If you've ever had your favourite moisturiser confiscated at security because the bottle was 110ml instead of 100ml — this guide is for you. Carry-on liquid restrictions haven't loosened in 2026, but the workaround has gotten so much better that we've pretty much stopped checking bags entirely.
This is the complete 2026 guide to TSA-friendly travel toiletries — what's allowed in your carry-on, what to swap for solids, the best leak-proof bottles, and the smartest packing system that survives every trip without a single liquid disaster.
The 2026 Carry-On Liquid Rules (Quick Refresher)
Most countries follow the same rule, sometimes called the 3-1-1 rule in the US:
- 3.4 oz / 100ml — maximum size for any liquid container
- 1 quart-size clear zip-top bag — all your liquid containers must fit inside it
- 1 bag per passenger
Australia, the UK, and the EU all use the same 100ml limit. Some airports (London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol) have started rolling out new CT scanners that allow more liquids — but until they're standard everywhere, assume the 100ml rule applies.
The zip-bag part trips up a lot of travellers. A typical bottle of moisturiser, sunscreen, contact lens solution, mascara liquid, and shampoo can fill that bag in one go. The smart fix isn't a bigger bag — it's switching half your toiletries to solids so they're not classed as liquids at all.
What Actually Counts as a "Liquid"?
Anything that pours, sprays, spreads, or squeezes. The full list TSA and most international security treat as liquid:
- Liquids (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, sunscreen)
- Gels (toothpaste, hair gel, hand sanitiser)
- Aerosols (deodorant spray, dry shampoo)
- Creams (moisturiser, sunscreen lotion, foundation)
- Pastes (toothpaste, sunscreen stick? — yes, even sticks)
- Mascara, liquid eyeliner, lip gloss
What's NOT a liquid: solid shampoo bars, solid conditioner bars, solid soap, solid deodorant sticks (some), powder products, dry sheets. These don't count toward your 100ml limit and don't need to go in the zip bag.
The Smart Swap System: Solid Toiletries for Travel
Switching to solids is the single biggest upgrade you can make to your travel toiletry kit. It saves space, weight, AND your liquid allowance — meaning you can finally pack the moisturiser you actually like.
1. Solid Shampoo Bars
This is the upgrade that surprises people most. A good solid shampoo bar lasts 60+ washes (vs 40 for a 250ml bottle), doesn't leak, weighs almost nothing, and isn't classed as a liquid. Our Suds Away Argan Oil Shampoo Bar ($15 AUD) is built for travellers — argan oil for shine, sulphate-free, comes in a tin.
For sensitive scalps, we recommend the Coconut Travel Shampoo Bar — gentlest of our line, fragrance-light.
2. Solid Conditioner Bars
Conditioner bars used to be terrible. The 2026 generation is genuinely good. Our Argan Oil Conditioner Bar and Coconut Conditioner Bar are the same size as a bar of soap, condition like the bottled stuff, last 60+ washes. No liquid limit, no leaks.
3. Travel Soap Drainer
Skip this one and your $15 shampoo bar turns to mush in 4 days. A travel soap drainer ($5 AUD) sits inside the tin and lets the bar dry between uses. Tiny detail, real-world impact — it doubles the life of every bar.
4. Solid Soap / Body Wash
A standard bar of soap (Dove, Lush, anything) replaces 100ml of body wash. Costs nothing, weighs nothing, doesn't leak. Buy locally if you forget.
5. Solid Deodorant
Most stick deodorants are technically solids and OK to pack in carry-on. Roll-ons and aerosols are liquids — leave them at home.
6. Toothpaste Tablets
Plant-based toothpaste tablets (Bite, Hello, Davids) are not classed as liquids. One tablet = one brush. Travel-sized toothbrushes pair perfectly.
7. Powder SPF
SPF powders for top-ups are 100% TSA-friendly. Brush-on, fragrance-free, doesn't crumble. Game-changer for the "reapply every two hours" rule on beach days.
What to Pack If You Still Need Liquids
Some things just don't have great solid versions yet — or you just prefer the liquid format. The smart system:
Decant Into Travel-Size Bottles
Don't buy travel-size versions of everything — they're expensive and the bottles are still 50–100ml. Instead, get 3–6 reusable silicone or hard-plastic 50ml bottles and decant your full-size products. Half the size, same product, $10 once.
Use Refillable Pouches for Sunscreen
Sunscreen is the highest-volume liquid most travellers carry. A 50ml decanted travel bottle covers 7–10 days of beach holiday. Pack a tube of solid mineral sunscreen too for top-ups.
Bring a Spare Mascara Wand
Mascara is technically a liquid. If you're flying carry-on only, decant a tiny amount into a mini sample (or just buy travel-size mascaras designed for it).
The Smart Wet/Dry System
Once you've split your toiletries into solid + small-liquid, the next upgrade is the bag system that keeps everything organised and water-tight.
- Hanging toiletry bag with separate compartments for solids, liquids, and tools (toothbrush, razor, brush)
- Small wet bag for in-shower bars (your shampoo bar travels with you to and from the bathroom in this — keeps it from getting other things wet)
- Refillable silicone bottles in your liquids zip bag
- Tin or hard case for shampoo + conditioner bars (so they don't squish)
Our small wet bag doubles as both the in-shower transport AND the post-trip dirty-laundry catcher. $12 of multi-tasking that earns its place.
The Complete TSA-Friendly Toiletry Kit
Here's the kit we actually pack for any 7-day trip:
- Argan oil shampoo bar — $15
- Argan oil conditioner bar — $15
- Travel soap drainer — $5
- Solid bar of body soap — $4 from any pharmacy
- Stick deodorant (no aerosol) — solid, not classed as liquid
- 50ml decanted moisturiser
- 50ml decanted sunscreen + tube of mineral SPF stick for top-ups
- Mini toothpaste OR toothpaste tablets
- Mascara, mini lip products (in zip bag)
- Small wet bag — $12
- Anti-chafe stick (solid) — saves linen-summer thigh chafe
Total liquid count: 2 small bottles. Both fit in your 1-quart zip bag with room to spare. Compare to the typical 6–8 bottles travellers usually try to cram in.
What to Pair With Your Toiletry Kit
The toiletry kit is half the carry-on equation. The other half is the sand-free travel towel that doubles as your beach, gym, and hostel towel. Together they replace 80% of what people typically check.
Our Voyager Sand-Free Travel Towel ($42) packs down to 1.5 litres, dries in 20 minutes, and has a water-resistant zip pocket for your phone at the beach. Pair it with the solid bars above and you've got a full carry-on travel kit in less space than a single old-fashioned shampoo bottle used to take.
For our full take on travel towels, read our best travel towel 2026 buyer's guide. For destination-specific packing, see our Santorini and Amalfi Coast packing lists.
TSA-Friendly Toiletries FAQs
What's the carry-on liquid limit in 2026?
100ml per container, all containers in a single 1-quart clear zip bag. Same in Australia, UK, EU, US. Some airports have new CT scanners with higher limits but assume 100ml until you're sure.
Are solid shampoo bars TSA-approved?
Yes — solid bars are not classed as liquids. They don't count toward your 100ml limit and don't need to go in the zip bag. Pack them in a tin for cleanliness.
Is sunscreen a liquid for TSA?
Lotion sunscreen yes. Mineral SPF sticks no. Powder SPF no. Spray sunscreen yes (also aerosol). The smart pack: 50ml lotion in your liquid bag + a stick or powder for top-ups.
Can I bring deodorant in carry-on?
Stick deodorant: yes (solid). Roll-on: depends on size — under 100ml is fine in zip bag. Aerosol spray: under 100ml fine, but most travel-size aerosols exceed it — leave at home.
Can I bring toothpaste in carry-on?
Yes — under 100ml in your zip bag. Even better: toothpaste tablets, which aren't classed as liquid at all.
What's the easiest swap to save space?
Solid shampoo bar. One bar replaces a 250ml bottle, lasts longer, doesn't leak, and isn't classed as a liquid. The single highest-impact swap. Our argan oil bar ($15) is what most of our customers start with.
Do I still need to declare solids at security?
No — they're treated like any other solid item. Pack them in your toiletry bag. Some travellers leave bars in tins or cloth bags so they don't pick up lint.
The Verdict
The smartest 2026 carry-on toiletry kit is half-solid, half-liquid — solid bars for shampoo, conditioner, soap, and deodorant; small decanted liquids for sunscreen and moisturiser. Total cost to set up: about $50 once. Total liquid bag space saved: 80%. Worth doing once, lasts forever.
→ Shop the Suds Away argan oil shampoo bar
→ Read our deep-dive on the best solid shampoo bars for travel
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