Can I take sunscreen in my hand luggage? Does my deodorant need to go into a clear plastic bag? When heading off from holiday in the UK, there are a few rules that dictate what liquids you can and cannot take on a plane.
Get ready for speedy boarding with Green People’s ultimate guide to the best travel-size beauty products and hand luggage-friendly sun cream for your holiday skin care routine.
What is the 100ml travel rule?
Are you confused about the UK’s rule on taking toiletries on a plane? You’re not alone.
For the past twenty years, UK airports have primarily adopted the 100ml rule. This stipulates that as long as your liquid beauty products are under 100ml and fit into a single transparent, resealable bag no larger than 20cm x 20cm, you’re all set to jet set!
Most UK airports continue to operate using the 100ml rule, but recently, this restriction was temporarily lifted in some regional airports as part of the UK government’s intended plan to scrap the 100ml liquid rule nationwide.
Unfortunately, things haven’t quite gone to plan, and a nationwide lift of the 100ml rule has been delayed. To make things more complicated, in June 2024, the BBC reported that liquid restrictions were being reintroduced in several airports, including Bristol, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, London City, Aberdeen, Southend, and Teesside[i].
Confusing. For now, the best advice we can give you is to check liquid restrictions with your airport before packing. If in doubt, stick to packing bottles of 100ml or less.
You should also be aware that some beauty items are banned on planes. When we last checked the UK government's guidelines in June 2024, tweezers, razor blades, and nail clippers were allowed in hand luggage, but restrictions were placed on nail scissors. These are permitted in hand luggage, but only if their blades are shorter than 6cm[ii].
Which skin creams need to go into a clear bag at the airport?
Before we get to the important matter of helping you choose travel-friendly toiletries for your holiday skin care routine, there’s something else that we need to clarify, and that is that the 100ml rule applies to all liquid beauty products and toiletries.
That means your sunscreen, skin care products, shampoo and toothpaste must be squeezed into the same sealed bag before you can breeze through airport security.
Mascara, liquid eyeliner, lip gloss and foundation are all considered liquids too and should not exceed 100ml. Lipstick is a grey area, but some airports may consider it a liquid. To be safe and avoid losing your lippie at airport security, pop it in a plastic bag.
Here’s a reminder of the holiday skin care products you can and cannot take in your hand luggage.
|
|
Permitted when under 100ml |
Not Permitted |
|
Sun Cream |
X |
|
|
Moisturiser |
X |
|
|
Mascara |
X |
|
|
Lip Balm and lipstick |
X |
|
|
Deodorant |
X |
|
|
Shampoo and conditioner |
X |
|
|
Body wash and body lotion |
X |
|
|
Scissors with blades larger than 6cm |
|
X |
On a positive note, powders and eyeliner pencils are generally not considered liquids. Nor are waterless toiletries such as our solid shampoo bars. More about them later.
So now that’s cleared up, let’s get you packed! Enjoy fuss-free boarding and shop our skin care travel sets using the quick shop links below, or keep scrolling to discover more travel-friendly toiletries and care products for your next trip.
Best sun cream for hand luggage
One travel skin care essential that we can never pack enough of is sun cream, and our 100ml tube of Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30 is the perfect fit for your hand luggage.
Susan says a travel-friendly tube of Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30 is just the ticket for her sensitive skin:
“It is a great size for hand luggage on a plane for a short break. Excellent sun protection for my dry, sensitive skin.”
Scent Free Sun Cream - SPF30 100ml
Protect sensitive skin on the go with this travel-friendly SPF30 sun cream
€23,95
To help hold onto your holiday tan for longer, pack its perfect partner, Moisturising After Sun with Natural Insect Repellent. Ideal for short trips away, this travel-size after-sun doubles up as an insect repellent, meaning there’s more room in your bag for your other travel toiletries.
Moisturising After Sun with Insect Repellent 100ml
Soothe, hydrate and protect with this organic after sun with insect repellent
€19,95
Best shampoo for hand luggage
Our travel-friendly shampoo bars are perfect for hand luggage. Every 50g bar lasts up to 60 washes and is so rich in conditioning actives that there’s no need to pack a separate conditioner.
Plus, they can even be used as body wash! Better still, these natural shampoo bars are waterless, which won’t count towards your liquid allowance at the security gate. Win-win!
“Very convenient in bar for travel and lightweight packing. Lathers really well. Leaves hair squeaky clean and nourished. Will keep buying its great.” Andrea W
If you hate leaving your liquid hair care routine at home, you’ll be pleased to know that some of our most popular hair care products come in 30ml travel-size tubes.
]
Best skin care for hand luggage
Flights have a terrible tendency to dry your skin, but you don’t need to worry about that! Almost all of our moisturisers and facial sun creams come in travel-friendly, spill-proof 30ml or 50ml pumps. That means that you don’t need to leave your skin care favourites behind wherever you're travelling or worry about them getting lost with your luggage.
We also offer 10ml products of our signature Age Defy+ collection. Essential for giving skin a post-flight perk-up, these skin-firming favourites will boost your natural radiance and provide intense hydration to help hide the tell-tale signs of jet lag.
Best make-up for hand luggage
If you have an early flight to catch or are flying overnight, you’ll want to pack our jet-lag disguising make-up essentials.
Target eye bags with our 10ml Rejuvenating Eye Cream, which uses Tuberose and Betaine to diminish dark circles. Then, use your One Balm to tidy your brows. This multi-purpose travel balm is rich in nourishing plant oils and makes the perfect travel lip balm.
Instead of packing heavy foundations, look to our Age Defy+ Tinted DD Moisturisers. Great for giving a natural day glow and a touch of glamour at night, these travel-size tinted moisturisers contain SPF15 and can also be used as a moisturising facial sun cream.
Best toothpaste and deodorant for hand luggage
Of course you’ll need some travel toiletries too. Our 50ml toothpastes are ideal for travel, and if you need a travel-size deodorant, you can’t go wrong with our 75ml rollerball deodorants.
Do you need help shopping for hand luggage-friendly skin care and toiletries? Our friendly UK customer care team can help and can be contacted at 01403 740350.
Reviewed by:
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals
If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to 'Best hand luggage beauty buys for summer holidays.' Please do not use an affiliate link.
