Project Pan Finale: Empty Products

I know what you're thinking.

Project pan finale? When was there a project pan?

Well, a couple months ago, I covertly joined the 12 Pans of Christmas project, which was started by Jacquelyn Lovene. When I say covertly, I mean that I informally joined this project and didn't tell anyone. I knew I didn't have 12 items in my collection that I could conceivably finish, so I set a goal of 10 products. I wanted to finish eight and hit the pan on two. 

And I'm happy to say that this project was a success for me!

Here are the items I completed:

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light

Status: Already repurchased 

Since it was first purchased, I used this powder every time I did my makeup, which means that I used it almost every single day until it was gone. After it was finished, I did my makeup for about a week without it, and there was a noticeable difference to me. So I immediately repurchased it during the Sephora VIB Sale because it is a product that I don't want to be without.  Because of my skin tone, I use this as a finishing powder and dust it all over my face, but I know other people use it for different purposes. This took well over a year of daily use to use up, maybe even closer to two years. So while the product is expensive, I think it is worth it for how long it lasts. 

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot

Status: Undecided

My goal with this product was to hit the pan, and as you can see, I achieved that goal. This is a nice powder, and I enjoy it quite a bit. I've never been a huge powder person, especially a setting powder person, and if I came across a really special one, I'm honestly not sure if I would notice. I've realized before when I used powders that did not agree with my skin, but in a lot of ways, I feel like a setting powder is a setting powder. One Heck of a Blot might be one of those products where I only realize how great it is after I decide not to repurchase and then try something else that's worse. I'm certainly not interested in looking for another powder until I finish this one, and it seems like I still have a while to go before that happens. 

Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer

Status: Undecided 

I have used countless bottles of this product at this point, and it's a product that I keep coming back to. I really love the feel of this on my skin, and I love the way foundation looks on top of it. However, I have two main complaints with this product, which is that the price is very expensive and the product goes too quickly. I was also lucky with this bottle that it didn't turn milky and leaky, but that happens often, and it's another negative about this product. I'm going to use the Elf Mineral Infused Face Primer next, and I'll make a decision on repurchasing the Hourglass after I've had a chance to use that one. 

Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer 

Status: Undecided

For the most part, I really enjoyed using this tinted moisturizer. It even ended up in one of my monthly favorites posts. This has a ton of product in it (1.7 ounces), and it hung around for a very long time. I decided I wanted to use this up in the spring, and it has taken me this long to complete it with essentially daily use. I had to apply this product with my fingers, which is not something I enjoy, and on some days, the product felt a little heavy on my skin. This also clung like crazy to my eyebrows, even when I avoided them altogether. I really hated the look of foundation-crusted brows, and I have to admit that I was relieved when I finally finished this product. I'm very happy to return to my It Cosmetics CC+ cream, and I imagine that I will continue to repurchase that product instead of this. 

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon 

Status: Undecided

I wrote about this in my Project Perfume 2017 post, but I largely enjoyed this perfume. I wasn't planning on repurchasing, but I would like to have a smoky perfume in my collection, and there is currently nothing that I have smelled that I like more than this. I will not be repurchasing a rollerball, so if I decide to buy again, I will get a full-sized bottle. 

Urban Decay Roadstripe

I first heard about this shadow through Elle S on YouTube, and she said it was her favorite eyeshadow. I have come to really love duochrome inner corner highlights, and this is definitely one of my favorites. While I mainly apply this to my inner corner, sometimes I apply this under the brow bone as well, and this shadow is solely responsible for my rediscovered interest in a shimmery brow bone, which is something I've strayed away from for years. The color is primarily a white/lilac shift, but it is a really cool lilac that almost leans blue. I was not expecting to like this shadow as much as I do, which makes it sting that this is a limited edition product. With that said, even though I have hit the pan of the shadow, it is just in one place. I still have at least 90 percent of the shadow left, so I don't need to worry about running out any time soon. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer

Status: Likely repurchase 

I certainly went on a journey with this pencil. Until I purchased this product, I had only been using very thin brow pencils, and while I loved them, I felt like I was flying through them. I read that the Brow Definer was thicker and waxier, making it harder to go through so quickly. And this is certainly true. While I was burning through my other brow pencils once a month or every six weeks, I've had the Brow Definer since April. And even though I have a ton of eyeshadow and have a hefty blush and highlighter collection, there are many basic products that I don't like to have multiples of at the same time. One of those is a brow pencil. Because I was so used to the skinny, less waxy pencils, I really hated this one for a long time. I even purchased the NYX Micro Brow Pencil two months ago because I thought I would use up the Brow Definer around then. But it hung in there for a long time. When I finally used it up, however, I really, really missed it. I had gotten so used to the larger tip and the waxy consistency, and I've found that I have to run the NYX Micro Brow Pencil through my brows at least twice as much as the Brow Definer. Not surprisingly, I'm going through the NYX Micro Brow Pencil really quickly, so when it runs out, I may repurchase the Brow Definer. 

Physician's Formula Eye Booster

Status: Already repurchased

There are few products in my collection that I would consider a true all-time favorite where it is so good that I am simply uninterested in the quest to find other formulas. But in terms of liquid liner, this is all I need. I absolutely love this product and don't ever want to be without it. This is also one of the few products in my collection where I am genuinely sad to use it up. I wish I could just have an endless pen of this, but alas, that's not the world we live in. This liner gives me the smoothest, blackest line with no smudging or smearing. I've tried all the other hyped liquid liners, but nothing compares, in my opinion, to this one. 

Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara 

Status: Undecided

I'll cut to the chase with this one. This is one of the best mascaras I have ever used in my life, and if it wasn't insanely priced, this is all I would ever use. This mascara retails for a disturbing $72, largely because of the fact that it claims to grow your lashes. While I didn't notice any difference in the day-to-day, when I looked at pictures of my eye makeup before this mascara and after, I could tell a noticeable difference in my lash length. Not only that, but this mascara is just a good mascara and created incredible lashes. I loved using it until the bottle completely dried out. I would love to repurchase this mascara, but that price is just way too high to justify. 

Essence Lash Princess 

Status: Will not repurchase 

On the complete opposite end of the price spectrum, we have Essence Lash Princess. I heard so many rave reviews of this mascara that I really hoped it would make me see how ridiculously overpriced my beloved Chantecaille Faux Cils is, and that I would be soothed with this inexpensive wonder. But I did not like this mascara. If you go through my weekly and weekend looks post for the past two months, this is the mascara that I was using. I don't think my lashes looked bad at all, but I don't think they looked anything like they did with the Chantecaille Faux Cils. Added to that, this mascara transferred so badly on me. It was a guarantee that by the end of the night, I would have mascara flakes down my face or would have smudging on the lower lash line. Sometimes I really think you get what you pay for with certain products, and while Lash Princess wasn't bad, there are better mascaras available, including at the drug store.