Does Mascara Count as a Liquid? TSA Rules

In everyday life, deciding if something is a liquid is straightforward.

If it is runny, it is a liquid, if it isn’t runny then it isn’t!

Simple, at least you might think so. However, the definition of what is and what is not a liquid is not so simple when it comes to what is considered a liquid for TSA purposes.

Well, we’ll be going over:

1. What are the specific guidelines for packing liquids, according to the TSA, and how does mascara fit into this category?
2. What are some commonly used items you might not realize are classified as liquids by the TSA?
3. How can you effectively pack your carry-on to comply with these regulations and ensure a smooth experience at airport security?

Navigating airport security can be tricky, but understanding these rules will make your travel experience much smoother.

The Quick Answer: Is mascara considered a liquid when flying? The TSA does consider mascara a liquid when flying, along with many other “non-liquids” such as toothpaste, shaving gel, lip balm and aerosols. This means that if packed in carry on they must go in your liquids bag when passing through airport security.

Wikipedia defines a liquid as: “A liquid is a nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container but retains a (nearly) constant volume independent of pressure.”

The TSA disagrees with this liquid definition, as you will see below.

What does TSA consider a liquid?

The TSA website has a saying referring to things that are considered a liquid, which is:

“The general rule of thumb is that if you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, then it should go into a checked bag“

or it can go in carry on in your liquids bag if small enough.

Of course, water, beer, aftershave, perfume, nail glue, nail polish, nail polish remover, etc., are all liquids for the purposes of passing through airport security, so you have to adhere to the TSA liquids rule.

See a summary of these rules below or read my full article on the 3 1 1 liquids rule.

However, the following items, which most people would not consider to be liquids, are indeed considered a liquid by the powers at be in airport security.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that you cannot take them in your carry on but it does mean they will fall within the liquids rules. So they must be no larger than 3.4oz and be presented at the security check in an approved one-quart size liquids bag.

What is considered a liquid for TSA purposes that really aren’t liquids?

1. Is mascara a liquid TSA rules

Many people ask the question does mascara count as a liquid when flying?

Well as far as the TSA is concerned, mascara is a liquid.

Mascara may not come in a very large container, but it must be included in your liquids bag when going through the airport security checkpoint, as the TSA considers it a liquid. If not, it will probably be confiscated.

The same applies to other make-up items such as nail polish, lip gloss, moisturizers, concealer, foundation and perfume.

This passenger is asking if mascara counts as a liquid, to which the TSA replies.:

Read my article “Can you bring makeup on a plane in hand luggage?” for full details.

2. Toothpaste

Is toothpaste considered a liquid? This is a question frequently asked by passengers. Although toothpaste is generally in the form of a paste or a gel, it is still considered a liquid for airport security purposes.

To take toothpaste into the aircraft with you, to clean your teeth mid-flight, you will need to ensure that it is in a small tube equal to or less than 3.4oz (100ml) in volume.

3. Shaving foam/gel

Shaving form and shaving gel are counted as liquids but can be a problem as most containers are larger than 3.4oz, unless you buy small travel packs.

If they are larger then you either have to leave them at home or put them in your checked bag if you have one.

4. Gel lip balms

This only applies to gel and liquid lip balms but not solid stick-type lip balms.

The security agent may confiscate them if you don’t put them in your liquids bag.

5. Cream or gel eye shadow

The TSA considers both cream and gel eye shadow to be liquids. Therefore, they must be smaller than 3.4 ounces and placed in your quart-sized liquids bag when you pass through the security checkpoint.

However, powder-type eye shadow is not considered a liquid.

The amount of powder allowed in carry on used to be unrestricted, but from June 2018, it is now limited to a total of 12oz per passenger. See TSA article. Mind you, it is pretty unlikely you will want to take more than this amount of eye shadow. You would need to have pretty large eyes if you do!

6. Preserves and jellies

I would certainly not have immediately thought of these as being remotely likely to be considered liquids, but they are, and so are spreads treated as liquids.

If you need to take them with you, they must be in your checked luggage, as they will undoubtedly be in containers larger than 3.4oz, the maximum size allowed in carry-on luggage.

7. Aerosols

Other frequent questions include whether aerosols can be taken on a plane and whether deodorant in an aerosol is considered a liquid when flying.

Well, all aerosols contain liquids, whether they are deodorants, antiperspirants, sun tan lotion and hairspray etc so fall within the liquids rules.

Unless they are smaller than 3.4 ounces they will have to go in your checked bags. If smaller, they must go in your liquids bag to pass through security.

8. Frozen liquids

This is an odd one. You might think that, obviously, a frozen liquid is still a liquid, but strangely, that is not necessarily the case when it comes to airport security.

If you wish to take something on the aircraft that needs to be kept cold or chilled, you will want to pack it with ice or an ice pack. Provided none of it has melted, you can take this through airport security.

If it is completely frozen, it will be allowed, but if any of it has melted so that there is some water in liquid form, it will not.

9. Glow sticks

I cannot imagine why anyone would want to take glow sticks with them on a trip by air, but they are treated as liquids.

Although the liquid within them will be less than 3.4 ounces, they must still be in your liquids bag when passing through the airport security checkpoint.

What you can do to get around the rules

Now, I obviously don’t mean that you should try to trick airport security and get things through that are not allowed or anything like that. The security rules must be complied with in full for everyone’s safety.

What I mean is that there are alternative ways to ensure you have these items at your destination, apart from placing them in checked bags.

These are a few suggestions:

Travel bottles

You can buy TSA-approved liquid bottles into which you can decant shampoos and other liquids to use while you are away.

Check out these on Amazon – Travel bottle set including an approved quart sized bag and a folding toothbrush.

Buy travel size

Many drug stores sell toiletry items in travel-size packs (3.4oz or less).

These can be carried with you through airport security provided they are in your quart-sized liquids bag.

Buy in the stores air-side

In most airports, there is usually a selection of stores after you pass through airport security (well, they never miss a trick to part you with your money). You can buy standard-sized toiletries and other liquids in these stores, and you can take these on board as you have bought them after security.

One word of warning. If you have a connecting flight after this one, you may be required to pass through airport security, too, particularly if you have to change terminals. If so, you could not take these through that security checkpoint.

Buy at your destination

Unless you travel to the back end of beyond, you will probably find it easy to buy the toiletries you require (or local equivalents) when you arrive so that you can use them during your stay. Doing this also saves you weight and space in your carry-on bags.

3-1-1 Liquids Rule

This saying is supposed to help you remember the liquid rules, but it is a bit lame, in my opinion.

• The 3 refers to the fact that individual liquids cannot be greater than 3.4ozs (not actually 3 which is a bit misleading)
• The first 1 refers to all carry-on liquids being contained within a 1 quart resealable clear bag. You can buy an approved liquids bag on Amazon cheaply – TSA 3-1-1 Approved Clear Airline Carry On Bag .
• The second 1 refers to the fact that only one liquids bag is allowed per passenger.

The TSA regulations and those of other governments state that any liquid you may have in your carry-on luggage cannot be larger than 3.4oz (100ml). Remember, this refers to the size of the container, not the amount of liquid in it. So, in other words, you cannot take a 6oz container that is half full in your carry-on luggage.

FAQs

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