Can you bring cotton pads on a plane?

It is as easy as pouring your liquid products onto cotton pads and placing them in plastic bags. TSA will allow these through security without any hassle.



Yes, you can absolutely bring cotton pads on a plane in 2026, and they are not subject to any security restrictions. Because they are a solid, dry material, you can pack them in your carry-on or checked luggage in any quantity. In fact, cotton pads are a "travel hack" for 2026; you can pre-soak a few in your favorite toner or micellar water and store them in a small, airtight silicone bag. This allows you to perform your skincare routine mid-flight without having to wrestle with liquid bottles that must fit into your quart-sized clear bag. Just be aware that if you pre-soak them, they are still considered "solids" as long as there is no "free-flowing" liquid in the bag. They are also incredibly useful for padding delicate items in your makeup kit or preventing compact powders from cracking during turbulence, making them a lightweight and versatile essential for any traveler’s toiletry kit.

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Stick deodorant is fine in any size. Well, almost any size… Powders and crystals are good to go as well. Spray, Gel, Liquid, Cream, Pastes, and Roll-On deodorants need to be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces and placed in a clear quart-sized baggie.

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Toothpaste is considered a liquid by the TSA (Transport Security Agency), even though it's technically a paste. In fact, all pastes, gels, waxes, and lotions are also classified as liquids. And even today, these substances are still restricted by the 3-1-1 rule in hand luggage due to safety threats.

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Each passenger may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or100 milliliters. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols.

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Liquids: Liquids should be in containers of 3.4 ounces (100ml) or less and fit into a quart-sized plastic bag. Non-Liquid Skincare: Solid skincare products can be packed in checked baggage without the need for a plastic bag.

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As stated in the TSA liquid regulation, it is the size of the container that counts, not the actual contents. A 125 ml tube of toothpaste that has been half used up is not permitted, but a full 100 ml tube is.

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The TSA rules allow for lipstick to be considered a solid, not a liquid or gel, which means that you do not have to take it out of your carry-on during the security check.

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Makeup in a solid or powder form is allowed in carry-on and checked bags with no quantity or size limitations. However, when packed in carry-on bags, makeup in a liquid, lotion, gel, paste or creamy form, must be in containers that are 3.4 ounces or less.

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You can take all plug-in phone chargers with you in your carry-on or checked bags with ease as they do not contain any form of battery and, therefore, do not present any danger. Typically, you will not be able to use this type of charger onboard as most airplanes do not have power sockets.

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The TSA prohibits containers with more than 3.4 ounces of liquid in carry-on luggage, so if you have a liquid or semi-liquid antiperspirant, be sure to check the quantity on the container. For example, many stick deodorants and antiperspirants come in sizes under 3.4 ounces, so it's fine to bring in your carry-on bag.

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You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item.

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