How to Pack Makeup for Air Travel: 10 Awesome Tips

While traveling, packing makeup materials is a tricky job because you want to take a lot of them, but can take only a few. This is even truer in the case of air travel as there are certain rules to follow when traveling by planes as well as the fear of the containers breaking and spilling makeup all over the contents of your luggage. So, knowing how to pack makeup for air travel properly is a must.

When packing your makeup for traveling in planes, you must keep a few things in mind. First, you must abide by the TSA rules. Second, you have to pack your cosmetics smartly following a few steps.

Let’s take a look at how you can smartly pack your makeup for plane travels and what the TSA has to say about it.

TSA Guidelines for Makeup

Before anything, you must know the rules the TSA has in place regarding taking makeup items on the plane.

According to the TSA, for packing makeup in carry-on luggage,  you must follow the 3-1-1 rule. According to this rule, you are allowed to carry liquids, creams, gels, aerosols, and pastes in your carry-on bags as long as they are contained in containers no bigger than 3.4 ounces and are placed in a 1 quart-sized bag.

In the case of powders, you can take them in your carry-on bags. But if they exceed the 12-ounce weight limit, the TSA may subject them to further separate screening.

Packing Makeup for Plane Travel

Now that you know what rules you need to follow while packing makeup for air travel, let’s take a look at some of the steps of packing makeup so that your travel is comfortable.

1. Investing in a makeup bag that is padded

The very first step of carrying makeup on a plane is to get a bag that is suitable for air travel. For this purpose, you will need a bag that will offer protection to your cosmetics and won’t result in them breaking and spilling out. Also, while packing you should surround your makeup bag with soft items such as clothes and keep them in the middle of the luggage.

2. Packing palettes to save space

As opposed to packing single eyeshadow pans, pack pallets. This will save you a lot of space and will provide you with enough material for looks during the day as well as the night.

3. Customizing with magnetic palettes

You should only pack palettes if you are sure that you will use all of them. If you aren’t planning on using every palette, it is better to use a magnetic palette that you will be able to self-customize. This means that you don’t have to carry any color that you are not intending to use.

4. Packing products that are travel-sized in carry-on luggage

There are a couple of advantages to packing your makeup products in your carry-on luggage. The first is that airlines tend to lose and damage your luggage. So, if you pack your cosmetics in checked luggage, there is a chance that you have bid goodbye to them. But if you carry them in your carry-on, you can at least ensure the safety of the makeup items.

Second, at the end of a long flight, you may need to apply for a final touch-up. Packing the makeup in a carry-on will allow you to do just that.

5. Packing multipurpose products

Multipurpose products are great no matter which way you look at them. So packing them will save you a lot of space as well as time. Also, it is smarter to pack products that require no brush.

Apart from saving the space that would be otherwise occupied by the brushes, it will also prolong the life of your brushes, because they tend to get damaged when crammed into a tight space.

6. Pre-planning your looks

If you plan your looks, you can sort out what you need and what items you won’t use at all. After that, you can save a lot of time and space by leaving out the things you don’t plan on using.

7. Using refillable containers

Buying a refillable container is a great way to carry the products you’ve always used. You can then easily put anything from face powders to oils and creams in them and carry them perfectly.

8. Making a DIY travel container

Would you rather use a DIY container for packing the makeup as opposed to buying one? You can easily do that by using a contact lens case. You can put serums, lotions, and all other liquids in them.

You might think that you won’t be able to fill them with enough liquid, but you’d be wrong. Despite looking small, the contact lens cases can contain a surprisingly large amount of liquid. Therefore, you don’t need to worry.

9. Using a cotton pad to protect the powder compacts

Your powder compacts are very much susceptible to damage. So, protect them by putting a cotton pad inside the pack. You can fortify its defenses further by packing the compacts at the top of the makeup bag you are using to carry them.

10. Carrying a makeup refresher spray to preserve your looks

After all the hassle at the airport and the flight itself, it is normal for your makeup to look worn out. That’s when a makeup refresher spray comes in handy. This spray helps to brighten your skin as well as the foundation by hydrating them. It also helps to keep the makeup in place.

Also Read: How to Choose A Disinfectant Wipes for Airplane.


Final Words

Packing makeup items for plane travel can take a lot of time, effort, and planning. You can make your life much easier by knowing how to pack makeup for air travel. Hence, following these steps will ensure a journey filled with glow and free of stress.


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