What exactly can/can't I take on a flight

[MrsAngle]

Flying to Europe. Only for a couple of days so only taking hand luggage.
Can I take a bottle/tube of foundation? Mascara? Perfume? Aerosol deodorant? It's my first trip in many years and I'm a bit confused by all the regulations

Any liquids must be in a container that holds no more than 100ml, and must be in a sealable clear bag (I use a clear zipped toiletry bag)

The regulations will be on the help/faqs page of your airline.

Any liquids gels and pastes have to be in less than 100ml containers and all fit into a sandwich bag or clear zippable toilet bag if you prefer. Dimensions of this allowed will be on the airports website.

Any liquids/pastes/gels as long as they meet regulations - under 100ml bottle size (however much is actually in the container) and must go in the plastic bag.

So, that's my perfume out. Can I decant things into smaller bottles or do they have to be in an "original" bottle with labels. It's all very confusing for someone who hasn't been on a plane in over 20 years.

How big is your perfume bottle? 100 ml is massive for perfume.

They don't have to be in the original bottles. Most shops (ie Ikea, Primark, Boots, Superdrug, some supermarkets) sell packs of bottles that you can decant into. If you travel regularly, this probably works out cheapest, as the alternative is buying mini bottles, which often cost nearly as much as full size ones.

You can also buy things at the airport after security (nearly all airports have a Boots or Superdrug), and that doesn't count towards your liquids allowance, but you won't be able to bring back anything that is in a bottle that is more than 100 ml.

Suncream is what I struggle with, but may be able to manage with 100 ml if only going for 2 days. Another tip is if you are going in a group, share toiletries. So don't all take shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, share them (obviously only works if no-one is fussy about certain products). Remember that most make up like lipsticks count as liquids and needs to fit in the bag, which must seal.

Supermarkets and Boots have ranges of travel sized toiletries, usually on 3for2 offers. I really rather like the miniature toothpastes, deodorants etc. Decant perfume. Don’t get caught out buying lovely stuff at duty free on the way out that you can’t bring back

Perfume is on checking exactly 100ml but it's a bit costly so I'll not risk it. I'll see if I can find a sample of one I like and take that. I probably won't need suncream. I might buy a couple of small size things. It's only me and DP going and he's not fussed about what he uses.

If he'd of stumped up the cash to pay for a suitcase in the hold I wouldn't have to worry!

The containers need to be 100mls or less and need to fit in a clear resealable bag with max size 20x20cm. I normally use a small resealable freezer bag. It's 1 bag per person.

You don't need a hold case for 2 days, total waste of money. Spend the £50 or whatever it costs on a meal out while you're away.

We've easily done a week with hand luggage only - for a couple of days, you'll be fine.

Go to Estee Lauder and ask for a sample of Double Wear foundation - you'll get a tiny bottle which will be perfect for a couple of days.

Superdrug do 3 for £3 on lots of mini toiletries - you could get shampoo, toothpaste and maybe some face wipes. Most hotels will have shower gel etc already.

As you've got hand luggage each you can put some of your liquids into DH's plastic bag if you can't fit all of your toiletries in yours.

If your perfume bottle states 100ml it will be absolutely fine. For things like toothpaste which are sold as grams rather than ml it seems they take the gram weight as ml. So a 75g tube is OK but a 125g tube won't be. I normally find I can fit my toothpaste in, deodorant is a bit of a pain as usually 125/150ml so I take a small can or a roll on instead.

Don't forget things like lip balm which you might have loose in your handbag - they need to go in the clear bag too and the staff can get a bit shirty if you forget.

If you're taking things like laptop, tablet, kindle make sure it's charged and can be turned on. They probably won't check, but just in case. And take anything sharp, even nail scissors, out before you travel.

Doesn't have to be put in a resealable plastic bag - you can buy clear sponge bags in Boots/Superdrug/large supermarkets - the ones in Boots have the plastic bottles to put things in and sometimes companies do them full of travel sized items already (Nivea do one I seem to recall). I have a Boots clear sponge bag and just buy things on 3f2 though.

I always get the travel sized shampoos etc but you can't take more than 1000ml even if in different 100ml tubes/bottles so no more than 10 x 100 mls.

Do you really need perfume for a couple of days away? Spray yourself at the airport in duty free and then live without it!

Things like the 10x rule and what kind of bag you can use tend to be rules set by the airport. I'd look it up before you go.

Mimble, the plastic bag must seal, be under 1L capacity and not have gusseted sides. Some airports are very strict about this, and I had to repack all my stuff once after buying a new bag at one airport and then being told it was not correct at the next

From .gov site:

If you do take liquids in your hand luggage:

• containers must hold no more than 100ml
• containers must be in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures approximately 20cm x 20cm
• contents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealed
• the bag must not be knotted or tied at the top
• you’re limited to 1 plastic bag per person
• you must show the bag at the airport security point

@Mimble is correct. It DOES vary by airport and even channel - I've had different experiences in standard and premium lanes at Gatwick, for example.

Sealable/open
Max of 10 items / no limit (as long as all under 100ml individually
Gusset/no gusset

• all variable on the day

I have also not yet made a trip without accidentally having a lip balm or similar in the depths of my handbag or laptop case. You don't get dragged outside and shot.

I've never had an issue at security (even when having a full bag search) but I've seen people be pernickety dicks and they tend to get treated accordingly by the staff.

I have obviously been lucky but never been challenged about my clear bag at either Gatwick or Heathrow and regularly fly out of both.

Actually my sponge bag is less than 20x20, and is resealable in that it has a clear zip so doesn't contravene at all so not surprising I've not been stopped. My mind went off to ziplock bags. I blame the heat.

Only thing we've ever had to jettison was a spray deodorant bought at Boots Heathrow airside which was 125ml and was taken out of son's plastic sponge case at Tegel for being a spray over 100ml. Only got 4 days use out of it but he should have remembered his usual travel sized one and then it wouldn't have happened. (Irritated mother alert).

Ok, my foundation is 35 ml, and I have a mascara tester, that has to go in a bag along with deodorant, lipstick and contact lens liquid. I'll find a perfume tester. Powder, eyeliner and eyeshadow is ok? I'll forgo moisturiser, serum and primer for the weekend. I've even got a couple of toothpaste samples knocking about somewhere.
OK right?

Can you really not live without perfume for 72 hours...??? Blimey.

But then my face would fall off without moisturiser so I suppose I need to prioritise in different directions

I would take moisturiser and ditch the perfume, personally. My moisturiser is under 100ml anyway so didn't need to get a smaller one.

Go and get a tiny sample of moisturiser from Clarins or somewhere.