Chapstick (lip balm), lip gloss, and lipsticks serve different purposes, but they’re all essential travel companions, so can you take chapstick, lipstick and lip gloss on a plane? and is lip balm considered a liquid when flying?
Here is the simple answer:
You can bring solid chapstick (lip balm), lip gloss, and lipsticks on a plane in both carry-on and checked luggage without any issues, while liquid lip gloss is permitted in carry-on with no more than 3.4 oz / 100 ml for a single container.
In this post, I will answer all your questions about taking chapsticks, lipsticks, and lip gloss on planes, and how to pack them properly prior to your flight.
Let’s dive right in.
TL;DR
You can bring Chapstick, lipstick, and lip gloss on a plane.
Solid items like Chapstick and lipstick have no restrictions in carry-on or checked luggage.
Liquid or gel lip gloss need to follow the 3.4 oz / 100 ml rule in carry-on luggage and fit in a quart-sized bag but is unrestricted in checked luggage.
Travel sized products from popular brands like ChapStick, Burt’s Bees, EOS, Maybelline, NYX, and Fenty are all allowed on planes.
Keep solids handy in your purse for dry lips during the flight, and make sure that you organize your liquids to speed through security.
According to the TSA, you are good to bring your chapsticks through the security checkpoint and in carry-on luggage without any restrictions.
The TSA liquid rule does not apply for Chapsticks, as they are considered solid items.
Here is what the TSA has to say about Chapsticks on its website:
The TSA will only count as liquid any item that can be poured, pumped, squeezed, spread, smeared, sprayed, or spilled.
Chapsticks can be confusing as they are not 100% solid and most of them contain beeswax, but the TSA does allow them without any limits, which is great.
This is what the AskTSA team confirmed to Caitlin in this screenshot from X.
So you can bring any amount of Chapsticks inside your carry-on bag without even placing them in a quart-sized bag. You can easily throw them inside your purse and you are good to go.
Chapsticks is a form of Lip Balm and if you want to know more about the difference between lip balm, lipstick and lip-gloss, you can check this well detailed post by Jen, but if you already know the differences, you can proceed to the rules below.
Can You Take Lipstick In Carry-on Luggage?
Lipsticks have the same rules as Chapsticks. Whether it is Carmex or any other brand, they are not considered liquids, so you can bring them without any restrictions.
Also Sarah asked the TSA team if her ColourPop lip tint can stay inside her makeup bag, or if it has to go in the liquids bag in her carry-on.
The TSA customer service replied that solid lipstick is allowed in carry-on bags, and it isn’t required to be placed in a single quart-sized liquids bag as it is not counted as a liquid.
Items
Carry-on Luggage
Checked Luggage
Chapstick (lip balm)
No limits
No limits
Lipstick
No limits
No limits
Lip Gloss
No more than 3.4 oz / 100 ml
No limits
Can You Take Lip Gloss In Carry-on Luggage?
The TSA didn’t mention igloos on her website.
But obviously Lip gloss is considered a gel, so the same the liquids rules apply: no more than 3.4 oz / 100 ml, and packed inside a quart-sized bag with other toiletries.
The good news is you can take as many as you fit inside your quart-sized bag.
This is an exchange between Linda and the TSA customer service on X.
Linda asked the TSA if solid lipstick is allowed in carry-on, and if lip gloss should go into the 3-1-1 liquid bag.
The TSA customer service replied that solid lipstick is good to go in carry-on luggage without any restrictions, but if it is liquid like lip gloss, it must be in containers that are 3.4 ounces / 100 ml or less.
Can You Take Chapstick, Lipstick And Lip Gloss In Checked Luggage?
ChapStick Classic Original Lip Balm Tubes, 0.15 Oz
All the items mentioned above lip gloss, lipsticks, and Chapsticks are allowed in checked luggage without any restrictions.
However, it is generally unnecessary to put Chapstick, lipstick, or lip gloss in checked luggage, as they are small and easy to carry in your carry-on bag, unless you want to bring large quantities.
So overall, you are good to bring any type of lip gloss or lip balm in checked luggage.
How To Pack Chapstick, Lipstick and Lip Gloss For Your Next Flight?
Traveling with makeup in general is easy and smooth.
Now that you know what is classified as liquid and what is not according to airport security and the TSA, it is better to be prepared, especially for the security checkpoint, to speed up your screening process.
You can use a toiletry bag (quart-sized bag) to gather all items that are considered liquids, like lip gloss or mascara.
On the other hand, you can just throw solid items in your purse, or you can use a separate makeup bag.
I would not recommend placing expensive makeup items in your checked luggage not just because they could be damaged or lost, but also in case you want to apply Chapstick for your dry lips.
Best Lip Balms (Chapstick)
There are many great types of lip balm to travel with. Here are some popular brands of lip balm most of them are travel size.
Chapstick
Nivea
Burt’s Bees
Blistex
O’Keeffe’s
Aquaphor
Honest
EOS
Final Thoughts
Yes, you can take Chapstick, lipstick, and lip gloss on a plane in both carry-on and checked luggage.
Chapstick and lipsticks do not have any restrictions on carry-on luggage, while lip gloss is a liquid, so it must be in your quart-sized bag and no more than 3.4 oz / 100 ml per container.
There are no additional restrictions on taking all the items in checked luggage.
I hope this helps.
Happy travels.
Take Chapstick, Lipstick, Lip Gloss On Plane FAQs
Can I bring tinted lip balm on a plane?
Yes, tinted lip balms are treated the same as regular Chapstick. If they are solid, they can go in your carry-on or checked luggage without any issues.
Can You carry lip products for children or infants?
Yes, you can bring solid lip balms or lipsticks for children in carry-on luggage without any issues. Liquid or gel-based lip glosses still need to follow the 3.4 oz / 100 ml limit.
Are lip stains allowed on planes?
Lip stains in liquid or gel form need to be in containers no larger than 3.4 oz / 100 ml and packed in a quart-sized bag. Solid stick stains are allowed in carry-on without any limits.
Can I bring homemade lip balm on a plane?
Yes, but if your homemade balm is soft or semi-liquid, pack it in a container no larger than 3.4 oz / 100 ml and place it in your quart-sized bag. Solid balms are good to bring without any restrictions.
What happens if my lip gloss container is slightly larger than 3.4 oz / 100 ml?
Airport security will likely ask you to place it in checked luggage or discard it. It’s best to stick to travel-sized containers to avoid delays or confiscation.
Can I apply lip balm or lipstick during the flight?
Yes, there are no rules against applying makeup in-flight, so keep your Chapstick or lipstick handy in your purse or carry-on for dry lips during travel.
Can I bring a large collection of lipsticks or lip glosses?
Yes, as long as the liquid / gel ones comply with the 3.4 oz / 100 ml rule for carry-on. There’s no limit for solids, but keep in mind your carry-on space.
Do TSA rules differ internationally?
Some countries may have stricter liquid rules, but most follow the 100 ml / 3.4 oz limit. Always check the airline or country-specific regulations before flying.
Are travel-sized lip balms necessary?
Not strictly, but using travel-sized lip balms or lip glosses ensures you don’t exceed liquid limits and makes packing easier.
Gargie, is writer, traveler & a digital marketing specialist
passionate about traveling and exploring new cultures. She is a savvy traveler who likes to pack light, testing various luggage brands and seeking out budget-friendly airline options. Gargie enjoys creating unique recipes when she’s not on the go.
