What actually counts as a liquid at airport security?

[SaltAirAndTheRust]

Or is it totally dependent on the airport you’re flying from? I’m flying to Italy from Heathrow in a week and want to take my Chanel cream bronzer and a Mitchum stick cream deodorant. Both are measured in grams, not ml, so do they count as a liquid?

Go to your airline website. All the info you need is there or Heathrow website. Stick deo no, cream bronzer yes

Everything is so inconsistent though - because surely anything measured in grams shouldn’t be a liquid? It’s so frustrating!

Liquids also included things that can be spread, and are classed as semi liquids, like honey, butter, pastes, including lots of cosmetics.

From the Heathrow website - The following restrictions apply to all liquids, creams, gels, pastes and aerosols taken through security control. So actually contrary to poster above, I'd say both would count. Presumably they're both below 100g though, so just put them in a plastic bag and it's not an issue.

As a pretty general rule pastes gels and creams count as liquids.

The rules are clear:

Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports: Liquids - GOV.UK

Some airports now don't have the restriction, and also there will be an element of staff discretion. But if in doubt, err on the side of caution.

Going to have to rethink the makeup then because there’s no way I can fit my bronzer into one of those tiny bags with loads of other stuff!

thankfully I’m travelling with my brother who never has any liquids on him, so I get a de facto second bag 🤣

Are you travelling with hand luggage only?
Anything that is liquid, gel, paste consistency counts
Is the mitchum a solid stick rather than a cream?

No, but we land at something silly like 8am Rome time and can’t check in until 3pm, so the plan was to store our bags and just freshen up at the hotel, I can’t really be bothered to go through my checked luggage for it!

it’s solid but described as a cream

At a European airport yesterday, I was told by security that lipstick is classed as a liquid. So I think your bronzer is, not sure about the deodorant. I put all of my toiletries and make up in the clear bag, and just use it as my 'wash bag' for any trips that I only travel with hand luggage. Some airports don't ask you to take liquids out any more, they have the new scanners.

The cream deodorant definitely will be. I don’t know what the other product is.

“Liquids, gels, creams or pastes” is what the tannoy announcement in 1 airport I go through a lot calls to screen.

And soft cheeses are counted as a liquid! (Ask me how I know that one 😭😭)

Lipsticks, lip gloss, eye liners, mascara - ALL these are liquids as they are originally liquid even if lipstick seems solid it melts. Also medication put that separate if you have injections and pills etc with the prescription or letter from specialist

No medication thankfully, apart from some prescribed ibuprofen! It just all seems so arbitrary now

Can you not just take a mini antiperspirant for travel as its smaller and pack the stick in your hold luggage? Mitchum does a small travel spray.

Not for the full week! Deodorant is £5 a stick now, I’m not buying more than I have to!

I accidentally took a large bottle of water through security at Birmingham last week and wasn't challenged. If it's important to you you could risk it? (That might be absolutely terrible advice tho, I apologise if it is).

Also, the advice about taking prescriptions for medication - I have frequently travelled with various medication and never once been asked about it. But again, maybe I am in the minority and just have an innocent face or something......

I said pack the stick in your hold luggage and have the mini spray for travel

my dad got away with a huge bottle of Fanta last year! I’m not willing to risk it for the Chanel though, it’ll have to stay home 🤣

I don’t see paying £1.50 for one use of deodorant as a good idea 😭 I’ll just make it work with my brother

@Ilovelurchers Birmingham have scrapped the 100ml rule which is why you weren't challenged. They have a 2 litre limit per container now

Use it on the way home and use on further flights too. I didnt say use it and throw it away

So when packing keep your toiletry bag until the end and pack it near the zip? So it's easily retrieved from checked luggage.

This is an absolute non-issue. My in-laws won't travel because it's apparently such an inconvenience and intolerable hassle. I don't agree and fail to see the hassle, but if people are making these minor issues into huge big deals... I get it.

Stick deodorant definitely goes through okay as solid. Ime lip salve will too (the stick kind), but lip gloss is a liquid, as are both Marmite and peanut butter. Solid soap is allowed but a four pack often gets you pulled over at security as apparently it's hard to identify on the scanner!

It’s more just we want to nip into the loo, store our bags and go find coffee and breakfast. Also, the mini deodorant is like £1.50 for a max of two uses. That’s crazy!