence to simply not being able to afford $6 cartons of eggs and deciding not to eat them all

[@feelthejoy]

@ if you can’t afford them why would you buy them and not eat them? Not sure I understand what you’re saying

[@hairfreax]

I love project pan, I do try to use up things but I have too many toners at the mo 😅

[@kellis6645]

On face value project pan just sounds like rehab for shopping addicts.

[@glitteringmaze]

So weird to see project pan as a “trend” or “counter-trend” when the word trend itself feels like it’s lost meaning with how fast so-called trends come and go. If TikTok really goes, I wonder if the trend speed will finally come back down, or will Reels and Shorts keep that speed going. The other thing about project pan being a trend is kinda like, we’re supposed to be using things we buy anyway… It really is like you say, though, how TikTok is like 3-4 years behind on stuff that was somewhat popular or trended on YT 😭

[@jazcc]

As a New Yorker am so glad we passed this law.

[@sogigi]

Only those who didn’t come from TikTok can like this comment. (Rip)

[@wendygianfrancesco8774]

I'm voting trend. It's an old idea, and you definitely should use your items to the end of their useful life, but i think this push for panning is a trend. Im wondering what happens when they don't have new oroducts to present. If everyone is shopping their stash, they're not clicking on the magical shopping lists.

[@Junnie_bun]

James can you please talk more about Mecca!!!!

[@staceypower4327]

RE: Mecca!!!! I’m in Australia and I choose Sephora over Mecca 9 times out of 10 because Mecca is expensive and NEVER has sales. I only buy from Mecca when I really want a specific brand and they have the exclusive selling rights for it.

[@LaNimrodelle]

The margin on Mecca versus US prices 😵‍💫 and that's WITH our sunk dollar

[@Inthedarkbluesea]

I have two cleansers, two toners, two serums, one moisturiser, one eye cream, one wash off face mask. I also use sheet masks and modeling masks. Everything gets used before I buy a replacement, unless i hate it, then i get rid of it and get something I know I like. Which rarely happens, because I do a lot of research before trying something new! Glad to say I don't need a 'hit pan' trend. Seems like a very privileged thing to need a trend to tell you to use something up. I don't have money to spare. It also doesn't take too long to 'hit pan' if you don't have tons of stuff! Even my collection feels like a lot! When people have entire crammed cupboards of skincare I can't believe my eyes. Surely you're overwhelming your skin? How do you even see what you have, and not forget things at the back? At least your shelves are a nice display, and you can see everything on them!

[@jeaniebee3657]

beauty membership boxes lol i have so much i need to use what i have i dont need to buy anything lol but i dont do this project pan thing i just watch the use by time so i just dont open alot of it lol

[@smushles19]

I used to love watching Project Pan videos in 2016/2017 when it was the height of the Beuty Guru era lol. Antihauls, too.

[@gracew2450]

You can guarantee the in store MECCA employees didn’t go along with this promotion

[@jeaniebee3657]

i dont care one way or the others if grown women wear their make up in pageants but i think children should be banned from wearing make up in children pageants and the grown up clothes too.

[@jeaniebee3657]

its easier to give skin care away than make up lol i keep saying i should just sell it on a platform somewhere because i dont open it lol but i dont know what is a good platform to sell it off cheap lol im talking about some of the stuff i get in beauty boxes.

[@adoration20]

Hahaha I have a yt channel from 2013 all about project panning 🤣

[@kacey1774]

Have you ever tried Glossmetics or Grace + Stella beauty products? I've found them on Amazon, they seem pretty decent imo, but i AM fairly new to skincare and beauty products so it's hard to say for sure. Was curious if you (or anyone) has an opinion on them?

[@reanna3425]

Never hit a button so quick in my life 😂

[@richrich2862]

I think those that’s for natural should enter and those that prefer makeup should just enter other pageants. It is what it is….some women prefer natural some don’t- neither is wrong. But I don’t think the makeup wearers should force their way when it’s the founders choice

[@marcy7485]

project pan is mostly just for influencers and overconsumption goblins, most normal people finish up their products before buying new items, especially skincare?? pls lol

[@paintmeperfect]

Mecca's excuse that their usage is so low because, in their case, the results are averages between people is stupidly funny because it means that yes, some people use more than the average, but also that some people use LESS. Less than 0.00... grams? In their average, did they consider people who do not wear makeup at all? :)) So silly.

[@Tara_Masika]

Pan culture is starting just in time for Trumps taxes..... 😢❤

[@confusedclarinetgirl]

I've never been this early! Love this ugly beauty 🫖

[@Jhud69]

I have no problem with people actually using their makeup until it’s finished, it would be an insane thing of me to have a problem with lol but as someone who likes to nitpick on things for no reason because I’m That Guy, there’s just something ehh to me about calling it „project pan”. Why is it a „project”? You’re just using makeup as you should be using it. Idk, it’s weird to me. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people just scrape off some of the product to just show it off if you know what I mean.

[@sapphirelady2]

Nothing is new it seems, we did project pan years ago!

[@meeoo3124]

rarity is real if you play enough gacha games

[@JamesWelsh]

Haha I think that’s how I know the word 😂

[@glitteringmaze]

😭 limited editions are like seasonal URs I guess…

[@StaceyZimmer]

💖💖💖

[@stephanieorr221]

❤❤❤❤

[@joannieb3155]

❤❤

[@alexandrailin3484]

💜💜💜

[@SouthernSera]

Project Pan isn't a trend for most people. I can't afford to buy every new product that comes out or any new products than what I already have. The only time I buy makeup is to replace products I've finished. And most of my Sephora purchased products are being replaced with drug store ones since everything has gotten so much more expensive since the last time I purchased them. It's great that you're using products until you hit pan, but it shouldn't be considered a trend. I feel like Tiktok "trends" are just ways to make certain people feel like they're better than others who don't follow said trend. Don't follow the overconsumption trend? You must be poor. Don't follow the under consumption trend? You're wasteful.

[@happygoluckyme6926]

How bizarre How bizarre love....GenX

[@abc80091]

🎉

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Algorithm 💛

[@ANGELA-kt1dd]

Love you James !!!

[@dianetheone4059]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@mariethatsme6731]

Project pan imho is only valid for makeup, because that’s harder to finish. If you buy too much skincare, just finish the stuff on your behinds, it’s not hard 😅

[@angiboz]

I don’t remember tariffs being an issue that affected me last time and sadly haven’t backed from trying different brands. Time will tell.

[@dianetheone4059]

I-think-the-no-makeup-round-is-only-worthwhile-if-it-becomes-a-challenge-on-best-use-of-makeup.-Not-everyone-has-natural-beauty.-Look-at-Mikayla.-She-is-gorgeous-in-makeup,-without-it,-not-so-much.-Also,-what-about-the-girls-who-have-had-surgery-(nose-jobs-anyone)?-It's-like-holding-the-Olympics,-but-you're-not-allowed-to-train.

[@mystic_mimi21]

I think we all should be taught/ were taught about marketing and psychology. Brands really do use minds controlling tricks to make us want to buy things. Learning these hacks allows us to consent more, and not fall for lies and manipulation. I hate feeling that out of control, FOMO urge. As my ADHD takes command, I’m left with guilt and remorse. Edit the Miss England thing made the laugh at the irony and delulu of it all. Let’s be honest the contest is about appearance, like VS shows. Coming up with bs ‘self empowering’ ‘feminist’ things is marketing for me and disingenuous. Just ban filtered and photoshopped entries, have a non makeup round and a makeup round to balance it out, not that they care .