Are You Allowed Makeup In Hand Luggage? | The Safe List

Cabin security looks at form, volume, and packaging. Lipstick and powder sit in a different bucket than liquid foundation or gloss.
If it pours, smears, pumps, squeezes, sprays, or spreads, treat it as a liquid or gel. That kind of makeup follows the 100 ml (3.4 oz) per container rule and goes inside one clear, resealable quart-size bag.
Rules in the United States match the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule.
UK airports publish the same limit on their official page for liquids in hand luggage.
Solids and wipes don’t need that bag, so you can keep them in your pouch or organizer today.

This guide keeps things plain and practical. You’ll see exactly what can ride in your cabin bag, how to pack it to speed up screening, and which makeup items cause extra checks.
You’ll also get two quick tables you can screenshot for packing day.

Carry-on status for popular makeup

Use this chart for the fast yes/no view. “Bag needed” means the quart-size liquids bag.

What screeners actually check

Security teams don’t judge brands or shades. They care about container size, the way a product behaves, and whether packaging blocks the X-ray image.
Creams, gels, and liquids in containers up to 100 ml can travel in your hand luggage when they sit together in one transparent, resealable quart-size bag. One bag per traveler.
Larger containers, even if half empty, belong in checked baggage or should stay home.

A compact with powder can stay outside the liquids bag. The same goes for lipstick bullets, solid balm sticks, bar cleansers, and pressed palettes.
If a product is borderline—think creamy sticks that smear—treat it like a liquid to avoid repacking at the belt.

Are you allowed makeup in hand luggage on international flights?

Yes. The 100 ml rule is widely used across hubs around the world. That keeps makeup clear and simple for most trips that include connections.
Some airports test newer scanners that permit bigger liquid volumes. Even with new lanes, rules can differ across terminals on the same trip.
Follow the policy where you start your trip and keep your liquids bag ready for any older checkpoint you meet mid-trip.

Duty-free liquids stay sealed inside their security bag with the receipt until your final stop. If a screener needs to open the bag, ask for a new one after the check.
Check your departure airport’s page before packing if you’ve heard about changes or trials in that country.

Taking makeup in hand luggage: what counts as liquid

The liquid rule includes more than water-like fluids. Mascara, liquid liner, serum primer, cream pots, gel brow products, paste deodorant, and liquid remover all count.
Travel sizes marked 30–50 ml make life easier and leave space for skincare.

Solids and wipes are the easy wins

Stick foundation, balm blush, push-up deodorant sticks, and solid brush cleansers don’t go in the liquids bag.
Makeup wipes don’t count as liquids, so you can keep a full pack in your tote. Cotton rounds and dry swabs can ride with them.

Liquids and gels follow the 3-1-1 bag

In the United States, the one-bag rule mirrors the TSA 3-1-1 page.
Each container must be 100 ml or smaller, and all of them must fit in a single quart-size, clear, resealable bag.
Choose flat, squishy bottles or mini jars so you’re not playing Tetris in line.

Aerosol sprays need travel size

Setting sprays that use a pump sit under the standard liquid rule. Aerosol sprays—like hairspray or some fixers—also count as liquids for carry-on.
Pick true travel sizes and snap the cap on tight so the nozzle doesn’t press inside your bag.

Powders, sharp tools, and the odd items

Pressed or loose powder can ride in your cabin bag. Large tubs can draw extra screening, especially on flights bound for the U.S., where powder containers over 12 oz/350 mL may get extra checks.
See the TSA note on powder screening if your kit includes big setting jars.
If you don’t need the jumbo size, decant to a mini sifter.

Tools like eyelash curlers, brow scissors with short blades, nail clippers, and tweezers are normally fine in hand luggage.
Keep pointy bits tucked in a pouch so they don’t catch fingers during bag checks. Multi-tool knives and long blades are out of scope for cabin bags.

Pack makeup like a pro for security

Lay out your cabin kit before you fill the bag. Start with must-haves, then add nice-to-have picks if space remains. Here’s a simple routine that keeps lines moving:

Build the bag

Use a quart-size, flat, transparent slider bag. Stand bottles upright and zip with no bulge. If the zipper strains, remove an item instead of risking a split.
Group by steps: base, eyes, lips, remover. You’ll find things faster if an officer asks for a closer look.

Swap liquids for solids

Where it fits your routine, pick stick or powder versions. A stick primer, balm glow stick, and soap brow palette can free space in your liquids bag.
Solid brush cleaner and shampoo bars are cabin-friendly and mess-free in a dry tin.

Decant smartly

Use silicone travel bottles for lotions and serums. For viscous creams, wide-mouth mini pots work better.
Label each mini with painter’s tape and a pen so you don’t confuse remover and serum at 6 a.m.

Keep proof handy

Some products hide their volume mark under a label. If a bottle looks bigger than 100 ml, take a photo of the printed size on the box before you toss it, or carry a small ruler sticker on the bottle.

Liquid limits by region at a glance

Most places mirror the 100 ml rule. The links earlier in this guide point to official pages with current wording.

Mistakes that trigger bag searches

Overfull liquids bags slow you down. So do oversized bottles that sneak into a tote side pocket.
Here are the usual culprits screeners pull aside:

Big containers labeled in ounces only

Many beauty bottles list fluid ounces in bold and bury milliliters in tiny print. If a label shows 3.5 oz, that’s over the 100 ml limit. Decant it or check it.

Uncapped aerosols and pump heads

Nozzles can press against other items and spray. Clip a cap, use tape, or choose a pump bottle instead of an aerosol when you can.

Leaky jars and crusted lids

Residue on a lid can look messy on X-ray and inside your bag. Wipe threads, add a liner seal, and tighten the cap before you leave for the airport.

Quick answers for specific items

Eyeliner. Liquid and gel pens live in the liquids bag. Pencils can ride outside.
Glitter. Pressed glitter stays out of the liquids bag. Loose glitter behaves like a powder; small jars travel fine, big tubs can get a closer look.
Perfume. Travel sprays count toward your liquids bag. Dab-on solid perfume tins are outside the rule.
BB/CC creams. Treat as liquid foundation, so 100 ml max and inside the bag.
Micellar water and toner. Both are liquids. Pour a week’s worth into a mini bottle.

Refillable pods. Make sure each pod lists volume or sits under 100 ml.
Makeup tools with batteries. Lash fans, mini mirrors with LEDs, and facial trimmers can go in hand luggage. Keep batteries installed or carry spares in original packaging.

Final checks before you fly

Lay your quart-size bag flat on top of your other items so you can lift it out fast. Keep tools together in a small pouch.
If a screener wants a closer look, stay calm, answer briefly, and repack right there instead of walking off with lids open.
On return segments, repack liquids the same way, since not every airport uses the same scanner model yet.

If you need a deep refill at your destination, buy it there and bring home only what fits the 100 ml rule. That keeps your kit tidy and your carry-on light.

When to move items to checked baggage

Full-size bottles belong in the hold. If you need a 150 ml mousse, pack it in checked baggage instead of trying to sneak it past security.
Strong solvents, big aerosol cans, and metal tools with long, sharp blades also ride in checked bags.
If you’re traveling carry-on only, switch to travel sizes or pick solid formats that do the same job.

Think about your return leg. A glass perfume bottle over 100 ml that you buy on the trip won’t pass through a standard checkpoint unless it’s in a sealed duty-free bag for the full trip.
Pick a rollerball or a solid balm if you want something for the flight home.

Checkpoint game plan

1. Before you reach the bins, pull your quart-size liquids bag and place it on top of your tote. Keep tools in a small pouch beside it.
2. Empty your coat pockets. Gloss tubes and balms love to hide there.
3. Place the liquids bag flat in a tray. Don’t stack it under a scarf or book where it can’t be seen.
4. If an officer asks about an item, answer briefly and show the volume mark. You’ll be through faster than if you start repacking in line.
5. Once cleared, zip the bag shut again before you walk away. Open lids and loose caps cause spills right outside the lane.

A minimalist carry-on kit that always works

This sample kit stays inside the 3-1-1 limits and fits inside one flat bag with room for skincare. Tune it to your look:

• 30 ml skin tint or travel foundation
• Concealer pot
• Stick blush that doubles as lip color
• Compact powder with mirror
• Mascara
• Brow pencil and clear gel
• Travel makeup remover and a few cotton rounds
• Solid balm glow stick

Add a setting powder or a tiny pump spray if you expect heat. For long days, a refillable atomizer with your favorite scent, filled under 10 ml, fits the liquids bag and freshens you up before landing.

Leak-proofing tricks that save your bag

Unscrew each cap, lay a small square of plastic wrap over the mouth, then screw the cap back down.
Tape pump heads with a short strip across the nozzle. Snap powder compacts and add a thin pad of tissue between mirror and pan.
Put minis inside a slim zip pouch even when they sit in the quart-size bag; that extra layer catches drips and keeps labels tidy.

At altitude, cabin pressure can push air out of bottles. Leave a tiny bit of headspace so the cap isn’t under strain.
Choose flip-top caps over droppers when you can, and wipe threads before packing to avoid sticky residue later.

Got a layover? Keep your liquids bag on top between flights. Some airports re-screen at the gate for U.S.-bound segments, and you may need to show items again.
Keeping it accessible saves time and keeps lines moving during tight connections fast.