Yes — makeup is allowed in hand luggage, but liquids and aerosols must be 100 ml or less and all go in one clear, quart-size bag.
Taking Makeup In Hand Luggage: What Counts As A Liquid
Security teams treat anything you can pour, pump, squeeze, smear, or spread as a liquid. That includes cream foundation, concealer, lip gloss, mascara, liquid eyeliner, gel brow pomade, setting spray, nail polish, perfume, and makeup remover. Each item in your carry-on must be in a container of 100 ml (3.4 oz) or less, and all those containers need to fit inside one resealable, transparent quart-size bag. In the United States this is the well known TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule; many airports worldwide follow a near-identical limit.
| Makeup item | Carry-on rule | Smart packing tip |
|---|---|---|
| Lipstick (solid) | Allowed outside the liquids bag | Pop into a small case to avoid smudges |
| Lip gloss | Counts as a liquid; 100 ml max; in the liquids bag | Short tubes save space |
| Mascara | Counts as a liquid; 100 ml max; in the liquids bag | Tighten the cap to prevent drying |
| Liquid foundation | Counts as a liquid; 100 ml max; in the liquids bag | Decant into wide-mouth travel bottles |
| Stick foundation | Treated as a solid; no liquids bag | Great swap to free up space |
| Powder foundation | Allowed; large tubs may get extra screening on some routes | Pressed powder cuts mess |
| Concealer (cream/liquid) | Counts as a liquid; 100 ml max; in the liquids bag | Mini wand tubes pack neatly |
| Eyeliner pencil | Allowed outside the liquids bag | Cap sharp tips to protect bags |
| Liquid eyeliner | Counts as a liquid; 100 ml max; in the liquids bag | Check the cap lock |
| Setting spray | Liquid or aerosol; 100 ml max in carry-on | Pick pump bottles to keep it simple |
| Makeup remover | Counts as a liquid; 100 ml max; in the liquids bag | Try wipes or balm when space is tight |
| Makeup wipes | Allowed; not treated as liquids | Seal the pack to keep wipes fresh |
| Nail polish | Counts as a liquid; 100 ml max; in the liquids bag | Bag tightly; tiny leaks stain fast |
| Nail polish remover | Counts as a liquid; 100 ml max; in the liquids bag | Use pre-soaked remover pads |
| Perfume | Counts as a liquid; 100 ml max; in the liquids bag | Carry a small atomizer |
| Brushes & tools | Allowed in cabin bags | Use a roll-up sleeve for bristles |
Why The Little Quart Bag Matters
The clear pouch makes screening quick and predictable. All liquid and gel makeup goes in that one bag, which you can lift out in seconds if asked. A tidy pouch also limits leaks. When a texture sits on the fence — think cream blush or gel highlighter — place it in the pouch and move on. The core points sit on the TSA liquids FAQ.
Easy Liquids Bag Setup
Use a flat, zip-top pouch that holds its shape. Keep bottles upright, caps tight, and labels facing out. That little habit helps officers confirm sizes at a glance.
Are You Allowed To Bring Makeup In Hand Baggage On International Flights
Yes. The liquid limits travel with you. In the UK and across most of Europe, airports still apply the 100 ml rule with a single clear bag, while a small number have begun using upgraded scanners with their own local rules. The UK’s page on liquids in hand luggage notes that most airports keep the 100 ml cap, with some allowing larger containers where new kit is in place. Since rules can differ by airport, pack to the strictest version and you’ll breeze through either setup.
Solids Beat Liquids For Space
To stretch that little pouch, swap liquids for solids where you can. Trade liquid foundation for a stick, cream blush for a crayon, and remover for balm or wipes. Lipstick, pencils, and pressed powders can live outside the pouch, which frees room for mascara, gloss, and the skincare you can’t skip.
Swap Ideas That Work
Stick base instead of a pump bottle, balm cleanser instead of micellar water, and a pressed setting powder instead of a loose jar. You’ll save space and cut spill risk.
Aerosols, Mists, And Perfume: Small But Specific Limits
Beauty aerosols — like setting sprays and dry shampoo — can ride in a cabin bag when each can is 100 ml or less and fits inside the quart pouch. Air-safety rules also set a cap on total aerosol and toiletry quantity across your bags: each can may be no larger than 0.5 L or 0.5 kg, and your combined amount across such items shouldn’t exceed 2 L or 2 kg. The TSA’s item pages echo these totals and point to FAA regulations; see the entry for aerosol shaving cream for a clear summary that applies to similar toiletry sprays.
Keep Spray Caps Secure
Buttons can get pressed inside a tight overhead bin. Snap on the protective cap or tape the button. Pack aerosols upright in a small zip bag inside the liquids pouch to catch stray mist. Pump mists are often lighter and easier to manage than pressurized cans.
Perfume Packing Tip
Carry a small refillable atomizer and park the full bottle in checked baggage. A 5–10 ml atomizer lasts many days and takes almost no space in the pouch.
Powders, Palettes, And Big Jars
Pressed powders, bronzer, and shadow palettes are fine in hand luggage. Large powder containers can draw extra screening on some routes to the United States. TSA guidance sets a 12 oz (350 mL) threshold for extra checks on inbound international flights, and you may be asked to place big tubs in a separate tray. Standard makeup sizes sit well under that mark, yet bulky jars of setting powder you don’t plan to use mid-flight are often happier in checked baggage.
Protect Your Pans
Slip a cotton pad over each powder pan and close the lid, then wrap the compact in a thin sleeve. That small cushion helps keep powders from cracking during bumps.
Common Mistakes That Trigger Bag Checks
Oversize containers. A half-full 150 ml bottle still counts as 150 ml, so decant to travel bottles or move it to the hold.
Loose caps. Pump heads and droppers can seep under pressure. Tighten them and place them upright in a zip bag inside the pouch.
Uncapped aerosols. Cans without protective caps often get flagged. Cap them or switch to a pump version.
Forgetting sunscreen. If it’s a lotion texture, it belongs in the liquids pouch. Stick sunscreen can live outside.
Simple Kit For Short Trips
Keep your routine light for a weekend flight: a tinted stick base, a travel mascara, a tiny brow gel, a mini lipstick, a pressed powder, and a palm-size remover balm or wipes. Add a 50–100 ml glow mist if you like. This set fills a corner of the liquids pouch and leaves room for toothpaste and serum.
Rules By Region At A Glance
Liquid rules look similar across regions, yet little details differ by route and equipment. Plan for the strictest version and you’ll be set almost everywhere.
| Region | Carry-on liquid limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 100 ml per container; one quart-size bag | Powders over 350 mL may face extra screening on inbound international flights; see TSA guidance |
| United Kingdom | 100 ml per container at most airports | Some airports with upgraded scanners allow larger containers under local rules; see the UK government page linked above |
| European Union | 100 ml per container at most airports | Airports with new scanners may trial changes, yet many still use the 100 ml rule |
Pre-Flight Checklist For Makeup In Hand Luggage
Scan your bag with this quick list before you zip up:
- Put all liquid and gel makeup in one transparent quart-size pouch.
- Check every liquid item for a 100 ml or smaller label.
- Move jumbo bottles to the hold or decant into travel bottles.
- Switch to sticks and pressed powders where you can.
- Cap aerosols and pack them upright inside the pouch.
- Keep wipes, lipstick, pencils, and brushes outside the pouch.
- Leave a little room for skincare you’ll add after brushing your teeth.
Packing Playbook That Speeds Up Screening
Make one tidy pouch that always holds your flight-size liquids. Keep a second small case for solids and tools. If you carry fragrance, pick a small atomizer and keep it with the liquids. Put wipes in an outer pocket for quick reach. Little routines like these shave minutes off every line and cut the back-and-forth at the belt.
What To Do If A Product Is Right On The Line
When a texture sits between solid and liquid — balmy highlighters, potted gels, putty primers — treat it as a liquid. Place it in the pouch, point the label outward, and you’re done. That single habit avoids repacks at the scanner and keeps the queue moving.
Carry-On Or Hold?
Carry any makeup you can’t replace at your destination. Pack duplicates or fragile glass bottles in the hold, wrapped in a soft layer, inside a sealed zip bag for backup.
Why Packing For The Strictest Rule Saves Time
Routes change, equipment differs, and staff may apply local rules. If you build your kit to meet the classic 100 ml and single-pouch guidance, your hand luggage will glide through nearly every checkpoint, including airports that still use older scanners. The foundation is simple: small bottles, one clear pouch, tight caps, a cap on every aerosol, and smart solid swaps. That’s the tidy, no-drama way to fly with makeup.
Want the source materials in one place? Start with the TSA liquids page, the UK’s official liquids guidance, and the TSA item page for aerosol toiletries that quotes FAA totals for sprays (aerosol shaving cream).