Cosmetics and aerosols in carry-on baggage - 2026 rules
Perfume, cream, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, hairspray and nail polish on planes: what counts as a liquid and which airport limit applies.
Why you can use this page to make a decision
This page combines a direct answer with airport, airline and primary-source rules. Safety answers are not influenced by partner content or advertising.
Solid or liquid cosmetic
Solid cosmetics normally do not use the liquid allowance. Creams, gels, pastes and liquid-like cosmetics are screened as liquids.
Aerosols have two layers of rules
An aerosol can be subject to both airport liquid limits and aviation-safety limits. Defensive sprays such as pepper spray are a separate category and should not be treated as cosmetics.
Check the departure airport
An airport with a 2-litre liquid limit may allow a larger container, while another airport or a transfer checkpoint may still enforce 100 ml.
Check in PreflightMate
Always check the official airport or airline source before travel. Rules can change and may be more restrictive.
What can I bring on a plane?
Cosmetics - classify first
Perfume, cream, toothpaste, gel and aerosol products normally fall under liquid or aerosol rules.
- The container size matters, not how much product remains inside.
- At classic-rule airports, the usual limit is 100 ml per container in a 1 L bag.
- Some CT-screening airports allow more - check the exact airport instead of applying one rule to the whole trip.
Who prepares the answers
Content is prepared by the PreflightMate Research Desk from structured data and official sources. We do not present ourselves as an aviation authority or airline.
Automation helps format, compare and translate data. A rule marked verified must be linked to an official source; conflicts and exceptions remain visible.
A specific airport, airline, route, destination-country rule or a security officer may apply a more restrictive requirement.
What counts as a liquid at security?
Official source
European Commission - Aviation Security ↗
EASA - Dangerous goods when flying ↗
ICAO - Power bank restrictions 2026 ↗