You take great care of your skin, and you want to know if your skincare regimen can come with you as you fly to your next big adventure.
Yes, you can bring body lotion on a plane. Body lotions are considered a liquid by TSA. Follow TSA’s guidelines for liquids and don’t bring more than 3.4 ounces or 100 ml of it with you in your carry-on.
If you do need to bring more than 3.4 ounces in your carry-on, keep reading. We have a solution for that.
If you need to buy more, check out this one or this one on Amazon.
How to pack body lotion in your carry-on
No matter how much you want to bring with you, it’s best to pack your body lotion in individual 3.4 ounce or 100 ml or smaller containers. Then place those with your other toiletries, including your other skincare products in a quart-sized ziploc bag to make screening quick and easy.
TIP – I always pack my toiletries and other liquids in these gallon-sized ziplocks and TSA hasn’t ever said anything about it. Including times they have looked through it by hand.
When you go through airport security, you may need to remove your liquids for a separate screening. That’s one of the reasons it is helpful to have them all in a clear bag. It makes it easy to grab and easy for the TSA agents to see what you have so you don’t have to unpack everything.
Tips for packing liquids, glass bottles or fragile containers when you fly
- Make sure your bottles are completely closed.
- Put each one inside a zip-lock bag.
- If it’s going in checked bags, avoid placing it near the edges of the bag. Place it towards the middle and surround it with clothes or other soft items.
- If it’s going in your carry-on or handbag, pack it with your other toiletries in the transparent, quart-sized zip-lock bag. Again, surround it with soft items and keep it packed in the middle of your hand luggage.
Read Also: Can I Bring Creatine On A Plane?
How many 3.4 oz containers can you bring on a plane?
You can bring between six and eight 3.4 ounce individual containers of liquids, aerosols or gels on a plane, so long as they fit in a 1-quart clear zip bag. Six to eight containers are approximately how many you can fit into one clear quart-size bag.
These are the gallon-sized ziplocks I use instead of the quart-sized ones.
Can I bring body lotion in checked baggage?
Yes, you can bring your body lotion in unlimited quantities in checked baggage. Just make sure to pack it securely.
Keep in mind that each airline has weight restrictions for luggage. Liquids are quite heavy, so the weight of your luggage can add up quickly.
How to pack body lotion in checked baggage
When packing body lotion in checked baggage, make sure it’s closed tightly and secured to prevent spills in transit. Place it inside a plastic bag for extra protection against leaks.
Consider placing it towards the center of your bag with clothes or other items packed securely around it to prevent it from breaking if and when your checked luggage gets dropped or thrown around.
Weigh your luggage before going to the airport as well to ensure it’s within the weight limit of your specific airline or you may have additional fees to pay when you go to check-in.
How much body lotion can you take on a plane in checked baggage?
You can take as much body lotion in your checked luggage as you would like, within reason. There is no limit set by the TSA on the quantity you bring in your checked bags. So long as you can pack it safely, you can bring it.
But you should double-check with your airline on the weight restrictions of your checked bags and don’t exceed those restrictions.
TIP – As you pack, consider creating more space in your bags by shipping it to your destination, buying it there, or ordering some online and shipping it to your final destination.
Here are two great options you could order online and ship to wherever you are traveling.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Can I use body lotion every day when traveling?
Yes, it can be used daily as you travel depending on how your skin responds. Pay attention to how your skin responds while you travel. If you notice significant stinging, redness, breakouts, consider reducing or changing how you are using your skincare products.
If it is a new body lotion you may want to alter how frequently you are using it, what products you are using or how you are using them.
Just pay close attention to your skin as you use it on your trip or vacation. If you feel it is not helping your skin discontinue using it or reduce how often you are using it.
When traveling it can be a good idea to use products you are familiar with so you have a baseline and will know if something is off with your body if something happens to it while you are away from your familiar daily routine.
What does body lotion do for the skin?
Keeping your skin moisturized helps to protect its barrier from irritation. Moreover, it prevents or minimizes the development of dryness, as well as helps revive the skin when it is dry. Moisturizing your skin creates a barrier between it and the environment, including cold, dry air which could further irritate it.
What is the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule for liquids?
The 3-1-1 liquids rule is a rule implemented by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that regulates how much liquid you can bring on a plane. It states you can bring up to 3.4 ounces or 100 ml of liquid on a plane. All of your liquids must be in separate containers of 3.4 ounces or less. And they must fit in one clear quart-size bag. 3.4 ounces, 100 ml, one quart-size bag. Hence, 3-1-1.
The 3-1-1 liquids rule can be misleading because not all the items that follow this rule are technically liquids. It also applies to gels, aerosols, creams, and anything in between. Here’s what @AskTSA has to say about the rule.
They say you won’t be able to bring more liquid than whatever will fit in the one quart-size bag, but I always pack in a gallon-size bag and don’t ever have an issue getting through TSA security.
TSA Liquid Rule Exceptions
For some liquids, the TSA makes exceptions to the 3-1-1 rule. You can bring more than 100 ml of the following liquids.
- Baby formula
- Breast milk
- Juice or water for babies
- Medically necessary liquids, prescription liquids, and gels
To make screening smooth, let the TSA agent know how much of these liquids you have with you. And if a liquid came with a label, it is best to keep that original label with you as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t you take more than 100ml of body lotion on a plane?
The 3-1-1 liquids rule was implemented in response to a 2006 liquid bomb plot. It was thwarted by British police two weeks before the intended attack.
For airlines, it’s difficult to discern if every type of liquid is a threat to passengers as they come through security checkpoints. Limiting liquids is a security measure to not only make passengers safer as they fly but to make security screening easier as well.
How strict is the TSA on liquids?
The TSA is incredibly strict on liquids. They are committed to ensuring all passengers are safe and there are no liquid explosives in carry-ons. Don’t try and get around the 3-1-1 liquids rule. It will just create more trouble for you as you’ll have to throw out any containers larger than 3.4 ounces. To make screening quick and easy, put your liquids in a separate bin as well.
We have all been there standing in the security line with some item, for me it always seems to be a drink, and you realize you need to drink it fast or throw it away before you get to the TSA agents.
It isn’t fun, but you need to comply. It’s not worth the hassle and time to try to sneak it through.
Here is the TSA’s page on liquids.
Does body lotion make skin glow?
In addition to reflecting light, moisturized skin appears more radiant. Exfoliating skin or being in the sun for large periods each day makes it more susceptible to sun damage, such as dark spots, so wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+ or day cream with an SPF factor.
Related: Can I Bring Creams or Lotions On A Plane?
Is body lotion really necessary?
Yes, the moisture barrier of your skin should be maintained with a daily body lotion to prevent damage. This is especially important when traveling.
Why is it important to use a body lotion when traveling?
When you are traveling it is important to use a body lotion because your body will be under a lot of stress. Additionally, the humidity on planes are typically below 20%, which can cause skin dryness or irritation.
Consider using a night formula or extra-hydrating body lotion before your flight and take a break from skin products that tend to dry out your skin or skin exfoliants, such as retinol or others.
Recap and My Recommendations: Can you bring body lotion on a plane?
Body lotion is permitted on planes. The TSA considers body lotions, or products containing them, to be a liquid. Make sure you follow the airline’s liquid guidelines and bring the amount you need in containers that are no larger than 3.4 oz in your carry-on.
You can bring multiple 3.4-ounce bottles so long as they all fit in one clear plastic Ziploc bag. They say to use quart-sized ones. I have always flown with the gallon-sized ones and never had an issue.
And in your checked bags you can bring as much of it as you can safely transport.
Also, as you pack, consider creating more space in your bags by shipping it to your destination, buying it there, or ordering some online and shipping it to your final destination.
Thanks for reading! Check out more ‘can I bring’ articles below to help you pack for your trip. Have fun!
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