Yes, moisturiser is allowed on planes: carry-on containers up to 3.4 oz/100 ml in a quart bag, and any size in checked baggage.
Not Allowed
Conditional
Allowed
Carry-On Path
- Count moisturiser as a liquid/gel/cream.
- Each container ≤ 3.4 oz/100 ml.
- All travel sizes in one clear quart bag.
Bag rules
Checked Path
- Pack full-size bottles in hold luggage.
- Use tape or caps; place in zip bag.
- Aerosol mists need a protected nozzle.
Hold bag
Special Handling
- Medically needed creams exceed 100 ml if declared.
- Present at screening for inspection.
- Bring a note or label if you have one.
Exceptions
Carry-On Rules For Moisturiser
Think of moisturiser like toothpaste or shampoo at screening. It sits under liquids, gels, creams, and pastes. In the United States, the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule sets the limit: bottles up to 3.4 oz (100 ml), all inside one clear quart-size bag. The UK uses the same 100 ml per container rule for most airports; see the UK hand luggage liquids guidance for details. That small bag shares space with your other toiletries, so pack with intent.
What Counts As A Liquid On Flights
If you can squeeze, spread, pump, or pour it, security treats it as a liquid or gel. Face cream, lotion, hand balm, SPF moisturiser, after-sun, night cream, and sheet mask essence all land in that bucket. Pumps and tubes follow the same size cap. The label volume is what officers go by, not what’s left in the bottle. A half-used 200 ml jar still exceeds the limit.
| Moisturiser Type | Carry-On (Typical 3-1-1) | Checked Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Creams & Lotions (tubes, jars, pumps) | ≤ 100 ml per container in the quart bag | No volume cap; secure lids, bag to prevent leaks |
| SPF Moisturisers & Facial Sunscreens | ≤ 100 ml per container in the quart bag | Full size fine; aerosol mists need protected nozzles |
| Serums, Essences, Ampoules | Each vial ≤ 100 ml; still counts toward the bag | Any size; cushion with clothing |
| Solid Lotion Bars & Balms | Treated as solids; no 100 ml cap | Pack as usual |
| Medicated Creams (non-aerosol) | Travel size or declare if larger and medically needed | Any size; keep box/leaflet for clarity |
Solid Lotion Bars Help You Save Space
Solid lotion bars and stick balms aren’t liquid, so they skip the quart-bag crunch. That frees room for sunscreen, cleanser, and other fluids. Choose a twist-up or a tin with a tight lid to avoid smears in your pouch.
Medically Necessary Creams
Some travellers carry prescription or medically needed creams above 100 ml. In the U.S., those can fly in carry-on when you declare them for inspection; see TSA’s page for liquid medications. Present them separately, and bring any label or doctor’s note you have. Similar allowances exist at many airports worldwide; officers may swab or screen the item, then send you on your way.
Bringing Moisturizer In Hand Luggage — Practical Rules
Start with your itinerary. If every airport on your route still uses the classic 100 ml rule, stick to travel sizes. If your trip starts at an airport with CT scanners that raise the cap, remember your return leg may be different. Treat the stricter end as your baseline. Pack a slim quart bag, pick a few multitaskers, and decant bulky jars into leak-tight minis.
Smart Picks For Tiny Bags
Pick a lightweight gel-cream that doubles as day and night care. Add a mineral SPF moisturiser for mornings and a small occlusive balm for dry spots. That trio covers most climates. If you need actives, bring serum pods or droppers 30 ml or less. Cap everything with tape, then slip each bottle into its own mini zip bag before it goes in the quart pouch.
Face Masks, Eye Cream, And Mists
Sheet mask liquid counts toward your liquids bag. Toss two or three, not a week’s worth. Eye creams follow the same 100 ml cap, though most jars are tiny. Facial mists feel great mid-flight; decant to a 30 ml spray. If yours is an aerosol, checked baggage is safer, and caps must be protected to stop accidental discharge based on TSA guidance for sprays and sunscreen.
Checked Bags: Sizes, Caps, And Leakage
Full-size moisturiser belongs here. Jars and pumps travel well when you remove air from the headspace, tighten lids, and add a strip of tape. Place bottles inside a double zip bag or a dry sack and wedge them in soft layers. For aerosols or pump mists packed in the hold, protect the actuator with a cap or clip so nothing sprays by accident. Sprays should meet the usual consumer-toiletry limits set for baggage safety in many regions.
Rules Shift With New Scanners
Several airports have installed computed-tomography scanners at security. Where these are active, limits can rise well beyond the familiar 100 ml cap, and liquids may stay inside bags. The change isn’t uniform, and it varies by country and airport. The European Commission still sets a general 100 ml liquids rule for many airports across the bloc, with exemptions for baby food and medicines. See its 2024 update on liquids screening policy for context. The safest plan is simple: check the airport site for both your departure and your return, then pack for the stricter end first.
Region Snapshots
United States: 100 ml per container and one quart bag remain the pattern for carry-on across TSA lanes. United Kingdom: many airports still apply 100 ml; some with CT lanes offer higher limits, while others are phasing upgrades. European Union and EEA: the 100 ml model remains common, pending wider rollouts of new scanners. Australia: domestic flights from domestic terminals don’t cap liquids, but international terminals and flights follow 100 ml rules; see the Australian Home Affairs guide on powders, liquids, aerosols, gels.
Packing Strategy That Saves Time
Build A Lean Liquids Bag
Pick four travel bottles: cleanser, moisturiser, SPF moisturiser, and a leave-on balm. That’s your core. Use 30–60 ml containers with tight caps. Label each bottle to prevent mix-ups in dim cabin light.
Prevent Leaks
Air pressure shifts can push product past a pump or under a lid. Layer your defenses. Put a small square of plastic wrap under twist-off tops before you close them. Add tape across pumps. Place each item in a snack-size zip bag, then load the quart bag. Keep the quart bag at the top of your carry-on so you can place it in the tray fast.
Mind The Return Leg
Shopping on your trip? Great. Just don’t buy a 200 ml face cream and expect it to pass through a standard 100 ml lane on the way home. Either check a bag, ship it, or choose two 100 ml jars instead. Duty-free liquids can be carried through connections when sealed in an approved bag with the receipt; local screening rules still apply once that seal is broken.
Second-Leg Scenarios And What To Do
Here are common routes and the simple play that avoids a last-minute bin drop at security.
| Scenario | Carry-On Allowance | Best Move |
|---|---|---|
| Both airports use 100 ml rule | ≤ 100 ml per item in a quart bag | Stick to minis; check full sizes |
| Depart from CT-scanner airport; return to 100 ml lane | Outbound may allow larger volumes; return won’t | Pack to 100 ml; treat return as baseline |
| US domestic roundtrip | 3-1-1 applies both ways | One quart bag; keep it handy at screening |
| Australia domestic from domestic terminal | No liquid cap on many routes | Check your terminal type; international rules differ |
| Medically needed cream over 100 ml | Permitted when declared for inspection | Carry documentation; present it separately |
Answers To Edge Cases
Do 120 ml Bottles That Are Half-Full Pass?
No. Officers go by the printed capacity. Decant into a 100 ml container instead.
Is A 100 ml Jar That’s Labeled 3.38 Fl Oz Okay?
Yes. That equals 100 ml. The limit is about container size, not the unit printed on the label.
Where Do Tubes Of Ointment Fit?
They sit under creams and gels. Pack as travel sizes in the quart bag, or declare if medically needed and larger.
What About Lip Balm And Solid Stick Moisturisers?
Sticks and solid balms are treated as solids, so they don’t eat into your liquids allowance. That makes them handy for dry cabins.
Can I Carry A Big Bottle If I’m Flying From A CT-Scanner Lane?
You might clear screening at that airport, yet get stopped on a connection or the return. Keep your carry-on within 100 ml per item if any part of the trip uses classic lanes.
Quick Pre-Flight Checklist
- Four travel bottles max in your quart bag: cleanser, moisturiser, SPF, balm.
- Each container ≤ 3.4 oz/100 ml unless medically needed and declared.
- Solid lotion bars ride outside the liquids bag.
- Tape pumps, seal lids, and double-bag to stop leaks.
- Check airport pages on both ends for scanner updates and limits.
Reliable Rule Pages To Bookmark
For the United States, the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule lists lotion among items that must fit the carry-on bag limit. For the United Kingdom, the UK liquids guidance explains container size caps and screening. Across the EU, recent notices keep the 100 ml model in place at many airports while scanner rollouts continue; check your airport site for the latest local setup before you pack.