You take great care of your skin, and you want to know if your skincare regimen or hand lotion can come with you as you fly to your next big adventure.
Yes, you can bring hand lotion on a plane. It is considered a liquid by TSA. Follow TSA’s 3-1-1 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, both are phenomenal! They have worked wonders in the driest winters in Minnesota, Utah, and traveling all over the world!
How to pack hand lotions in your carry-on
No matter how much you want to bring with you, it’s best to pack your hand 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 hand lotion in checked baggage?
Yes, you can bring your hand 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 hand lotions in checked baggage
When packing hand 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 hand lotion can you take on a plane in checked baggage?
You can take as much hand 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 some 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.
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 hand lotions every day when traveling?
Yes, gentle and nourishing hand lotions can be used daily as you travel. It can actually be quite good for your skin as your body will be under a lot of stress. Additionally, the humidity on planes is typically below 20%, which can cause skin dryness or irritation.
If you are trying a new product, you may want to alter how frequently you are using it if it starts to irritate your hands at all.
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. If you notice significant stinging, redness, breakouts, consider reducing or changing how you are using your skincare products, including your hand lotions.
When traveling it is 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 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, 1 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 these gallon-size bags 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 hand 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, and new regulations went in at the airports.
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.
Are hand lotions considered a liquid when flying?
Yes, the TSA considers liquids to be free-flowing or viscous substances, which include liquids, aerosols, pastes, creams, lotions, and gels. This includes body lotions cleansing facial creams, lip glosses, mascara, etc.
This is a great hand lotion! I use it when nothing else seems to work.
Can I carry hand lotion in my purse on a plane?
If you place liquids, lotions, or toothpaste in containers containing 3.4 fluid ounces or less, the TSA will allow you to bring them onto the plane with no problem. So long as you have a container that size or smaller, you can bring hand lotion in your purse.
Can I bring an 8oz bottle of lotion, liquid, or gel on a plane?
You could bring 8 oz divided into three separate 3.4 oz containers. So long as they all fit into one quart-sized clear plastic bag, TSA will allow you to bring them on the plane with you.
You can’t bring that much lotion, liquid or gel in one container. Liquids, gels, and lotions must be in containers that are 3.4 ounces (or 100ml) or less.
Related: Can I Bring Creams or Lotions On A Plane?
Is it important to use hand lotion when traveling?
When you are traveling it can be important to use a good hand lotion or cream because your body will be under a lot of stress. Additionally, the humidity on planes is typically below 20%, which can cause skin dryness or irritation.
Consider using a night formula or extra-hydrating hand lotion before your flight. This is a fantastic one that has worked wonders for my wife and my mother.
Recap and My Recommendations: Can you bring hand lotion on a plane?
Hand creams and lotions are permitted on planes. The TSA considers 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 these 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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