Can You Carry Deodorants & Cosmetics In Your Hand Luggage On A Flight?

Everyone who travels in an airplane knows that security checks can be extremely hectic sometimes. With rules being added and deleted every day, security checks often end up confusing even the most frequent of flyers. With all the rules by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in place, many people don’t know what they’re allowed to carry on a plane and in what quantity.

To put things in perspective, you’re allowed to carry sandwich but not yogurt. Snow globes smaller than a tennis ball are allowed, but those larger are not. Similarly, there are a lot of rules and restrictions on carrying personal care items like deodorants and cosmetics that many people don’t know of.

We try to give you a clear picture of what personal care products (essential to us) you can carry and what you cannot on your air journey. This is going to make for a hassle free experience the next time you take flight. Take a look:

Solid Deodorants 

According to TSA’s blog, you can bring a solid stick deodorant of any size in your carry bag. In other words, solid deodorants do not qualify as a liquid or gel. However, security checks can often get tricky, especially if you’re boarding an international flight. The rules and regulations of another country might be different, and a bigger sized solid deodorant can get you caught up in the action of things. So we’d suggest that go for a travel size solid deodorant and carry it in your bag to help expedite your screening process.

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Roll-Ons

You might be a huge roll-on fan but sadly there is an explicit restriction on these by the TSA. The simple being that these come in a liquid base and there are strict regulations on liquids that a person can carry on flights. However, that isn’t the end of the story and neither does it mean that you can’t take your favorite perfume with you on flights. The TSA allows 3.4 ounces or 100 mL of liquid based scents in a flight. So head to the nearest daily needs store and get a roll-on that is equal or less than 100 mL. Also remember that because it is a liquid based perfume, you can’t carry it in your handbag. You have to put it separately in a clear bag and take it during security checks to the examiner.

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Spray Deodorants

As huge a cult following that the spray deodorants have, unfortunately, they too suffer the same fate as your roll-ons. The reason is the same. Spray deodorants have an aerosol base, and that puts them in the category of liquid based perfumes which ultimately lead to regulations on it by the TSA. However, just like the roll-ons, it is permissible to carry 3.4 ounces or 100 mL of spray deodorants in the same clear plastic bag as that of your roll-ons.

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Other Personal care Items

Many other personal care items, such as hair gel, mouthwash, toothpaste and even gel-cap pills, fall into the gels and liquids category. This doesn’t mean you are absolutely prohibited from carrying them onto your flight. However, the original package amount must be 3.4 ounces or less for each item, and all of these items must fit together into a zip-top bag. Make sure you bag them ahead of time to spare yourself hassle and annoyance when going through security at the airport.

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Cosmetics

Like deodorants, cosmetics can be confusing when it comes to carry-ons and screening regulations. Believe it or not, many simple, everyday cosmetics count as gels or liquids and must be treated accordingly. This includes mascara, lipstick, lip gloss and liquid foundations.

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The 3-1-1 Rule

To put things in perspective and make affairs a little easier, here is a quick tip. We understand that all these numbers and selective restrictions can get a bit confusing for many people, so always keep in mind the 3-1-1 rule for liquids and gels. Simply put, the "3" denotes the 3 ounces of a special liquid or gel. The first “1” indicates the number of clear plastic bags each person can have and the latter “1” represents that all your liquids should not weigh more than 1 Liter combined. Also, remember not to overstuff your bag as the bag should be able to close.

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