Take it from a girl who took more than 100 flights last year – there’s no perfect solution to navigating TSA’s liquid requirements (also known as the 3-1-1 rule). Let’s break down what the rule is and how you can avoid getting your products (for my direct sales girls), snacks, and personal care items tossed in the trash as you clear security.
SUITCASE // PACKING CUBES // SHOE BAGS
WHAT’S THE RULE?
Per the TSA website as of publication of this piece in April 2018:
Each passenger may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols.
What does that mean for you?
Anything that exceeds these limits and can be classified as a liquid, gel, or aerosol could prevent you from taking your bags through the security checkpoint. You’ll be given the option of going back to the baggage counter to check your bag or throwing away those items if you’re stopped going through security with more than the rule allows. When it’s a bottle of water or an oversized tube of toothpaste, tossing it is no big deal. When it’s hundreds of dollars of product or a new bottle of perfume and you’re already running late for your flight, it can put a huge damper on your trip.
Please reference the TSA website for the most up-to-date rules and regulations on what you can and cannot bring as a carry-on.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT’S ALL AT TSA’S DISCRETION
You will likely hear from dozens of people that “I got XYZ through security without an issue!”. That may very well be true, and that doesn’t mean you will have the same luck.
Why? It’s at the discretion of every TSA officer to decide what does and doesn’t violate the rules. I travel with my meals a lot and have seen this first-hand. Some weeks, I sail through security with my greek yogurt, frozen to switch them from a liquid to a solid. Other weeks, TSA asks to throw them out because the yogurt’s original form isn’t solid – it’s liquid.
The same goes for your hair spray, lotions, cosmetics, and more. Some agents may stop you and state that they are all liquids and have to be in a clear, quart-size bag while others will let you continue through.
BEFORE YOU GO, SHIFT YOUR PRODUCTS
The easiest/best piece of advice I can provide is to check anything that exceeds the rule. Your checked baggage comes with guarantees for its safe arrival and you limit the chance you get caught at security. (We’ll cover the risks of checked luggage at the bottom of this post.)
SAVE SPACE FOR YOUR PERSONAL ITEMS
I personally defer to carrying the products I need for myself in my carry-on, and my items for sale in my checked luggage. Even if your bag is slightly delayed, not having your samples on you for a day or two isn’t the end of the world. What can be really frustrating? Arriving at your destination without toothpaste, or needing that can of hair spray because the humidity on your beach vacation is out of control.
ENSURE YOUR CARRY-ON MEETS THE TSA 3-1-1 RULE
It’s easy to forget that lip gloss at the bottom of your purse – but it could get you stopped. Think through what might violate the rule and pull them out before you get to the airport. Grab all those samples from your display bag and slide them into a clear baggie before security (you can always move them back to the display pocket once you’re through security!).
And keep that clear bag accessible! No one wants to be the one holding up the security line as they dig through to find their liquids.
HAVE A BACKUP PLAN
Not planning to check a bag? Carrying only a few liquids and you’ve forgot your clear, quart size bag? Just want to risk it and try to carry everything in your carry-on? Make sure you’ve figured out what you’ll do if you’re stopped by TSA. Carry a bag that’s big enough to check if you had to, like a small suitcase (pull out your wallet, keys, phone, etc. first!) or sturdy tote. Or, only bring items you’re okay with tossing. After I had a few gel ice packs thrown out from my meal prep bag for being partially defrosted, I started traveling with cheaper ice packs. When they get tossed, I’m not as concerned about the money I’ve lost versus the more expensive ones I carried before.
Remember that a lot of airlines charge for checked baggage. Ensure you’re prepared for those fees just in case, or fly an airline like Southwest where your first 2 bags fly free.
WON’T THINGS EXPLODE IN MY CHECKED BAGS?
The cargo holds of a commercial airplane are pressurized – the entire plane is! Just think about what else gets transported in the cargo hold. Pets. Food. Your mail (how do you think those products made it from the manufacturer to you?).
There’s usually no greater risk to your cosmetics and beauty products in your checked luggage than in your carry on, so long as you’ve adequately packed them. Invest in a few small cases that will protect them from being squished between your heels and hair dryers, or place them inside a quality cosmetic bag (like our Lippie Wristlet!). Tuck them between your clothes and you’re all set.
I like to stay super organized by traveling with all of my clothes in packing cubes like THESE and tuck my cosmetic bag between them. It makes everything so much easier to unpack when I arrive at my destination!
BUT WHAT IF THEY’RE STOLEN?
Okay, so there’s a slight risk here, and you should definitely be cautious about how much you’re carrying with you to minimize your risk. There are lots of other places they could get stolen while traveling, too – from your hotel room, your entire bag could be taken while traveling – the risk is always there! If you do have items stolen from your bag, this article HERE provides some great advice on what to do next. Frequent flyer tip: Take a photo of your luggage right before you zip it up so you can both prove what was in it and tell if it was rifled through. Remember, if you put locks on your bags, TSA can cut them off to inspect what’s inside.
Have other packing tips for cosmetics and other beauty products? Share them in the comments!