Can You Bring Makeup on a Plane? Carry-On Rules
You can bring makeup on a plane, but there's a volume limit for liquid products. In carry-on bags, each liquid, gel and cream product container can be no more than 100 ml (3.4 oz), and all of these containers must fit into one clear, resealable 1-liter (quart-size) bag. Powder, stick and solid-format products don't fall under this limit.
The rule goes by the volume printed on the container, not the amount inside. A half-empty 150 ml bottle isn't accepted in carry-on bags. That's why mini-size or compact formats are preferred for travel. For the same reason, travel sets are built from brush and tool groups that contain no liquids, so your bag allowance can be saved for color products.
What Is a Travel Makeup Set?
A travel makeup set is a group of products that comes in its own bag, prepared in a format that fits carry-on dimensions and liquid rules. Both sets in this collection come with a bag: a 10-piece travel-size makeup brush set and a 7-piece mini manicure set. Neither contains liquids, so they don't use up your liquids-bag allowance.
- Format: shortened handles, a zip bag instead of a box
- Volume: brushes and manicure tools aren't subject to the liquid limit
- Count: 10 brushes and 7 nail tools in one bag
- Storage: the bag keeps things from scattering in your suitcase and bristles from getting crushed
Which Products in a Travel Set Can Go in Carry-On Bags?
The brushes in the travel set go in carry-on bags without any problem, because they contain no liquids and have no cutting parts. Metal tools in the manicure set, such as scissors, tweezers and a file, are subject to the airline's rules on sharp objects; putting these in your checked bag is the safest way. The brush bag can be carried in the cabin.
Rules can vary by airline and country. Checking the relevant airline's carry-on page before your flight should be the last step before packing the set. The same rule can be applied differently on domestic and international flights.
How Does the 100 ml Liquid Rule Work?
The 100 ml liquid rule requires every liquid product container in your carry-on to be 100 ml (3.4 oz) or smaller, and all of them to be carried in a single clear 1-liter (quart-size) bag. Each passenger gets one bag, and it's taken out of your carry-on at security and sent through the scanner separately.
Liquid foundation, lip gloss and makeup remover fall into this category. By contrast, powder, compact foundation, stick blush and a nail file count as solids, so they don't need to go in the bag.
Because the bag has limited space, cutting the number of liquid products down to three or four is a practical solution. Swapping the rest for solid formats both frees up space in the bag and speeds up the security check.
What Are Mini-Size Products For?
Mini-size products shrink the volume of their full-size counterparts, so they stay under the 100 ml limit and don't take up space in your suitcase. The 10 brushes in the travel-size brush set have shortened handles and do the same job as a full-size set in a much smaller space. The shorter handle reduces volume without compromising on tip quality.
Short-handled brushes are used held in the hand, not set down on a table. The application angle changes slightly, but the result is the same; the tips of the face, eye and lip brushes are the same size as in full-size sets. For full-size alternatives, see the brush sets page.
How to Store the Brushes in a Travel Set
The brushes in the travel set are stored in their own bag, bristles facing up. When bristles are pressed against other items in a suitcase, they permanently change direction; the zip bag prevents this pressure, keeps the bristles together and preserves the brushes' original shape. The bag also keeps bristles from coming into contact with dust in your suitcase.
Don't put a wet brush in the bag. A washed brush goes into the bag only after it has dried completely lying flat; otherwise moisture stays trapped in the closed space, and the joint between handle and bristles loosens over time.
What to Look for When Choosing a Travel Makeup Set
When choosing a travel makeup set, look at the format first: check that the bag closes securely, that the brush handles are short and whether the set contains liquid products. In a set with liquids, confirm on the packaging that each container is under 100 ml, because the rule goes by the label.
The second criterion is what the set covers. The sets on this page focus on tools and brushes; if you're looking for a color product combination, see the Travel Beauty Set page, and for storage and care accessories, the accessories page.