Scenario: after months of hard, boring work, your well-deserved break is getting closer. It’s a relief but you’re going to fly to your holiday destination and the idea of it is already pretty stressful. Plus, do you know how to pack your toiletries for your travel?
Which toiletries can I have in my carry-on? Travels should be a pleasure but packing to take off has got too many rules. Here’s my makeup for travelling 101.
Travelling with makeup on a plane: what’s the problem?
For some people getting on a plane, miles up to the sky, and reaching the airport on time for queues and security checks are nerve-wracking. The start of your holiday would be much easier without this tension but preparing your luggage doesn’t make things any easier. The problem is one and manyfold: liquids on a plane and, specifically, toiletries and cosmetics.
Rules on what you can take on a plan can be quite ‘stingy’; moreover, these restrictions might change depending on the country of destination/departure and airports too! But fear not, the ‘humble, happy nomad‘ has been travelling for a long time and carried with her more than the essentials. From short city break to long escapes, I collected some tips about makeup for travelling no matter how long is your stay.
Hold Luggage vs Hand Luggage: Spot The Difference
This short cosmetic guide on a plane starts with the very basics of flying: your luggage. There’s a crucial distinction when it comes to the type of baggage you’ll choose for your next adventure, and this will dictate what and how much you can bring with you.
The baggage family splits into two branches: hold luggage and hand luggage. Pieces of hold luggage can be bigger in dimension and are those you’ll need to check in. They will be placed safely inside the aircraft. Hand luggage or carry-on is what you’re going to take inside the cabin with you, so it can also be referred to as cabin bag/luggage. To be admitted inside your plane, your hand luggage must be conformed to the size recommended by your airline company. Each company can have its own standards so…
Tip #1: Always check beforehand the correct size and pieces of hand luggage you’re allowed to bring with you on the airline’s website.
Liquids: Can I Take Liquids and Liquid Products Onboard?
Liquids are the cause of everyone’s pre-flight nightmares: can I bring some liquid on my plane? Which liquid? How much? What makeup counts as a liquid on a plane?
In short:
- Yes, you can bring ‘some’ liquids with you.
- Liquids include drinkables, some edibles (semi-solid such as jams, soups and syrups), some toiletries, pastes, gels and sprays.
- Liquid allowance is restricted for all hand luggage.
- Last but not least: your makeup. Yes and no. How makeup is labelled may depend on specific airport or airline policies
Confusing, right?
What makeup for travelling counts as a liquid on a plane in the UK and elsewhere? Are mascara and lip gloss liquid?
One thing is sure: liquids are the issue. Generally speaking, in the UK toiletries and makeup are considered liquid if their texture is liquid (like toners, eye drops and contact lenses solutions), pressurised liquid, creamy, gelly, and spray – including foamy shaving products – or have a similar consistency.
Oils, creams, lotions, perfumes, nail polishes and pastes all count as liquid and are subject to restrictions. What about everyday essentials like mascaras and lip glosses? Both your dear bffs mascara and lip gloss are marked as liquid.
Are lipsticks a liquid?
While liquid lipsticks are surely liquid, classic lipsticks should be solid products, hence not subject to quantity checks. However, for some airports, lipsticks might still fit in your liquid allowance. For example, lipsticks are fine in London airports but Birmingham airport puts lipsticks and Vaseline under the umbrella term of liquid. Gathering information from the official airport and airline websites is essential to avoid getting your product confiscated (and maybe binned under your eyes).
How to pack your makeup and toiletries in your carry-on in the UK and the US?
Considering that many of your makeup and skincare items have a fluid texture and many others are considered liquid, it’s ok to be concerned about what you can bring or what you might need to buy once you arrive at your holiday destination.
In the UK and States airports, every traveller can bring in his/her hand luggage liquid products in 100ml/3.4oz. clear containers for a total of up to 1 litre per person. Your containers can be jars and travel-sized bottles, and the good news is that you can buy jars, mini bottles and travel sets in all department stores and beauty counters all over the globe like Sephora.
Pour your essentials into your jars and bottles, and put these inside a resealable, clear plastic bag measuring 20cm x 20cm. 1 litre feels much better than nothing or 100ml, but keep in mind that you still need to close your bag tightly and everything must fit in safely and comfortably.
You still need to play smart with your liquid allowance.
Note: Don’t ever try to bring half-empty tubes of your favourite treatments through security. The staff will treat these as full products – except for baby food/milk, liquid for medical and dietary purposes – and you can surely say goodbye to your costly goodies. I sincerely saw people crying after the screening checks.
What if you simply need more?
The UK government highly suggest placing as much as you can in your hold luggage. All liquid items exceeding the 100ml limit should go there, saving you time and money. The hold luggage is also the right place for dangerous objects and tools such as scissors and razors.
The TSA, the U.S. Office of Transportation Security Administration, go a bit further by setting the limits of liquid medicals and toiletries per each person’s hold bag: 2 l (68 fluid oz) or 2 kg (70oz). Each container not exceeding 500gr (18oz) or 500ml (17 fluid oz).
Remember: you can bring in the aircraft your duty-free liquid shopping, such as drinks and perfumes, as long as your bag is sealed.
Powder products vs security checks in the UK and the States
Powder products should be relatively safe, and I wish they could! Powder can potentially obstruct X-rays; for this reason, they need to be checked manually. Nobody wants to cause further delays or trigger the fury of your fellow passengers: store your powder products in your hold luggage or, if in your carry-on, place them in advance in a second tray for screening. In the States, there’s also a limit to powder products: 12oz.
The humble happy nomad smart tips to travel-sizes
When it comes to preparing my travel sizes ahead of a flight I would either:
- buy for the occasion or save for later travel sizes of my favourite brands and products I used in the past. So I know my skin would like them. (example: this Nahaia Active Organics mini set has the regular versions of my fave 24ct Pep Me Up cream and 24ct Coconut Cream cleanser);
- recycle bottles and jars from my empties and pour my favourite products into them.
Tip #2: my best advice is to wash, sterilise in hot water and dry your empties. Fill them with your essentials for many travels and other smart usages!
How to pack your beauty products in your hold luggage safely
Your hold luggage will stay safely in the belly of the aircraft but you never know… the journey might be turbulent, the pressure too much or, later, you might find yourself carrying your luggage along European bumpy streets.
Toiletries for travel in your hold baggage still need some extra care. Here are some tips to pack your makeup for a flight and find them safe and sound once you land.
- Place your heaviest products at the bottom of your luggage. The gravity will push them down anyway.
- Invest in padded pouches to store cosmetics that are prone to break and crumble.
- Consider zip locks for containers that might break, lose and spill.
- Recycle bubble wraps and padded envelopes to store makeup palettes and similar items.
- ‘Sandwich‘ delicate items (like the aforementioned palettes) between fluffy clothing and soft towels to increase protection.
10 essential tools and makeup for travelling on a plane
After travelling far and wide since 2017, I concluded that makeup for travelling should be simple, light and smart (read as versatile) to use. Honestly, I’m still tempted to bring many palettes with me but I hardly have any time to play with makeup. In fact, my trips tend to be short or I explore places the whole day.
So here is what I would suggest to you as my best friend:
- multipurpose sticks and pencils for eyes, lips and cheeks
- an SPF lip balm and face sunscreen at all times
- solid body care (haircare if you like it too) with a tin box for proper storage
- a powder face wash (if your skin isn’t too sensitive and dry)
- a 2-in-1 face treatment (such as facial mask and scrub)
- an essential eye quad (with a shade suitable for eyebrows if possible)
- a strategical sparkly mini eye palette to change your look day to night on special occasions (look for Twinkle Pop Pearl Flex Glitter Eye Palette for starry eyes)
- reusable face wipes/clothes
- mini tools such as a glass nail file, travel brushes and tweezers (my personal favourite is the Tweezerman Petite Tweezer Set, made to last to the moon and back)
- a perfume atomiser to bring your signature scent everywhere you go.
You can travel in beauty and confidence with the humble, happy nomad’s tips. Pack light, safe and smart! You’ll have extra space in your luggage for souvenirs and memories of many kinds and tastes!
Valentina Chirico aka Valens
Sources and further reading Travelling in/from the UK Travelling in/from the US
Photo Credits Ph. Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels Ph. Anna Shvets via Pexels Ph. Timur Weber via Pexels Ph. Antoni Shkraba via Pexels Ph. cottonbro via Pexels Ph. Anna Nekrashevich via Pexels Ph. Valada Karpovich via Pexels
