Many a skin-care-loving, jet-setting traveler has their TSA 3-1-1 game locked down and prepared to face the hectic holiday travel season. Each of their 3.4-ounce liquid, gel and aerosol skin care products is carefully packed in a clear 1-quart zip-top bag and ready for their carry-on bag.
However, with newer skin care products on the market like balms, jellies and sticks, it can be confusing to tell whether or not these products fall under the TSA 3-1-1 liquid rule for checked luggage. Your favorite cleansing balm can hold its shape, so would that mean it’s considered a solid? But cleansing balms can also be spread, so would it be considered a liquid?
And what about other items like sheet masks or powdered forms of skin care? If you have to wait hours to board your delayed flight, can you at least create a little slice of tranquility among the holiday travel chaos with a sheet mask? Or are some of these products at risk of being thrown into the trash at security?
To find out which products are allowed in your carry-on luggage and which you should pack in your checked luggage for holiday travels, HuffPost spoke to Eri Jenkins, a 17-year veteran of the Transportation Security Administration and Uniformed Advisor for TSA Security Operations.
The 411 on TSA’s 3-1-1
If you plan on packing your skin care lotions and potions in your carry-on luggage for your holiday flights, ensure they meet the TSA 3-1-1 rule, with each product packed in a travel-sized container of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less. Your products should then fit inside a single 1-quart bag.
While the rules around the carry-on status of your favorite liquid serums and gel night creams are relatively straightforward, some other products might leave travelers scratching their heads as to whether or not the 3-1-1 rule applies.
Cleansing Balms and Jellies
As a good rule of thumb, Jenkins recommends that if you can spread, rub or spray the skin care item, it should adhere to the TSA 3-1-1 rule if you want to pack it into your carry-on luggage.
So if you plan on wowing your family and friends with your favorite cleansing balm at the next big holiday gathering, ensure the container is either under 3.4 ounces or pack it in your checked luggage.
Powdered Skin Care
Powdered forms of skin care are another relatively new addition to the market. Skin care fanatics can find everything from cleansers to serums to even sunscreens in powdered form.
If you like your skin care like you like your donuts (powdered), you’re in luck! The TSA allows travelers to bring up to 12 ounces of powder-like substances in their carry-on luggage. Anything larger might require extra screening.
Jenkins notes that powdered forms of skin care should remain in their pre-mixed, powdered form to comply with the 12-ounce limit for powder-like substances.
Sheet Masks
In case you need a little extra pampering in the boarding area while your flight has been delayed for the third time, according to Jenkins, individually packaged sheet masks are (fortunately) allowed in carry-on luggage.
Baby and makeup wipes also receive the OK from TSA for your carry-on luggage.
Don’t Make These Carry-On Skin Care Mistakes
Opened or unopened, ALL containers must be 3.4 ounces or less.
If you frequently travel through international airports, you may have seen a fellow traveler waltz through security with full-sized skin care products purchased from duty-free.
While these sealed and unopened liquids (skin care and otherwise) from duty-free are allowed through TSA checkpoints under special conditions, don’t assume you can bring your full-sized products from home through the security checkpoint simply because they are unopened.
“The biggest misconception I see with passengers coming through the checkpoint is that an item can be any size as long as it’s not opened, and that’s not true,” Jenkins said. “So even if you have a 12-ounce bottle of lotion that’s still closed and has the manufacturer seal on it, it still will not be able to come through your carry-on bag.”
The TSA goes by container size, not the amount in the container.
Jenkins says another mistake she sees is passengers using a container that is larger than 3.4 ounces to store their skin care products, even when the contents are less than 3.4 ounces. If you pack your skin care in a larger container, you might run the risk of the item not making it past the TSA security checkpoint.
“We go by container size,” Jenkins said.
Even if you only have one ounce of the viral (and very pricey) SK-II essence left in the 11-ounce packaging you snagged from Costco, play it safe and either pack it in your checked luggage or leave it at home for you to enjoy when you return after the holidays.
Give yourself plenty of extra time at the airport.
In the recent past, it was the norm to arrive at the airport two hours before your flight’s departure. But nowadays, you may need to arrive even earlier— particularly during the busy holiday travel season.
Carter Langston, the press secretary for the TSA, cautions that travelers may need to plan to get to the airport even earlier, particularly if they need to return rental vehicles or check baggage during airport “rush hours.”
“Rush hours tend to be early in the morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. and in the afternoon between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.,” Langston said.
While arriving early to the airport will allow you to rest a little easier during your holiday travels, Jenkins says budging this extra time will also make the security checkpoint process easier for yourself and TSA officers.
“Travelers should also remember that anytime that they’re coming through the checkpoint, anything that will be in your accessible property could be subjected to additional screening,” Jenkins said.
Just in case a TSA officer needs to make an additional screening at the security checkpoint, Jenkins recommends making everything easier for both yourself and the officer by removing your 1-quart bag of products from your carry-on luggage before sending it through the X-ray machine.
“If [the skin care product] does have to go through additional screening, by it being outside of the bag, it’s easier for the officer to locate it,” Jenkins said.
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Looking for solid skin care items that are great for travel? Check these out.
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A protective and microbiome-boosting stick
Made by the same skin care brand that brought us the internet-famous Mighty Patch hydrocolloid acne patches, this restorative gel serum is meant to boost the skin’s natural microbiome, a diverse ecosystem of microbiomes that functions as a barrier to ward off potential disruptors. The soothing and dewy formula hydrates parched skin and contains antioxidants to protect skin from environmental stressor that can cause premature aging.
Amazon
A collagen-infused multi balm from Korea
This all-in-one multi balm by Korean-founded brand Kahi can be used all over the face, on the neck, under the eyes and even on the lips. The plumping and dewy formula has a natural fermented jeju oil base that’s meant to deeply nourish skin and uniquely contains salmon-derived collagen to target things like volume loss. Other salmon-derived ingredients, which are more common in innovative Korean beauty products, strengthen skin and restore hydration.
Ulta
A firming retinol stick
Most dermatologists would argue that retinol is an essential ingredient in most skin care regimens because of its proven ability to promote collagen production. This RoC firming serum stick features the brand’s advanced retinol to help plump skin, smooth lines and potentially improve elasticity. The fast absorbing serum, which can be applied to the face, neck and chest, also contains skin-protecting antioxidants.
Sephora
A plumping stick with a retinol alternative
If retinoids typically cause you irritation or you’re unable to use preparations containing them, this dewy barrier hydrating stick by NudeStix contains a plant-based retinol alternative called bakuchiol, which can offer similar anti-aging benefits without the sensitivity. The cooling balm also features vitamin C to brighten uneven skin tone and squalane to address moisture loss.
Clinique
A targeted retinoid balm
Another retinoid option is this new balm from Clinique’s Smart Clinical Repair line, which uses 1% of this active ingredient to reduce the appearance of fine lines through the promotion of cellular turnover and hydrate using hyaluronic acid, a humectant that draws moisture into the skin. The stick form makes it easy to offer a targeted application in areas like around the eyes and in between the brows.
Sephora
A target dry spot treatment balm
Nourishing squalane, Japanese lemon balm and a proprietary fermentation complex are packed into this concentrated serum stick by Tatcha that’s convenient to apply. It’s intended to instantly hydrate skin, address dryness-related fine lines and create a dewy cushion for makeup.
Amazon
A smoothing solid for hyperpigmentation and texture
This cream-based stick uses a combination of niacinamide and vitamin C to help fade dark spots, decrease hyperpigmentation and brighten skin tone. The formula also features the plant-based retinol alternative bakuchiol, for promoting plumping skin and reducing fine lines, without over-sensitizing the skin like traditional retinol formulations have the potential to do.
Sephora
A tinted skin care stick
Combine the benefits of a skin serum with the skin-perfecting capability of a skin tint with the Beauty Balm by Anastasia Beverly Hills. Available in 16 natural-finish shades that offer sheer-to-light coverage, this stick contains nourishing fatty acids and a peptide complex intended to visibly plump and hydrate skin.
Amazon
A well-known enriched skin protectant in balm form
Aquaphor’s cult-favorite skin protectant is a common choice for people that “slug” their skin — a nighttime skin care technique that’s meant to trap in moisture — or want to heal chafed skin. Instead of dipping your fingers in a tub of goopy ointment, you can just apply it using this Aquaphor balm stick which is formulated with more than just petroleum. It also combines shea butter, a deeply hydrating emollient, and nourishing avocado oil.
Ethique
A nourishing face solid with butters
The Saving Face serum bar from Ethique is a perfect product to apply as the last layer of your skin care routine, much like you would a moisturizer. The nourish-minded and creamy formula is packed with shea, kokum and cupuacu butters as well as beloved oils like rosehip.
Dermstore
An antioxidant serum sunscreen
Most people are already familiar with the cult-favorite Unseen Sunscreen by Supergoop, a comfortable and undetectable SPF that that layers seamlessly under makeup and has a velvety finish that helps reduce excess oil and shine.The same screen comes in this convenient stick form that makes it easy to reapply throughout the day. And although not entirely categorized as a serum, it does contain skin-loving ingredients like marina blue extract for antioxidant protection and meadowfoam to increase hydration.
Amazon
A cooling a de-puffing eye balm with niacinamide
This hydrating eye stick is a hidden gem of sorts and has become a secret Amazon favorite product for de-puffing, toning and smoothing the delicate under eye while brightening dull skin tone thanks to the inclusion of antioxidant-rich niacinamide. The instantly cooling balm also contains seaweed extract and mineral water straight from Iceland.
Sephora
A nourishing moisturizer stone with tamanu oil
Though not technically a serum like the majority of options on this list, Kate McLeod’s luxurious solid facial moisturizer melts into an intensely nourishing oil that’s packed with fatty acids, vitamin E and a calming blue tansy and tamanu oil blend that comforts stressed out skin. The reusable stone is also enriched with other alimentary plant-based oils from meadowfoam to rosehip to plum kernel.