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As a token millennial who fled LA to quarantine with my parents, I’m gearing up for my first real fall, then winter in six years. I’m excited but also a little nervous. Thanks to an onset of chilly Memphis mornings, I’ve already begun to experience frustratingly chapped lips, and I’m bracing myself for the dried knuckles, cheeks, and legs that are sure to follow.
After not only bragging about my minimal lifestyle, but also sharing my newfound “less-is-more” approach to daily products this summer, I’ve been confronted by the annoyingly messy fact that my everyday necessities are going to have to make room for a few seasonal additions to the bag (hello lip balm, face moisturizer, and hand cream). With an unwavering resolve to remain as “less is more” as possible, I hit the world wide web in search of the minimalist’s solution to on-the-go organizational needs -- and lo and behold, I found it (with earned praise from Forbes and The New York Times, no less) in Cadence.
You know those perfectly organized pantries -- where every cereal o and pasta strand is perfectly partitioned into its own beautiful home? My day-to-day bag now looks like that, thanks to Cadence’s beautifully-crafted capsules.
Minimalist Magic
Cadence was conceptualized by founder Steph Hon to create consistency and cadence in her life -- whether she was traveling near or far. Hon wanted a functional, sustainable, and beautiful way to move her necessities from one sphere of her life to the next, so she crafted it… over 200 times. For three years, Hon and her team prototyped and re-prototyped a simple, safe, and sleek solution until today’s Cadence capsule was born.
Cadence capsules don’t exactly compete with any product currently on the market. They’re small containers meant to house everyday goods for on-the-go bustle -- and while they provide a million-times-better replacement to travel-sized bottles, they’re handy far beyond travel days.
Cadence capsules don’t exactly compete with any product currently on the market. They’re small containers meant to house everyday goods for on-the-go bustle -- and while they provide a million-times-better replacement to travel-sized bottles, they’re handy far beyond travel days. Cadence capsules are leak-proof, drop-proof, baby-proof, and dog-proof, meaning they’re designed to hold everything from skincare to sunscreen, pills to jewelry and even snacks if you dare. According to Cadence’s site, each capsule can hold around 7 uses worth of spf and hand sanitizer, 2-4 uses of shampoo, conditioner, or body wash, 7 vitamins/supplements, or 4-6 rings.
Designed For A Better Tomorrow...And Today
Cadence makes life not only easier, but more sustainable, too. Each capsule is made from a proprietary blend of ocean-bound plastic -- Cadence works with Envision Plastics to employ local communities who breathe new life into plastic waste. These rescued plastics are then sent to Bozeman, Montana, where they’re processed into beautifully-designed, edge-free capsules for optimal nothing-left-behind scooping satisfaction. For now, Cadence uses 50% recycled material, and they’ve built a team of engineers, manufacturers, and advisors to help pioneer new technology that will hopefully allow them to increase that number to 100% in the long term. Additionally, every part of Cadence’s packaging is recyclable, and its seed paper is plantable to grow wildflowers.
While Cadence is certainly doing its part to create more sustainably, the brand has also created a product that encourages its consumers to act more consciously as well. Sure, Cadence eliminates the need to buy those pesky plastic travel containers that always leak and need to be replaced after each trip -- but it also shows shoppers how they can consume every last drop of their favorite products… and less plastic, paper, and packaging. Cadence allows shoppers to buy in bulk, transport small quantities with them, and ensure they actually use the final bit of product that typically goes to waste thanks to its genius edge-free design, as demonstrated on Cadence’s Instagram.
Sweet Like Honeycomb
Those with just one everyday need have the option to shop on an individual-capsule basis, but Cadence’s capsules were smartly designed to be purchased in a pack, aptly named a “honeycomb” by the brand. The sides of each capsule are magnetic -- so shoppers can build their own personal honeycomb system based on however many or few products they consider necessary. To provide even more individualization, Cadence’s site even allows shoppers to customize both the colors and labels that magnetically snap on top of each capsule, so each honeycomb truly is tailored to its owner. While universally functional, Cadence’s capsules feel extremely personal.
Building My Six
Building my personal honeycomb was an artistic exercise. I chose the site’s “build your 6” option, which means I got to customize both the colors and labels for each of my six capsules (the site also has preset color and label bundles, like the icon-ic bundle and weekender bundle). Cadence currently delivers nine colors and they compliment each other well. I played around with color options before eventually settling on a 50/50 terracotta and sand split (yes, I was heavily influenced by the dreamy photos on Cadence’s site). I had fun experimenting with labels and opted for a mix of icons and words, as I wasn’t entirely sure of the future-contents of each capsule.
My delivery took longer than expected to arrive (Cadence has received such a high volume of orders that they’re running a few weeks behind on fulfillment) -- but it was well worth the wait. It arrived just in time for me to pack my bag and head down the street to stay with my cousins while my aunt and uncle took a quick vacation, so I used half of my honeycomb on my new fall product-lineup and filled the rest with weekend essentials so I didn’t have to lug full-sized toiletries for my short stay. When I got to their house, I laughed at the giant ziploc bag of toiletries my uncle had packed for his trip, then introduced him to my new go-to.
Keeping My Cadence
I’ve chuckled to myself reading through the reviews on Cadence’s site because they so aptly capture my experience -- “i never knew i needed this,” “Cadence capsules have found their way into so many parts of my life.”
My favorite part about Cadence is its versatility -- while I initially bought it with one purpose in mind, its functionality has multiplied, then multiplied again. And because its materials are durable and dishwasher safe, I can swap each capsule’s contents to meet my ever-changing needs. I’ve chuckled to myself reading through the reviews on Cadence’s site because they so aptly capture my experience -- “i never knew i needed this,” “Cadence capsules have found their way into so many parts of my life.”
Ironically, adding more products to my everyday bag has actually caused it to feel more organized and less cluttered with Cadence’s help. It’s one of those products you don’t realize you need until you find it… and then there’s no way you can live without it. As you begin to slowly emerge from quarantine and venture into your everyday life, I recommend bringing your personal honeycomb along for the ride -- you’ll be surprised at the joy a little Cadence can bring to your life.
5 More Reasons To Love Cadence:
- They’re beautifully designed to eliminate messiness and clutter from your everyday routine.
- Forbes, The New York Times, and Gear Junkie agree that they’re worth the hype.
- They’re crafted from a proprietary blend of recycled plastics.
- They partner with Envision plastics, who employs local communities to collect plastic from beaches around the world.
- They’re constantly sold out -- so order your honeycomb while they’re still available!
