Yes — makeup is allowed; liquids, creams, gels, and aerosols must be 100 ml or less per item in one clear quart-size bag, while solid items face no liquid limit.
Taking makeup in hand luggage: quick rules that matter
Most airports still use the 100 ml rule for anything that pours, pumps, sprays, squeezes, or spreads. Each container must be 100 ml or less and all such items go in one small, clear, resealable bag. That bag is about one liter or a quart. Solids and powders sit outside that bag. Some lanes now run CT scanners with different handling, yet many still follow the classic setup, so plan for the strict version and you’ll be fine.
| Item type | Carry-on allowance | Tips for screening |
|---|---|---|
| Lipstick, lip balm, solid perfume | Allowed outside liquids bag | Cap tightly; group in a small pouch |
| Lip gloss, liquid lipstick | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Treat as liquids |
| Mascara | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Counts as a liquid |
| Liquid or cream foundation, BB/CC cream | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Decant to travel bottles if needed |
| Stick foundation, cream sticks | Allowed outside liquids bag | Solid format saves space |
| Pressed powder, mineral powder, blush, bronzer | Allowed outside liquids bag | Large tubs may face extra screening on some routes |
| Liquid concealer | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Small tubes still count |
| Stick concealer | Allowed outside liquids bag | Pack with your solids |
| Liquid or gel eyeliner | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Brush pots count as liquids |
| Powder eyeshadow palettes | Allowed outside liquids bag | Lay flat to protect pans |
| Cream eyeshadows | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Often sold in tiny pots |
| Setting spray, facial mist | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Non-aerosol pump is simpler |
| Makeup remover liquid or micellar water | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Swap to wipes to free space |
| Makeup wipes | Allowed outside liquids bag | Great for quick cleanups |
| Perfume or cologne | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Go with a rollerball or atomizer |
| Nail polish | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Keep upright; close tight |
| Nail polish remover | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Use a leak-proof bottle |
| Hairspray or dry shampoo (aerosol) | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Check route rules if cans worry you |
| Sunscreen lotion | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Sticks live outside the bag |
| Lash glue | 100 ml or smaller, inside liquids bag | Stand upright in a mini zip bag |
Liquid limits explained for makeup
The liquid rule covers textures that move or smear: mascara, serum, liquid lipstick, cream blush, gel highlighter, mists, oils, and sprays. Labels matter. A half-used 120 ml bottle still breaks the rule because screeners go by the printed size, not how much is left. Keep every unit at 100 ml or under and group them in a clear, resealable bag you can lift out fast.
What counts as a liquid in cosmetics
If it pours, squeezes, pumps, sprays, or spreads, treat it as a liquid. That includes lotions, creams, gels, pastes, roll-ons, oils, liquid makeup, nail liquids, and fragrances. Sticks and pressed powders are outside the liquid rule, which is why a balm blush, a stick foundation, or a pressed powder compact helps you stretch that tiny bag.
Powders, wipes, and solids
Powders are allowed in hand luggage. Big tubs may draw extra checks on some routes, so travel with smaller jars and you’ll move faster. Makeup wipes aren’t liquids under screening rules and can sit outside your quart bag. Solid swaps make packing easier too: try stick sunscreen, solid cleansers, and balm removers to trim your liquid load.
Can you carry makeup in cabin bag on different airlines?
Airlines follow national screening rules and then layer on size and weight limits for the cabin bag. That means your bag dimensions and your liquid rules are set by different teams. A light fare might include only a small personal item, so decide what sits on top for easy access. If your trip hops across regions, follow the strictest liquid rule on your route so you don’t lose items mid-journey.
Packing steps for a smooth screening
Step 1: sort by format
Lay every product on a table and split by format: liquids and creams, solids and powders, and tools. Move liquids into travel bottles with the size printed on them. Lock pumps and sprayers. Keep dropper lids tight.
Step 2: build one clear bag
Use a sturdy zip bag or a rigid one-liter case. Fill it with your liquid items only. Stand bottles upright so staff can see labels. Leave room so the bag lies flat in a tray. If a bottle leaks, that liner saves the rest of your kit.
Step 3: keep solids together
Drop pressed powders, sticks, and wipes in a small pouch. That pouch rides on top of your cabin bag so you can reach it fast if a screener wants a closer look.
Step 4: stage for the belt
At the lane, place the clear liquid bag in its own tray. Keep the solids pouch in your bag unless staff ask for it. Pull large electronics only when signs tell you to do so. Follow the rhythm of that lane and you’ll move faster than trying to pre-guess every step.
Tip: Duty-free liquids can ride through connections if sealed in a tamper-evident bag with the receipt inside. Don’t open that bag until you reach your final airport.
Edge cases that trip travelers
Aerosol beauty products
Small toiletry aerosols like travel hairspray, mousse, and dry shampoo can ride in your clear bag if each can is 100 ml or less. Non-toiletry aerosols face tighter rules and often aren’t allowed in the cabin. If you want zero hassle, pick a pump spray or a solid stick.
Fragrance and glass bottles
Fragrance up to 100 ml fits the liquids bag. Glass is fine, yet it needs padding. A slim rollerball or a refillable atomizer cuts bulk and lowers the chance of a spill.
Makeup tools with sharp edges
Tweezers usually pass. Small scissors with blunt tips often pass, while pointed blades might not. Nail files without metal pass more than steel ones. If a tool could be taken, place it in checked baggage.
Powder tubs and screening speed
Loose powders are allowed. On some routes, jars above 350 ml get extra checks or may be refused if staff can’t clear them. It’s smarter to travel with smaller jars and refill them at home.
Sample cabin makeup kit layout
Here’s a tidy layout that meets common rules and keeps touch-ups easy mid-flight:
- Clear bag: mini foundation, mascara, lip gloss, liquid concealer, serum ampoule, setting spray, perfume roller, nail polish, polish remover, travel hairspray, lash glue.
- Solids pouch: stick foundation or balm, pressed powder, bronzer, blush, lip balm, solid cleanser, sunscreen stick, makeup wipes.
- Tools: small brush set, sponge, tweezers, nail file without metal, pocket mirror.
Checks before you fly
Match rules to each airport on your route. Many lanes still run the 100 ml setup; some upgraded lanes handle bigger bottles. Your airline’s bag size limits don’t change the security liquid rule, so check both. If you carry medication or baby feeds, read your regulator’s page and bring any proof required.
Common mistakes with makeup at security
- Packing a 120 ml bottle that’s half full and hoping it passes. The printed size wins.
- Bringing two clear bags. Many lanes allow only one per person.
- Forgetting that mascara and liquid lipstick count as liquids.
- Carrying big powder jars on routes where screeners flag them for extra checks.
- Tossing a remover bottle in a tote with a loose cap.
- Hiding the clear bag under clothes so staff can’t see it at first glance.
Quick answers for trendy products
Cushion compacts
The sponge is soaked with liquid foundation, so treat the compact as a liquid and place it in the clear bag.
Lip oils and tints
Lip oil sits under the liquid rule. Slim tubes help you stretch space in the bag.
Mists and setting fluids
These live under the 100 ml limit. A 30–60 ml bottle covers a week with room to spare.
Mineral powders and loose setting powder
These sit with solids. Large tubs can slow you down on some routes, so smaller jars are smarter for speedy checks.
Regional rules: quick reference
Policies keep shifting as airports add CT scanners. Many still use the long-standing limit. Some now permit larger bottles at upgraded lanes. Use this snapshot as a guide and check your departure airport if you want to bring big bottles.
| Region | Liquid container limit | Security bag rule |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Up to 100 ml (3.4 oz) per container | One quart-size, clear, resealable bag per person |
| United Kingdom | 100 ml at most airports; some upgraded lanes may permit larger | One clear bag, up to one liter; airport signs take priority |
| European Union | 100 ml at many airports; upgrades rolling out in phases | One clear bag, up to one liter; follow airport guidance |
Recap: the takeaway for hand luggage makeup
Pack with two piles and one rule. Liquids, creams, gels, and aerosols go in containers of 100 ml or less and ride together in one clear bag. Sticks and pressed powders sit outside that bag. Build your kit around solids where you can, keep labels visible, and stage the clear bag at the top of your cabin case. If your route includes different regions, stick with the strictest rule you’ll meet and your makeup will reach your trip exactly as planned.