Cosmetics Items’ Rules for Checked & Carry-On Baggage | The Safe List

Cosmetic Items Rules For Checked And Carry‑On: Quick Map

You want to bring makeup, skincare, fragrances, and a few grooming tools. The rules aren’t hard once you see how they group: liquids and gels follow the 3‑1‑1 rule in the cabin, aerosols have size caps and labeling requirements, solids can ride anywhere, and some tools have battery or gas quirks. This guide spells out what goes where and how to pack it so you sail through screening.

Carry‑On Rules That Keep Lines Moving

Carry‑on rules center on volume. Each passenger gets one quart‑size bag for liquids, gels, creams, pastes, and aerosols, with each container at 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less. That covers foundation, serum, toothpaste, hair gel, travel‑size sprays, and similar items. You can read the plain‑English version on the TSA 3‑1‑1 liquids rule.

Solids like lipstick, balms in stick form, bar soap, and pressed powders don’t need to go in the liquids bag. Mascara, liquid eyeliner, and gloss do. Big powder containers can fly, but security may ask to screen any amount over 12 oz (350 ml) separately.

Aerosols that count as toiletries—hair spray, deodorant, mousse, dry shampoo—are fine in carry‑ons as long as each can is 100 ml or smaller and the nozzle is protected with a cap.

What Counts As A Liquid Or Gel In Makeup

If it can spill, spray, pump, spread, or pour, treat it as a liquid or gel. Mascara, liquid eyeliner, cream blush, liquid highlighter, and tube concealer all fit this bucket. Stick deodorant, lipstick, balm sticks, and pressed makeup are solids.

Powders And Palettes: Screening Tips

Powder products can stay in your bag, but containers over 12 oz (350 ml) may go through extra screening. You might be asked to place them in a separate bin or open the container. If it’s not essential, pack jumbo sizes in checked baggage to keep your lane quick.

Sharp Grooming Tools Without Headaches

Grooming tools follow simple size rules. Disposable razors are okay in the cabin. A safety razor handle is fine, but blades belong in checked baggage. Scissors under 4 inches from the pivot point can go in carry‑on; longer blades must be checked. Tweezers and nail clippers are okay in both bags.

Checked Baggage: What Changes For Cosmetic Items

Checked baggage is where full‑size bottles live. Your regular‑size shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover, and fragrance can ride in the hold. Toiletry aerosols have two caps: one on total volume across all cans and one on each can’s size.

Across all toiletry aerosols, you’re capped at 2 kilograms or 2 liters total per person. Each single can can’t exceed 0.5 kg or 500 ml. Keep caps on to prevent accidental release, and stick to personal‑care items; non‑toiletry aerosols like spray paint don’t qualify. The FAA spells out those limits here: PackSafe aerosols.

Perfumes, Nail Products, And Sanitizers

Fragrances, nail products, rubbing alcohol, and hand sanitizers are treated as personal‑use toiletries. In checked bags they count toward the same 2 L total, 0.5 L per‑container ceiling. In carry‑ons they must fit the 3‑1‑1 bag unless you’re buying them in duty free and staying sealed as described below.

Beauty Tools, Batteries, And Gas Cartridges

Hair tools split by power source. Plug‑in curling irons and straighteners are okay in either bag when cool. Cordless tools with gas cartridges or internal lithium batteries are cabin‑only, and they need a fitted safety cover over the heating element. Gas refills and spare cartridges aren’t allowed at all. Spare lithium batteries ride in carry‑on only.

If your toiletry kit includes a rechargeable face brush or trimmer, the same battery rules apply. Keep spare lithium cells in your hand luggage and protect the terminals from short circuits. FAA guidance caps larger spares by watt‑hours and leaves small consumer spares fine for carry‑on.

International Notes: U.S., U.K., And EU At A Glance

Rules outside the U.S. often mirror the same themes but vary by airport. Many airports still apply the 100 ml cabin limit for liquids and aerosols. Some U.K. airports now allow larger volumes when CT scanners are active, while others keep the 100 ml cap. In the EU, the historic 100 ml rule still applies widely, with duty‑free liquids allowed when sealed in tamper‑evident bags.

Smart Packing Steps For Makeup And Toiletries

Lay out everything you plan to bring. Group liquids and gels that need the quart bag; set aside solids and tools.

Decant bulky items into travel bottles labeled 100 ml or less. Tighten caps and add tape if they’re prone to leaking.

Use one clear quart bag for all liquids and gels you need in the cabin. Keep it near the top of your carry‑on.

Fit 100 ml aerosol toiletries with protective caps. Skip dented cans.

Move non‑essentials—family‑size shampoo, giant powders, backups—into checked baggage.

Pad glass fragrance bottles inside soft clothing or a small hard case. In checked bags, wrap them well to handle bumps.

Keep corded tools cool and unplugged before packing. For cordless gas or lithium tools, place the safety cover on and put them in your carry‑on.

If you travel with contact lens solution or other medical liquids in larger amounts, separate them and tell the officer at screening.

On connections, keep duty‑free liquids sealed in the tamper‑evident bag with the receipt visible.

Edge Cases And Quick Fixes

Duty‑free liquids over 100 ml can clear screening when sealed in a tamper‑evident bag with the receipt. In the U.S., these items still must be screened, and TSA advises placing oversized liquids in checked bags when possible. In the EU, sealed duty‑free liquids are accepted at screening points. If security can’t clear the item, it won’t fly in the cabin.

Medically necessary liquids, creams, and aerosols can exceed 3.4 oz in reasonable amounts for the trip. Separate them and tell the officer at the start of screening so they can be tested.

Powders: if a palette or tub is over 12 oz, expect extra screening. If you don’t need it on board, check it to avoid delays.

Spills and leaks: put each liquid in a small zip bag inside the quart bag. In checked baggage, double‑bag or use a hard‑sided kit.

How We Built This Guide

This guide draws directly from rule pages that travelers use every day. For liquids and gels, see the TSA 3‑1‑1 page. For aerosols and other hazmat‑related toiletries, the FAA’s PackSafe aerosols reference sets the limits used across U.S. airlines. Item‑level pages for razors, scissors, powders, hair tools, and medical liquids on tsa.gov add the line‑by‑line details that match real screening.