I still remember standing in airport security when a TSA agent pulled out my liquid sunscreen. I had completely forgotten about the 3.4-ounce rule, and he dropped the bottle into that bin of half-used shampoos and abandoned toiletries. That moment is a big part of why I care about how our products travel.
Yes, you can bring sunscreen on a plane, in a carry-on and in a checked bag. In a carry-on, liquid, cream and spray sunscreens have to be 3.4 ounces or less and travel inside your quart-sized bag with the rest of your liquids. Powder sunscreen is not a liquid, so it skips that bag entirely and can stay in your carry-on.
What the TSA liquids rule means for your sunscreen
The 3-1-1 rule covers liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes, and that includes lotion, cream and spray sunscreen. Anything in a container larger than 3.4 ounces belongs in a checked bag, and everything smaller has to fit alongside your other liquids in one quart-sized bag. Toothpaste, shampoo and moisturizer go in that same bag, so a small sunscreen has to share the space with them. If you're checking a bag, the 3.4-ounce carry-on limit no longer applies, so full-size sunscreen can go there.
Is powder sunscreen a liquid?
No, a mineral powder sunscreen is not a liquid, and it is not a gel or an aerosol either, so it does not belong in your quart bag. TSA does have a separate rule for powders in a carry-on. Powder-like substances over 12 ounces have to come out of your bag and go in their own bin for screening, and those containers may need to be opened. Brush On Block falls well below that threshold, and at its size, the question should not come up.
Brush On Block powder sunscreen doesn't have to compete for space in the bag.
What about sticks and sprays?
Spray sunscreens follow the same 3.4-ounce carry-on limit as lotions, whether they come in an aerosol can or a pump bottle. Our BOB KIDS SPF 50 Mineral Sun Spray is a 6-ounce can, so it goes in your checked bag, where larger sunscreen containers are allowed subject to FAA limits for toiletry products. A solid stick is a different case, because a true solid is not treated as a liquid, in the same way stick deodorant is not. The officer at the checkpoint makes the final call on any item, so a stick with a soft or gel-like texture may be judged differently from a firm one. Our Quick Stick SPF 40 is a firm solid, so it is generally screened the way stick deodorant is.
Will powder sunscreen spill in your bag?
Pressure changes on a flight and a bag that gets tossed around are hard on anything with a lid. Our brush has a locking mechanism that keeps the powder from flowing when it is not in use and keeps it from opening by accident in a carry-on or under a seat. The brush has a protective cap, so the bristles stay clean in your bag. Mine goes in my carry-on for every trip.
Reapplying on a travel day
A travel day runs long, and more of it happens outside than you expect, from the taxi line to the walk to your hotel. Sunscreen should be reapplied at least every two hours, and a sunny window seat on a long daytime flight is another reason to keep it handy. I keep the brush in the front pocket of my carry-on so I can reach it in my seat or while I am standing in line. Buffing the powder over your face, ears, neck and part line takes about 60 seconds, and it goes on over makeup with no sink and no mirror.
Reapplying takes about 60 seconds and needs no mirror or sink.
Traveling somewhere with a sunscreen ban?
Some destinations, including Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have restrictions on sunscreens containing certain chemical UV filters. Those rules are aimed at ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate. Every Brush On Block formula uses mineral actives only, so none of those ingredients are in our products. That is why we describe our formulas as reef friendly, and it means the brush you carry at home is the same one you can pack for a beach week in Maui.
Mineral sunscreen made to travel, from city streets to beach days.
What to pack
A mineral powder brush should be the basic sunscreen you pack. Our SPF 30 Translucent Mineral Powder is our everyday pick, and our SPF 50 Translucent Mineral Powder is there for a long day outdoors. Both are water resistant for 80 minutes. A refill lasts two to three months of daily use on the face, which covers most trips with room to spare.
If you are traveling with kids, BOB KIDS SPF 30 Brush On Mineral Powder travels the same way. Quick Stick SPF 40 handles the ears and the bridge of your nose when you would rather swipe than buff. Lips need their own product, and our Sun Shine SPF 30 Protective Lip Oil is a liquid, but at under a quarter of an ounce it takes almost no room in your quart bag.
Apply your powder before you leave for the airport, and brush on more once you land. My lip oil stays zipped in my purse, so I can put more on after a meal or a drink on the plane. Pack light and enjoy the trip.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bring sunscreen on a plane?
Yes, in both carry-on and checked bags. In a carry-on, liquid, cream and spray sunscreens have to be 3.4 ounces or less and fit inside your quart-sized bag of liquids. In a checked bag, larger sunscreen containers are allowed, subject to FAA limits for toiletry products. Powder sunscreen is not a liquid and is not subject to the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
Is powder sunscreen allowed through TSA?
Yes, powder sunscreen is allowed in carry-on and checked bags. TSA asks that powder-like substances over 12 ounces, or 350 milliliters, go in a separate bin for screening, and containers that size may need to be opened. A Brush On Block brush falls well below that threshold, so it stays in your bag.
Can I take Brush On Block powder on a plane?
Yes, and in your carry-on. Powder is not a liquid, so it is not part of the 3-1-1 rule and does not go in the quart bag. And because there's no liquid inside, you don't have to worry about a lotion or spray leaking in your bag.
How much sunscreen can you bring in a carry-on?
As much as fits in your quart-sized bag, as long as each container is 3.4 ounces or less. Just remember that your sunscreen has to share that bag with your other liquids. Anything larger goes in a checked bag.
Can I travel internationally with powder sunscreen?
Yes, because powder is not a liquid, so it is not subject to liquid limits at US checkpoints, and powder is widely treated the same way elsewhere. Security rules are set country by country, so check the rules for your departure airport if you are flying home from abroad. TSA also applies extra screening to powders over 12 ounces on flights arriving in the US from an international last point of departure, and a Brush On Block brush falls well below that threshold.
