How to pack liquids for TSA

Before you read this, please keep in mind that I am NOT a professional or an authority on the TSA. I just tend to overpack and typically like to bring a lot of liquids, creams, and other things that may be not be allowed over certain quantities for trips. What can I say? I’m a little too over prepared sometimes.

So, the main thing to keep in mind is the 3-1-1 liquids rule. 3-1-1 stands for 3 mL maximum for any liquid or cream, in one quart sized bag, per each person.

My issue with this rule is my makeup collection. I sometimes go overboard with packing makeup because I know I want to look great during my trips to take nice pictures and capture those memories. My last day at Disney I spent with no makeup on because I packed all my toiletries other than my toothbrush and toothpaste in advance without thinking! I looked horrible in the photos- especially with the bags under my eyes from the lack of sleep that entire week.

I definitely should have planned that out better and packed my toiletries last, but its always good to learn from past mistakes. It’s still a lot better than my original mistake with the TSA where I forgot to separate my liquids into one bag and ended up having to dig around for my toiletries to show them my liquids. I almost missed my flight, so I don’t recommend that.

With the liquids rule, its perfectly fine if you want to just buy regular Ziploc bags to store your things in but I felt like I needed a little bit more heft to my bag. I ended up wandering through the travel section of T.J. Maxx and found a set of six clear plastic baggies, but they were a lot thicker than a normal Ziploc bag.

In my opinion, I found the bags to be better just because they were easier to close since the seal was a lot thicker and held better than the Ziploc. Also, I felt like my products were a lot more secure inside because of the thicker plastic. It seemed less likely to puncture the plastic and is 100% more re-usable.

Even though the liquids rule specifies one quart sized bag per person in a carry on, it is not as small as you might think. Most travel items are sized to be less than 3 mL just because of TSA regulations items like shampoos, conditioners, and lotions can be bought as a smaller size or you can always buy containers to add your own product into.

Things like mascara, eyeliner, and liquid lipsticks should be perfectly fine to add to your bag, but the real issue is not overpacking or packing duplicates where it may take up a lot more space.

With liquids and creams, people don’t necessarily think of liquid lipsticks or lip gloss as liquids that would count against the liquids rude, but it does! Before stuffing your bag with 5 different nudes just because they have different finishes, it may be best to look into taking lipsticks simply because you can take as many as you want without it counting as a liquid.

Why is it important to stick to and know the liquid rule while packing? It’s a regulation. There are some things that are at the discretion of a TSA agent when you go through security, but often, this can take a lot more time than you would anticipate. Beyond that, it just helps to make sure that you can get your items on the plane with you instead of having to leave them behind.

Do you want some hacks or have some hacks to get around the liquids rule? Leave a comment down below!

XOXO Beauty Bound Beta

Ready for Takeoff!

I’ve been travelling a lot recently since I went on a trip with my then-boyfriend for our one year celebration, drove to Tennessee for a weekend, and recently flew for birthday trip with my friends to Disney. So, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve got some great things you wouldn’t really think to do but are great for flights-

1. Get a neck pillow. No, I don’t mean one with the beads that you get for super cheap just to have it, but one that actually provides support for you during the flight. This helps to reduce strain on your neck and allows you to fall asleep without worrying that you might end up drooling on the shoulder of the person sitting next to you. I know people often stay away from using neck pillows because it’s more to pack away in their carry on, but if you have the space and it’s a decently long flight- I highly recommend it. The one I personally use is the Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow. It’s made of memory foam so that you can dream away in comfort while on a plane. It comes in a lovely storage case so that you can pack it into your carry on or even clip it onto your bag if you don’t have much space. It looks gigantic at first, but I promise you- it can fit.
2. Emergen-C. Flights are GROSS. You don’t know who sat in the seat before you, actually, you don’t know who has even sat in the seat before. While airlines do have cleaning crews to help pick up and wipe down planes to prepare for the next boarding flight, it can still be super unsanitary. That, plus you’re also adding in having circulated air with other passengers who could be sick or carrying bacteria or viruses. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when you’re just starting out your vacation.
3. Your own water bottle or beverage container. You can’t get through the TSA if it’s filled prior to going through the check, so I always like to bring an empty water bottle and either fill it up prior to boarding or ask the flight attendants if they can fill it with water. This is especially helpful if you’ve packed Emergen-c as well since you can just go ahead and mix the two together without fear of making a mess. I don’t typically like carrying around the plastic water bottles that come in multiple packs, so I’ve picked up a collapsible water bottle that I can condense to fit into my carry on.
   

   

   
4. A portable battery. I’m that kind of person who cannot stand to have her phone be less than 50% battery so I typically bring a portable battery pack wherever I go. In fact, the only phone case I use is the Mophie Juice Pack Air for the iPhone XS to further reduce the bulk of my luggage. They do make ones for the newer iPhone 11 in case you’ve upgraded already. I know I’ll always have an extra charge no matter what and I won’t be at the airport trying to fight for a spot with a charging port so that I can show my boarding pass through the phone. I usually carry around a the Anker PowerCore Portable Charger as well for my friends and family if I’m traveling with them so that they also have some extra juice and won’t be SOL when we land. It carries about 26,800mAh for an additional external battery and Anker products are my tried and true for trips.
5. A face mask. I don’t mean the light blocking sleep masks so you can sleep better on a plane- even though those are nice too, I don’t typically use them as I find it uncomfortable on my face. I mean the paper sheet masks like Tony Moly because planes are drying! The first time I landed from a flight, my skin was so parched because the air on the plane lacked the moisture I needed to keep a bright and healthy glow. So from there, I’ve always packed a sheet mask in my liquids bag for my carry on to use on the plane. It makes you look a little weird on the plane to other passengers, but if you can sacrifice the anxiety of being stared at, it’s amazing for giving your skin moisture for just about 20 minutes of your time. The Karuna set that I brought on my last trip also had an under eye and melting boost facial mask so that I could look like I had 12 hours of sleep after a busy 40 hour work week.

These are typically my essentials in my carry on bag, but if you have any other flight necessities, feel free to comment them down below!

*disclaimer, this post has affiliation links. If you purchase a product, I will be making a little bit of commission but it does not change the price for you.