Best Leak-proof Travel Containers: My Updated Cadence Capsules Review

I wrote the post “My Favorite Travel Containers for Beauty Products” over 3 years ago, and I’m still absolutely in love with these containers. I wanted to do an update though because Cadence redesigned the capsules, and they’re even better now. Thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. All links in this post are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!

My current collection of the new capsules (I still love and use the old ones too!)

If you’re not familiar with Cadence Capsules, let me explain why I love them so much. I feel like I’ve tried a dozen different travel container brands/types, and they all have been really frustrated. My number one issue is leaking – there’s always that one thing that leaks all over your suitcase or purse. I’ve started putting containers in plastic bags (sometimes double bagged) because they leak so much, and that feels so incredibly wasteful to me. I’ve also had containers that never seem to get clean enough to reuse, so I end up throwing them away rather than use them again. Plus, some of them are way too small and definitely wouldn’t fit enough for a month long trip.

These honestly don’t leak – ever. I’m able to throw them in a bag and not have to worry about anything leaking or spilling. Even with the most watery toner, it was 100% leak-proof. I also love that they magnetize together so I’ll never lose them in the bottom of a suitcase. Because they have such a wide opening (more in the video below), these are incredibly easy to fill with products, and you don’t need a funnel, mini spatula, or spoon to do it. Over the years, I’ve washed and reused these containers so many times, and they look brand new. This is my favorite thing about these because I hate cleaning out those little plastic containers where you can barely get into them unless you want to spend forever with one of those straw cleaners. With these, I can wash them with a normal sponge, it takes a couple of minutes, and they are actually clean.

The labels are super easy to pop in and mix and match (as you can see here) or you can leave them unlabeled. The old labels work with these because they’re all magnetic which makes them even more flexible if you have a bunch of old labels lying around like I do.

But the new design is even better because the new containers come in different sizes that you can easily swap in and out with the extenders. The small is 0.56 ounces, which is honestly more than what I need for most trips most of the time. This is now my most purchased sized because I love how I can fit so many of them into my travel bag and not have to give up any of my skincare products on a trip. Keep in mind that a standard foundation bottle (you know the ones that take at least a year to use up even if you use them every day) are an ounce so a half ounce of product is more than you think!

4 smalls compared to a Glossier Ultralip so you can see just how compact they are

The medium is 1.32 ounces, which I would use for body lotion and oil. If I was to go on a longer trip and need shampoo and conditioner, I’d definitely reach for these. Because I typically reached for the smalls, I actually only have one medium and otherwise I got the extenders so I can turn my smalls into mediums only when I need them. The extender adds 1.43 ounces to the other sizes, and I’d much rather add an extender than be stuck with a capsule that’s too big. I love that the extenders are so easy to use, and they’re still entirely leakproof. I don’t own any larges (which is a medium plus an extender) but if you did need a 2.75 ounce container for a long trip, it’s a great option.

A small with the extender vs a medium – the medium is a bit smaller but I love the flexibility of the extender!

You can also easily swap the tiles to change the labels on the capsules. I also will use the old labels with the new capsules, and that works totally fine for me even though they’re not technically made for each other. I also love how many colors they come in so if I don’t have a specific label already, I can usually just remember which color goes with which product. You can buy the labels (called tiles) separately if you want to and sometimes they run promotions where you can write whatever you want on the labels.

What’s your favorite thing to have when you travel? Thanks for reading, and let me know what you’d like to see next in the comments!

My Favorite Travel Containers for Beauty Products

I’m so excited that we’re able to travel again! If you’re a frequent reader, you likely already know that I recently spent a month on the East Coast. I wanted to make sure I could bring my staples and have never found containers I actually liked until now: Cadence Capsules. As usual, this is not sponsored, I bought these with my own money (although the company did send me a few extra custom labels – thank you!), and everything in this review in my unbiased opinion.

I feel like I’ve tried a dozen different travel container brands/types, and they all have been really frustrated. My number one issue is leaking – there’s always that one thing that leaks all over your suitcase or purse. I’ve started putting containers in plastic bags (sometimes double bagged) because they leak so much, and that feels so incredibly wasteful to me. I’ve also had containers that never seem to get clean enough to reuse, so I end up throwing them away rather than use them again. Plus, some of them are way too small and definitely wouldn’t fit enough for a month long trip.

That’s why I was so excited to stumble upon Cadence (yes, the Instagram ads got me)! These honestly don’t leak – ever. I’m able to throw them in a bag and not have to worry about anything leaking or spilling. Even with the most watery toner, it was 100% leak-proof. I also love that they magnetize together so I’ll never lose them in the bottom of a suitcase. These hold half an ounce, which is about the amount of foundation I use over 6 months, and they still manage to take up so little space. Because they have such a wide opening (more in the video below), these are incredibly easy to fill with products, and you don’t need a funnel, mini spatula, or spoon to do it. I’m actually still going through some of the moisturizer and foundation I brought because they hold so much, but the ones I did finish up, I’ve already cleaned, and they look brand new again. This is my favorite thing about these because I hate cleaning out those little plastic containers where you can barely get into them unless you want to spend forever with one of those straw cleaners. With these, I can wash them with a normal sponge, it takes a couple of minutes, and they are actually clean.

Because of how streamlined the design is, these are super easy to fill and clean.

Before travelling with them, I use them to use up foil samples that I get. For example, I love emptying out shampoo and conditioner samples so I can get multiple uses out of them and really try out the product. When it’s empty, these are super easy to clean and reuse. And now, with my extra labels, I can easily switch them out so I always know what kind of product is in the capsule without having to use tape or stickers.

I love how easy it is to switch out the labels!

You can get 6 capsules (including choosing your own colors and labels for each capsule) for $70 plus free shipping. I know this sounds like a lot, but I know I will end up saving a ton having to continually buy new containers that break or leak or are impossible to clean. As I mentioned, I’ve been using mine since I got them in 2020, and they’ve held up amazingly well, so I think these are totally worth the investment!

What’s your favorite thing to have when you travel? Thanks for reading, and let me know what you’d like to see next in the comments!