Stocksy
In This Article
Skincare
Makeup
Nail Polish
Haircare
Body Care
Perfume
Medication
Going on vacation? Lucky you! There are few things as exciting as the days leading up to a well-deserved trip (other than the days actually spent on said trip.) You get to plan where and how to spend your PTO, pack cute outfits for all of your activities, and stock up on books to help you disconnect and unwind. All of that is fun and games until you actually have to start packing, though, especially if you prefer to bring just a carry-on with you. After all, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has so many guidelines on what you can and cant bring on board, which is especially tedious when figuring out which of your makeup, skincare, nail polish, and hair products you should or shouldnt pack.
According to the government website: "You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. And each of these items is limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item."1
It used to be that you could travel with as many travel-sized liquids as you wanted, but now all your products technically have to fit inside a quart-sized bag. While some airports may be more lenient than others, some will actually have you separate your liquid items into a quart-sized bag, and anything that doesnt fit will have to be discarded. To ensure that all of your precious cargo makes it through security with you, step one is to double-check that all of your products are small enough to bring on board, and step two is to fit them into a TSA-approved-sized bag before you get to the airport. After that, youll be golden.
Below, we break down all the beauty products you can and cant bring with you on your carry-on to help you have the smoothest travel experience.
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Transfer your favorite beauty products to TSA-approved containers made specifically for carry-on travel. Apart from being refillable and reusable, theyll also remove the headache of all the guess work that goes into measuring your liquids pre-travel.
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Skincare
Does the 3-1-1 rule ring a bell? This is what the TSA’s rule for packing liquids in your carry-on luggage is called. If not, heres a refresher: The 3-1-1 rule states that all liquids must be in a container that is 3.4 ounces or smaller, and all of your carry-on liquids must fit in one clear, quart-sized bag. Its another way of stating the rules we previously explained, just with a catchier name.
To organize your skincare routine in a travel-ready package, transfer your liquid skincare products into the Palette by Pak ($39) refillable container.
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Makeup
When packing liquid makeup products, youll want to stick to the liquid limits we previously mentioned. Youre free to pack items like mascara, brow gel, and concealer in your carry-on, as long as theyre smaller than 3.4 ounces.
You might assume youre in the clear to pack whatever solid makeup products you want, but this isnt always the case. Keep in mind that any powder or powder-like substances that are larger than 12 ounces may need to go in a separate bin when you go through X-ray screening. Most powder makeup products are smaller than 12 ounces, though, so dont stress this one too much.
Curious about lipstick and chapstick? TSA regulations allow you to pack both in your carry-on or checked baggage.
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Nail Polish
If you want to make sure your mani and pedi stay on point during your travels, know that its safe to bring your favorite nail polish on board with you. Since lacquers are much smaller than 3.4 ounces (for context, most essie nail polishes are 0.46 oz and OPI ones are 0.5 oz), its no issue. With that said, you probably shouldnt bring your entire nail polish collection with you, instead focusing on just one or two shades for touch-ups.
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Haircare
If you want to travel with your favorite shampoo, conditioner, leave-in treatment, and more, your best bet will be to purchase the existing travel-sized versions or to fill travel-sized silicone bottles with your go-to formulas—we like the LiquiSnugs Travel Bottles ($17) as theyre leak-proof. Just remember, dont go over the 3.4 oz limit.
Alternatively, use solid shampoo and conditioners. Love Beauty and Planets Coconut Water + Mimosa Flower 2-in1 Bar ($5) is great for traveling light and leaves hair feeling very soft.
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Body Care
Most body lotions and washes come in sizes that way surpass the 3.4 oz limit, so you definitely need to transfer your favorites to a smaller bottle or purchase the travel-sized version of your go-to body products.
For on-the-go body cleansers, opt for a body wipe like MegaBabes Megafresh Wipes ($10). Soap bars and solid body lotions, like Kate McLeods Body Stones ($38), are other travel saviors.
Should you want to bring a regular-sized bottle, just know that it will have to go in your checked bag. And although you shouldnt have an issue if you have just a bottle or two of toiletries, there are lesser-known liquid guidelines for checked luggage as well. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) limits people to bring 70 ounces of medicinal and/or toiletry items in their checked luggage. For most vacationing travelers, this isnt anything to worry about, but its worth noting just in case.
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Perfume
Perfume is permitted in carry-on luggage as long as the container is 3.4 ounces or smaller. To eliminate any confusion when packing or potential problems when going through security, consider buying a travel-sized bottle of your favorite scent that you reserve for travel days. Also look into solid perfumes, such as Diptyques Solid Perfumes ($70-$75), which have a balm-like texture and easily fit in even your tiniest purses.
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Medication
If youre traveling with medication, its important to store it in your carry-on rather than your checked bag so you still have them on hand if your checked bag gets lost. This travel hack has potential to save you from a massive headache in the long run.
If you use any liquid medical products—like a prescription cream, shampoo, contact lens solution, or medication, you can pack these products even if theyre larger than 3.4 ounces. However, its important to let TSA know about these products in your bag. Heres what the TSA says about this: "TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip, but you must declare them to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection."
Article Sources
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule