Yes, creams are allowed in carry-on if each container is 3.4 oz/100 ml or less in one quart bag; larger medical creams are permitted after screening.
Airport security treats most creams like liquids. That means face moisturizer, sunscreen, ointment, pomade, and makeup creams ride in small travel bottles and sit together in a clear, quart-size bag. With the right prep, you breeze through screening without losing your skincare or first-aid staples.
Bringing Creams In Your Carry-On: Rules That Matter
Screeners follow the well known 3-1-1 rule for liquids, gels, creams, and pastes. Each container can hold up to 100 ml (3.4 oz). All of those containers must fit inside one resealable quart bag. One quart bag per traveler. Anything larger goes in checked baggage, unless it falls under a medical or baby-care exception.
| Item | Carry-On Allowed? | Size Or Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Face cream, lotion, night cream | Yes | ≤ 100 ml in the quart bag |
| Sunscreen cream | Yes | ≤ 100 ml in the quart bag |
| Prescription topical cream | Yes | Any size if declared for screening |
| OTC hydrocortisone, antibiotic ointment | Yes | Any size if medically needed and declared |
| Makeup: cream foundation, concealer in a pot | Yes | ≤ 100 ml in the quart bag |
| Hair cream, styling pomade, wax | Yes | ≤ 100 ml in the quart bag |
| Diaper rash cream | Yes | Any size for baby care after screening |
| Peanut butter or spreadable food | Yes | ≤ 100 ml; treated like a cream |
| Solid balm or lotion bar | Yes | Not subject to the 3-1-1 limit |
Need the official wording for the limits? See the TSA’s liquids rule. For medical items, TSA also explains that larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and creams may travel in carry-on once you declare them for inspection; see the agency’s medical guidance.
What Counts As A Cream In Airport Screening
Security staff treat any spreadable, smearable, or scoopable personal-care product like a liquid. That includes skincare tubs, tubes, and pump bottles. It also includes thick pastes such as zinc sunscreen, nappy cream, and hair styling clays. If it moves or molds when you tilt the jar, treat it like a liquid for screening.
Travel-Sized Limits And The Quart Bag
Use containers marked at 100 ml or less. The quart bag must close fully without strain. If the bag bulges, move extras to checked luggage. Keep the bag handy so you can place it in a bin on request. Many checkpoints still ask travelers to remove the quart bag from carry-ons.
Exceptions For Medical And Baby Needs
Topical prescriptions, medical creams, and contact lens solutions can exceed 100 ml when they are needed during the trip. Tell the officer you have medical items, place them in a separate bin, and expect extra checks. Baby cream, diaper cream, and formula items may also exceed 100 ml. Officers may swab containers and lids before clearing them.
Packing Creams So Screening Stays Smooth
Good packing prevents leaks, speeds your checkpoint stop, and avoids bin-time surprises. These steps keep your skincare and grooming items tidy and ready for inspection.
Choose The Right Containers
- Pick sturdy, leak-resistant travel bottles labeled 100 ml or 3.4 oz.
- Decant thick creams with a mini spatula so the fill line sits below the rim.
- Label each bottle: product name and strength if it is a medication.
Seal For Spill Control
- Seat lids firmly, then add a strip of tape across the seam.
- Slip each bottle inside a small zip bag before loading the quart bag.
- Pack a spare zip bag for the flight home.
Place Items For Fast Screening
- Store the quart bag in an outer pocket of your carry-on.
- Group medical creams in a second clear bag so you can declare them.
- Keep a paper or digital note of prescription names and doses.
Easy-To-Miss Edge Cases
Some products sit on the line between solid and liquid. Use these quick rules to steer clear of problems at the belt.
- Stick balm or lotion bar: treated like a solid, no quart-bag limit.
- Tubs of hair wax or clay: treated like a cream; count toward the quart bag.
- Solid deodorant sticks: usually fine outside the quart bag; gel sticks count as liquids.
- Compact cream makeup: small pans still count as creams; place them in the quart bag.
- Eye cream in tiny jars: small jars still count toward the bag’s space.
- Peanut butter and soft cheese: treated like creams; pack 100 ml or less in the quart bag.
International Notes And Changing Equipment
Many regions keep the 100 ml rule. A growing number of airports use new scanners that may change how liquids are screened, yet most trips still face the familiar quart-bag setup. Rules at your return airport may differ, so match your packing to the strictest point in your itinerary.
Common Mistakes With Creams And Quick Fixes
| Mistake | What Happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Full-size jar tossed in a tote | Stopped at the belt | Move to checked bag or transfer to 100 ml travel bottle |
| Quart bag won’t close | Bag pulled for hand search | Remove items until it seals flat |
| Medicated cream not declared | Extra screening and delay | Place in a separate bin and tell the officer |
| Leaky lid | Cream on socks and chargers | Tape the cap and use inner zip bags |
| Mix of gel deodorant and solid sticks | Confusion at the lane | Put gel sticks in the quart bag; keep solids outside |
Sample Packing Plan For Carry-On Creams
Use this simple plan when you want skincare on the plane and minimal fuss at screening.
- Pick two or three must-have creams for the flight’s length and climate.
- Transfer each one to a labeled 100 ml bottle.
- Add tiny pots for eye cream or spot treatment to save space.
- Place medical creams in a separate clear bag with a copy of the script.
- Load the quart bag with the rest: toothpaste, lip gloss, and hair cream.
- Stash a solid balm or lotion bar in your personal item to cut liquids volume.
- Keep the quart bag and medical bag at the top of your carry-on.
Carry-On Creams For Families
Parents often pack diaper cream, sunscreen, and baby lotion. Pack a dedicated quart bag for the adult items. Baby care creams may exceed 100 ml when needed during the trip, yet you still present them at screening. Bring wipes for quick cleanup after any swab tests, and keep lids spotless to speed the process.
Business Trips And Cabin Skin Care
Cabin air is dry, so travelers like a small moisturizer or hand cream during the flight. Choose travel-sized tubes with tight flip caps. Keep one within reach in your personal item so you do not open the overhead bin midflight. If you use retinoids or other actives, move them to checked luggage and carry a plain, gentle cream on the plane.
Checked Bag Vs. Carry-On For Creams
Carry-on wins when you need the item during a layover or the first night. The checked bag suits full-size jars, extra sunscreen for a long beach stay, or bulk toiletries for a group trip. Pack full-size jars upright inside a rigid pouch, and place a spare zip bag in the outer pocket for the return leg.
Transit And Duty-Free Connections
Many trips include a connection. Items bought past security at your first airport may be screened again at the next checkpoint. If your itinerary includes a second screening point, keep creams inside your quart bag after purchase and keep the receipt handy. When in doubt, place larger duty-free bottles in the checked bag you collect and recheck.
Sunscreen And Skincare Strategy
Sun care counts as a cream at security. Pack a travel-sized face sunscreen and a stick sunscreen. On overnight flights, use a mild moisturizer. A small tube of hand cream, lip balm, and a hydrating mist round out an in-flight kit.
Space Savers That Reduce Liquids Volume
Aim to shrink the number of cream bottles inside the quart bag. Choose a solid balm that doubles as hand cream and cuticle care. Try a solid cleansing bar and a conditioner bar instead of two liquid bottles. For makeup, swap cream blush for a compact powder and a small brush. These swaps free up room for sunscreen and any prescription topicals you must keep with you.
What To Do If A Cream Is Flagged
If an officer pulls your bag for a closer look, stay calm and answer questions clearly. Explain what the product is and state the size. Offer to open the jar if asked. The officer may swab the container and lid. If an oversized non-medical jar cannot pass, you can toss it, mail it if offered, or check the item if time allows.
Checked-Only Creams Worth Packing
Some items pack better in the hold. Full-size body lotion, big sunscreen bottles for a family beach trip, tubs of hair mask, and night-only creams can ride in the checked bag. Place jars upright in a hard-sided pouch, pad with soft clothes, and wrap the pouch in a plastic bag. That way, a leak never reaches your outfits or documents.
Bottom Line For Carry-On Creams
You can bring creams in your carry-on by sticking to travel-sized bottles in one quart bag. Declare medical and baby-care creams that exceed 100 ml. Seal lids, stage your bags for quick inspection, and you keep your skin routine intact while moving through security with less hassle. Pack light, label clearly, and keep the quart bag easy to reach at screening.