I decided to end this project early instead of prolonging it to the end of December. Would anyone be interested in another, separate post showing a difference between the intro, six months and a year? Or would it be annoying to post about it *again*? I’m not sure.
I’m happy to end this project. I want to have these last few days of the year without doing any projects and without having to reach any goals (however arbitrary they are). I learned a lot with this project and I’m glad I chose Soul Blooming this year. I know now, that even if I don’t use up any other shades here, I have gotten my money’s worth and my happiness out of it.
There is also **the final update for my seasonal eyeshadow project**. I managed to reach my usage goal on the matte copper and I’ve previously hit pan on the shimmery yellow-gold and shimmery medium plum. I’m happy to have done this side project and to have gotten to know all of these shades better, but I don’t think I will have such a big side project next year. I did hit pan on many eyeshadows because of it and used up a few, which is neat. I’m thinking of doing something similar on a smaller scale.
Now let’s do the goals and the usages one last time! More of my thoughts on the palette below that.
**Goals in December:**
1. Hit pan on Middle Karma
– I tried my hardest, and it all paid off in the end, even if it’s the babiest of baby pans! I hit pan on the 87th use (70 in 2023). You can barely see these last two pans, but all twelve shades have pan! I did it!!! I’m a bit sick of brown eyelooks now, so I’m happy to put this palette aside for now. As this was my last month focusing on this eyeshadow here are my thoughts on it: Middle Karma is a mid-toned brown with some rosy undertones. I like how it looks and how well it blends out, it looks nice in many combinations, but I also like it as a one-and-done or when topped with a sparkly spicy neutral.
2. Hit pan on Garçon
– I hit pan on this shade, too! I almost can’t believe it, but I hit pan on Garçon on the 74th use (53 in 2023). Garçon is a mid-toned warm brown shimmer. This was my challenge shade, the one I disliked the most at the start of the year out of the neutrals. I really thought I would barely reach the original 30 uses (and that was true for over half of the year) and that I would declutter it at the end of the year. Through some experimentation with techniques and combinations with some other shades, I learned to truly enjoy it and I’m glad it’s in my collection. It’s gorgeous when blended all over the lid and in the crease, and then topped with a champagne highlighter, it looks so elegant and elevated.
**Usage of all shades, total uses this year and since I started tracking uses in brackets:**
1. Honey Drip – 0 (70; 100) – Hit pan on the 29th use.
2. Gea – 0 (62; 90) – Hit pan on the 73rd use.
3. Chamomile – Finished (207, 235) – Hit pan on the 49th use.
4. Bolero – 0 (63; 95) – Hit pan on the 66th use.
5. Middle Karma – 20 (93; 110) – Hit pan on 87th use.
6. Garden Gate – 0 (62; 90) – Hit pan on the 42nd use.
7. Climbing Rose – 2 (66; 90) – Hit pan on the 53rd use.
8. Garçon – 14 (64; 85) – Hit pan on the 74th use.
9. Anemone – 0 (60; 75) – Hit pan on the 34th use.
10. Flowery – 2 (64; 90) – Hit pan on the 44th use.
11. Philosophy – 0 (62; 80) – Hit pan on the 54th use.
12. Caravaggio – 0 (151; 175) – Hit pan on the 85th use.
**Numbers:**
* 85 uses on average (which is 7 uses on average per shade per month)
* 1024 uses this year, 1315 in total since tracking
* pan hit on average on the 58th use (for shimmers: 48 uses, for mattes 67 uses).
**My experiences focusing on the Soul Blooming palette for a year and what I’ve learned because of it:**
* **Neutrals all the way (for me).**
* Neutrals look way better on me than bright, colourful shades. This is mostly due to me feeling more confident in neutral, light looks than in bright colours or something that could be considered “more experimental”. It shows me that the colourful palettes and singles I want are a part of my fantasy self’s wishlist, easily swayed by trends and influencers. I want to be quickly out the door and to do so, an easy-to-understand, neutral palette layout is preferable.
* **I’m a slow and overly confident panner.**
* This is a lesson once again learned this year, just like last year! I predicted that I would easily use up four shades in this palette (Honey Drip, Gea, Chamomile, and Middle Karma) at the start of the year. I managed to only use up one: Chamomile. I barely managed to hit pan on Gea and Middle Karma, while I predict I have at least 30 more uses on Honey Drip before it’s gone. This is also a reason why I want to work on a smaller palette next year, so I’m not disappointed when I don’t reach my very ambitious goals. As seen in my numbers above, I did manage to reach 60 or more uses on all the shadows in this palette and over 1000 uses just this year. When I realised there was no way I would be finishing up four eyeshadows as planned at the beginning of the year, I doubled my usage goal for every shadow from 30 to 60. I’m happy I’ve done so, and I truly think I know every shade in and out and how I like to wear them.
* **I get overwhelmed with bigger palettes.**
* Twelve eyeshadows in a palette is my upper limit, and even that is pushing it. No way do I need a palette bigger than this. At least not until I use up more of my other eyeshadows. Perhaps a 15-pan palette and a quad would be okay for me if those were all my eyeshadows. I plan on doing Pan That Palette for 2024 and I thought about continuing with Soul Blooming. However, I’m a bit burned out on it so even a 9-pan seems too much.
* **My products should work for me, not the other way around.**
* If that means frankening or repressing shadows into other palettes where I will use them more, so be it. I don’t have the time to baby my products or to try and invent a million ways that I like how they look on me. Of course, that doesn’t mean I should just chuck something that doesn’t work right off the bat, but sometimes I have to accept some colours aren’t flattering. This should inform my future purchases for the better. I already frankened some of my shades to better suit me and my preferences, but I will probably do that with this palette, too.
* **Using and finishing your favourite things isn’t a bad thing.**
* If you love it, you shouldn’t prevent yourself from using it while it goes bad. I really shifted my mindset this year and now using up my favourites is a point of pride. Nothing bad will/has happened to me if/when I use up what I love. Sure, I might miss it, but that’s the worst thing. There’s always something similar or better. It won’t be the end of the world, in the end, it’s just a pretty powder and goo.
Thank you to everyone who followed me and this project for another year. All your comments, suggestions and support meant a lot to me. Thank you for reading this long post, and if you’re interested, watch this space for another intro in a few weeks! 💗
1 Comment
This is **Nabla: Soul Blooming**
I decided to end this project early instead of prolonging it to the end of December. Would anyone be interested in another, separate post showing a difference between the intro, six months and a year? Or would it be annoying to post about it *again*? I’m not sure.
I’m happy to end this project. I want to have these last few days of the year without doing any projects and without having to reach any goals (however arbitrary they are). I learned a lot with this project and I’m glad I chose Soul Blooming this year. I know now, that even if I don’t use up any other shades here, I have gotten my money’s worth and my happiness out of it.
There is also **the final update for my seasonal eyeshadow project**. I managed to reach my usage goal on the matte copper and I’ve previously hit pan on the shimmery yellow-gold and shimmery medium plum. I’m happy to have done this side project and to have gotten to know all of these shades better, but I don’t think I will have such a big side project next year. I did hit pan on many eyeshadows because of it and used up a few, which is neat. I’m thinking of doing something similar on a smaller scale.
Now let’s do the goals and the usages one last time! More of my thoughts on the palette below that.
**Goals in December:**
1. Hit pan on Middle Karma
– I tried my hardest, and it all paid off in the end, even if it’s the babiest of baby pans! I hit pan on the 87th use (70 in 2023). You can barely see these last two pans, but all twelve shades have pan! I did it!!! I’m a bit sick of brown eyelooks now, so I’m happy to put this palette aside for now. As this was my last month focusing on this eyeshadow here are my thoughts on it: Middle Karma is a mid-toned brown with some rosy undertones. I like how it looks and how well it blends out, it looks nice in many combinations, but I also like it as a one-and-done or when topped with a sparkly spicy neutral.
2. Hit pan on Garçon
– I hit pan on this shade, too! I almost can’t believe it, but I hit pan on Garçon on the 74th use (53 in 2023). Garçon is a mid-toned warm brown shimmer. This was my challenge shade, the one I disliked the most at the start of the year out of the neutrals. I really thought I would barely reach the original 30 uses (and that was true for over half of the year) and that I would declutter it at the end of the year. Through some experimentation with techniques and combinations with some other shades, I learned to truly enjoy it and I’m glad it’s in my collection. It’s gorgeous when blended all over the lid and in the crease, and then topped with a champagne highlighter, it looks so elegant and elevated.
**Usage of all shades, total uses this year and since I started tracking uses in brackets:**
1. Honey Drip – 0 (70; 100) – Hit pan on the 29th use.
2. Gea – 0 (62; 90) – Hit pan on the 73rd use.
3. Chamomile – Finished (207, 235) – Hit pan on the 49th use.
4. Bolero – 0 (63; 95) – Hit pan on the 66th use.
5. Middle Karma – 20 (93; 110) – Hit pan on 87th use.
6. Garden Gate – 0 (62; 90) – Hit pan on the 42nd use.
7. Climbing Rose – 2 (66; 90) – Hit pan on the 53rd use.
8. Garçon – 14 (64; 85) – Hit pan on the 74th use.
9. Anemone – 0 (60; 75) – Hit pan on the 34th use.
10. Flowery – 2 (64; 90) – Hit pan on the 44th use.
11. Philosophy – 0 (62; 80) – Hit pan on the 54th use.
12. Caravaggio – 0 (151; 175) – Hit pan on the 85th use.
**Numbers:**
* 85 uses on average (which is 7 uses on average per shade per month)
* 1024 uses this year, 1315 in total since tracking
* pan hit on average on the 58th use (for shimmers: 48 uses, for mattes 67 uses).
**My experiences focusing on the Soul Blooming palette for a year and what I’ve learned because of it:**
* **Neutrals all the way (for me).**
* Neutrals look way better on me than bright, colourful shades. This is mostly due to me feeling more confident in neutral, light looks than in bright colours or something that could be considered “more experimental”. It shows me that the colourful palettes and singles I want are a part of my fantasy self’s wishlist, easily swayed by trends and influencers. I want to be quickly out the door and to do so, an easy-to-understand, neutral palette layout is preferable.
* **I’m a slow and overly confident panner.**
* This is a lesson once again learned this year, just like last year! I predicted that I would easily use up four shades in this palette (Honey Drip, Gea, Chamomile, and Middle Karma) at the start of the year. I managed to only use up one: Chamomile. I barely managed to hit pan on Gea and Middle Karma, while I predict I have at least 30 more uses on Honey Drip before it’s gone. This is also a reason why I want to work on a smaller palette next year, so I’m not disappointed when I don’t reach my very ambitious goals. As seen in my numbers above, I did manage to reach 60 or more uses on all the shadows in this palette and over 1000 uses just this year. When I realised there was no way I would be finishing up four eyeshadows as planned at the beginning of the year, I doubled my usage goal for every shadow from 30 to 60. I’m happy I’ve done so, and I truly think I know every shade in and out and how I like to wear them.
* **I get overwhelmed with bigger palettes.**
* Twelve eyeshadows in a palette is my upper limit, and even that is pushing it. No way do I need a palette bigger than this. At least not until I use up more of my other eyeshadows. Perhaps a 15-pan palette and a quad would be okay for me if those were all my eyeshadows. I plan on doing Pan That Palette for 2024 and I thought about continuing with Soul Blooming. However, I’m a bit burned out on it so even a 9-pan seems too much.
* **My products should work for me, not the other way around.**
* If that means frankening or repressing shadows into other palettes where I will use them more, so be it. I don’t have the time to baby my products or to try and invent a million ways that I like how they look on me. Of course, that doesn’t mean I should just chuck something that doesn’t work right off the bat, but sometimes I have to accept some colours aren’t flattering. This should inform my future purchases for the better. I already frankened some of my shades to better suit me and my preferences, but I will probably do that with this palette, too.
* **Using and finishing your favourite things isn’t a bad thing.**
* If you love it, you shouldn’t prevent yourself from using it while it goes bad. I really shifted my mindset this year and now using up my favourites is a point of pride. Nothing bad will/has happened to me if/when I use up what I love. Sure, I might miss it, but that’s the worst thing. There’s always something similar or better. It won’t be the end of the world, in the end, it’s just a pretty powder and goo.
Thank you to everyone who followed me and this project for another year. All your comments, suggestions and support meant a lot to me. Thank you for reading this long post, and if you’re interested, watch this space for another intro in a few weeks! 💗